06/11/2023
1. Florida Carpenter Ant on Rattlepod. Florida Carpenter Ant males die directly after mating yet they are one of the most active and fastest growing ants in North America. Their lifespan is up to 7 years for worker ants and 10 years for the Queen. Rattlepods are part of the Legume family and were first introduced to the U.S. due to its nitrogen fixing bacteria that improves the soil. They are poisonous to livestock and horses.
2. Soft Goldenaster
3. Red leaves of a turning Sweetgum sapling with a bright orange trunk. Sweetgum resin was used to flavor chewing gum up into the 1920’s.
4. Bald Cypress trees along the limestone banks of the Suwannee River in fall.
5. Saw Palmetto, Sand Pines, and Oak trees along the tall banks of the Suwannee.
6. Moss covered limestone
7. Dying pine straw on a recently fallen pine limb.
8. Dog Fennel. Toxic to livestock. Leaves can be used to repel mosquitoes and juice from the plant can be used to treat bites of insects and reptiles.
9. A coral spot (I think) infected Sweetgum tree.
10. A changing Sweetgum sapling turning purple.
