Umbrella and shadows, PVIC

Two chairs, PVIC

They looked happy together.

Sea grass. PVB

Sea oats (uniolia paniculata)

I have been amazed by these plants since we moved here. In the 1990s people routinely tried to keep the beach and dunes in front of their seaside properties clear of vegetation. The dunes were very prone to erosion. Florida passed a law the prohibits injuring these plants in any way. They have incredibly deep, complex root systems, love a salt water environment, and soak up the heat. They have covered our dunes in the last 20 years and they are all but stormproof now. A hurricane hitting directly would take them out but anything less has little effect. At this time of year their seedheads are a lovely yellow and do resemble oats.

Sea turtle nest.

Around this time of year large sea turtles come out of the ocean at night and lay their eggs in our (their) sand dunes. We have a turtle patrol that goes up and down the beaches every day looking for the telltale tracks and marking them so people will keep away. We have had a large number this year which is great.