spring at the botanical gardens « verdure
spring at the botanical gardens
Sunday, March 14th, 2010

They’ve trimmed back the trees that had the Christmas lights in the Florida Botanical Gardens. I’m not sure what spring is supposed to feel like here. There is no unfurling from the great sleep of winter. But it is no longer sweater weather, and trees that know how to awaken from the cold are starting to bud.

A year ago, we were unloading what belongings we had carted across the country with us into one of the ubiquitous storage units in the middle of Tampa. We were acclimated (Mike may disagree) to highs around 40, and it was hot and stuffy dragging around boxes and lamps and bits of collapsible furniture in the 80 degree heat.

At that point, I owned one pair of capris, no shorts. No comfortable bathing suits. Flip flops that made my feet bleed. I’ve slowly remedied those things, although I still don’t understand really short shorts, and I’m still pasty white.

My grandmother said it takes a year, to experience all the seasons, to know how you like a place. With everyone here talking about how it’s been one of the coldest winters in many years, perhaps I’ve not seen the typical year, but it’s a start. The mourning doves are back, and we are starting to see butterflies and lizards.

Gulf fritillary

Limpkin. This is the first time I’ve seen these birds. There was a pair of them at the creek. They resemble juvenile ibis, but are larger and have a more distinct pattern of white spots.

I didn’t notice at the time how algae covered these turtles were.

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