Rainy Season Plus Craziness in Florida

 

 

The other day I had an appointment first thing in the morning. Upon my return, tiny sprinkles were starting to blow in the wind against me. A heavy rainfall is expected later, but the moist air felt good on my face.  I captured a few photos of the cloudy sky to share today. Although we have blue skies the majority of the time in Florida, it's not always true in the rainy season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Summer in Florida is HOT AND HUMID!

 

 

 Now - Crazy Florida News!! 

 Y'all, there is no round of golf worth getting struck by lightning. Remember what happened in Caddyshack? This photo was taken on July 23rd in Venice, Florida. Eventually a course ranger had to bring them back to the clubhouse. Always be safe! Photo Credit: Kathy P McSteen

 

 Now I am reporting on the evil people do to make more money. Two men thought nesting birds drove customers away. The answer was to try to drive the birds away with toxic mothballs. It boggles the mind that they thought adding toxic chemicals to a sandy beach was acceptable. I hope they get jail time as well as hefty fines:

 

 

 The "Mothball Mystery" has led to two arrests.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Robert Czyszczon, owner of the Plaza Beach Hotel, and Christopher Monroe, owner of Chris' Beachside Bar, were arrested Wednesday following an investigation into hundreds of toxic mothballs that were scattered across St. Pete Beach earlier this year. Investigators allege the mothballs were placed on the beach to deter protected black skimmer birds from nesting there.

FWC says surveillance footage, Walmart purchase records, and other evidence—including text messages obtained during the investigation—helped connect the two men to the case.

They are facing charges that include felony commercial littering and attempting to take or harass a state-threatened species.

If these allegations are true, what a bunch of losers. Protected wildlife deserves better than this, and trying to solve a problem by spreading toxic chemicals on a public beach is unbelievably unbelievable.

First reported by Angie Angers

 

 

Black Skimmers:   Each summer, Black Skimmer colonies return to nest along Florida’s beaches, including St. Pete Beach. Though they come back every year, their nesting locations often shift dramatically from season to season. From May through September, these unique seabirds lay 3–5 eggs in shallow scrapes in the sand. The eggs hatch after 21–25 days, and both parents share the duties of incubating and feeding their chicks.

Photo via St Pete Beach.org

For information about How You Can Help, check out stpetebeach.org

 

 

 

                                  

   

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The Many Lakes of Lakeland, Florida

 

 

When you drive around Lakeland, you pass lots of lakes. The City of Lakeland says that there are a total of 38 named lakes within City limits, as well as numerous smaller lakes. Sizes among the 38 named lakes range from 2.5 acres (Lake Blanton) to 2,272 acres (Lake Parker) of which 17 are natural and 21 are man-made. Lake Parker is the large lake behind my condo development. Today I’m sharing a few photos of another lake I passed in my drives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Summer in Central Florida

 As I reported recently, Florida is experiencing a severe drought, marking its most significant water shortage since 2012. Driven by massive rainfall deficits and collapsed groundwater levels, regional authorities have enacted strict water restrictions. We're now in the rainy season and are getting showers more often. This has helped but has not solved the problem. We need frequent short showers to build up groundwater levels. A heavy rain doesn't really help as the sandy soil cannot retain the moisture. 

 

Image via Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

  

Today I'm sharing summer skies here at the condo with increased darker clouds. Many afternoons moisture builds up over the Gulf and moves across Florida with showers. Sometimes there is thunder and lightening. I sit and listen as it moves in and out.  I don't really go outside to capture storms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you're enjoying summer wherever you are!

 

 

 

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Kayaking at Kensington Metro Park, Michigan

 

 

Today’s photos are courtesy of Heather. My nephew James & his wife Heather went kayaking this last weekend at Kensington Metro Park, Milford, Michigan. Surrounding Kent Lake, the park covers 4,543 acres. It has wooded hilly terrain and surrounds 1,200-acre Kent Lake.

 

It’s a beautiful day in Michigan. Let’s go kayaking on Kent Lake with James & Heather.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After the kayaking, Heather and James visited the Kensington Park Farm Center. There is a 150-year-old restored barn and lots of farm animals. Heather loved visiting the kid section with the little goats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Late June Michigan Garden

 

Photos and garden today courtesy of one of my favorite people, multi-talented Heather Murphy. Thank you! 

Today we're again visiting the late June Michigan garden of my nephew, James, and his lovely wife, Heather. She is so talented!  (Slight editing and mosaics by yours-truly.)

Heather has a great base of perennials and always adds lots of annuals.

 

 

 

 

 

Now to finish this post, I'll add a sunset from James & Heather's weekend camping stay at Canoe Harbor State Forest Campground, Grayling, Michigan. It's a beauty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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