This non-venomous snake had the misfortune of having me show up just as it attached its jaw to this egg. Lucky for the snake I wasn't a predator and I enjoyed watching it uncoil and carry its prize into the denser brush.

Dismal Swamp, North Carolina

Thank you for your favs and comments.

A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Ferns are defined here in the broad sense, being all of the Polypodiopsida, comprising both the leptosporangiate (Polypodiidae) and eusporangiate ferns, the latter itself comprising ferns other than those denominated true ferns, including horsetails or scouring rushes, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns. Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil. 29578

A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Ferns are defined here in the broad sense, being all of the Polypodiopsida, comprising both the leptosporangiate (Polypodiidae) and eusporangiate ferns, the latter itself comprising ferns other than those denominated true ferns, including horsetails or scouring rushes, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns. Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil. 36686

A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Ferns are defined here in the broad sense, being all of the Polypodiopsida, comprising both the leptosporangiate (Polypodiidae) and eusporangiate ferns, the latter itself comprising ferns other than those denominated true ferns, including horsetails or scouring rushes, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns. Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil. 30411

A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Ferns are defined here in the broad sense, being all of the Polypodiopsida, comprising both the leptosporangiate (Polypodiidae) and eusporangiate ferns, the latter itself comprising ferns other than those denominated true ferns, including horsetails or scouring rushes, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns. Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil. 22315

A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Ferns are defined here in the broad sense, being all of the Polypodiopsida, comprising both the leptosporangiate (Polypodiidae) and eusporangiate ferns, the latter itself comprising ferns other than those denominated true ferns, including horsetails or scouring rushes, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns. Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil. 19636

A fern is a member of a group of vascular plants that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having certain tissue that conducts water and nutrients, and having branched stems. Like other vascular plants, ferns have leaves, and these are "megaphylls", which are more complex than the "microphylls" of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes termed "true ferns"; they produce what are called "fiddleheads" that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fern

A fern is a member of a group of vascular plants that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having certain tissue that conducts water and nutrients, and having branched stems. Like other vascular plants, ferns have leaves, and these are "megaphylls", which are more complex than the "microphylls" of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes termed "true ferns"; they produce what are called "fiddleheads" that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fern

A Red Postman (Heliconius Erato) also known as the red passion flower butterfly. I like this shot as you can see the tube-like proboscis, which it uncoils to sip liquid food and then coils up again into a spiral when not feeding. This image isn't really a macro as it was taken with a long telephoto lens using back button focus to servo drive inside the lens minimum focus depth.

The Cobra and the Eagle -

Bright sun dances across the shadow from the flowers, there is a cobra in the garden. It is brown, long, measured in its ways. It lives on the sunny side of the house.

I am standing, waiting to turn the corner, and I remember. I have seen her there, looked into her face, the tongue, seeing me, seeking me out. I have never seen her hood, but I know what she is, and she is, is at least, eight feet long.

I wait. She is gone, just warm sunshine, shadows flickering across the path. I move. No sign of her, she is gone, I move again, she is there. I feel her, but nothing stirs.

I am on the outside, side, facing the house, the veranda on my right, big welcoming doors, there is safety inside. A pergola extends, twisted boughs, leaves, full of fruit. The grapes hang, full, heavy, green and flashing gold, basking. In time, a sweet harvest awaits.

There is peace in the garden.

I take a step.

A movement, unlike any other, slow, measured. The birds are quiet. Slowly, she emerges from the shadow of the shrubs, under, near, beneath the willow tree. I can’t quite see. It is long, sleek, moving purposefully. It is her, the king. She with the venom, she with the lethal strike, she will judge if you are safe or snake.

I have considered having her removed, or even punished or locked away, but I cannot harm such a creature. She is my enemy, my protector, the eater of snakes.

Each time I harbor thoughts of her destruction, misfortune befalls me. I fall over nothing in the path, go flying into thorn trees on the trail, rip the skin from my arms and legs, the blood runs thick and heavy. This has happened not once, nor twice nor thrice, but so many times, in so many ways, that I need a diary to keep the count. I am so bloody and battered that I now no longer entertain such negativity.

I have noticed the lesson, it has caught my intention.

