Bloom Number 4

Bloom 4 from Tillandsia simulata.

Number 4

This is the bloom that I predicted in a previous post about this airplant. I've been so busy with finals, projects, and life in general that I didn't manage to get a picture of the unopened bud, but I do have this shot at least! Something about these temporary tubes of pollen and purple make me smile. I don't know if it's the brevity of their duration, or their gaudy appearance on what most might consider a drab plant, but it's there, and I like them. Even the three withered blooms hold a charm all their own. I shall keep vigil for bloom #5! School draws to a close, and I begin a new schedule Monday.

Turtle Power!

The pureists will remind me we're talking tortoises here, and there are some important distinctions.

I do however, want to take time to remember ol' Cutshell, whom I haven't seen in a few years, but sometimes he(she) goes a few years without being seen. It would go from somewhere in our backyard to somewhere cross the street this time of year, had a cut on its carapace that looked like battle damage from a lawn mower. Cutshell was/is a survivor. Hope there are baby Cutshells running around.

Springtime Shell-ebration!It’s spring, which means gopher tortoises are out and about! After a winter of relative...
Posted by MyFWC on Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Beetle!

UPDATE!
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This is a Passalid beetle according to my entomologist connection.

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Found this sucker in my shoe!
This will be a pic heavy post. I am saving for an entomologist friend of mine.

out my shoe, and on the carport floor

Keys for size comparison

Inside a babyfood jar, wet from the holding jar

Dried it off some.

Give you an idea of size.

belly Shot, squirmin'

closest I could get and still maintain focus

In the Kill Jar

I think it's in denial

finally it embraces the end

Rest in Peace Beetle. Shot at f/7.1 to get all in focus.

More "artsy" shot at f5.6 to soften things up a bit.

After I consult my entomologist friend, I'll have information about specific species, etc. His intial guess was that it is a Carabid beetle, however, as I got better pics, he is leaning toward Passalid.

To be continued!