Searching for Fall Color in North Central Florida

[htmb]

For the past week skies have been dismally gray in North Central Florida. The last time I can recall seeing blue overhead was as I was traveling back from Cedar Key almost a week ago and noticed clouds moving in from the northeast.

Since I had been absolutely sick of what I perceived to be the drab and the dreary - ok, I wouldn't do too well in the northern climates, I admit it - I decided to go in search of outdoor autumn color. I actually discovered a whole lot more color, and form, than I had expected. 

Leaving my home, with no exact plan, I traveled around for awhile and started to take in different shades of orange, gold, red, and yellow; some of the colors you might see farther north where they experience a "real" autumn. But then I also noticed something different: orange and green citrus, ripe and ready to eat, glossy green leaves of the magnolias, rusty red cypress leaves, tall, dark and strong trunks of live oaks, and bright,  colorful houses. 






The Holly trees were laden with berries.




And camellias were beginning to burst forth with bloom.




The live oaks were majestic.




Many of the sago palms were ripe with seeds. I absolutely love sago palms and this one was huge.






The hydrangeas were definitely way beyond their peak.



But their colors were still wonderfully interesting.




And this fountain was just delightfully beautiful and fun.

[htmb]

The skies remained gray, but as I continued to search for color I found it popping out from every direction.



















I almost decided not to post the next picture because I think one must really look closely before seeing the magnolia, different palms, maple, and crepe myrtles, but I love how the photo shows such a diversity of plantings.

[htmb]

Crape myrtles always look a bit forlorn in the wintertime, I think. But still, my day was brightening as I continued to take in the colorful sights.






























And then I met a few fellow travelers, and everything began to spiral out of control as my camera developed a mind of its own.

[htmb]

Many of the photographs in the first part of this thread were taken on the grounds of the Thomas Center, and it's surroundings, in historic Gainesville. Construction of the Thomas Center building began in 1910, and it served as home to the William R. Thomas family. It was later enlarged in 1928, and turned into a hotel. The Thomas Center was added to the United States National Registry of Historic Places in 1973, and today it is owned by the City of Gainesville. It is used as a cultural center, featuring local history exhibits, period rooms, a space for cultural events, and it houses some city offices. The Thomas Center Galleries also features ever changing art by local artists and school children. As you can see, the grounds of the Thomas Center are also very lovely. 

Surrounding the Thomas Center is what we call "Historic Gainesville," as this is where most of the original homes of the city were built. Back in the 1970's and '80's local preservationists who fought hard to save historic buildings, including the Thomas Center, we're called "Hysteric Gainesville, Inc." by many of the folks who failed to understand the need to restore old "termite eaten firetraps." Many years later one can certainly appreciate the accomplishments of this hard working group of preservationists.

[htmb]

Leaving the Thomas Center I traveled east towards the Duck Pond area. The Duck Pond "pond" is actually part of the 3.3 square mile Sweetwater Branch Watershed. It flows south through downtown Gainesville and is eventually discharged into Paynes Prairie State Preserve where it flows down into the Floridan Aquifer. 

At least twice in the past I have recalled Muscovy ducks being relocated from the Duck Pond area because of the foul odor of their feces, as well as pollution of the creek system. The duck pond neighborhood association voted to remove the most recent Muscovites with the hope that wild ducks would use it as a stop on their passage through the area.

So, as I headed towards the Duck Pond, I had no idea I would see any waterfowl and had just planned to travel straight on through the area. It was a shock to come across these beautiful travelers, and here is where I lost all control of my camera. Honestly, what you will see beyond this point was drastically pared down. I swear!

Floating down in the creek, these male hooded mergansers ( I think) look more like floating toys, rather than real ducks.





They were astonishingly beautiful and were certainly colorful!











I hung around for awhile watching the ducks, took fourteen thousand pictures, and then wandered towards the south boundary of the pond, always keeping my eye out for more color. So far, I'd done VERY well.













Would there be more new discoveries today?

[htmb]

North Central Florida is too far north to allow for regular citrus groves as a commercial venture, though many tried and failed around the end of the 19th century. Still, one can often find healthy citrus trees in yards where it's been protected by buildings, nearby water (which helps to keep the air warmer), and owners who zealously cover their trees when a hard freeze is expected. Not an easy task. I grew up in the middle of the state where citrus flourished, so it was with pleasure that I discovered trees bulging with fruit in several yards.







