Dunedin, Florida: Island Check: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Project

Click for larger picture in a new window

Here we see the last of the three floating islands installed in December 2007 by a local Boy Scouts troop working on an Eagle Scout project. As I mentioned earlier, the islands have come a long way since they were first floated out onto the lake.

It's pretty impressive in a lot of ways. I can just imagine what they might look like in a few years. It hasn't been 12 months yet, and they look great. Perhaps, they will fill in around the edges where many plants were lost in the first few months. I have seen ducks and other water birds wandering around the 'interiors' of the islands, so I won't be surprised if they start building nests out there.
____
If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Floating Islands Revisited: Boy Scout Project

Click for larger picture in a new window

I cannot deny the skepticism I felt when I first saw these islands floated on Lake Paloma by the Boy Scouts working on an Eagle Scout project. And in the first few months, it seemed like they were coming apart more than growing into their new surroundings.

But I am happy to report, with photographic evidence, that they seem to be growing quite successfully into islands that actually support wildlife. I'm happy to see it, as I think it adds that much more interest and wildlife diversity to what might otherwise be just another drainage pond. Check out the original posts that chronicled the Eagle Scout project that put these islands here.
____
If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt VIII

Click for larger picture in a new window

Welcome to Turtle Island! No, probably not a fair name, and certainly not democratically selected, but I like it. As I approached the edge of Lake Paloma today, I counted at least 8 turtles sunning themselves. Not bad. In addition, I have seen as many as 4 long legged wading birds out there at one time. Cool. The turtles seem to be of maybe three species that I can see. I think there are Snappers, Eastern Sliders (or something like them), and Soft Shelled. Some of them are BIG!

I promised to list the sponsors of Jim Garrison's Eagle Project, so here we go, in no particular order: Angelo's Pizza, Vision Ace, Signs Now, Collman-Karsky, Joseph E. Garrison CPA, Thornton Donoghue & Assoc., Eddie's Bar & Grill, Danny's Food & Spirits, Sweetbay Supermarket, Einstein Brothers Bagels, and of course, The City of Dunedin. I applaud their involvement in this very worthwhile project. Bravo.

It seemed like one picture just wasn't enough today, so here is a second, from a different angle. It seems like these photos just don't do it justice, so look for more pictures of Turtle Island at some point in the future.

Click for larger picture in a new window

Hey! Tomorrow is New Year's Eve! Are you going to a party? Or will you celebrate at home? Either way, have fun, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Check out slow cars and fast food onClearwater Daily Photo, and happy sailing on Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. Today, I try my hand at flight photography on my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt VII

Click for larger picture in a new window

There's no denying it. These boys were having fun. And hey, this is Dunedin, Florida, so it just wasn't cold that day... at all! So this is what I like to call Turtle Island. They have strapped down the coconut fiber landscape material, and they are planting it with more aquatic plants now. Shortly after this, it will be towed out to its new home.

If all goes well, tomorrow I will post a picture taken today, of the wildlife enjoying this new Turtle Island. So far I have seen a max of about 8 turtles on the island, and today I saw several turtles sharing it with some egrets and herons. We will see who is about tomorrow when I point the big lens at them!

Sunday's posting will wrap up the series on the Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project. I hope you have enjoyed it. I appreciate the comments from those of you who found it heartening to see this type of community spirit in these young men, and women. And I also appreciate those of you who got bored with the series, but still came back to see what was happening next. :D

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt VI

Click for larger picture in a new window

This may be my favorite photograph of the series. Here we have two 'chosen' boys heading out into the Lake with the two floating plant rafts in tow. In the boat with them are the anchors (cinder blocks) that will anchor the plant rafts in place. It's a good thing that Lake Paloma is not very large, and that they were not going far... because I can't really say that they had the best paddling gear in there! :D

Tomorrow and Sunday, I will post the last of this conservation photography / Eagle Scout Project series. Tomorrow will be the final preparations of what I like to call Turtle Island. With luck, I will have a decent picture of a 'be-turtled' island for you on Sunday. I have gotten some nice feedback on this series, and what these fine young people are doing here. I want to thank you all for your comments, and thank you for visiting, whether you leave a comment or not. :)

HEY! Monday is New Year's Eve! What are you doing? Will you be partying at some wild and crazy New Year's Eve celebration? Or will you have a quiet countdown party at home? Either way, crazy or quiet, let's make it a good one, and welcome a New Year to make things happen! :D

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt V

Click to see a larger version in a new window

Ah-hah! Now we know what the heck they were saving the rest of the plants for! A totally different kind of floating island. Very cool! As you can make out from the picture, these floating mats have holes in them for these specially potted water plants. In this picture, they are preparing the first of two such rafts. This was taken just before the alligator grabbed one of the boys. NO! Just kidding. I have never seen a gator in this lake.

In the picture below, they are making final preparations to plant the other island, which was to be more of a wildlife island, as opposed to a plant life raft. This island, in the picture, is the one you saw Mrs. Garrison checking on in my Christmas Eve post. And in the meantime, if you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt IV

I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Click on the picture to see a larger version in a new window.

You may remember in the previous posts about the Eagle Scout project at Lake Paloma, that they were planting lots and lots of plants all around the edges of the lake. Cool. But these plants were all left back at the staging area. Why would that be? Do you really want to know? Good! Then come back tomorrow and see what happens to these plants.

And in the meantime, if you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt III

Hey, someone has to keep these guys in line. It looks like Mrs. Garrison is checking with the island building team to see how it's going. This accumulation of wood and barrels and barricade wrap will get covered with a layer of coconut landscape material to become a floating habitat for the wildlife in Lake Paloma. We will soon see the resulting island afloat and hosting sunbathing turtles.

We have had a change in plans though, and will not be able to list the supporters of the project today. Please stay tuned for more pictures of this great project, and acknowledgement of the project sponsors.

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt II

Having met Eagle Scout Jim Garrison's parents, and gotten a little information about what was going on, I started around Lake Paloma with my camera to see the 'troops' in action. It was impressive to see the Scouts, of all ages, planting all the new vegetation along the edges of the lake.

They planted a variety of fringe plants that will grow to provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife that call the lake home. As I visit Lake Paloma on a regular basis, I look forward to watching these improvements develop. Tomorrow we will check on the island building progress. We will also take a moment to acknowledge the supporters of Jim's project.

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Floating Wildlife Islands Project

I was recently tipped off that a local Eagle Scout would be installing floating islands in my favorite duck pond, Lake Paloma, here in Dunedin, Florida. Needless to say, I made arrangements to be there and get some good pictures for my Dunedin blog. After all, this is really cool stuff! :D And so begins a new series that will last at least several days as I show you the progression of this project.

When I arrived that morning, last Saturday, they had already gotten setup and were hard at work. That's when I met Jim Garrison's parents, Roberta and Joe. They were fine with me being there and snapping shots, so I got right to it. One team was beginning the work on one of the floating islands. You can see them in the photo above. Other, lots of others, were at work planting all sorts of wetland fringe plants along the edges of the lake. They even had City of Dunedin personnel there helping. You gotta love that.

In the days ahead, you will follow along as they plant almost a thousand plants, make two different kinds of floating 'islands', and anchor them in the lake. In Friday's St. Petersburg Times, there is a nice story about Jim and his project. Click here if you would like to read it. And if you are feeling supportive, click the Scouting banner below to see how you can help. Thanks!

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!