GOD'S GREEN EARTH, PT. 2

A TRIP TO THE DEVIL'S MILLHOPPER

So the other day I finally managed to make it to the Devil's Millhopper.  When Dan and I were in Gainesville on tour in the spring, everyone told us to go check it out, but we ran out of time.  So after I dropped Izzy off at class last week, I headed on over at last.

The Devil's Millhopper is a huge sinkhole NW of town.  When I asked people earlier what it was, they were like "oh, it's just a big sinkhole..." like sinkholes were simply a way of life.  WELCOME TO FLORIDA.

Anyhow, the Devil's Millhopper is a big sinkhole that caved in about 10,000 years ago, and has since filled with a unique variety of plant and animal life.  Since the pit is usually cooler in the summer, and warmer in the winter, it sustains a more diverse ecosystem, including many plants and animals that are not otherwise found in the area.

I did two laps around the sinkhole, including two trips down to the bottom. It was beautiful, and so quiet you could practically hear the sweat dripping down your back. I saw a ton of stuff including a new type of lizard, a big black snake, a gigantic hornet, tons of ferns, and many gorgeous waterfalls. The place is definitely worth a trip out of town if you're ever in the area.

Walking down inside the sinkhole.

Waterfall.

Looking up.

From the loop path around the top of the sinkhole.

Twining trees.

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

Hot enough for you?

Goldenrod?

I finally ID'ed this one:  Butterfly-pea (Clitoria ternatea)

Loop path.

Saw palmetto and Pine woods.

Unknown flower.

Southern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus undulatus)

Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus)

At the bottom of the sinkhole I found this ENORMOUS hornet, about two inches from snout to tail.  It enjoyed posing for me, so I took a bunch of pictures.

Some type of Shelf Fungus.

Waterfalls and rivulets, at the very bottom.

Lastly, I found this guy on my way back up the walkway.  Freaky. 

(I turned the picture sideways to make him easier to see.)

All in all, not too bad for a couple hours in the woods!

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

So I made it down to ol' Hogtown -- Gainesville, Florida -- my new home for the foreseeable future.  I live out in the woods with three funny dogs, some lizards, palmetto bugs, ferns, banana spiders, tiny green frogs, and at least two deer.  I'm hammering away at the new King-Cat (#71) which will be out before I leave for tour next month, and staying in the AC!  IT'S HOT.

I am a little bewildered and overwhelmed by all the new flora and fauna surrounding me, but I'm doing my best to get a grip.  Here are a few pictures I took of my new neighborhood.

This is where I live now.

L: Pete, R: Eddie

Ginger Spice: Leader of the Pack.

 

The girls knocked over their skate ramp again.

(L to R: Posh, Baby, and Ginger)

See those delicate little hairs on the caterpillar?  THEY'LL STING THE SHIT OUT OF YOU IF YOU TOUCH THEM.

One day I was walking peacefully down the street, when I ducked under an overhanging tree branch and walked into the stringiest, thickest web I'd ever felt.  I practically bounced back!  And there staring at me face to face was

Yes, it is a four inch spider with a HUMAN SKULL painted on its back!  WHERE THE HELL AM I???  The natives say they're called "Banana Spiders."  That's like calling a Great White Shark an "Ice Cream Fish."

So I became a little obsessed with these so-called Banana Spiders (Nephila clavipes).

Unknown woodland flower.

 

Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

 

Unknown fern.

 

Lantana camara (?)

No doubt some other ferocious beastie lives here.

 

Millipede.

 

Pete and his Filthy Disgusting Ball™.

The Cee-Ment Pond.

 

Banana trees (Musa sapientum).

 

Unknown Lily (?)

Unknown woodland flower.

The Old Pecan Tree.

Spanish Moss.

My Li'l Buddy.

Linus (Canis lupus familiaris)

Still unknown woodland flower.

Did I mention there were spiders?

 

Don't know.

 

Sort of looks like a Yucca.

 

Nope.

Tamarind tree? (Tamarindus indica)

 

No idea.

Some kind of Aloe/Agave type thing.

(Note tell-tale zig-zag pattern in the webbing.)

(Note gold sheen to threads.)

 

Opuntia spp. ?

And that's why I stay indoors and draw comics all day.

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