February in Bloom

suwanneerose in bloom

Hey there!

Here’s a bit of what February looked like in Tampa and Fort Pierce.A quick stroll through USF Botanical Gardens. Camellias, roses, orchids, begonias… We stop by this incredible collection of palms and cycads at the Gizella Kopsick Arboretum every chance we get. It’s right on the waterfront in St. Pete. I’m obsessed with this Cuban petticoat palm.Our favorite hike through Hillsborough River State Park. Had lunch across the river from a little gator.Vulture vigil over a wild hog. Davis Islands sunset.Andrew’s mulch pile parkour.First Carrie babies.First key limes.First guavas.First pigeon peas.Grapefruit, sûpremed.Collards collards collards.Our little box turtle buddy hanging out under the sea lavender. 

And now for so many links:

More exceptional writing and photography from Bitter Southerner: The last oyster tongers of Apalachicola. 

Cat people might find this one interesting: understanding how lizards can lose their tails. It’s also how stone crabs can release their claws.

Breathtaking multimedia voyage through the Everglades. 

Mullet roe is now fancy.

Go on a virtual tour of how a book is made. 

My friend Amanda is hiking the Florida Trail. She once rode her bike from Tampa to Maine. I’m always wondering what people eat on these trips. She eats a lot of dried cranberries and freeze-dried bean soup mixes. When I asked her about the clothes she packs she laughed. No change of clothes. 

Collard Green & Culture

The experience of trying new exotic fruit. Even here in tropical fruit land, I’ve only scratched the surface. 

Don’t forget your history. Know your destiny. In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty.

Happy Sunday, y’all. 

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7 Comments February in Bloom

  1. Evangelia February 28, 2022 at 8:13 am

    Lovely thank you for sharing! Happy Spring!

    1. suwanneerose March 1, 2022 at 7:55 am

      Thank you, Evangelia! Happy Spring! I hope all is well.

  2. Misti February 28, 2022 at 11:07 am

    I didn’t know you were friends with Amanda! She thru-hiked the first time when we did the FT in 2011! Someone she knows reached out to me earlier this year about interviewing her on my FT podcast so I’m hoping to do that when she’d done with this hike. (she may already be, I’ve been ignoring FT stuff lately!)

    1. suwanneerose February 28, 2022 at 4:56 pm

      Birds of a feather flock together! Yes, Amanda is a friend and lives in our neighborhood. We met her through sailing (she’s the best dinghy sailor I’ve ever met). She’d be a great interview and I would love to hear it. If I see her soon I’ll put in a word for you.

  3. BT March 1, 2022 at 7:15 pm

    I always love your monthly updates and curated reading list!

    1. suwanneerose March 2, 2022 at 9:12 am

      Thanks for sending me links, broh!

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