If it is an angel guiding me, then they certainly know the language of human, but I suspect it is my subconscious talking to me, and I do not know who my subconscious talks to, save to say, if I guide it into light, and keep it away from fear, then it brings me love and hope, or it brings me nightmares and pain.

She is stretched out in path ahead. I kneel. I look into her. I will not run nor interfere. I am reconciled to being kind and gentle to her.

There is an eagle nesting on our roof.

He swoops, claws arching, mortal combat uncoils between mortal foes. He lands. The snake glides toward him, she raises her head slightly. The eagle, large, flamboyant and majestic, lowers his head. They touch, top of head to top of head, beaks and fangs averted. Their heads press against each other, and I think I see them smile.

Strange, impossibly different, yet when pressed together, the feather and scale seem not so far apart.

A familiar figure appears to my left. He is the mender of hearts, he touches my arm, I understand, and he is gone.

Now there is no snake, no eagle, just two lovers joined who were once worlds apart.

Seems the outside does not reflect the heart, and there is often pain in being apart.

From "The Book That Dreams"

© G P F for All images and text, please do not use without my express permission.

Mr Buckley does this so beautifully, never the less, I often rearrange this in my head. I would love to hear it performed on the piano with a female voice and violin to accompany. Usually would have suggest cello or clarinet, but it's such a soulful lyric that maybe a violin/fiddle would be better - might make the piano version a little longer :) www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMTEtDBHGY4 -

A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta /ˌpɒliˌpɒdiˈɒfɪtə, -əˈfaɪtə/)[citation needed] is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes except the lycopods, and differ from mosses and other bryophytes by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the branched sporophyte is the dominant phase. Ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Ferns are defined here in the broad sense, being all of the Polypodiopsida, comprising both the leptosporangiate (Polypodiidae) and eusporangiate ferns, the latter group including horsetails, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns.

Ferns first appear in the fossil record about 360 million years ago in the late Devonian period, but many of the current families and species did not appear until roughly 145 million years ago in the early Cretaceous, after flowering plants came to dominate many environments. The fern Osmunda claytoniana is a paramount example of evolutionary stasis; paleontological evidence indicates it has remained unchanged, even at the level of fossilized nuclei and chromosomes, for at least 180 million years.

Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants, and for remediating contaminated soil. They have been the subject of research for their ability to remove some chemical pollutants from the atmosphere. Some fern species, such as bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) and water fern (Azolla filiculoides) are significant weeds worldwide. Some fern genera, such as Azolla, can fix nitrogen and make a significant input to the nitrogen nutrition of rice paddies. They also play certain roles in folklore.

A fern is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Like other vascular plants, ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species.

Taken at Centennial Park Conservatory

Thank you all for your visit, faves and kind comments. Always greatly appreciated.

Copyright 2019 © Gloria Sanvicente

A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Ferns are defined here in the broad sense, being all of the Polypodiopsida, comprising both the leptosporangiate (Polypodiidae) and eusporangiate ferns, the latter itself comprising ferns other than those denominated true ferns, including horsetails or scouring rushes, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns. Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil. 820 c

A Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly ready to land. The long "tongue" (proboscis) is curled up. The "tongue is like a flexible straw that they uncoil to drink the nectar from flowers.

In Havana’s heat the night uncoils,

a velvet hush, a shimmer of spoils—

rum breathes fire in crystal glass,

music drips slow as lovers pass.

Moonlight waltzes on cobblestone,

a whispered laugh, a softened moan;

the air tastes sweet with sweat and sin,

as hearts ignite where shadows spin.

Beneath the palms, desire sways—

time forgets the coming days;

for on this sultry, rum-soaked shore,

love burns bright, then asks for more.

A.I Generated image using Google Gemini. The original image of me sitting at a table was shot with an Olympus E-PL3 with a 14mm Panasonic lens. The brightness and contrast were altered in Adobe Lightroom.

In real life I did like Havana - but boy was it hot even at night.

Still slowly processing and posting...

A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Ferns are defined here in the broad sense, being all of the Polypodiopsida, comprising both the leptosporangiate (Polypodiidae) and eusporangiate ferns, the latter itself comprising ferns other than those denominated true ferns, including horsetails or scouring rushes, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns. Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil. 821

Photograph of a young fern plant showing young leaves which will uncoil as they develop...

