tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-368682262024-03-07T13:32:34.725-08:00Exploring the Nature of FloridaDedicated to sharing the extraordinary variety of natural wonders that can be found in the beautiful state of Florida.beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-14392155517638270322008-05-01T09:02:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:41:52.380-08:00The Florida National Scenic Trail<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAMCH0P5OnZzVIQiiYWKlB1lMvovQL-u6HnES4rvVwrODgC16QXFGYNiakw5-mMDzphoFXMNG-AppELgIvjCsi7zA3jU-qHvf_r-r9NVJqgxUAaMNlulaKVd5nIc3Ji-bn7YqDQ/s1600-h/trail+sign.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAMCH0P5OnZzVIQiiYWKlB1lMvovQL-u6HnES4rvVwrODgC16QXFGYNiakw5-mMDzphoFXMNG-AppELgIvjCsi7zA3jU-qHvf_r-r9NVJqgxUAaMNlulaKVd5nIc3Ji-bn7YqDQ/s400/trail+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195453828838875794" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Many people are probably unaware that there is a 1,400 mile trail that traverses the length and breadth of the Sunshine State and was the brainchild of a man who had spent many years hiking the Appalachian Trail and decided to promote a similar path down here.<br /><br />The Florida National Scenic Trail starts at the Alabama state line and meanders southward into the Big Cypress National Preserve where solid ground finally gives way to the watery vastness of the Everglades. Travel beyond Big Cypress requires some sort of boat and a whole lot of guts and guile.<br /><a href="http://www.floridatrail.org/web/"></a><br />We set out to explore two separate sections of the trail this week, one in Seminole County and the other in Orange County, which showcased a diverse set of terrain as well as encounters with a wide variety of wildlife.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTG5_kmOIBtkbso-_fWT6kbOuzYUhnDyPGbCuXl3SuBOZss6clzrOPl9glqQKQuG58rlw4NvLmFCaDsRM2sLJfyQQvEwv8fm-7VrsRTK41fLEgswLv4FXiAlEgoD4BagpHmeudvw/s1600-h/econ+sign.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTG5_kmOIBtkbso-_fWT6kbOuzYUhnDyPGbCuXl3SuBOZss6clzrOPl9glqQKQuG58rlw4NvLmFCaDsRM2sLJfyQQvEwv8fm-7VrsRTK41fLEgswLv4FXiAlEgoD4BagpHmeudvw/s400/econ+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195446643358589394" border="0" /></a></div><br />Our first hike was in the Little Big Econ State Forest in Seminole County where the trail follows along the steep bluffs of the beautiful Econlockhatchee River (now you know why they just call it the Econ for short). This clear flowing, spring fed stream was brimming with fish as well as bald eagles that were hunting for them in the cool crystalline waters. The next time we hike this section of the trail I'm bringing a fishing pole.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmW9kAtxHmgRXOkQBzrhZ0KXciJFNj6RlOM5UZNjIn4VQJl_wMuLemazR38OPA74nwzlCwuo2ruUdgNcFKAbvud9Zy7EYlSvLjOkSR3n7Z1xsaBVT7fQOWKhFkINCIPTEFX7RTg/s1600-h/river+view+downstream.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmW9kAtxHmgRXOkQBzrhZ0KXciJFNj6RlOM5UZNjIn4VQJl_wMuLemazR38OPA74nwzlCwuo2ruUdgNcFKAbvud9Zy7EYlSvLjOkSR3n7Z1xsaBVT7fQOWKhFkINCIPTEFX7RTg/s400/river+view+downstream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195446836632117730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Big Little Econ</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AlJHt2BYAykNzz4fZ2UVsb9PDl1kVFG6Vhd5WA50Bj5DX9XK0Ur4-wB3LOqzt3LYkIOfY-W7l5bCzc4LWZMSWmUtmRz2y9VUhJhtRqDqlxdIwo3chVkqgCZ0exkiDOSrUOfFbQ/s1600-h/limpkin.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AlJHt2BYAykNzz4fZ2UVsb9PDl1kVFG6Vhd5WA50Bj5DX9XK0Ur4-wB3LOqzt3LYkIOfY-W7l5bCzc4LWZMSWmUtmRz2y9VUhJhtRqDqlxdIwo3chVkqgCZ0exkiDOSrUOfFbQ/s400/limpkin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195447167344599538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtETOOP90-SnAu1MlP-GL_nl6J21oS9fzH4h6DyFJ0KG8-ovhCiDdWBGqpiSav8bQSOpglgeaz_2ogwlOMIjxWpsnkYrRC7cKuxCEnoEaqC6YyrjM8NWRXitmOxX72CBRZuu2eFA/s1600-h/big+little+econ.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtETOOP90-SnAu1MlP-GL_nl6J21oS9fzH4h6DyFJ0KG8-ovhCiDdWBGqpiSav8bQSOpglgeaz_2ogwlOMIjxWpsnkYrRC7cKuxCEnoEaqC6YyrjM8NWRXitmOxX72CBRZuu2eFA/s400/big+little+econ.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195447656970871298" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">The Econlockhatchee as seen from atop a high river bluff.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">The second section we hiked was in the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area, which is located in the dense bottom land swamp forests along the St. John's River in eastern Orange County. This segment of the trail was very wild and somewhat spooky due to the remoteness of the location and the omnipresent and dense vegetation that seemed to close in around us wherever we hiked. There was lots of wildlife, especially alligators, tucked away in the thick fastness of this mixed hardwood, cypress and palm forest wilderness. We were sort of glad to emerge unscathed from this place.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyfRS1wIDZDrLoif0bia3qC068Ix24ECdSEkvhnSDA-nlPbTipRLfXH2jxX3q1hI3CGK-mWmjMjtCcl6mLJdDz-TQrz4NzOc9K1oWjSmOecsn5oufn-MiNdQOEGur8WffFAtCvA/s1600-h/tosohatchee+sign.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyfRS1wIDZDrLoif0bia3qC068Ix24ECdSEkvhnSDA-nlPbTipRLfXH2jxX3q1hI3CGK-mWmjMjtCcl6mLJdDz-TQrz4NzOc9K1oWjSmOecsn5oufn-MiNdQOEGur8WffFAtCvA/s400/tosohatchee+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195449881763930642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4gxtzMlokXz77Zvi2dSfOrjWs7CLcXOkQn-k9vDu59Zz7v8CUPv27SNTsmNKQsKVN3ef_wqjsHmYse1HzdenlHlpPabvbEl-fIvw9sh4sqzj9VjwwRi5sDINF1ApJn50WVY4CA/s1600-h/gator+log.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4gxtzMlokXz77Zvi2dSfOrjWs7CLcXOkQn-k9vDu59Zz7v8CUPv27SNTsmNKQsKVN3ef_wqjsHmYse1HzdenlHlpPabvbEl-fIvw9sh4sqzj9VjwwRi5sDINF1ApJn50WVY4CA/s400/gator+log.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195450083627393570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This gator blended in too well for comfort.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovmOzvbamOi9F-O2PBd_oLstwm-CH3UxzAX_l2YHL5MH9DnNpWAG6qYZ9o9G1GWwbexj08T14uGpnPT7e0M3rfitmO7HVunbzLOivxFcdJFo0d7gJnyBSBQpE_bsawMc4mghoFw/s1600-h/florida+trail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovmOzvbamOi9F-O2PBd_oLstwm-CH3UxzAX_l2YHL5MH9DnNpWAG6qYZ9o9G1GWwbexj08T14uGpnPT7e0M3rfitmO7HVunbzLOivxFcdJFo0d7gJnyBSBQpE_bsawMc4mghoFw/s400/florida+trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195450414339875378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Florida Trail winds through a dense palm jungle.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTQziohWG-umDv4C4GZRfjY5lsc8qIPR362Ra-Gh5AKRA2JE58XuyPHyzFksG-OLzHZz9y5Jy_ltfaNeJmeP1I4vDwegJgubO-09887h9LNMYZ8gRYwAzJJfefRtYrwDj5pK7FQ/s1600-h/owl.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTQziohWG-umDv4C4GZRfjY5lsc8qIPR362Ra-Gh5AKRA2JE58XuyPHyzFksG-OLzHZz9y5Jy_ltfaNeJmeP1I4vDwegJgubO-09887h9LNMYZ8gRYwAzJJfefRtYrwDj5pK7FQ/s400/owl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195450757937259074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Juvenile barred owl (Strix varia)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLKSbYZoF8Msb3SKVfhHgtNpqQmJDji31XrmG5NhO_ISOJ3dQULKlPz53r2EpuNxXCXBXhinFL-LpU5z8fRkrnQ54b_1u1VhcqqHpwWrMOBB-7PIsOdxu0k4A9cVk2VDW65SCDA/s1600-h/giant+spider.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLKSbYZoF8Msb3SKVfhHgtNpqQmJDji31XrmG5NhO_ISOJ3dQULKlPz53r2EpuNxXCXBXhinFL-LpU5z8fRkrnQ54b_1u1VhcqqHpwWrMOBB-7PIsOdxu0k4A9cVk2VDW65SCDA/s400/giant+spider.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195451372117582418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Golden silk spider (Nephila clavipes)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0cp9eV1k6YF5i8wqU_52mk7nTIgkMTLI1WdYIraGUE9nlDYRW0ZOZ0i1cHYZomMvwVoPiDwEvBjsw5Kdp2lhh7l2A3i5pS5bIyrP0uJoFIrfqBf6IT1F3FxpknntER7gWX5PkQ/s1600-h/swamp+spur.