And, no, I did not take any. I was taught that only common criminals stole fruit. It was serious business in my family.

Further down the creek I came upon more water fowl: three geese and two small ducks. When I was a teenager my family owned two extremely vicious African geese. Since we lived in the middle of nowhere they served as excellent watchdogs, but I really detested those geese. Because I have a healthy respect for geese I don't know I kept my distance while I continued to take photographs. 










Just as I realized these geese were fairly mild-mannered and possibly had clipped wings keeping them from flying away, they began to get agitated and appeared frightened.





They began swimming back and forth, while squawking and honking incessantly. 











They were attempting to flee, but from what?

SPOILER: Click to show

[htmb]

While I was at the creek, several people passed by in cars, on bikes, or just out for a walk.
This fella was walking his dog,




as well as his alien child.



I was also beginning to see more and more examples of fall color as the day progressed.




Of course, this is when I totally lost my photographic sense and began to take picture, after picture, after......  I had never seen two black swans "in the wild." Certainly not in Gainesville, Florida. These two were absolutely gorgeous! Did they fly here on their way to a winter home? Were they planning to winter here?




























While I was taking photos a young Frenchman and his girlfriend walked up. He told me he had lived in the neighborhood for a long time, but had never seen swans before a couple of weeks ago. He seemed very knowledgeable and said the black swans were in the process of migrating south. As a hopeless romantic I really wanted to believe him, but further research proved him wrong. 

An announcement in a recent Duck Pond Neighborhood Association Newsletter tells the story of how the two swans, who are approximately one year of age, were raised in an aviary and released into the creek with the hopes that they would make it their year-round home.  I wish I hadn't found that little bit of information on the Internet. Does this also mean Frenchmen are not to be trusted?

[htmb]

And what of the geese? I wondered where they were hiding.

Take a look at this big cypress tree. It's growing on a small island meant to be a safe harbor for the waterfowl, to keep them away from predators.





Here's where the geese were hiding from the swans.







It doesn't appear to be a very safe haven, as this is what I could see at the base of the little island.




It was time to move on in search of more fall color. I can only hope all of these gorgeous birds stay safe and don't become dinner for any of the neighborhood pets.

[htmb]

What a bright and colorful day this had become, despite the still gray skies.

[bixaorellana]

I hope you don't take it amiss when I tell you that I'm starting to hate you a little bit.

Your pictures are just too damned GOOD! With this thread, you have finished raising the bar so high that it now seems unattainable.

You've also captured something extremely subtle, the very quality of the air of the deep south autumn -- something that goes perfectly with the gently dramatic progress towards winter there.

In the first photo in Reply #1 -- is that azalea (wild azalea?) blooming there amid the ferns & ardisia(?)? That camellia at far right is bursting with buds!

Absolutely brilliant pictures, narrative, humor, & information, Htmb!

[htmb]

These tangerines were very tempting!



I pass by this pretty little hibiscus bush every day and I'm wondering if it will make it through winter this year.







What had originally seemed like a flat, completely gray day
turned into a vividly colorful one after all!

[htmb]

Nov 18, 2012 4:01:19 GMT bixaorellana said:

I hope you don't take it amiss when I tell you that I'm starting to hate you a little bit.

Your pictures are just too damned GOOD! With this thread, you have finished raising the bar so high that it now seems unattainable.

You've also captured something extremely subtle, the very quality of the air of the deep south autumn -- something that goes perfectly with the gently dramatic progress towards winter there.

In the first photo in Reply #1 -- is that azalea (wild azalea?) blooming there amid the ferns & ardisia(?)? That camellia at far right is bursting with buds!

Absolutely brilliant pictures, narrative, humor, & information, Htmb!

Oh, HELL, bixa. I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. Thanks, I think.

The azaleas are the type that bloom twice a year and were on the Thomas Center grounds.

Yes, this is a great area for growing camellias. They typically thrive in our soil.

[htmb]

I appreciate what you said about capturing autumn. As you know, we barely get into winter before it's time for spring again. I often find myself forgetting what a really great place this is to live.

One thing I did not photograph was a homeless (I assume) person, wrapped up in a sleeping bag and blanket, asleep on one side of the beautiful Thomas Center Gardens lawn. What a gorgeous place to find safe harbor.

