One of natures' road shows will begin soon, the hatching of the sea turtle eggs. Some months ago, these huge water beasts, weighing around 1000#, crawled on shore to the same nesting spot they have used for years. By means of flippers and fanny, they laid hundreds of turtle eggs and then returned to the sea. The local turtle watchers placed fences around these mounds to protect them from tourists and other predators. When the eggs hatch, usually at night, it is a sight to behold! First the mound shifts and shimmies, driven by the hatching turtles breaking their shells and digging out of the sand. It erupts with the efforts of these perfectly formed inch long babies to escape the nest and return to their water home. Since they are guided by moonlight, homeowners living on the beach are requested to to turn off all outside lights to avoid confusing them and sending them in the wrong direction. It's also advised that any onlookers not try to help the struggling turtles because this is nature's first test to select the fittest. If the little ones are able to make it into the ocean and past the first wave on their own, they have a chance of surviving.
It reminds me of another endeavor we followed while we stayed on an island south of Key West. We were volunteer lighthouse sitters for a month and one of my duties was to select the best of the fallen coconuts, plant them in a raised sandbox 'nursery', water them and keep them covered until they had sprouted roots, and then transplant them to the larger areas in the small island to grow and replace their fallen sisters. They had to weather torrential rain storms, high winds and long droughts when the only water they received came from a watering bucket, also manned by a volunteer. Traditionally before planting, each coconut was marked on its shell with a permanent magic marker with the names of family, friends, partners etc. Today, I can imagine some of the coconuts I helped to plant growing taller, and much like the struggle of the turtles' trip to the sea, besting all of natures' forces to reach their full height. And yes, I know in my heart, that the Candy/Tom tree is the tallest, with the best coconuts on the island.