I love Captiva Island. I love that an artist made shell beach art like this piece at the entrance to Blind Pass beach. Beach artist, Robert from NJ, made it for his wife for Valentine’s Day. So sweet! Obviously, I haven’t been there in over a week so I missed it. Shame on me! But thankfully he has been grooming it to keep it clean and neat for a whole week for her.. and for us so we get to enjoy it as well.
I have another reason why “i Heart Captiva Island”….
Roma (MI) found a JUNONA!
She said it was one of the first shells she found this morning near the jetty rocks. It wasn’t completely whole but it is perfect to wrap for a JUNONIA necklace.
And that’s not it! Sara W found two (!) JUNONIAS at Blind Pass in the last week at Blind Pass as well. It’s so weird they are broken at the same exact spots but then again… perfect for necklaces! She posted this on iLoveShelling facebook page…
Jessica (NY) found a piece of JUONIA too. Maybe part of Roma’s or Sara’s?
Here’s Jessica with Steven and Kathryn this morning on the shell mound this morning…
John (NY) was working the pass side of the jetty and filled his shell bag full of FIGHTING CONCHS.
I had no idea the huge shell pile was back (and has been there for several days) and full of goodies! How did that happen and I didn’t hear a thing about it?? Mother Nature loves to play hide and seek with the seashells!
I found an assortment of treasures right away…
And a FLAT SCALLOP!
While I was checking out everybody’s finds and the big shell mound, Robert was collecting more PEN SHELLS for another shell art project. We look forward to your next master piece!
I saw that heart last Friday & wondered who would take the time to create something so cool. There is alot of shells in there. It’s about 6 inches deep.I met a lady who found a junonia at Stump Pass. They are scattered up & down the SWFL area right now thanks to the winds. Hope you’re having a “fabulous” week. xo
I heart sea shells. Robert, you did a beautiful job keeping your beach art up for so long, so that many people could enjoy it. :)
Karen and I were in awe of that gorgeous heart when we came across it on Friday, so nice to know the story behind it.
The Junonia piece I found is about the size of Jessica’s, but I was so excited, it’s the first I’ve ever found after shelling in Florida for thirty-three years. Patience is a virtue, lol.
I was there last Friday too…I took a picture of that heart and put it on pinterest with the acknowledgement that I didn’t know who the artist was, good to know, it was beautiful!
Those two junonias that both have the same damage? I believe that is where the living animal was attacked by a crab. You will quite commonly find whelks and tulip shells that have had the body whorl “peeled back” like that. The damage is done by calappid crabs or stone crabs. They like to eat sea snails, and have a strong claw that is shaped like a can-opener so they can open a shell like that, peeling it back from the aperture.
cool! good to know that- thanks Susan!
You’re welcome!
Pam, can I ask you, what is that dark red/purple piece of shell up at the top in the image you took of the treasures you found?
Ha! Its a piece of a Lion’s Paw. I have a feeling you spotted that one right away.;)
Susan, thanks for the insight. Makes sense to me.
You’re very welcome MurexKen. While I was on Sanibel I found a small tulip that had been perfectly “peeled” like that by a crab, very neatly opened. I might even write a very short paper on this form of predation, because it’s something that most people don’t know about and it’s pretty interesting I think.
Hooray..the shells are back!!!
Love the heart – how sweet! Great to see the shells are back – can’t wait to get down there in October – may have to make a trip sooner :)
During my wedding on the beach at Sanibel and complete stranger walked up to me and gave me a perfectly intact angel wing. Was a special moment.
Awwww.A moment to remember! Oh, and the angel wing is special too. heehee. No,seriously, that was really so thoughtful!;)
that’s so sweet Carol! What a lovely gift!
I look forward to your posts so much! This one is especially neat! Good to get a sneak peek at what’s happening down in the shellin’ world!
The “assortment of treasures” is just amazing! Just makes me want to be there to check them out firsthand! Willard Scott was doing his Smucker’s birthday list from Sanibel this morning — pointed out the Sanibel stoop, too! So much for keeping our Sanibel secret from the world! ;-)
I KNOW! I saw him on the today show & was like dang! I just missed the sweet old geezer.
Darn… love that guy… would have been nice to catch him… wish they would do more shoots with him from down here in the south!.. he makes me feel young again every time he does happy birthday to the centarians! ( 100 yrs+ folks)
Great finds…I save all the pieces of Junonia and Lion’s paws. I was lucky enough to find a whole one of each in the last 3 months…both posted on here.
I have also found 3 broken Junonia like the pictures above….and it’s always the good part that shows in the sand before you go to pik it up…lol. Awesome flat scalopp Pam…always a great find !
Love it! I love the flat scallop! I’ve only ever found one! Sherri from MN