These are mangrove flowers, growing on the incredible plant that grows into islands

These are the seedlings from tiny to large

Before they drop from the tree

Here is one floating along looking for a great place to rest...if you gather a bunch and put them in a glass of water they will grow, believe it or not, and regular tap water will do. I feel it's fair to warn you though that they are under federal protection so that if you grow your own island it will probably be illegal to live on it.

These have found a good home already, new ones in the background, older in the front. They are wonderful for preventing soil and beach erosion, that's why they are protected.  Although they mysteriously dissapear down here from time to time.

They support everything from starfish to regular fish, birds to people

And make a great buffer from the wind when you are walking along the beach.

These are on South Roosevelt, everyone recognize them? 

And this bad little boy was out at the "Fort", or the Dry Tortugas, it is wonderful to know that this little tiny plant is so resilient.  I just love them, they are a perfect example of adapting, in just about any condition.  Putting down roots and making a home just about anywhere...just like people...

XO
Smiles,
Toni

This is one of my earliest memories, and one of Daddy's most famous pictures.  The girl to the right is my Sister Coral - or Cor Cor as we all call her, there is Daddy of course and I think that I was about 4 years old.  This is a Tiger Shark that Daddy caught, which was about 2000 pounds.  It was customary, as soon as you got it to the dock, to cut open the belly, and what a surprise this time.  Instead of just the usual organs, and the occasional dinner from earlier that the fish had eaten...this Tiger Shark had 47 babies inside. My biggest memory though, was how shocked we were. Daddy and some other people actually tried to save some of the babies, but they weren't quite ready to swim on thier own. 

The picture was taken when the fishing docks were on the other side of Garrison Bight, right along North Roosevelt. The structure behind us was the Pinders little restaurant, where I would get Daddy his coffee (2 creams, 2 sugars)  and Lucky Strikes every day.  The headline of the Key West Citizen the next day said "Capt. Tony Catches Sea Beast".  Almost 50 years ago.

XO
Smiles,
Toni