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0cp9eV1k6YF5i8wqU_52mk7nTIgkMTLI1WdYIraGUE9nlDYRW0ZOZ0i1cHYZomMvwVoPiDwEvBjsw5Kdp2lhh7l2A3i5pS5bIyrP0uJoFIrfqBf6IT1F3FxpknntER7gWX5PkQ/s400/swamp+spur.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195452007772742242" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Back to the Jurassic<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JvBPAcb7tWNCH0oIHOz1jhieCiTxO_yFB46I2YV42viEuTjNPuX77N_m6O-OROXb2S2f3VhWVJsyFo_TNY-J2CUgHX4948CM-2ajbzv9qO-mssh5Sm_W6D6kLov1mDgXifYBDQ/s1600-h/cockroach.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JvBPAcb7tWNCH0oIHOz1jhieCiTxO_yFB46I2YV42viEuTjNPuX77N_m6O-OROXb2S2f3VhWVJsyFo_TNY-J2CUgHX4948CM-2ajbzv9qO-mssh5Sm_W6D6kLov1mDgXifYBDQ/s400/cockroach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195453077219598962" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A large Florida woods cockroach (Eurycotis floridana)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpTl9BCgxR9yh8HepRem0RdzgdNYtiAp2BwrGTeWz7L0r-bYNaBul4w3n98BHUyUOmB7eDnS7IDFqeNRunVuUlMwJbW0XsNQmk1eHdafIMa2_0Vr1dhLI-kA2Ll9dZW9jEaDu3g/s1600-h/gator+half+in.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpTl9BCgxR9yh8HepRem0RdzgdNYtiAp2BwrGTeWz7L0r-bYNaBul4w3n98BHUyUOmB7eDnS7IDFqeNRunVuUlMwJbW0XsNQmk1eHdafIMa2_0Vr1dhLI-kA2Ll9dZW9jEaDu3g/s400/gator+half+in.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195453480946524802" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A gator checks us out deep in the wilds of the Tosohatchee.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">The Florida Trail is easy to access throughout its entire length and there is a great website to help would be hikers plan an excursion: <a href="http://www.floridatrail.org/web/">www.floridatrail.org/</a><br /><br />Have fun out there kids, but be careful.<br /></div></div></div><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com165tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-61701982261340219312008-04-13T13:12:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:41:53.472-08:00Alligator Removal<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57q18BIhJnWdyEAUN-rMYwAVEO7cFCnX4rZZqCBauMq8wEfqtVg6jbjtHZR5tesIxX3N7tEf93UYe6iwlA1YpH1mRdXJBKpK6eGdUJmYNNvcvHOZjq2nTxzH8dpiIILGG5VyV7A/s1600-h/florida+seal.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57q18BIhJnWdyEAUN-rMYwAVEO7cFCnX4rZZqCBauMq8wEfqtVg6jbjtHZR5tesIxX3N7tEf93UYe6iwlA1YpH1mRdXJBKpK6eGdUJmYNNvcvHOZjq2nTxzH8dpiIILGG5VyV7A/s400/florida+seal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188833671776140914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As I was leaving the house yesterday I noticed that the truck of the state alligator trapper was parked by the pond nearest to our house. Apparently someone had lodged a complaint about a nuisance gator and they had come to capture it. I dashed back into the house and grabbed my camera and went down to the pond to observe these guys in action.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RXsj4REsVCSlNU-Lo4gnFLPJ5QgUVRHP17rdeGo3xlB5eUsoii46ps6reThbVLdIswMV0_XhyphenhyphenqwGVtx4acKfyYN0BzxW1WTTfQGQVwzKKGedu-ca6Jlv0SqaGzdeBpywLxeY7Q/s1600-h/trapper.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RXsj4REsVCSlNU-Lo4gnFLPJ5QgUVRHP17rdeGo3xlB5eUsoii46ps6reThbVLdIswMV0_XhyphenhyphenqwGVtx4acKfyYN0BzxW1WTTfQGQVwzKKGedu-ca6Jlv0SqaGzdeBpywLxeY7Q/s400/trapper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188831562947198482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A lot of the job is waiting and watching for bubbles in the water.</span><br /></div><br />They were able to observe a pair of gators in the pond and captured the smaller of the two. The other gator was a bit older and wiser in such matters and scrammed out of the area altogether. The game wardens waited around for it to reappear but finally gave up and carried their lone captive back to the truck.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPWpjpyUYQbUO-qyrQm2JlwHhIvfamazPUptQqaMUkz45SLnI9CPA4MlowXW7B-ShVk8jc__4Ewa8p54GhCIpJwjFhjqC3bnTkOD5W5c6XWqW4orlzZLl8J9Zgt2zWVn7Rg0ODA/s1600-h/gotcha.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPWpjpyUYQbUO-qyrQm2JlwHhIvfamazPUptQqaMUkz45SLnI9CPA4MlowXW7B-ShVk8jc__4Ewa8p54GhCIpJwjFhjqC3bnTkOD5W5c6XWqW4orlzZLl8J9Zgt2zWVn7Rg0ODA/s400/gotcha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188832031098633778" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Captured!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3OWAh1Kg6KA6H_Dr7s_7yQafjeWOCYUTqnajGRTyAbksJyljDDj3a_1J-VRc_XMu6P9paSCA9YuS8LiA5BPEp741osxDMc1rnc3pqULlZ9JX-vymCs7Bih0_qrhrNsZWxXha0g/s1600-h/grabbed.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3OWAh1Kg6KA6H_Dr7s_7yQafjeWOCYUTqnajGRTyAbksJyljDDj3a_1J-VRc_XMu6P9paSCA9YuS8LiA5BPEp741osxDMc1rnc3pqULlZ9JX-vymCs7Bih0_qrhrNsZWxXha0g/s400/grabbed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188832975991438930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Watch your fingers bubba.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FrPKsyEo6bQoVcjH58cWA954ktkFU4iHkk5ndZdNtShcH-fqYNX4kk4dfVG1NbH3QIVEY_RfCvx6KQTWZXrTk7g5xluOFvISqflbwT_DYVsuoRvuP0Whyphenhyphenm-LCoEKOL4FoJSmgQ/s1600-h/taped.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FrPKsyEo6bQoVcjH58cWA954ktkFU4iHkk5ndZdNtShcH-fqYNX4kk4dfVG1NbH3QIVEY_RfCvx6KQTWZXrTk7g5xluOFvISqflbwT_DYVsuoRvuP0Whyphenhyphenm-LCoEKOL4FoJSmgQ/s400/taped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188832293091638850" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Taped shut</span><br /></div><br />The really sad part of the story is that once a gator feels comfortable approaching humans it must be destroyed because releasing it elsewhere runs the risk that it would just repeat past behaviors in a new locale. Alligators become habituated to being around humans because people irresponsibly feed them, which is a violation of state law, and this makes them dangerous because they lose their natural fear of humanity. This loss of fear increases encounters and can lead to attacks and serious injuries.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDFbcoDNELYerLNF6kVZr0wx__m9etKX3-hTRS-RCfiwXd-2SwbXVsoeHIhnf_8u_M6d82VM5hGIWM-84WqlOQ53NpIDg7yDAMzw2JEiYHC9YSk2EpQHH79zkG0ZJ0kJImA-8Rg/s1600-h/gator+ear.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDFbcoDNELYerLNF6kVZr0wx__m9etKX3-hTRS-RCfiwXd-2SwbXVsoeHIhnf_8u_M6d82VM5hGIWM-84WqlOQ53NpIDg7yDAMzw2JEiYHC9YSk2EpQHH79zkG0ZJ0kJImA-8Rg/s400/gator+ear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188833414078103138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The warden shows me a gator's ear.</span><br /></div><br />As I walked back to my house I passed the game warden's truck and heard a slithering commotion in the back of it. Much to my dismay I discovered that were three other caged captives awaiting their fate as a pair of shoes or a suitcase. Just another day in the life of the Florida Nuisance Alligator Trapper.beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-64236544047485055742008-04-10T07:12:00.001-07:002008-12-10T03:41:55.352-08:00Hontoon Island State Park<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGURhWvhDbKmdwgA9JpXrfIWJj4sEfRQKo5tkk238tx-HreeHKsnB8UgWBXY_9DWZkPjL-S9XSBH8swS9qIEU9O7s2ujIHpmY828M6B4Is_opNtk9R0zMifk45H4PPU-oNUZA5A/s1600-h/park+sign.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGURhWvhDbKmdwgA9JpXrfIWJj4sEfRQKo5tkk238tx-HreeHKsnB8UgWBXY_9DWZkPjL-S9XSBH8swS9qIEU9O7s2ujIHpmY828M6B4Is_opNtk9R0zMifk45H4PPU-oNUZA5A/s400/park+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187633002718432050" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Hontoon Island State Park is a wild and beautiful 1,650 acre tract located in western Volusia County that preserves a large island in the St. Johns River. It requires taking a short ferry ride to get to the island (free of charge) and once there it is best explored by kayak or canoe, which are available for a nominal fee. We chose to hike the main nature trail of the park which leads through a variety of forest types and eventually to a gigantic shell mound that was built by the former occupants of this island some 2,000 years ago.