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Info
Living
Gardens
| BUTTERFLIES
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Most
adult butterflies found in Florida feed on flower nectar. Some visit a
variety of flowers and others seem to prefer a more specialized menu.
Butterflies generally are attracted to brightly colored simple flowers
that are not too deep and that are wide enough for good perching
platforms. You
can't attract butterfly species that are not present naturally in your
region, nor can you grow plants that aren't adapted to the soils and
climate in your region of the state. Butterfly gardening should not try to
improve nature but complement it as the best horticultural practices have
always done.
CLICK ON THE BUTTERFLY |
| DRAGONFLIES
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Dragonflies
form an important part of Wetland wildlife and they play a significant roll
in its general ecology. They are among the most beautiful and spectacular
insects flying today and they are also among the most ancient of living
creatures. In temperate zones, adult odonates that survive the vulnerable
period between commencement of emergence and successful maiden flight, have
an average life expectancy of 4-6 weeks (dragonflies) or 1-2 weeks
(damselflies). CLICK ON THE DRAGONFLY
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| TURTLES 
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A reptile with a bony or leathery shell. Any shelled reptile
can be called a turtle, but in North America people commonly use the word
tortoise to designate members of a family of turtles that live entirely on land,
reserving the word turtle for species that live in or near water. The word
terrapin, of Native American origin, is used in North America only for the
diamond-backed terrapin, a turtle that lives in the brackish waters of eastern
coastal marshes. There are about 270 living species of turtles, which are
grouped into 12 or 13 families. CLICK ON THE TURTLE |
| FROGS
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Frogs may be found anywhere in the world (excluding
Antarctica), although
most frogs are found in the tropics. If you're looking for a frog, probably the best time to look is at night
with a strong torch - when you shine it on the eyes of a frog you'll see a
little red flash. Frogs in the wild may be found by a method of triangulation (this is
useful since the origin of frog croaks is somewhat deceptive). When water is scarce
frogs will tend to congregate
around the wet areas look under rocks, in leaf matter etc. (be careful to
replace the rock as you found it - lodged in the earth - because this is a favorite
environment for frogs). In especially arid regions, some frogs burrow underground. This frog is especially suited to such burrowing, having
a pad of dead tissue on its snout (like a callus), which protects the living
tissue underneath. CLICK ON THE FROG |
| FISH
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Fish come in many sizes and in
many colors. Common carp are much to drab to be used as ornamental fish. Today
Koi are produced in many parts of Japan and exported worldwide. They are also
bred in Israel, Southeast Asia, and the USA. The common goldfish as well as
comets, shubunkins, and the red & white varieties. These goldfish have
great adaptability. Although they can be stressed by sudden temperature
changes, they can tolerate temperatures from 32º -90ºF. CLICK ON
THE FISH
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