A busy stump and a lot of flowers

One of the tree stumps left in the backyard when the trees were all cut down has become a favorite perching spot.  A male anhinga landed there and spent some time waiting for his wings to dry out so he could do some more fishing in the canal.  Anhingas have no oil in their feathers so if they don't dry out after fishing, they could get waterlogged and drown!

Showing off his big wings while waiting to dry off.

When the anhinga was done, a young iguana took over and looked like he was playing king-of-the-mountain on that stump.  It's not that big of a stump, and he's not a very big guy, but let him dream!

I feel so powerful up here!

The flowers in the backyard seem to be doing really well and I love them, so they will probably get into almost every post for a while!  

After a serious bout with leaf-roller insects, the lantana plant and the rest of the hanging basket seemed to come back great.  I'm enjoying the lantana and pentas flowers while I can, before the insects find it again, which probably won't take long.  I chose those two types of flowers for the basket because butterflies like them, so hopefully they will take advantage too while they can.

Pretty lantana and penta make a comeback.

The dahlia is just about fully bloomed now and is looking big and pretty.  There are several other buds, so it looks like we'll have a nice bunch of dahlias.

Big and showy with some raindrops for effect.

 

My next-door neighbor has been upset because most of her backyard flowers get eaten by our numerous iguanas as soon as they just start to bloom, so she never gets to enjoy them.  But this week, they are finally blooming.  We have to enjoy them before the iguanas notice which will no doubt be very soon.

Cuban holly begonia in full bloom

An Arachnis orchid (aka scorpion orchid) plant has unusual-looking blossoms

A monarch butterfly was again banging against the pool screen near the big milkweed plant that's flowering in there.  I always feel bad for them, so I put 2 small plants outside for a while.  Sure enough, one had a single egg on it very shortly.  By the next day I saw two more eggs, so I set it up inside a new butterfly enclosure.  I'll be happy if I get three Monarchs.

 

Our usual great egret was again across the canal doing some fishing and hunting for yummy insects.  It's always good to see him.

Checking out his usual stomping grounds.

 

Finally a pretty pair of cardinals stopped at the feeders and roamed around the backyard a bit.  The female's colors are pretty but muted, but there is no missing the male!

Female cardinal stops for a snack.

Male cardinal explores the backyard.