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFchr4Vz_A6oh_itSFnLL9hRV5prtOzbsor3zPzIZjwfr-_o7PEayvc6qdxm5vdb_Z91G5Od5PoUSlk0B1Mt27C2lXfQGLi9t1NUUwpXMCz_5OyG8NfVTUYWgjI2D91wQrze3hkw/s1600-h/owl.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFchr4Vz_A6oh_itSFnLL9hRV5prtOzbsor3zPzIZjwfr-_o7PEayvc6qdxm5vdb_Z91G5Od5PoUSlk0B1Mt27C2lXfQGLi9t1NUUwpXMCz_5OyG8NfVTUYWgjI2D91wQrze3hkw/s400/owl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187622832235874994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Owl totem (replica of the original)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">The first inhabitants of the island were the Timucuan Indians who gathered snails from the shallows of the St. Johns River as a staple food item. Through the years the discarded shells accumulated to form large mounds which can still be seen today.<br /><br />The Hontoon Island group were known as the Clan of the Owl and they carved a large totem which they placed by the banks of the river to show others their affiliation. The original carving was unearthed in the 20th century and is now on display at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida in Gainesville. It is said to be the largest native carving ever found in the state.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7UpGAT938dIzbnBp_Rg5PLooKdNbcYfYGO7HCcnniSXuP3LyyQmOu2c9JlLcHxFTsm-Z0Z_ySCIEa8iX_G-LPSoERL41BGDnRdq0LlvBmzvYAkyNQ_5aJLZnj8pIcs9YQeCzbQ/s1600-h/ferry.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7UpGAT938dIzbnBp_Rg5PLooKdNbcYfYGO7HCcnniSXuP3LyyQmOu2c9JlLcHxFTsm-Z0Z_ySCIEa8iX_G-LPSoERL41BGDnRdq0LlvBmzvYAkyNQ_5aJLZnj8pIcs9YQeCzbQ/s400/ferry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187628123635583682" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Visitor ferry to the island</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div><br />Pine flatwoods occur on the higher areas, while palm and oak hammocks, cypress swamps and marshes border the river and its tributaries. Wildlife is plentiful with West Indian manatees using the shallows around the island as a wintering ground. Other mammals include river otter and raccoon. Wading birds such as herons, ibis and egrets can be readily observed as well as osprey and bald eagles. Watch out for the occasional alligator and on our hike we saw many snakes and lizards.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglU0LlF6PEBM1tI1WNXrGR1smHbqcXA4X4SE6jeq8pdSILLJQQmT5lH88MTDoUb6iFN0SD1ibDCmASZR-ySqperc8BStiKnm6pqRfduHGiQfVrXhcbgxK8-OULhVIz0ELdH5TUqA/s1600-h/rattler.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglU0LlF6PEBM1tI1WNXrGR1smHbqcXA4X4SE6jeq8pdSILLJQQmT5lH88MTDoUb6iFN0SD1ibDCmASZR-ySqperc8BStiKnm6pqRfduHGiQfVrXhcbgxK8-OULhVIz0ELdH5TUqA/s400/rattler.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187630610421648082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dusky pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri)</span> </div><br />The park is popular for picnics, camping and fishing and there are six rustic cabins in the thickly wooded forest near the campground.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SWrvKjbuuA1ShPY9nmkXGTIHTNwnt_LCzpZGNBmCRZ89B7jrtLHoI-2xfVqy2Py7BptNAfMRw0ac7XtngHcksQaCN2Rz7haeaORgg6sPxVa6NVebRzPDxUv-YszVoybghGIwQg/s1600-h/hammock+trail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SWrvKjbuuA1ShPY9nmkXGTIHTNwnt_LCzpZGNBmCRZ89B7jrtLHoI-2xfVqy2Py7BptNAfMRw0ac7XtngHcksQaCN2Rz7haeaORgg6sPxVa6NVebRzPDxUv-YszVoybghGIwQg/s400/hammock+trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187631452235238114" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Hammock Trail<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WxVZthjpAbS4rGJ3u-Dx8hx7ons1cNmo-1A0FY49peZ-ufUrPdXNkrMy8GR0RNfBhaKHiMYpOIgB_bzIrSJsKK2ENZgn3kYf5TwHjRbVlZZwniLiHeW_pZRqeCaAogfr8bTkBw/s1600-h/river.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WxVZthjpAbS4rGJ3u-Dx8hx7ons1cNmo-1A0FY49peZ-ufUrPdXNkrMy8GR0RNfBhaKHiMYpOIgB_bzIrSJsKK2ENZgn3kYf5TwHjRbVlZZwniLiHeW_pZRqeCaAogfr8bTkBw/s400/river.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187631688458439410" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hontoon Dead River</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRAx656Z0RufKD_Fqu7gBK39ctecuelcj6yHuuZ2w8mAseoSht1HM5efvlm2uuIY7ZXpbGdFFqvzewKeWh4IIMxxLMmxEWClyWeISU0M5O2rrsZXRb4xb5xiD2RD1egAxPNgIpw/s1600-h/bottom+cypress.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRAx656Z0RufKD_Fqu7gBK39ctecuelcj6yHuuZ2w8mAseoSht1HM5efvlm2uuIY7ZXpbGdFFqvzewKeWh4IIMxxLMmxEWClyWeISU0M5O2rrsZXRb4xb5xiD2RD1egAxPNgIpw/s400/bottom+cypress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187631924681640706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cypress swamp with abundant ferns along the river<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGtURErWZNzD3ORteHrvfT0RbZEC8pWXsqSfk3JDOEp1YKLoZlIPkZZVK2eJUMaDFpcegryB3auZ4hyphenhyphenG2WI_3r3G-3_0WrSfZEXFNqjGAvwaUiNJ8uTcR_ZwMuBNzycEWkEoT3w/s1600-h/fishing.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGtURErWZNzD3ORteHrvfT0RbZEC8pWXsqSfk3JDOEp1YKLoZlIPkZZVK2eJUMaDFpcegryB3auZ4hyphenhyphenG2WI_3r3G-3_0WrSfZEXFNqjGAvwaUiNJ8uTcR_ZwMuBNzycEWkEoT3w/s400/fishing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187632345588435730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Peacefully fishing the day away along the St. Johns River</span><br /></div><br />This particular locale takes a little extra effort to find and is definitely off the beaten path but is well worth the time spent in transit to see this beautiful gem of the Florida park system.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNkChQ0wsLxjEHIEcsDIt6f7BAxCr_GBy6y1SXuMHXRmG3ddAFb7yyXIFhFaJTOVzVgPg1yDQbtUgLbk2rlv5CFG9RIANwT40kxY7-3zWm6qmsh_7xhYs3lKeDFp8bulhsJo5OA/s1600-h/hiker.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNkChQ0wsLxjEHIEcsDIt6f7BAxCr_GBy6y1SXuMHXRmG3ddAFb7yyXIFhFaJTOVzVgPg1yDQbtUgLbk2rlv5CFG9RIANwT40kxY7-3zWm6qmsh_7xhYs3lKeDFp8bulhsJo5OA/s400/hiker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187632714955623202" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Be careful where you step on this island.</span><br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-49736069704277087442008-03-28T17:00:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:41:56.329-08:00Florida Faunal Showcase<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NP33-IinX9xzvOM79Q_C9O5qW3e4jXaWCQDU_M_bduqrd6KW65IsHxkp0SUSo1eX6DIlhwmvFzIORkMchyphenhyphen-muh_6qkqpNgMkFgbCyR69WJ0YGyto-vFT8Uyz3inhlujqnqSNug/s1600-h/honey-come-down.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NP33-IinX9xzvOM79Q_C9O5qW3e4jXaWCQDU_M_bduqrd6KW65IsHxkp0SUSo1eX6DIlhwmvFzIORkMchyphenhyphen-muh_6qkqpNgMkFgbCyR69WJ0YGyto-vFT8Uyz3inhlujqnqSNug/s400/honey-come-down.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182951853468812114" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I've been extremely lucky over the past few weeks to have had the opportunity to both observe and then successfully photograph some beautiful animals in their native Florida habitat. The gorgeous natural backdrops and brilliant sunlight sure make the job of wildlife photography a joyous experience for this confirmed amateur.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">(Click on photos to enlarge.)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Kv8XLfRulqGZw3BcJmFRnfjTrOK7dh19-DperlGwFwcAtt_O2wIB2JyGqyeOgYnkdfCXQ2kTWuf1TcP6zofTQmPSbNVSOnqlxNLloGjwtZVS2d_kY0m7cA6dhkw3q97fBgprDw/s1600-h/terns.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Kv8XLfRulqGZw3BcJmFRnfjTrOK7dh19-DperlGwFwcAtt_O2wIB2JyGqyeOgYnkdfCXQ2kTWuf1TcP6zofTQmPSbNVSOnqlxNLloGjwtZVS2d_kY0m7cA6dhkw3q97fBgprDw/s400/terns.