Insects, Plants, Fungi and Animals

Morphological Gems for the Eye, Cultivated and Found

May 18, 2020 /
  • Madagascar Lace, longleaf
  • Madagascar Lace, var. Major
  • Kwango giant cycad seeds germinating
  • First leaf
  • Kwango leaves
  • Walter’s Ground Cherry
  • American persimmon flower
  • Mom (Sharon) by Caribbean cactus for scale
  • I usually only see the empty shells
  • Scorpion tussock moth
  • Paper wasp queens fighting
  • Butterfly weed asclepias Tuberosa
  • Tabanidae (Tabanidead)
Here are a few odds and ends of things you’ll see growing and going on at the farm. The aquatic Madagascar lace plants with their holed (fenestrated) leaves started the whole thing in 2016. They are a perennial rosette bulb plant and can grow quite large in the tank and pond. In addition to those and cacti, I am trying my hand at African cycads of the genus Encephalartos. These Kwango giants are the fastest growing and largest of all cycads, starting with seeds the size approaching Roma tomatoes. Cycads are living “dinosaurs” in the plant realm. Perhaps some undiscovered plant will proffer up a miracle longevity tonic so that we can live long enough so see some of this stuff get big.

There is much in bloom and on the wing, will be or was, in some cases here. That ridiculously large horsefly “resting” uncomfortably on the cactus tried to make a withdrawal at my expense and lost, soon proving a tasty morsel for a lucky chicken. Their bite is savage and painful. Butterfly weed, a type of milkweed, is the only one on the land. Hope to find more in coming years. On one of the wild pawpaw (Asimina Obovata) was this caterpillar that likely will become some kind of swallowtail. American persimmon and ground cherry grow abundant as does native Florida pawpaw. And, I’ve never seen queen paper wasps wrestle for prime nest real estate as they did on the front porch this week. Small scorpions we actually have, but the mimic caterpillar I’ve not seen before, and it gave me a laugh.

James V. Freeman is an established visual artist (oil painting) with a deep interest in natural history, plants and farming. He has had numerous solo shows, a solo museum show, an upcoming museum show and his work has been featured in many publications to date. He currently has a studio in Williston, Fl at the family farm and homestead, "Cactus Island", and as a farmer, specializes in growing columnar cacti of the Caribbean and Gulf countries as well as the aquatic Madegascar Lace Plant. James and his mom Sharon manage and develop the permaculture homestead.

4 Comments

    • jvfreeman

      May 19, 2020 at 1:23 pm

      The lace pictures are from Estero but a couple of each now look just about as good despite the abuse of relocation and imperfect spot. I can hardly believe my luck.

  • Catherine M Nagel

    June 5, 2020 at 6:31 pm

    Hi Cactus Island! As I’m browsing all your pics I am just pulled into the beautiful Persimmon flower, indigo Dung beetle (and other colorful cousins) and of course my favorite from Estero -the LACE plants. Holy cow, I lovelovelove the unique pattern of this textural beauty.
    Thanks for posting pics of Sharon &
    KEEP CULTIVATING!

  • James V Freeman

    June 5, 2020 at 8:56 pm

    Madagascar lace are worth it for the home aquarium. Black lava, planted tank soil below that and Co2 infusion bring them into full glory.

Cactus Island Nursery