Colorful Nature ~ Green Tuesday

A fern is a member of a group of vascular plants that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having certain tissue that conducts water and nutrients, and having branched stems. Like other vascular plants, ferns have leaves, and these are "megaphylls", which are more complex than the "microphylls" of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes termed "true ferns"; they produce what are called "fiddleheads" that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fern

A Blue Heron is locked onto a target and about to uncoil its neck in a lightning fast strike that will seize its prey.

A fern is a member of a group of vascular plants that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients, in having branched stems and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Like other vascular plants, ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species.

Ferns first appear in the fossil record about 360 million years ago in the late Devonian period, but many of the current families and species did not appear until roughly 145 million years ago in the early Cretaceous, after flowering plants came to dominate many environments. The fern Osmunda claytoniana is a paramount example of evolutionary stasis; paleontological evidence indicates it has remained unchanged, even at the level of fossilized nuclei and chromosomes, for at least 180 million years.

(Source Wikipedia)

Steve Winwood - Roll With It (1988): youtu.be/X6x_bbuSc_4

A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Ferns are defined here in the broad sense, being all of the Polypodiopsida, comprising both the leptosporangiate (Polypodiidae) and eusporangiate ferns, the latter itself comprising ferns other than those denominated true ferns, including horsetails or scouring rushes, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns. Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil. 36737

A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase. Ferns have complex leaves called megaphylls, that are more complex than the microphylls of clubmosses. Most ferns are leptosporangiate ferns, sometimes referred to as true ferns. They produce coiled fiddleheads that uncoil and expand into fronds. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Ferns are defined here in the broad sense, being all of the Polypodiopsida, comprising both the leptosporangiate (Polypodiidae) and eusporangiate ferns, the latter itself comprising ferns other than those denominated true ferns, including horsetails or scouring rushes, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns. Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil.

Dicksonia antarctica, the soft tree fern or man fern, is a species of evergreen tree fern native to eastern Australia, ranging from south-east Queensland, coastal New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania. These ferns can grow to 15 m in height, but more typically grow to about 4.5–5 m, and consist of an erect rhizome forming a trunk. They are very hairy at the base of the stipe (trunk). The large, dark green, roughly-textured fronds spread in a canopy of 2–6 m in diameter. The shapes of the stems vary as some grow curved and there are multi-headed ones. The fronds are borne in flushes, with fertile and sterile fronds often in alternating layers. 36742

The lovely little Red Postman - Heliconius erato - is also known as the Small Postman, the Red Passion Flower Butterfly and the Crimson-Patched Longwing. They are found in southern Texas and down to northern Argentina and Paraguay and also Trinidad where they live on the edges of tropical rainforests collecting nectar and particularly pollen from the Lantana camara flower and especially the Passion Flower. They prefer collecting pollen which they collect on the side of their proboscis which they then coil and uncoil to release the pollens nutrients. Apparently, it is named because of its habit of daily visiting the same flowers in its area via the same route, just like a postman would. This one was seen at the Butterfly House on Aruba.

This Picture is fully © Copyrighted.

None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

It took patience to find the moment when all county fair rides in my frame were spinning at the same time.

I was dazzled by the spinning lights; however, after looking at this photo, I think the operator is the story. In that four second long exposure time and without any prompting from me, the operator didn't move a hair or muscle as he focused intensely on the welfare of those riding the merry-go-round that he was in charge of. Look how the ride’s metal box with the stop button is within an arm’s movement away. He wouldn’t even have to raise his arm, just uncoil it, to strike the button.

That long Butterfly Tongue or Proboscis is coiled tightly inside our insect's head when not in use. If the nectar of a flower is sufficiently enticing, a kind of haemolymph pump uncoils and lengthens that Proboscis. It then functions basically as a kind of straw with a suction pump in Butterfly's head. The tongue at its tip also has a kind of sponge which takes up nectar - later to be sucked up - by capillary action. It's all very intricate and highly fascinating.

Here in the Butterfly House of the Hortus is a Zebra Longwing whose forebears came from Middle and South America (including the West Indies). Its keepers have wisely planted Tropical Milkweed for its nourishment. Asclepias currassavia hails from those same Americas, as the 'currassavia' - from Curaçao - already indicates.