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182948786862162674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Royal Terns</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Water Sound Beach, FL<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLreyUrLGbqIC2fJixylYje6UBk3ZYKED2VRc8nTDWPrs_CkWvKeMZpQcKvJgYD0vEjNWp53Qt62lpZE29aqNx2X0hnP7mluz0arfZ65nyjHheUSFhZAj_wQWDkq97lnS8XHSdg/s1600-h/mullet.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLreyUrLGbqIC2fJixylYje6UBk3ZYKED2VRc8nTDWPrs_CkWvKeMZpQcKvJgYD0vEjNWp53Qt62lpZE29aqNx2X0hnP7mluz0arfZ65nyjHheUSFhZAj_wQWDkq97lnS8XHSdg/s400/mullet.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182949104689742594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Huge fresh water mullet</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Wakulla Springs State Park<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Bvgj7c3hNhw6WJBg_4ux7a4oXd6Sk-ljALDhIe2ZaO7uTGC9g7B9QYXQEw0Cj6t9gnvlfGJthTffYeF-eL6sDUz0OxzV1Mgf_tFn7STY46r_tkAG0Q_0Ei-G5LeJY2uuSh554w/s1600-h/eagle.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Bvgj7c3hNhw6WJBg_4ux7a4oXd6Sk-ljALDhIe2ZaO7uTGC9g7B9QYXQEw0Cj6t9gnvlfGJthTffYeF-eL6sDUz0OxzV1Mgf_tFn7STY46r_tkAG0Q_0Ei-G5LeJY2uuSh554w/s400/eagle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182949443992158994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bald eagle in a tree above the Suwannee River</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Dixie County, FL<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrbRm8mxL6DLVSPMRihZDnCoxjuiRAV6RGPxgLPSNAhvNEH5NA_DER3l4Tqy6fMOe5e3Bbjq-nUsKVa4OxzxBmYVK1QasTBKxAnUkCTv6twgh6ogjdoAf03m0x5CildIrqySU6A/s1600-h/eagle+close-up.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrbRm8mxL6DLVSPMRihZDnCoxjuiRAV6RGPxgLPSNAhvNEH5NA_DER3l4Tqy6fMOe5e3Bbjq-nUsKVa4OxzxBmYVK1QasTBKxAnUkCTv6twgh6ogjdoAf03m0x5CildIrqySU6A/s400/eagle+close-up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182949985158038306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Close-up of bald eagle<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHnyQGUw_AwcCPS8pnfshm8Wx0JhcsbjGVzQJIr1hKNE4KsKSBOhBX7uL3NFB2OwTxJ_8_ESC7liOKOWE-Z4N-yXbeXu4QgQTW-mmIdp-KziQK162aKVRstM5-1HrB0EKsZR_mg/s1600-h/anole.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHnyQGUw_AwcCPS8pnfshm8Wx0JhcsbjGVzQJIr1hKNE4KsKSBOhBX7uL3NFB2OwTxJ_8_ESC7liOKOWE-Z4N-yXbeXu4QgQTW-mmIdp-KziQK162aKVRstM5-1HrB0EKsZR_mg/s400/anole.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182950217086272306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Green anole in my backyard</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Osceola County, FL</span><br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-20624647637873597982008-03-14T08:25:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:41:58.047-08:00Rock Springs Run State Reserve<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lRr62YgXv9rhwnBYnQGZPKMn2DzAcqhiDkfEUNNnnRadKFV_i18zzKf4ynELfpVhs21J1Qg8_EUmUMc_QOJQxH5mBxL9c4Jl2zvFYoSIkAZ-8DJkL5nKB1KKmslFaQtdMOuXyw/s1600-h/rock+springs+sign.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lRr62YgXv9rhwnBYnQGZPKMn2DzAcqhiDkfEUNNnnRadKFV_i18zzKf4ynELfpVhs21J1Qg8_EUmUMc_QOJQxH5mBxL9c4Jl2zvFYoSIkAZ-8DJkL5nKB1KKmslFaQtdMOuXyw/s400/rock+springs+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177625199849766754" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />This delightful park is located about an hour north of Orlando in the thickly wooded wilds of eastern Lake County. Rock Run Springs State Reserve is 8,750 acres of sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, bayheads, hammocks and swamps. Several artesian springs come together to form the waterway of Rock Run and it is a very popular destination for canoe and kayak enthusiasts.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LICYaXu_2tFLj0sKyM_9wtYNzQwfOhXQKmUl5xIzIXC9Pa2XePX44BXSOmgTdSEqynJEedLo_7XkqNY9McWqwuasii3hM8NYlwSGphpbeDbXpBNnEiip1yFJlHFrjfciYjJUuQ/s1600-h/bear+crossing.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LICYaXu_2tFLj0sKyM_9wtYNzQwfOhXQKmUl5xIzIXC9Pa2XePX44BXSOmgTdSEqynJEedLo_7XkqNY9McWqwuasii3hM8NYlwSGphpbeDbXpBNnEiip1yFJlHFrjfciYjJUuQ/s400/bear+crossing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177622695883833074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Along Florida Hwy. 46 near the park entrance</span><br /></div><br />This park attracted my interest because it is a well known habitat for the endangered Florida black bear. Although primarily a nocturnal animal I still wanted to set out deep into woods of this park to see if I could catch a glimpse of this magnificent and elusive critter. Alas, all that we found were some very old bear droppings scattered along the trail but the beauty and quiet of this pristine sanctuary was well worth the trip despite the lack of any encounters with a bear. Better luck next time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0Q9VNw7xgzolakoNtYVBwmE7Y0aIt5voc6astOQRjDzl0Kll-ws3-5f5dJ9oe3gqLKSWmKvi2ABSisB0CfzFT1zxKkYbjoaDlu42ZiBuqc1lOrwY_DgYeH2obGJssrlveKgetg/s1600-h/woods.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0Q9VNw7xgzolakoNtYVBwmE7Y0aIt5voc6astOQRjDzl0Kll-ws3-5f5dJ9oe3gqLKSWmKvi2ABSisB0CfzFT1zxKkYbjoaDlu42ZiBuqc1lOrwY_DgYeH2obGJssrlveKgetg/s400/woods.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177622979351674626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Prime bear habitat deep in the pine scrub<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAqE7h0OhCb2F546DxEXWJ4znsn_fa4xFpZPYdaHGEC5ufyaa0SDl278R-aTe6B_zzQPhsWs_aCM3tP574_icyEKbcJPPwXr-C_rvza8rWDFIGf63JHrev4TJc8yzERtSK7JX1w/s1600-h/bear_am.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAqE7h0OhCb2F546DxEXWJ4znsn_fa4xFpZPYdaHGEC5ufyaa0SDl278R-aTe6B_zzQPhsWs_aCM3tP574_icyEKbcJPPwXr-C_rvza8rWDFIGf63JHrev4TJc8yzERtSK7JX1w/s400/bear_am.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177623322949058322" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus)</span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkYZyKAMf8UJ4aqb1-_35JJB0UGHIO41SvO8TOw410qnMA0Zhm00sNpsg0zOd0THYuZLRqkewXlCSVFABZn6UrrZbKrSAdJlDgPtFF22ymnVIz0xb_5rvr96X2qA69JyKNLiNUw/s1600-h/bottomland.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkYZyKAMf8UJ4aqb1-_35JJB0UGHIO41SvO8TOw410qnMA0Zhm00sNpsg0zOd0THYuZLRqkewXlCSVFABZn6UrrZbKrSAdJlDgPtFF22ymnVIz0xb_5rvr96X2qA69JyKNLiNUw/s400/bottomland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177624104633106226" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Bottom land swamp forest<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxxNJIg44gKxbnvDzm3ccbEVvayU70jgaDHKXPcglCAHatY3CY_8uSCKQf0sidj83Fxe3M-joOKWdFoMsTO9g4CpATtM4LhkDPcsB8gQDSPVAi_LPSM_ubPuJeUCJScl0Ji9dWw/s1600-h/trail+through+brush.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxxNJIg44gKxbnvDzm3ccbEVvayU70jgaDHKXPcglCAHatY3CY_8uSCKQf0sidj83Fxe3M-joOKWdFoMsTO9g4CpATtM4LhkDPcsB8gQDSPVAi_LPSM_ubPuJeUCJScl0Ji9dWw/s400/trail+through+brush.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177624611439247170" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Tracking my quarry through the brush<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBAG0gKNmbQ1T1AJR6jGA1Y9C41RRsNlDqmdFDBmGWeFlFGprDP6L1WjQorOEdfW6DYfR9pL87LLrFFGSwpuWq0Q54sWJEk21GGDhpAtMyuLTzT43FB9ZfNlAIMBDfd96D4Pwew/s1600-h/Black+Bear+159050.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBAG0gKNmbQ1T1AJR6jGA1Y9C41RRsNlDqmdFDBmGWeFlFGprDP6L1WjQorOEdfW6DYfR9pL87LLrFFGSwpuWq0Q54sWJEk21GGDhpAtMyuLTzT43FB9ZfNlAIMBDfd96D4Pwew/s400/Black+Bear+159050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177624937856761682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Swamp cub</span><br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-34003908662660467592008-03-10T09:19:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:41:59.309-08:00Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4xvpo8onVXFbnbUZVxUIhcrPZ-lVp1W_Eil_aVLWEznILeKSaBPasI8fRz_oH2gWIiLQNiR1Vl7dNR6qoFL5v9f32NsPU3z4fwUgXnSFkwo6-e4hwIZH0V54I3LYzV2UGcRPDg/s1600-h/kissimmee+sign.