Bioblitz

I mentioned in an earlier post that I’m leading a month-long BioBlitz challenge across the GTM Reserve watershed. It’s been a fantastic collaboration, with participation from the Saint Augustine Camera Club, Beaches Photography Club, GTM Reserve, and St. Johns Regional Audubon. The challenge wraps up next Sunday, May 10, and I thought I’d share a few of my recent favorite images from the field.

Closer to home, I’ve been continuing my effort to incorporate more native plants into the garden—and the results have been immediate and unmistakable. The pollinators are not just visiting; they’re thriving. Almost without exception, the best pollinator photos I’ve captured have been on native plants, reinforcing just how important these species are.

A recent trip to a local native plant nursery was supposed to be a quick stop for a single false indigo. That plan didn’t stand a chance. I left with nine plants and a full afternoon of digging ahead of me.

Everything was going smoothly—until the final plant. My shovel struck what I assumed was a stubborn root. With a bit more determination (and perhaps a touch too much confidence), I powered through it… only to discover I had just broken a drainage pipe running from the gutter.

Regis may have had other plans for the day, but instead, he found himself repairing the damage I enthusiastically created. To his credit, he took it all in stride—and I now have nine beautiful new plants and a memorable reminder to dig a little more carefully.