This issue, Marisa is an artist with a camera, as she opens my "Colorful black & white" section with a shot of me under a cowboy hat, perched between two twin sabal palm trees.  This exact spot is more than just a set of X's on a  make-believe treasure map.  Our paleo prospecting here led not only to some great fossil finds, but this is the exact spot I invited her to for our very first date, suggesting she bring a bag lunch.  Am I a big-spending romantic or what?  Oh, and in case you go looking for this location, the two palms were eventually washed away by high water. 

Marisa is also my lovely model for a photo series on the endangered scrub jay in "Dangerous Trust?".  Speaking of artists, how come spiders have all the talent?  I fell in love with the silk rendition that a visionary 8-legger sculpted of Paris in a marsh for my section, "Arachno art".  Spiders are the ultimate optimists too.  What was one thinking when it constructed a web large enough to try to trap my dog Darwin, or the insane webber who tried to catch the entire sun?

In "Egret Attack", I discover that crows will attack egrets for reasons other than territorial.  In "Lichen Purpose", who knew lichen have been around so long, or that they might be a reminder that there may not be a reason behind purpose. 

Ever hear the legend about bald cypress trees and lightning trading places?  Perhaps it's because I just made it up in "Legends Claim...".  In "My World" I try to figure out if I, we, are more problem than solution for the healthy continuance of other life forms.  And in "ButterBlooms", monarchs return for their annual SW Florida pass-through...or did they ever leave?  In "Alligator Interview",  I get close and personal with a sarcastic alligator who prefers to hunt over being hunted.

And finally, in "Twilight Time", I get a chance to explore my favorite part of the day, then waltz into the Cosmos with my artistic beauty Marisa.  If that sounds schmaltzy, I'm guilty as charged.

We hope your visit is a fun and educational one!

Bestus,