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4xvpo8onVXFbnbUZVxUIhcrPZ-lVp1W_Eil_aVLWEznILeKSaBPasI8fRz_oH2gWIiLQNiR1Vl7dNR6qoFL5v9f32NsPU3z4fwUgXnSFkwo6-e4hwIZH0V54I3LYzV2UGcRPDg/s400/kissimmee+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176168733490020066" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The Kissimmee Prairie Preserve presents an opportunity to explore the last large chunk of undisturbed Florida dry prairie, an ecosystem that once covered millions of acres across the central part of the Sunshine State. At 54,000 acres this is one of the largest nature preserves in Florida and is well worth the effort to make the journey on rural back roads into the far hinterlands of Okeechobee County.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHDQhT7uo5qjAjy4l0vMOxTPeZuzKhjBpffwbMN0fgoBVXtSCYwKg4GnTfyONhyphenhyphenmSeSaThE2OGRe_Yjuw7xQY_T747UmHUiTOzs4jAme0SFwhZV5xr5XI2bDTRDQZ3NPbmcVHdA/s1600-h/kissimmee+prairie.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHDQhT7uo5qjAjy4l0vMOxTPeZuzKhjBpffwbMN0fgoBVXtSCYwKg4GnTfyONhyphenhyphenmSeSaThE2OGRe_Yjuw7xQY_T747UmHUiTOzs4jAme0SFwhZV5xr5XI2bDTRDQZ3NPbmcVHdA/s400/kissimmee+prairie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176159580914712178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It looks just like Africa.</span><br /></div><br />In this park you are encouraged to explore on foot, bicycle, horseback or by guided swamp buggy. Private vehicles are forbidden from venturing beyond the beautiful oak draped campground near the entrance to the preserve. With over 100 miles of dirt roads and trails this place is a hikers paradise.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx1FLPZcEVe5qTjnm7eR6gpDEzfzA1o5Oc-K73hZR41Go7TfrUyW7Cs6i2OoHZQf1Nv42rwDGgqPZQgl7BZj9Fs5E1yr_o0lKTaz5-1CFdhaGcL0ZTcYnsYxN5baE_gdEvnNoGg/s1600-h/kissimmee+slough.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx1FLPZcEVe5qTjnm7eR6gpDEzfzA1o5Oc-K73hZR41Go7TfrUyW7Cs6i2OoHZQf1Nv42rwDGgqPZQgl7BZj9Fs5E1yr_o0lKTaz5-1CFdhaGcL0ZTcYnsYxN5baE_gdEvnNoGg/s400/kissimmee+slough.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176159958871834242" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Slough in the middle of surrounding prairie</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WybxBSzNhJIngPcPamGQPgds4k7XR6gmME36SDN5alMlguNdBvCWxUn044nlaPbqQN9HFs43vsxfKBUmNiheLRPtJ-eQPZRkYZ4w7tgAzSqe2vkh8soG6R-pgesZPnImoUJuow/s1600-h/kissimmee+egret.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WybxBSzNhJIngPcPamGQPgds4k7XR6gmME36SDN5alMlguNdBvCWxUn044nlaPbqQN9HFs43vsxfKBUmNiheLRPtJ-eQPZRkYZ4w7tgAzSqe2vkh8soG6R-pgesZPnImoUJuow/s400/kissimmee+egret.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176160981074050706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Egret</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The park offers excellent seasonal birding opportunities and is home to the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow, as well as the crested caracara and sandhill crane. We encountered the largest alligator that I have ever seen in the wild (see photo below) as well as deer and many different species of raptors and aquatic birds. Kissimmee Prairie is also a well known spot for astronomers because it is located in one of the most remote areas of the Florida peninsula with very few urban lights to obscure the dark night sky.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTTGXS5_h2Z4PQGGmqFj-bpjwAcs8EFEFDIyal1uRsEDq0DFSp4lfnabbzCUYpEZI4MGQB9rPrqxCpth56ho7w9-n6jcGFxbodnlxcnXStmD4iH6BuNZ-l0a_8fiBhyLMrb1cPw/s1600-h/kissimmee+hammock.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTTGXS5_h2Z4PQGGmqFj-bpjwAcs8EFEFDIyal1uRsEDq0DFSp4lfnabbzCUYpEZI4MGQB9rPrqxCpth56ho7w9-n6jcGFxbodnlxcnXStmD4iH6BuNZ-l0a_8fiBhyLMrb1cPw/s400/kissimmee+hammock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176161376211041954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Approaching a thickly wooded hammock<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z4ortrNU0zU-ZFyEHHs_xrahAX4l8lHuaX5820DtWTB4CwYegDGJhA7URASYZ5O3W_DSztFKYfqUpLhF-dtxLBVeUpvqInLnLltSVvyd05CRmpb59RdSspPH1EXRS54J1has8A/s1600-h/kissimmee+bug.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z4ortrNU0zU-ZFyEHHs_xrahAX4l8lHuaX5820DtWTB4CwYegDGJhA7URASYZ5O3W_DSztFKYfqUpLhF-dtxLBVeUpvqInLnLltSVvyd05CRmpb59RdSspPH1EXRS54J1has8A/s400/kissimmee+bug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176161852952411826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Gigantic leaf-footed bug (Acanthocephala terminalis)</span><br /></div><br />The terrain is characterized by vast open plains dotted with hammocks of palm and oak that is interspersed with shallow waterways and sloughs. The western boundary of the park is the Kissimmee River, which eventually empties into Lake Okeechobee, and links the waters of the Floridian Aquifer in the northern part of the state to the drainage system of the Everglades in the south. The Kissimmee Prairie is an excellent place to experience the subtle transition from swampy forests to grassy open glades which takes place in this part of Florida.<br /><br />It's located in an extremely remote area so bring plenty of food and supplies before you set out and make sure to stay for at a least a full day to absorb the beauty and majesty of this incomparable landscape that is unique to Florida and a treasure for us all.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNie4nyFXWpuwHMKyIQsQ8xmK8u8QpnfEaSlTLPKta53yJLO9OM3h4n87bt-wac88qbZsTjPRtMVlDvOBtSgAA6GXk0lPAGwaSZxWPI9ysyUi3hMMz8MISGcgoiRFcVXwSxnP7ow/s1600-h/kissimmee+monster.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNie4nyFXWpuwHMKyIQsQ8xmK8u8QpnfEaSlTLPKta53yJLO9OM3h4n87bt-wac88qbZsTjPRtMVlDvOBtSgAA6GXk0lPAGwaSZxWPI9ysyUi3hMMz8MISGcgoiRFcVXwSxnP7ow/s400/kissimmee+monster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176162638931427010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A truly monster-sized gator (click on the photo for a better look).<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6fTu3usbsVfSti6Brc6dorORDc37O7Qkh9gMelEXyWPMtqSENqUbC99BxlAkkykilinvFAKZTdywGqOyXrDMbeKHO1FpVdC_DajNKREmAOwOoXdJPIaLi7RfO-__e0uheJJw0g/s1600-h/kissimmee+primordial.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6fTu3usbsVfSti6Brc6dorORDc37O7Qkh9gMelEXyWPMtqSENqUbC99BxlAkkykilinvFAKZTdywGqOyXrDMbeKHO1FpVdC_DajNKREmAOwOoXdJPIaLi7RfO-__e0uheJJw0g/s400/kissimmee+primordial.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176163132852666066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Primordial Florida</span><br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-1617521208108921512008-01-18T06:24:00.000-08:002008-12-10T03:42:00.875-08:00Blue Spring State Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQsc8QzrqLRWTafaaNyo1o-fHiYTiWRqKkA4aTPmtp22RRhKUP6l59kyBdDEF7vLiA6cVBFJZk8zwUYZhqaW06YbxKdwiL8sw4cdh8cgrlfMLchwMPmLs6VVCy5nmxpRcbVAwdw/s1600-h/sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQsc8QzrqLRWTafaaNyo1o-fHiYTiWRqKkA4aTPmtp22RRhKUP6l59kyBdDEF7vLiA6cVBFJZk8zwUYZhqaW06YbxKdwiL8sw4cdh8cgrlfMLchwMPmLs6VVCy5nmxpRcbVAwdw/s400/sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156831227680504930" border="0" /></a><br />Blue Spring State Park is a 2700 acre preserve centered around a first magnitude spring that discharges 104 million gallons of water daily into the nearby St. Johns River in western Volusia County. During the bulk of the year the park is available for visitors to swim, snorkel and scuba dive in the crystal clear waters that flow for a half mile from the spring to the river. However in the winter months all human focused activities are shut down and these pristine depths are given over to migrating West Indian manatees that use this stream to swim, rest and play.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-6XMnGpvxuBwKgHVHaoPg2a7bD9Hq00ZDccP3ICACTIc684m3iI6JkrMEwlMHw-JoAE07XC-YZ3ShSxK4t3UBO6WllgTDg3z_0u51K9i_FRewf0w3msfxytk5vvFqBV5DPE2Dw/s1600-h/stream+side.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-6XMnGpvxuBwKgHVHaoPg2a7bD9Hq00ZDccP3ICACTIc684m3iI6JkrMEwlMHw-JoAE07XC-YZ3ShSxK4t3UBO6WllgTDg3z_0u51K9i_FRewf0w3msfxytk5vvFqBV5DPE2Dw/s400/stream+side.