Muhly grass at Caspersen Beach

 Clump forming and fast growing,  the grand show of  muhly grass lasts from late summer to fall    Thin, arching leaves are characteristic of this native grass.   Foliage is finely textured and a blue green color.  The flowers turn a buff shade in winter, providing continual visual interest.

Photo by John Sarkozy

Wildflowers of Nokomis Waterway

The horsemint's white flowers above are of the elongated flower cluster type.

The gold flower below has disk florets and ray florets and brown center..
 It's difficult to tell whether it's a beach sunflower or a close relative 
without a better look at the leaves.

The gold flowers above have disk florets and ray florets AND yellow centers.

 

 

Poisonous painted leaf is related to the poinsettia. 

Tiny flower clusters gather  above the bright red upper leaves.

Coral Bean

This coral bean was planted at Hammocks of Nokomis Waterways

last Spring by a group of SE Littoral Society members.  

 Photo by Peg Conklin

Wild Morning Glory on beach

The vines run all over the beach, so this plant is also called "railroad vine".

(We'll have to check the color of this flower.  Usually, the morning glory is more piink than bluish.)

Photo by John Sarkozy

White Beach Morning Glory

Ipomoea imperati  is similar to the lavender morning glory, but has shorter runners.

These beauties were photographed by John Sarkozy at middle beach Nokomis.

Perwinkles

 We all love periwinkles and they love the sun and sand.

Common yellow back beach flower

Lido Wildflower

 This lovely spherical bloomed wildflower with fern-like leaves has been planted near Lido Beach parking.

(It is also growing in my flower beds.  I have been weeding it out.  Now, that I see the blooms, I think I'll let it take over as a ground flower. Next, we have to identify it.)

 

South Lido Beach Dune Flower - Seaside Gentian, Catchfly Gentian

This herbaceous annual grows to about 3 feet tall. It has gray green opposite leaves that clasp the stem.  Bloom time in Florida is December through August.

  

Catchfly gentian has fruits that are ellipsoid capsules and seeds that are small and globose.. 

Blossoms at Sarasota's New Pass

Scaveola sericea, above, is a highly invasive plant from the south Pacific. We remove them at our project sites and expect the county will do the same there. They can completely cover a dune system and are appearing in mangroves also. A beautiful but very big problem plant.

Sea Grape blooms from late Spring to early Summer.

What's blooming in Paradise

http://sanibel-captiva-islander.com/page/content.detail/id/510166/What-s-Blooming-in-Paradise---Camphor-Daisy--Rayjacksonia-phyllocephala-.html?nav=5011
- Sanibel-Captiva Islander

Buttonwood

Buttonwood live farther from water than red, black, and white mangrove. They are usually found above the high tide line. The fruit and flowers do not remain long, but are distinctive when seen.

Spanish needles near bay shore