Most everyone agrees climate change is unfolding before our eyes. While western Canada (Jasper National Park in Alberta) and Greece are fighting deadly wildfires, China and Japan are battling floods and earthquakes. In the Tampa Bay area, we're experiencing sweltering temperatures, in the mid-90s most days. Thankfully, rain came down almost everyday for an hour or two in the late afternoons in the last several weeks. Then we were dealt with Little Debby, the tropical storm that brought more rain, torrential at times, even though we were not in the storm's path.
As a result, our garden is lush. Birds love it. An array of birds - bluejays, mockingbirds, cardinals, woodpeckers, ibises, rabbits, squirrels and recently a white egret - visit everyday. They mesmerize us for hours :-)!
One beautiful morning in July, we met some friends at Weedon Island Preserve in St Pete for a kayaking adventure. We did the 4-mile paddling trail that meanders through a mangrove forest, giving us a chance to get up close and personal with the wildlife - birds, oysters, crabs - that calls it home. Florida mangroves help protect land from erosion, provide shelter and protection for birds and shellfish and absorb storm surge impact from extreme weather such as the recent Tropical Storm Debby.
Kayaking through a tunnel of mangroves
White ibis
Yellow-crowned night heron
We captured the following sceneries on a walk to the beach a week ago.
A family fishing under the causeway
Oleander bush
Palm and plumeria (flowers used to make Hawaiian leis)
These are the flora and fauna we frequently see in the Tampa Bay area. You might see alligators in lakes at the county or state parks, but we haven't encountered any recently.
TS Debby brought cooler temperatures for a couple of days. Now it's right back up to high 90s, but feels like 100! How's the weather in your neck of the woods?
I enjoyed the travelogue. In Massachusetts, the weather has been unusually hot and humid for most of July and August. A bit unusual for us. We'll get a heatwave (3 days of temps in the 90s) and then a front will come in and cool things down. Not this year. I don't think our temps hit 3 digits, but when the temps were in the mid-90s, it felt like we were in the 100s. TS Debby passed over Western Massachusetts with heavy rains. The storm brought a cool front which has dropped our dew points from tropical to our normal comfortable range.
Sounds like your garden is thriving with all the rain and wildlife, and your kayaking adventure through the mangroves must have been amazing. Beautiful photos, Eileen!
I've never seen mangroves but it looks like it could be a habitat for things I'd hate to pull out with an exploratory hand! Yep. My mind went there.... Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2024/08/a-few-more-details-inside-pennsylvania.html
Hello Eileen, First of all just to write that I also really like your blog with the outlay you chose. But also your sweet comment through your other website. And what a beautiful trip you made. You must know your way around in the mangrove I think. But what a wonderful adventure and nature you saw there. And yes you notice everywhere that the climate is really changing and my thoughts are with all those people who had to leave their homes because of fire or had to go through so many problems because of the severe storms and water floods. Your garden is really beautiful and also here we had last days very tropical weather. I was not much behind the laptop. Another thing I always really like are the trees in your area. Wish you beautiful moments and many greetings from the Netherlands.
What fabulous photos! Loving those mangroves, it must have been fun kayaking through them 😊. It was lovely to see you at Art Journal Journey, thank you for joining us! Hugs, Jo x
That looks like a great adventure. I would like to do that. We had a humid JUly, but August has been cooler, with more rain. It makes summer feel like it ended a bit sooner than usual, but I'm not a fun of the heat so that's ok. Thanks for sharing these. hugs-Erika
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Kayaking through mangrove tunnels, what a unique experience! Thank you Nanci for showing us this place.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome place to kayak. Loved watching the video!
ReplyDeleteNice shots.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place to visit and explore. Great photos and I loved the video. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAwesome adventure for you ~ great kayaking fun and photos ~ thanks, ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
I enjoyed the travelogue. In Massachusetts, the weather has been unusually hot and humid for most of July and August. A bit unusual for us. We'll get a heatwave (3 days of temps in the 90s) and then a front will come in and cool things down. Not this year. I don't think our temps hit 3 digits, but when the temps were in the mid-90s, it felt like we were in the 100s. TS Debby passed over Western Massachusetts with heavy rains. The storm brought a cool front which has dropped our dew points from tropical to our normal comfortable range.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your garden is thriving with all the rain and wildlife, and your kayaking adventure through the mangroves must have been amazing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Eileen!
I've never seen mangroves but it looks like it could be a habitat for things I'd hate to pull out with an exploratory hand! Yep. My mind went there....
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2024/08/a-few-more-details-inside-pennsylvania.html
Almost like being there! ♥️
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun kayaking adventure! It's been cool the last few days in Oregon, but in the 90s+ for most of the summer.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHello Eileen, First of all just to write that I also really like your blog with the outlay you chose. But also your sweet comment through your other website. And what a beautiful trip you made. You must know your way around in the mangrove I think. But what a wonderful adventure and nature you saw there. And yes you notice everywhere that the climate is really changing and my thoughts are with all those people who had to leave their homes because of fire or had to go through so many problems because of the severe storms and water floods. Your garden is really beautiful and also here we had last days very tropical weather. I was not much behind the laptop. Another thing I always really like are the trees in your area. Wish you beautiful moments and many greetings from the Netherlands.
ReplyDeleteWhat fabulous photos! Loving those mangroves, it must have been fun kayaking through them 😊. It was lovely to see you at Art Journal Journey, thank you for joining us! Hugs, Jo x
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a great adventure. I would like to do that. We had a humid JUly, but August has been cooler, with more rain. It makes summer feel like it ended a bit sooner than usual, but I'm not a fun of the heat so that's ok. Thanks for sharing these. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteLove the video and photos! What a great way to relax kayaking thru mangroves trails with nature!! Thanks for the heads up on Weedon Island Preserve
ReplyDelete