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156829264880450546" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Along the stream flowing from Blue Spring<br /><br /></span></div>The warm 72 degree waters of Blue Spring provide a vital refuge for these mammals when the water temperature in their coastal inlet habitat becomes too cold for them to survive in. A manatee cannot withstand temperatures much below 66 degrees, so these warm water springs make it possible for them to inhabit this part of central Florida.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq15dzyNCFheeM0RfO-kF5syWw1GFziezNE7eMX6eRBIj45VBNXaADg3EW6k4KMH_jyBAJishE0NvBDS0fK5WTY9-e9jCMYEh6DdGhC0NwXtyJS3FRktgAjDm1qElqME7PD-v3cQ/s1600-h/manatee+%232.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq15dzyNCFheeM0RfO-kF5syWw1GFziezNE7eMX6eRBIj45VBNXaADg3EW6k4KMH_jyBAJishE0NvBDS0fK5WTY9-e9jCMYEh6DdGhC0NwXtyJS3FRktgAjDm1qElqME7PD-v3cQ/s400/manatee+%232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156829565528161282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Manatee in the stream<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYQTltbqEbapYt9u4ZeQzLa7mA0ojO7WPh3oq7QGe0zhsYA9T6BOM-nSeigjzdHhnOmkkg3v0vEbeC0TwimcOymOba0GVVmxGrQc36wNAZAjH_tnOoCdEUowzvc_23UqqOy04KQ/s1600-h/manatee.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYQTltbqEbapYt9u4ZeQzLa7mA0ojO7WPh3oq7QGe0zhsYA9T6BOM-nSeigjzdHhnOmkkg3v0vEbeC0TwimcOymOba0GVVmxGrQc36wNAZAjH_tnOoCdEUowzvc_23UqqOy04KQ/s400/manatee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156830184003451938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Closeup in the shallows</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwq-8sU2B1lLOCZLJBAEpzdIA-IauUfqiOLcvUxvcDVGiiWg-i59UUUb83h7jN1PfvVTlem6EKv3BwEHEGH0b3MBHx9MSoZQYD1PNK4PBR233ji829Z2osGoSE18d36G5YEoVTw/s1600-h/up+stream.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwq-8sU2B1lLOCZLJBAEpzdIA-IauUfqiOLcvUxvcDVGiiWg-i59UUUb83h7jN1PfvVTlem6EKv3BwEHEGH0b3MBHx9MSoZQYD1PNK4PBR233ji829Z2osGoSE18d36G5YEoVTw/s400/up+stream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156829934895348754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Crystal clear depths near the spring<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStSDFVH2HctDKOdJaQ-l5yMFoUdAGgdVbQ-kQvY7bf8vdBLdI9crlHjyy3wwRx0GI4UajeX6x7XtlKzrF4xHtulmuDxKx_z4XBiZ-rCW8TN0w1aoyZp1LFX621eJ35LjK0qMIYQ/s1600-h/manatee+and+fish.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStSDFVH2HctDKOdJaQ-l5yMFoUdAGgdVbQ-kQvY7bf8vdBLdI9crlHjyy3wwRx0GI4UajeX6x7XtlKzrF4xHtulmuDxKx_z4XBiZ-rCW8TN0w1aoyZp1LFX621eJ35LjK0qMIYQ/s400/manatee+and+fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156830480356195378" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Scratching an itch on a log<br /><br /></span></div>A scenic boardwalk trail parallels the entire length of the stream flowing from the spring, affording many vista points from which to view these gentle and fascinating creatures.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DfI73E1Y_sfoPXn2sDpIm_LXQqYosaVj0EtYkIEtxHWnVzoFzBO1xROEBaXo7tezOxKeUmBtbsinQy84FlnEyGGDwAauITU5kUXm6aOFRNO-qUNC11MDjLO2-ShJRRf5b7hTPw/s1600-h/trail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DfI73E1Y_sfoPXn2sDpIm_LXQqYosaVj0EtYkIEtxHWnVzoFzBO1xROEBaXo7tezOxKeUmBtbsinQy84FlnEyGGDwAauITU5kUXm6aOFRNO-qUNC11MDjLO2-ShJRRf5b7hTPw/s400/trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156830720874363970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Boardwalk trail<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFU1rt3LBJlyUizsn9FzH7ovIuDHGxnVm9W_tJsG1XU8x8uVMMhBzwJh4hQAvn89dt6dsgyhcPOvtVeEEPkRn1oxOgqsEBUzsPieYoZ1dhcSACjRsOCjFe2QvSvKPd9Ya6SP85g/s1600-h/blue+spring.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFU1rt3LBJlyUizsn9FzH7ovIuDHGxnVm9W_tJsG1XU8x8uVMMhBzwJh4hQAvn89dt6dsgyhcPOvtVeEEPkRn1oxOgqsEBUzsPieYoZ1dhcSACjRsOCjFe2QvSvKPd9Ya6SP85g/s400/blue+spring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156830991457303634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Blue Spring</span><br /></div><br />The park is located 2.5 miles west of Orange City off U.S. Hwy. 17/92. Binoculars sure come in handy.beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-87737910210934171622007-11-26T07:42:00.000-08:002008-12-10T03:42:02.264-08:00Hidden Osceola County<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnbd9aC_DD8lodFbHHMUnmT1MERvkPT_RgktSzWreczH2LQJP7hdUhF00PUM5ZRwwKZinJ-lNmBOari43oId0l3rUUk96oUhSqAXUOvq7l_gs4tjYknARCqFnlhWmKs-1BDFi7Q/s1600-h/osceola.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnbd9aC_DD8lodFbHHMUnmT1MERvkPT_RgktSzWreczH2LQJP7hdUhF00PUM5ZRwwKZinJ-lNmBOari43oId0l3rUUk96oUhSqAXUOvq7l_gs4tjYknARCqFnlhWmKs-1BDFi7Q/s400/osceola.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137187388380887426" border="0" /></a>Osceola is the sixth largest county in Florida with over 1,350 square miles of territory. From north to south it stretches almost 60 miles and is for the most part uninhabited. The extreme northern part of the county is where the bulk of its 245,000 citizens reside, including us. This narrow corridor of densely populated suburbia, roughly paralleling U.S. Hwy. 192, comprises the southern edge of metropolitan Orlando. Osceola is also the 17th fastest growing county in the U.S. by attracting 100,000 new residents since the late 1990's.<br /><br />Blessedly the rest of the county is still predominantly woods, swamps, lakes, prairies and vast ranches; with much of the agricultural land being devoted to cattle, citrus and turf farms. A lot of it is also preserved by the state of Florida as conservation and wildlife management land that is easy to access and enjoy.<br /><br />This past Sunday we left the hurly-burly of U.S. 192 behind us and turned south on County Hwy. 523 heading for Yeehaw Junction to enjoy the wide open spaces and beautifully diverse landscapes of southeastern Osceola County that few of our neighbors even know of, much less have ever desired to visit.<br /><br />Our first stop was at the Sunset Ranch trailhead located in the gorgeous Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area. This stunningly beautiful loop trail takes you through enormous open groves of live oak draped with overhanging Spanish moss, dense cypress swamps, open Florida prairie and eventually leads to the shores of Lake Marian. It was easily one the most impressive nature trails I've ever hiked in Florida.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlL0BPgxybXTW2UW-Mu7wP_7Ylpy1ugZ9pfi3jdvX_wh5qwhu03EvOJcN5W5KDOTD1KMfN8PL1zWCZDRmWjQOsec-Q34U0m9-42j0WvtrgdYpGHJdLpsDsn6YTyjOHLhQ31LAiA/s1600-h/enchanted+forest.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlL0BPgxybXTW2UW-Mu7wP_7Ylpy1ugZ9pfi3jdvX_wh5qwhu03EvOJcN5W5KDOTD1KMfN8PL1zWCZDRmWjQOsec-Q34U0m9-42j0WvtrgdYpGHJdLpsDsn6YTyjOHLhQ31LAiA/s400/enchanted+forest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137181358246803714" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Enchanted forest<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAtlWUYJczYkvQavpWX6ScJsoIV3yyiaUBO8Sf1a9CP0Qn2h0RstDpXF48lojXLgGZDCuhyphenhyphenmq_nElP4UA5E0JsEuNj_bZ9_m9xIXRrDB-VKAe0LK3qw1BTgUbx_M6vqjwBpEw4A/s1600-h/cypress.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAtlWUYJczYkvQavpWX6ScJsoIV3yyiaUBO8Sf1a9CP0Qn2h0RstDpXF48lojXLgGZDCuhyphenhyphenmq_nElP4UA5E0JsEuNj_bZ9_m9xIXRrDB-VKAe0LK3qw1BTgUbx_M6vqjwBpEw4A/s400/cypress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137182483528235282" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Giant cypress</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k-vDFaqi0oI3tWGPQmvkKQIuprle1feE1ekKG0W0W7bHV2iw6jAm7ZSGx-lMkWUiy86voz9i5Ti9A6on5ZysAulbOe39lHEmCmMF64RAK3iykHMvpq5lsNNMON149uF2S1Ucmg/s1600-h/prairie.