Trigger warning (beautiful Florida Black Racer (snake))

I am building a grape arbor (Southern Home and Delicious Purple Muscadine) and met one of my tenants that provide pest control. They live in burrows dug by other animals like armadillos and gopher tortoises, of which I have many in the area of the arbor. Their first instinct is to remain motionless, but sudden movements will cause them to disappear in a flash, befitting their name Racer. This one allowed me to get within 10’, and I even got down to ground level for this one-on-one. I estimate this fella at 4’ and diameter of a quarter, the longest ever recorded was ~6’. They eat just about anything they can catch, and few small animals can outrun them. They on the other hand are preyed upon by my hawks and opossums, probably racoons too. We coexist with an uneasy acceptance of each other. I love how I can see the low winter sun in the eye.

Addendum to Winter Garden crawl, bloom I missed!

Aloe vera

More rummaging around in the attic

From 2022. I guess at the time these didn't strike my fancy, but today caught my eye. Good examples of Depth of Field too. An airplane at 40k ft and the moon can both be in focus, 100 yds and the moon, not so much.

Winter Garden crawl

Counterintuitive for this time of year, I did a garden crawl to see what besides the Dracaena fragrans was blooming. I broke out the Nikkor MC 50mm f/2.8 macro lens. I don’t use this lens enough, but it’s great for macro shooting. As we approach the shortest day and the sun is really low in the southern sky, the light is just amazing, nothing at all like the glaring summer sun. Although it does cast deep shadows in the garden, so I couldn’t get the Carambola blooms higher up and in the shade. Here we have Firespike, Loquat, Papaya, Ironweed, and Dracaena fragrans/corn plant, plus the foliage of a Mango and Fish Tail Palm. Here’s hoping we avoid a frost this year!
Firespike

Loquat

Papaya (male)

Little Ironweed

Dracaena fragrans/corn plant

Mango

Fish Tail Palm

At the spa today

Carolina chickadee eyes the pool

Even at 1200mm I feel fortunate to get close enough

to capture these guys. Crows and Blue Jays are so skittish

X posted from VETERANS board - - The Soldier's Lens Digital Exhibition

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

https://www.democraticunderground.com/117912302

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts - The Soldier's Lens Digital Exhibition

"a curated exhibition showcasing the original perspectives of active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. This powerful exhibition will explore the diverse experiences of military life, from moments of intensity and duty to the quiet rhythms of everyday routines"

Hundreds of photos from all eras. Click on each photo for specific information and enlagement

1st page: https://gallery.collectorsystems.com/public/FMoPACollection_test/3055?Page=1_20

My 5 photos, first on page 11: https://gallery.collectorsystems.com/public/FMoPACollection_test/3055?Page=11_20

Dracaena fragrans about to pop and the bees and wasps love it

Regarding the new license plate law

There will be some really pissed snow birds when they get fined, unless there is an exemption for out of state cars?