tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post1599746050682052594..comments2023-12-28T17:18:03.050-05:00Comments on In the Direction of Our Dreams: It’s a Dune day….mostlySherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-51413118211937677632013-05-24T16:57:51.637-04:002013-05-24T16:57:51.637-04:00I know this is a late comment to an even later pos...I know this is a late comment to an even later post but maybe you will see it.The pine you saw was a Sand Pine (Pinus clausa) it is found in two separate locations, one across central peninsular Florida, and the other in the western Florida panhandle and the Alabama coast. Over much of its range, it is fire-adapted to stand wildfires, with the cones remaining closed for many years (clausa = closed), until a natural forest fire kills the mature trees and opens the cones. These then reseed the burnt ground.The green cones you saw were the new cones about a year old. The orange covered ones were older maybe many years older. The coating is a kind of resin that protects and seals the cones. Most southern pines keep their cones for 2 to 3 years and then they drop from the tree after they open and release the seed which have wings like little helicopters and can fly up to 50 to 75 yards from the mother tree. I'm retired now but i spent the early years of my time with the Alabama Forestry Commission collecting cones from different pines for a genetic s study, even these little buggers. Don't worry there is nothing wrong with the cones, they are just waiting for the right conditions.Sevendayweekendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539291145934005096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-13150028198583880122013-05-06T15:14:38.696-04:002013-05-06T15:14:38.696-04:00What a great day! I love going barefoot too!What a great day! I love going barefoot too!Catherine, Jo Beth and Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06889362286725037937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-29910564805882837922013-05-04T10:44:51.649-04:002013-05-04T10:44:51.649-04:00What a great hike with all those wildflowers on th...What a great hike with all those wildflowers on the dune trail. I don't think, however, I would feel comfortable going barefoot in that water. Good for you. Too bad about the rain when you started kayaking. The dune lake looks amazing. Guess you'll have to make a return visit next year. Big EZ Travelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04042182363320148353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-76557571391735378242013-05-04T07:47:09.656-04:002013-05-04T07:47:09.656-04:00Nice to be ble to walk amongst the dunes without t...Nice to be ble to walk amongst the dunes without the threat of endangering them. Like so many others ... not a barefoot walker, except on the beach, that is.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08333995679958103393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-30480235520042061952013-05-03T22:06:12.997-04:002013-05-03T22:06:12.997-04:00It really was a very nice hike! It really was a very nice hike! Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-39515900233672926482013-05-03T22:04:43.074-04:002013-05-03T22:04:43.074-04:00Paula you are a gem. Why don't these state pa...Paula you are a gem. Why don't these state parks snatch you up?? I've been now to a lot of Florida state parks and I have yet to see a ranger with as much knowledge as you have. Thank you so much for going to the trouble to do this research. Nature is amazing that's for sure. The bush and many others along the path were covered with the galls.Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-30263593692065995422013-05-03T20:33:07.277-04:002013-05-03T20:33:07.277-04:00I meant to mention earlier, the beautiful lizard i...I meant to mention earlier, the beautiful lizard in your photo was a Northern Fence Lizard (a.k.a. Eastern Fence Lizard). I love them!<br /><br />And I have some interesting information regarding the second flowering bush. The bush itself is rusty lyonia, or lyonia ferruginea (the first one was another type of lyonia, the lyonia lucida). The large flowers aren't flowers at all, but galls. A gall is a plant's natural reaction to an irritant, usually either a fungus or an insect. Insects will generally irritate a plant in hopes that a gall will form so that they can use the gall for protection. If that one was caused by insects, chances are you could cut it open and find them inside it. <br /><br />Galls can take many forms. These just happen to mimic flowers. They are fascinating! I shared your picture with an author friend of mine, and she got a group of botanists involved (really). So, there you go! Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01273503148580985182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-79560272930731070872013-05-03T16:35:49.906-04:002013-05-03T16:35:49.906-04:00That is a nice hike!That is a nice hike!Chuck and Anneke's RV travelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01929384797592263167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-73954650170335986032013-05-03T15:05:50.539-04:002013-05-03T15:05:50.539-04:00LOL at your comment! We did get soaked. I think ...LOL at your comment! We did get soaked. I think he was less cold than I because he was moving and I was sitting. Somehow I never think of Winnona as a "motor vehicle". She's my home so the key thing didn't occur to me but you are totally right. Even a house needs a "hidden key". Getting one for Winnona may not be as easy as going to a lock smith and saying 'could you copy this?' Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-54238668752927007272013-05-03T15:03:40.545-04:002013-05-03T15:03:40.545-04:00It's true Paul, We both said 'oh it's ...It's true Paul, We both said 'oh it's a little swamp walk, cool'. The mystery flower actually reminded me of something Disney might have created but Nature beat him to it. The extra key is on my list.Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-12543700048746460602013-05-03T14:04:20.215-04:002013-05-03T14:04:20.215-04:00Fantastic! I'm glad you could see all the way...Fantastic! I'm glad you could see all the way through the water - never know what lizard/allegator critters could be lurking down under. The flowers on the dunes are amazing - I imagine some people think of dunes as nothing but sand and have no realization of how amazingly diverse they are. That was a lot of rain - both you and Dad definitely got soaked there! You always harp on me to have a spare key...soooo...where is yours, huh, huh?? ;)Carrienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-82029078264377696932013-05-03T11:46:47.818-04:002013-05-03T11:46:47.818-04:00After wading through a swamp, walking in that litt...After wading through a swamp, walking in that little bit of water was no problem for you. <br /><br />Truly a magical day, even Disney can't top Nature for such wonders that you found.<br /><br />I have a door key hidden away outside my MH so I can always get in, not that I have ever locked myself out or misplaced my keys... ;c)Paul and Marti Dahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17332654035718777839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-61162550696091512732013-05-03T11:33:40.793-04:002013-05-03T11:33:40.793-04:00Thank you so much for the compliment Ruth. It was...Thank you so much for the compliment Ruth. It was a great hike and I'm so glad to have you hike along with me.Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-88290381447496157622013-05-03T11:32:04.691-04:002013-05-03T11:32:04.691-04:00Thanks Laurie. Glad you came along!Thanks Laurie. Glad you came along!Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-79625097223285344232013-05-03T11:25:42.099-04:002013-05-03T11:25:42.099-04:00Great post! Loved walking along with you. Barefoot...Great post! Loved walking along with you. Barefoot in the white sand is the best!owensontheroadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12076915620668491771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-7074392539668084852013-05-03T11:17:24.515-04:002013-05-03T11:17:24.515-04:00That it was pollen was my first thought too. Davi...That it was pollen was my first thought too. David thought it looked like a fungus. The color was really striking. I guess I'm just an ol' country girl. I love to go barefoot anywhere I can get away with it.Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-16320187711736072102013-05-03T11:11:58.022-04:002013-05-03T11:11:58.022-04:00The flowers didn't look like an oleander. The...The flowers didn't look like an oleander. They were very strange to me. I've never seen anything like them before. Thanks for your encouragement Nancy. Although this blog with my blabberfingers would take ages to read as a book. :-)Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-36198573673914971162013-05-03T10:37:47.887-04:002013-05-03T10:37:47.887-04:00Could the orange stuff simply be pollen that has f...Could the orange stuff simply be pollen that has fallen on the cones from the tree?<br /><br />I'm with David, I don't walk anywhere barefoot. Travels with Emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00411769980205792011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-48326691666533251142013-05-03T10:10:55.127-04:002013-05-03T10:10:55.127-04:00Boy, what a day!!! I could just feel your joy! The...Boy, what a day!!! I could just feel your joy! The Captain is righ because I was right behind him. :) That's not an Oleander Bush is it? I would think they'd have a sign since it's poisonous. I've only seen them in an orangy-red color, but I don't know if they come in other colors.<br /><br />I give you credit. I don't know if I could put my feet in water that was that color, but then I'm chicken. I had to laugh when you went back and were locked out of Winona (and, the thought did go through my mind that it might have been even funnier if the awning hadn't been out). Sorry. :) I guess David was even wetter when he returned.<br /><br />I have been in Florida rains and they are like waterfalls. Refreshing, though, if you're not cold. :) Can't wait to read your next adventure. I can picture you, some day in the distant future, reading your blog from beginning to end to David. I hope you'll consider making a book out of it for Carrie.hobopalshttp://travelswithmrnimble.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-12775629396610474512013-05-03T09:50:54.465-04:002013-05-03T09:50:54.465-04:00I agree with Capt. Joey, you do a great job writin...I agree with Capt. Joey, you do a great job writing your posts. I feel like I just got to hike the trail right along with you. So glad you had such a fun hike.<br /><br />Ruth<br /><a href="http://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com" rel="nofollow">www.travelwithkevinandruth.com</a>Kevin Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05795747155781311686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-34122229969341357482013-05-03T09:47:46.024-04:002013-05-03T09:47:46.024-04:00Thank you Captain. I am happy to see you again. ...Thank you Captain. I am happy to see you again. And glad that I could give you a hike you enjoyed. I did too!! Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-34861251072447457402013-05-03T09:46:29.328-04:002013-05-03T09:46:29.328-04:00There are other entries to the lake across from ot...There are other entries to the lake across from other campsites. Maybe the on line map will show you other spots too. The dunes all along the panhandle are wonderful. You are so right about the hike. Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-43508016306097968372013-05-03T09:44:14.339-04:002013-05-03T09:44:14.339-04:00Paula, so good to see you again. Thanks for your ...Paula, so good to see you again. Thanks for your help with the Florida flora. The parks don't know what they are missing not having you as a ranger. Don't be a stranger. Love hearing from you.Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-16686268158548613702013-05-03T09:43:27.123-04:002013-05-03T09:43:27.123-04:00I think you are right, I need to kayak the dune la...I think you are right, I need to kayak the dune lake and spend more time on the beach and do the trail again!Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328866430156879312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309293625176086078.post-89742769931291096282013-05-03T08:44:58.383-04:002013-05-03T08:44:58.383-04:00I have say Sherry your writing is top shelf and ha...I have say Sherry your writing is top shelf and having travel all 48 states for a living (42yrs) I love the way you tell your story's...and bring out the subject matter, makes me feel like I'm right behind you...Joeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07850491334265857432noreply@blogger.com