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k-vDFaqi0oI3tWGPQmvkKQIuprle1feE1ekKG0W0W7bHV2iw6jAm7ZSGx-lMkWUiy86voz9i5Ti9A6on5ZysAulbOe39lHEmCmMF64RAK3iykHMvpq5lsNNMON149uF2S1Ucmg/s400/prairie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137182681096730914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tall grass prairie<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKP97RD9LtmgBS-BQpDe42KTx6A2lsXKd_dM5gta44JCd3g_lC5A3XjHb9lY-q2hWdrOImeN-H8OIY3Vqv7OFza3g6e_ERYF4_AN48gBJrMDKDsNNiRCHFpyq1xsmLG6VGxIDCg/s1600-h/lake+marion.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKP97RD9LtmgBS-BQpDe42KTx6A2lsXKd_dM5gta44JCd3g_lC5A3XjHb9lY-q2hWdrOImeN-H8OIY3Vqv7OFza3g6e_ERYF4_AN48gBJrMDKDsNNiRCHFpyq1xsmLG6VGxIDCg/s400/lake+marion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137182865780324658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lake Marian<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Hwy. 523 terminates at U.S. 441 in the drowsy half-dead community of Kenansville where we hung a right and proceeded south another 20 miles to Yeehaw Junction where there is an entry ramp on to the Florida Turnpike for the trip back home.<br /><br />This part of Osceola County still retains its rural charm and has many areas of unspoiled wilderness. This is a very good time of the year to get out and hike, the temperatures are moderate but still warm, the bugs much less of an obstacle to maintaining your sanity and scary reptilian creatures like snakes and gators are more subdued in the cooler weather.<br /><br />Go forth and explore. It's what the world is for.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0Vmp0PmWAoXT8hKWbSv0MNcJupLQS3uWT4HI-DnM-URb2n7N4F5O9M0uqDvjEAMV0eYP_0BNQvs4GqFZFTiXom5iW5o6C_vtklrI0tiqlNjaCsP132yhXUyqNG8KJPQcaE7ubQ/s1600-h/red+gator.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0Vmp0PmWAoXT8hKWbSv0MNcJupLQS3uWT4HI-DnM-URb2n7N4F5O9M0uqDvjEAMV0eYP_0BNQvs4GqFZFTiXom5iW5o6C_vtklrI0tiqlNjaCsP132yhXUyqNG8KJPQcaE7ubQ/s400/red+gator.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137183913752344898" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Kenansville, FL<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PMlm6zUU6ouL_0oYV6_a9LjHA-5uBFqSiVnMOY4cSsyPvIKzkpap-iPoBFDzJiBowCjCvVMU35BxVIJfMS3Qf2uauCVRPgdRXloUwnT4Rq7WP3ustUY4jtMxOShlLconkpLdLw/s1600-h/yee-haw.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PMlm6zUU6ouL_0oYV6_a9LjHA-5uBFqSiVnMOY4cSsyPvIKzkpap-iPoBFDzJiBowCjCvVMU35BxVIJfMS3Qf2uauCVRPgdRXloUwnT4Rq7WP3ustUY4jtMxOShlLconkpLdLw/s400/yee-haw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137184167155415378" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Hostess stand in the Desert Inn</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Yeehaw Junction, FL<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7cUtbOgZEGq6HzBDgKd0GmGXijmuI6BSHEDQ87I80LJQAFwPmMq1-KDLX3NuL-KoyccffyPTovET7m_-gHGCjvJxgqhKS3RXzrNT63CqbUVvFK-xWtEAICKLZ8cFaDu1j2mXZg/s1600-h/desert+inn.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7cUtbOgZEGq6HzBDgKd0GmGXijmuI6BSHEDQ87I80LJQAFwPmMq1-KDLX3NuL-KoyccffyPTovET7m_-gHGCjvJxgqhKS3RXzrNT63CqbUVvFK-xWtEAICKLZ8cFaDu1j2mXZg/s400/desert+inn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137184416263518562" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dining room and bar</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Desert Inn<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZbS2d6kv5Xcy7y4EeSQCmCgT-wyFVZ7QmxaEzQ9Ymsnrfd_AyLuoa803rnd3gQAoSRBqY4OXkR5NjtGkzecNc_1xpNg-ekNfWLcqMCEgYFn5YxvoWtRt17vwCH99T5tkoT33NQ/s1600-h/window+up+above.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZbS2d6kv5Xcy7y4EeSQCmCgT-wyFVZ7QmxaEzQ9Ymsnrfd_AyLuoa803rnd3gQAoSRBqY4OXkR5NjtGkzecNc_1xpNg-ekNfWLcqMCEgYFn5YxvoWtRt17vwCH99T5tkoT33NQ/s400/window+up+above.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137184622421948786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Window up above</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Desert Inn<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="txt_1">"How I wish I could be dreaming<br />And wake up to an honest love<br />I was wrong for I was watching<br />From the window up above."<br /><br />------George Jones<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div></div></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-88250015038727978182007-11-19T06:50:00.000-08:002008-12-10T03:42:03.316-08:00The island behind our houseOne of my favorite places in all of Florida just happens to be located directly behind our house here in Celebration. It is a slightly elevated patch of open prairie dotted with pine, palmetto and live oak which is completely surrounded on all sides by thickly wooded swamps. The only access to this "island" is by a trail that starts behind our garage.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzU8U-NZDz0pv1hvmUprcmJHwHOH-qcj07PX8fa-lYWKcaXU17nzpfvwT8avP_WyvN0Cq06D7CjbVwok1_vPMZ4OdM4t23VWUvJongxhwAKFkncnUkr9N4X4SJHmnu6Cemzn0iA/s1600-h/trail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzU8U-NZDz0pv1hvmUprcmJHwHOH-qcj07PX8fa-lYWKcaXU17nzpfvwT8avP_WyvN0Cq06D7CjbVwok1_vPMZ4OdM4t23VWUvJongxhwAKFkncnUkr9N4X4SJHmnu6Cemzn0iA/s400/trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134575163501655874" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Trail to the island<br /><br /></span></div>In fact this little known nature preserve is where the Disney Corporation relocates animals, especially the endangered gopher tortoise, when they develop new areas of their property that ends up displacing the local fauna. Every once in a while a Disney truck will pull up near our house and a crew of workers will head back into the swamp towards the island to do some sort of conservation work. Lately they've been grooming the prairie with a tractor to enhance the habitat for turtles. Other than these occasional visits from the conservation crew no one else even knows this place exists (besides Connie and I). It is our own private tropical paradise where we can readily see all kinds of wildlife and experience the peace and serenity of an untouched tract of primordial Florida.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Q0xNl8r5lOznq607NBG2ZxNdnjX_dv4Hx2MnitHByCtu3Bz-hBEN2RKLcrOfRC00eMsoGbq-fXSHdJeKWlkbcE97RmZBg084UxodOumeyfPDEGozKfkPRHXR1utYVLOXzJqu9A/s1600-h/island.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Q0xNl8r5lOznq607NBG2ZxNdnjX_dv4Hx2MnitHByCtu3Bz-hBEN2RKLcrOfRC00eMsoGbq-fXSHdJeKWlkbcE97RmZBg084UxodOumeyfPDEGozKfkPRHXR1utYVLOXzJqu9A/s400/island.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134572290168534834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The island</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeERTcQcnBUVlSYC4KE73XbCPdjZEGX6Yr-s0MHDtiHuy6yYBR_47u_36x6XVS4BgvEu2zvIRGt1M3boifjJnBtzMbvIdFQAAI4DNXDJx5PjGgPuPXW1WdNgSOOhd6J8CxazD2g/s1600-h/giant+live+oak.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeERTcQcnBUVlSYC4KE73XbCPdjZEGX6Yr-s0MHDtiHuy6yYBR_47u_36x6XVS4BgvEu2zvIRGt1M3boifjJnBtzMbvIdFQAAI4DNXDJx5PjGgPuPXW1WdNgSOOhd6J8CxazD2g/s400/giant+live+oak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134575661717862226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">An ancient giant live oak<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdxy_Ce_kXBZaLLiQHbWj6GVrlFyh-YgliRiBmAXoij52rWy-mzfVOR90RNv3U8lHl_v0KaTIwxndbImaIbmWajYMnp-PMPjGG2xwrIz7FZKDpTNrC1_g1F2yrvOdPrnkWRhQnA/s1600-h/spider+web.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdxy_Ce_kXBZaLLiQHbWj6GVrlFyh-YgliRiBmAXoij52rWy-mzfVOR90RNv3U8lHl_v0KaTIwxndbImaIbmWajYMnp-PMPjGG2xwrIz7FZKDpTNrC1_g1F2yrvOdPrnkWRhQnA/s400/spider+web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134575915120932706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A beautiful tropical spider (Gasteracantha)</span> </div><br />The funny thing is we can't get any of our neighborhood friends to join us on a "hike around the island" as we like to call it. They seem deathly afraid of venturing back into the murky depths of the unknown. I think they prefer their version of Florida to be throughly scraped clean of native vegetation, sprayed for bugs and covered in neat squares of uniform green fescue. Welcome to their Magic Kingdom. I certainly prefer mine.