[tod2]

Great job htmb! The houses are so different and look superbly well kept. One can't help noticing the yards are all 'open-plan' and the viewer is not looking at endless high security walls like here. I'm willing to bet the majority don't even have a burglar alarm!..........let alone an armed response unit ;D

Your black swan photos are truly stunning. I looked up all the geese and ducks in my bird book but the closest those orange-billed brown geese came, was to our Egyptian geese.
The yellow-billed ones with a knob at the top of its beak are males I think - the females have a slightly less protrusion.

I am struck by the beauty of those little ducks with elevated crowns of feathers, and teeny yellow beads for eyes!

You showed us this photo:
"Many of the sago palms were ripe with seeds. I absolutely love sago palms and this one was huge".

Your palm looks like it could be related to my Cycad? Mines just putting out a round ball of new leaves, or maybe a fruit?, which it has done before some years ago.

Thanks for a lovely report and photos.

[Deleted]

Fabulous thread and fantastic pics HTMB!!

So very similar to our environs here in NOLA. Many of your pics could easily have been taken here and no one could discern the difference.

I especially love the water fowl shots!!

Thanks for this HTMB, well done!!

[mossie]

As the good book says "Seek and ye shall find". You have certainly found a lot here, I particularly liked your shots of the Mergansers, very pretty ducks. But the two headed swan got me ;D ;D, and the tin cockerel.
An excellent thread.

[htmb]

Nov 18, 2012 8:18:07 GMT tod2 said:

Great job htmb! The houses are so different and look superbly well kept. One can't help noticing the yards are all 'open-plan' and the viewer is not looking at endless high security walls like here. I'm willing to bet the majority don't even have a burglar alarm!..........let alone an armed response unit ;D


Your palm looks like it could be related to my Cycad? Mines just putting out a round ball of new leaves, or maybe a fruit?, which it has done before some years ago.

Thanks for a lovely report and photos.

Thank you very much, tod. I'm glad you liked my little report. I'm not sure what the crime rate is in Gainesville. Certainly there is crime, but most homes do not have barred gates and windows. Typically, the main purposes of fences are to keep pets in the yards. I did notice signs for interior alarm systems on some of the houses in the Duck Pond area, but would assume you are right in thinking that most do not utilize that type of home security. I would also venture to say that other neighborhoods in the city have higher levels of crime.

You are right about the Sago Palm. It's not a palm at all; it's a cycad. I use to remember more of the facts when I had a lot of Sagos at my old home. They are a very popular plant for landscaping here in Florida. The photo I took shows the fruit/seeds in a sort of nest. We once harvested the lot from one plant and found at least a hundred pods. The whole plant is very toxic, so pets should not be allowed to chew on any part of it.

[htmb]

Thank you casimira and Mossie.

Yes, I would agree that many of the homes could also fit perfectly into some of the NOLA neighborhoods I've seen.

Mossie, I loved the tin cockerel, as well. Those two birds were several blocks apart and I am honestly surprised the first one, which was near a street corner, hadn't already been stolen. I guess it says a lot for the neighborhood.

[lugg]

Wow - wild birds, aliens, colour, fab architecture, text/pics that made me laugh , brilliant photos, and a fabulous insight into Autumn in an area that is so unfamiliar to me , thanks Htmb

[Deleted]

I'm delighted when someone has fully understood the whole point of this site, which is to show all sorts of aspects of one's daily life, including the items that might seem to be of no interest, but which are fascinating to people around the world.

This thread is fantastic, because it takes us everywhere, from vegetation to architecture to people to animals and everything in between. That is exactly everything that I want to see when people are showing where they live or where they have been.

[htmb]

Nov 18, 2012 19:30:50 GMT kerouac2 said:

I'm delighted when someone has fully understood the whole point of this site, which is to show all sorts of aspects of one's daily life, including the items that might seem to be of no interest, but which are fascinating to people around the world.

This thread is fantastic, because it takes us everywhere, from vegetation to architecture to people to animals and everything in between. That is exactly everything that I want to see when people are showing where they live or where they have been.

Thank you very much, lugg and Kerouac. I am so glad you liked my little thread and I appreciate your positive feedback (that wasn't the g & t talking, was it k? ). It all unfolded as reported, over the course of a couple of hours, and was an enjoyable time for me.

