White Pelicans

On my way in to work this morning, I snapped several photos of white pelicans floating on the calm waters of Paynes Prairie. For the past few days I’ve noticed conspicious trucks from the US Fish & Wildlife Service driving around the area with giant antennas atop their roofs, and today, the prairie and the air around it was filled with white birds. Pelicans! Hundreds of them! Not to mention wood storks, herons, and egrets too. Quite the gathering.

Oh, those barrel pickels

We spent today on a whirlwind trip through Polk County, researching for my latest book project, Exploring Florida’s Botanical Wonders.  I wish we’d had the time to enjoy Bok Tower Sanctuary at a snail’s pace instead of a hurry-up-and-stroll, but that didn’t detract from the awe of standing atop Iron Mountain and enjoying the view.

On to Winter Haven, where it was tragic to discover that Slocum Water Gardens, circa 1938, is no more … despite an active website showing off their wares. After searching for – and not finding – a park that might fit the rationale behind Bartow’s motto (”City of Oaks and Azaleas”), the whirlwind crash-landed at Hollis Garden on Lake Mirror in Lakeland, where we slipped from room to room in the formal gardens and explored the new family park adjacent. I understood the giant panther and gator to play on, but a loon? Talk about left field! Supposedly we have them in Florida, but I’m still waiting to find out where.

To wrap up a hard day’s work, lunch/dinner meant a pile of barbecue at Jimbos on US 92. I remembered the bowls of hot cherry peppers on every table, but had forgotten about the barrel pickle slices that also rated their own bowl on every table. Yum, yum, yum.