After a slow start to the sea turtle nesting season, which starts May 1, and runs through October 31, there has been a recent increase in activity. We counted four new nests on our walk this morning.

Just missed witnessing one re-enter the water up close a few mornings ago.  I could see the shape a long way off as she slowly made her way back down the beach from where she had dug the nest and laid her eggs up  in the soft sand, and I was only twenty yards away when the difficult crawl was rewarded with buoyancy as she entered the water.  It is remarkable the difference between their excruciating effort on the sand, and their ease in water. I was out on the surfboard a few years ago when one poked its head up a few yards away, took a long look at this strange, fiberglass mounted apparition, then dove and stroked out of sight with incredible grace.  We have been lucky enough to witness two nestings from start to finish in the 23 years we’ve been here. Their determination to get their task done is one of the wonders of nature.

Closer to home, for quite a few years now we’ve had Florida box turtles around.  About a week ago I rescued one who had gotten himself wedged and firmly stuck in the garden fence.  These two were found rummaging in the compost pit beside the garden, where we frequently see them.

I found this spider on the same trip down into the hammock behind the house, resplendent in morning light. I don’t know what it is, but it’s quite beautiful.

When we first moved into The Little Hacienda many years ago, fresh from the well-kept lawns and shrubs of suburbia, where we were able to grow and maintain neither, we were yet determined to exert our will and at least grow grass where it seemed feasible, and nurture a variety of decorative plants.  To that end, while we were busy renovating the interior of the house, we also had a well sunk, a pump installed, and I set about laying a system of PVC to carry water to every corner of the property.  We planted stuff and watered every other day . . . for a while. Until the salt air off the ocean killed everything.  For several years after that, while conceding to the conditions we were given, we tried to keep the natural vegetation at least trimmed and shaped.  Finally, within the last few years, we’ve pretty much given up, and are just content to keep things out of the house as best we can.  The result has been wonderful, natural, flowery haven for bees, birds and butterflies. It’s hip now, returning to native landscaping, so I guess we’re hip.  Anyway, it’s wonderful to see all the little creatures make use of it.  These are my favorites.  It’s called a Rain Lilly, quite wild, and they spring up everywhere after a rain. Bees love them.