I have appreciated the variety of stories told in the various threads of AnyPort, as well as the different styles of reporting. Many thanks to those of you who had the vision to begin this most interesting port of call, and who have kept it going for close to four years.

Just look at what we've had to choose from in the last few months: Tales of the celebration of the dead from Mexico, wild beasts in Kruger, every thing you could ever dream about from France, detailed bicycle tours, cultural experiences in Louisiana, oh my goodness.....New York, Arizona, Canada, Spain, Jordan, England, Idaho, Michigan, Latvia, Budapest, etc. etc.

Yeah, I know, I've left a lot out, but my point is that this is a fantastic place to learn from others and to exchange information. I certainly hope that anyone reading this, who has not yet actively participated, will consider sharing with us, too.

Incidentally, today there's not a cloud in the sky in North Central Florida. The gray skies have finally disappeared and we are having another gorgeous day.

[Deleted]

Sorry, but that list just made me quite sad that we lost our reporter from Cambodia. When I think of the report that he would have made about the effect of Obama's trip to Cambodia this week, it just seems like such a huge shame... sorry to bring this up on this wonderful thread.

[htmb]

Nov 18, 2012 20:49:43 GMT kerouac2 said:

Sorry, but that list just made me quite sad that we lost our reporter from Cambodia. When I think of the report that he would have made about the effect of Obama's trip to Cambodia this week, it just seems like such a huge shame... sorry to bring this up on this wonderful thread.

I understand, Kerouac. I started to list Cambodia, and then thought I wouldn't. I first came here early in the summer and wasn't as familiar with hwinpp as many of you, but as I continue to look through old threads I've gotten a real sense of his character and personality. What a terrible loss to all of you who knew his work and his words. It's never inappropriate to recall the name of someone who played a meaningful part in our lives.

[mich64]

What an enjoyable walk that must have been htmb. The photo I liked the most was the fountain, the drops of water are so beautiful, the ones dripping in front look like crystals.

The ducks, geese and swans are gorgeous and would have been entertaining to sit and watch. I am always amazed at the details in the markings on birds.

It would be a beautiful place to live. I also enjoy the choices of paint colors of the homes, they compliment the vegetation. Are there flower nurseries open at this time of year to buy annuals for flower beds?

Have you always lived in Florida?

We spent our honeymoon in Orlando and I still remember how beautiful it was to be there in November.

[htmb]

Nov 18, 2012 22:25:44 GMT mich64 said:

What an enjoyable walk that must have been htmb. The photo I liked the most was the fountain, the drops of water are so beautiful, the ones dripping in front look like crystals.

The ducks, geese and swans are gorgeous and would have been entertaining to sit and watch. I am always amazed at the details in the markings on birds.

It would be a beautiful place to live. I also enjoy the choices of paint colors of the homes, they compliment the vegetation. Are there flower nurseries open at this time of year to buy annuals for flower beds?

Have you always lived in Florida?

We spent our honeymoon in Orlando and I still remember how beautiful it was to be there in November.

Thank you very much, Mich. Yes, the flowing fountain was fun. I took about ten pictures of it while I practiced capturing those droplets of water. There was a fairly brisk breeze that also added to the challenge.

Mich, here the plant nurseries are open all year round, though they will vary their plant inventory according to the seasons. This is really a beautiful time of year in Florida. The weather is cool, but the humidity is usually a bit lower. Our winters are typically mild and we might get a few nights where temperatures drop below freezing. Winters here can be pretty great, but the wicked hot and humid summers are not much fun unless you can find a way to keep cool.

Yes, other than some temporary moves, I have lived in Florida all my life. In fact, my parents, grandparents, and at least four great-grandparents were also native Floridians.

[htmb]

As I mentioned in the weather thread, we had some freezing temperatures last week resulting in a splash of extraordinary fall color for our area. I'd like to get out on the river before ithe leaves have all gone, but decided to take a few pictures around town and add to this thread from two years ago.

[mich64]

Lovely additional photos htmb! The beautiful yellow and orange seem more vibrant with the different hues of green.

[htmb]

Thank you so much, Mich. I especially love the flame orange color of the cypress trees. It's much more intense this year.