Lucky Shenanigans

My grandson and I enjoyed a St. Patrick’s Day scavenger hunt at a local wildlife preserve.  As directed by the activity volunteers, he chose a cute little cardboard leprechaun that he was to photograph next to sought after plants, rocks, trees, etc.  Using a naming chart based on the first letter of my grandson’s name and the month my grandson was born, the leprechaun was called Lucky Shenanigans. 

Natural treasures
Lucky Shenanigans found
Pots of gold not missed

Colleen’s 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 25, 3/12/24, Part II

Star Magnolia

Sweet smelling spring stars
Complement new fresh green leaves
Faces shine brightly

Week 11: “First Peach Blossoms” at seasonwords.com

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge (FOTD)

Blue Crowned Conure

Native to South America, these parakeets have naturalized in South Florida. They are extremely vocal, so hard to miss squawking among the treetops.

Parakeets at Play

I. J.’s Birds of the Week Invitation LV

Biophilia

Deep in the urban jungle
A yearning to commune with nature
Hidden gems are interspersed between buildings
Well worn nature trails and picturesque waterways
Lined with dense greenery and abundant wildlife
Calling the biophiliac home
An opportunity to tap into the natural world 
A breath shared among the green trees
A toe dipped in rippling blue water
A hard reset before plodding back to urbanity

Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Saving Daylight with #Green

Weekend Writing Prompt #354 – Tap

Buckminster Fuller’s Fly’s Eye Dome

Located in Miami’s Design District

A view from the inside…

Lens-Artists Challenge #290 – Circular Wonders, hosted by Leya.

American Kestrel

You appear but a tiny raptor
Yet you know you are a mighty falcon 
Vibrant colors adorn you
Intricate markings tell your tale

For I. J.’s Birds of the Week Invitation LIV

A Flood of Tears

“Do unshed tears wait in little lakes?” *  
To rise higher and higher with each heartbreak?

The dams I have built to withstand the flood
Will ultimately shatter as my heart and break

The little lakes overflow into roaring rapids
An intense stride that no obstacle can break

Rushing unobstructedly and out of control
A futile attempt to avoid hell’s loose break

The pressure builds with forceful intent
Fighting, fighting until a cold sweat I break

Feel the tears flow through the flooded gate
Unburdened and grateful for the clean break

*Line chosen from Pablo Neruda’s ‘Book of Questions’

For dVerse’s MTB: Echoing Back, hosted by Laura.

I have attempted the Ghazal form. I apologize if I got the form wrong and appreciate any feedback.

Image created with Bing AI

For the Love of Lizards

Agama
(Native to West Africa)

Lizards abound in south Florida. Most are not native. As entertaining as the lizards are the people who hate them, jumping (even shrieking) when one scurries across their path. Though I must admit that I get a little twitchy when I spot a large alligator or crocodile basking on a nearby shoreline.

Brown Anole
(Native to Cuba and Bahamas)

Northern Curly Tail Lizard
(Native to Cuba, Bahamas and Cayman Islands)

Curly tail lizards were purposely introduced to Florida for pest control of the sugar cane crops.

Green Iguana
(Native to Mexico, Central and South America, Tropical Caribbean Islands)

Iguanas are extremely difficult pets to manage. They have strict environmental needs, a rapid growth rate, sharp claws and a weaponized tail. For more information about caring for an iguana, see my previously published article Meet My Iguana. It is not surprising that iguanas have been released into the wild by pet owners.

For RDP Thursday – LIZARD

American Alligator

She Wilts

Gifted the world
Natural beauty and intelligence 
Wealth and opportunity 
Loved and doted upon

There she sits
A wilted flower
Ask what she lacks
She will not (cannot?) tell

An easy smile
A dismissive shrug
Yet under the surface
Lies something profound

W3 Prompt #97: Wea’ve Written Weekly’s poet of the week, Jane, prompts us to write a three stanza poem inspired by the phrase ‘a wilted flower.’

Featured image generated by Bing

Metal Pairs

Old Metal Water Towers – Spencer, North Carolina

Pair of Metal Sculptures – Prague, Czech Republic

Stone and Metal Windmills – Trapani Salt Flats, Sicily

Cute Trash Can Couple – Markham Park Butterfly Garden, Florida

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) – Pairs