They may not look like much, but those non-fluorescent growth sectors in this streak of green bacteria represent a year's worth of work to advance a new technique for my toolkit! 💚

Finally, one of two new paper wasps for me- I think this is Polistes major.

Brown anole

The extreme cold we experienced recently killed a lot of the growth that would have made plants easier to identify. Based on the height, branching pattern, and the appearance and positioning of the leaves, I think this is/was a Brugmansia- an entire nightshade genus known solely from cultivation.

I was surprised to see a mesquite (Neltuma glandulosa) growing on Nobel Laureate walk, right next to the building where I work. I started some seed from the pods I found scattered under it.

I think this is some kind of prickly ash (Zanthoxylum)

A bottlebrush plant (Melaleuca)- another one I'm excited to see this summer in bloom

There is some interesting variation among the ball moss (a bromeliad, Tillandsia recurvata), with some plants being more red than others. I think these red ball mosses tend to be situated in higher light environments.

The live oaks on campus can be massive and are loaded with epiphytes. Resurrection fern is probably my favorite

I am obsessed with gesneriads, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this Seemannia sylvatica in this bed flashing its numerous neon red flowers in January. The severe cold we experienced later knocked it back down to the ground, but I am hoping to see it resprout from its rhizomes.

A huge Pyracantha(?) bush loaded with bunches of red berries.

An impressive forest of dormant bananas, with a huge fallen inflorescence that was fresh enough that I was tempted to take it home to cook with.

The other species of cycad that is abundant here is Cycas revoluta, from Japan. Cycads are dioecious, and I saw plants bearing fruit and plants with old male cones.

Lots of cycads- I assume Zamia integrifolia. The fruits look like forbidden candy corn.

Loquats (Eriobotrya japonica)- I was surprised by the musky but not unpleasant fragrance from these very plain flowers. I've never had the fruit but am anxious to try them if they do yield them.

I've started as a postdoc at Florida State University and did a little bit of exploring in the plantings on campus as I wandered around getting things started.