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6ouSmxrkqpAfxK1rqvlFsDdFE4f-LByeK-b6vLVtNJt-eFxD8NxUbd-uddV97PeOlr_49NYJP9Leng_PPVnSXqjj2sZieO4KkA1r-hwUu0vC9h5F9bXJQZRzOqknzevn_MOdQg/s1600-h/swamp+dusk.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6ouSmxrkqpAfxK1rqvlFsDdFE4f-LByeK-b6vLVtNJt-eFxD8NxUbd-uddV97PeOlr_49NYJP9Leng_PPVnSXqjj2sZieO4KkA1r-hwUu0vC9h5F9bXJQZRzOqknzevn_MOdQg/s400/swamp+dusk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134577216496023426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunset deep in the swamp<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinguXoSPOg_NT15WK8fYn1ZgOCYY1tPpD_TCDMxY88kpUn5AGBafong2i01Cy-TgFzQhWRqxWxOiFdsQLHJM_oigRI4Sq2GBbhpeBGjhmh1lIhKwaosoeFu2UFXwle_l0bsrGmSA/s1600-h/darkening+jungle.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinguXoSPOg_NT15WK8fYn1ZgOCYY1tPpD_TCDMxY88kpUn5AGBafong2i01Cy-TgFzQhWRqxWxOiFdsQLHJM_oigRI4Sq2GBbhpeBGjhmh1lIhKwaosoeFu2UFXwle_l0bsrGmSA/s400/darkening+jungle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134577628812883874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Good-night all.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-1953371311995296342007-11-13T15:12:00.000-08:002008-12-10T03:42:04.387-08:00Catfish Creek State Preserve<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5jzRhv_9hPZ3_tTt-JHkDY4iVKWzmWvaWEz5AhopiNtBiBf4G8b72Fz7LPwzOERjsrPMtLZAWtCjA3mu__JNu4N-U8RW2DPgNYY8Y2wkdiFFwpegK3PHKf5-S-c-n0ZgsdNtZw/s1600-h/sign.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5jzRhv_9hPZ3_tTt-JHkDY4iVKWzmWvaWEz5AhopiNtBiBf4G8b72Fz7LPwzOERjsrPMtLZAWtCjA3mu__JNu4N-U8RW2DPgNYY8Y2wkdiFFwpegK3PHKf5-S-c-n0ZgsdNtZw/s400/sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132477934215606994" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />This past Sunday we took a delightful hike in Catfish Creek State Preserve which is located in an isolated area of the Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem of central Florida. This unusual landscape of sand hills and desert-like flora reminded me of the high plateaus of Utah and Arizona. It was so quiet and still that I thought for a moment that we were actually in a remote section of the southwestern U.S. rather than in the 4th most populous state in the nation. Amazingly, we were the only people there on this particular afternoon.<br /><br />Catfish Creek is a wonderful off-the-beaten-path sort of place located in eastern Polk County that preserves beautiful sections of scrub, sandhill, pine flatwoods and shallow ponds that are home to numerous rare plants such as scrub morning glory, scrub plum, pygmy fringe tree, and cutthroat grass. It is also home to several protected animal species including Florida scrub-jays, bald eagles, gopher tortoises, and Florida scrub lizards. During our brief visit we encountered deer, turkey, assorted waterfowl, swallows, an eagle, scrub-jay and a wide variety of insects.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2NU24kZO3owbE9i46jFOmFZUxwozxHqsTMeh6zF-gREea7yEy3iQ1UpH5usRTrjb8Xla8cIFkYHqZ8vusnkFv3C6Wol4VCaBlQ2Bm1LYmAQguHZT89JtRmgF4yvsIVX7GlnQTw/s1600-h/firetower+road.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2NU24kZO3owbE9i46jFOmFZUxwozxHqsTMeh6zF-gREea7yEy3iQ1UpH5usRTrjb8Xla8cIFkYHqZ8vusnkFv3C6Wol4VCaBlQ2Bm1LYmAQguHZT89JtRmgF4yvsIVX7GlnQTw/s400/firetower+road.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132473368665371218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Isolated and empty road to the park.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRwhDDGbnboKwgEeqvXk1vbQc9VWEFimFxMFEzyuTaU74x0UVSoiW55Y1NYL76fAG-aEqopW-q-OI8weulCkY0ObMlFR1aeTiI0uBkE4FPh5Q5hBZ4WpbOxGa3_MarrBL3wzWYQ/s1600-h/outback.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRwhDDGbnboKwgEeqvXk1vbQc9VWEFimFxMFEzyuTaU74x0UVSoiW55Y1NYL76fAG-aEqopW-q-OI8weulCkY0ObMlFR1aeTiI0uBkE4FPh5Q5hBZ4WpbOxGa3_MarrBL3wzWYQ/s400/outback.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132473686492951138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Interior backcountry of the preserve<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCVgnZ_7eK89JLhtQfD4D-JKkfjeptjDG15bzw3_AK30pUq36dmbjm1ygte1bqIYFZIE9X2NlPjLBI7DJl_duTLhpiLuurBS4fPo-_CfmYfYG_N7lrzNVsT-9QcCuwIgrdz7BZw/s1600-h/digging+bug.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCVgnZ_7eK89JLhtQfD4D-JKkfjeptjDG15bzw3_AK30pUq36dmbjm1ygte1bqIYFZIE9X2NlPjLBI7DJl_duTLhpiLuurBS4fPo-_CfmYfYG_N7lrzNVsT-9QcCuwIgrdz7BZw/s400/digging+bug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132475060882485906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A very busy sand wasp (see the sand flying out behind the abdomen).<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ifw7u4QTcwlh7CtoQvADz2121TcmgYk6ojUQFT5zRaopdogiAFMAZKMXmEIgSY7FxtKUfGPR0IjwG8hG46Hfz75BA_CJhE8C8vS03koGOAnFazFQGyjPA_4iyAJiFFaKd8bYgQ/s1600-h/pond.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ifw7u4QTcwlh7CtoQvADz2121TcmgYk6ojUQFT5zRaopdogiAFMAZKMXmEIgSY7FxtKUfGPR0IjwG8hG46Hfz75BA_CJhE8C8vS03koGOAnFazFQGyjPA_4iyAJiFFaKd8bYgQ/s400/pond.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132475322875490978" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Pond<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKs-2bHEwVBjbrIWjLtAphlWuOMccsWnIfloqK5KynIfHKzcrY4JCdxcDAxWGKIW5Gc2uE6bZ7d1YW7ayOiWdosQaQZjdfqMPQXOTpIMfWC6wNyopA6ZrRVpoxvY3EbMDKmDKJQ/s1600-h/wildflowers.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKs-2bHEwVBjbrIWjLtAphlWuOMccsWnIfloqK5KynIfHKzcrY4JCdxcDAxWGKIW5Gc2uE6bZ7d1YW7ayOiWdosQaQZjdfqMPQXOTpIMfWC6wNyopA6ZrRVpoxvY3EbMDKmDKJQ/s400/wildflowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132475511854052018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fall wildflowers</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">The Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem is a rapidly vanishing Florida landscape that is home to many unique species of flora and fauna. This relatively untouched state park showcases one of the more remote and sublime landscapes you're liable to find on the entire Florida peninsula.<br /><br />If you don't end up getting terribly lost trying to find the place you'll probably have the whole park to yourself once you arrive. Have fun kids! Send us a postcard.<br /></div></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-43737663775670410932007-10-08T11:49:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:06.775-08:00Highlands Hammock State Park<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07uB8w0KDjX35pJCVa9Gl6o9S0kNC5PICD2mgA9QY8kP_9nBwYxqaXwyO-Y3cdYNuAThTfRsEmnkqHRWzBYM7MOm5rOiFTBr354fmXc2mcoOfiETly4U-WEuYkb5P5qGf7LVI9w/s1600-h/sign.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07uB8w0KDjX35pJCVa9Gl6o9S0kNC5PICD2mgA9QY8kP_9nBwYxqaXwyO-Y3cdYNuAThTfRsEmnkqHRWzBYM7MOm5rOiFTBr354fmXc2mcoOfiETly4U-WEuYkb5P5qGf7LVI9w/s400/sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119052941375976562" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />This 9,000 acre park in Highlands County opened to the public in 1931 and is one of the earliest examples of grass-roots public support for environmental preservation. Local citizens, concerned about plans to turn the hammock into farmland, acquired the property and pledged to protect it. When Florida’s state park system was established in 1935, Highlands Hammock became one of the four original state parks in the newly established system.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpXcLexz35oIF9Brw318JdgG27qYV7nlHy4TSLGZlh3LaQN1c7tgwRu2V_uk7rKwOsjbGcA25p6CVvJPEYZg2PnnF1JqbXRuytsoeLc9UZytmZr6uaHaTbTQ1KC0TLje69ljsKw/s1600-h/swamp.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpXcLexz35oIF9Brw318JdgG27qYV7nlHy4TSLGZlh3LaQN1c7tgwRu2V_uk7rKwOsjbGcA25p6CVvJPEYZg2PnnF1JqbXRuytsoeLc9UZytmZr6uaHaTbTQ1KC0TLje69ljsKw/s400/swamp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119044433045763010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Swamp along the Richard Lieber Trail</span><br /></div><br />The park preserves a scenic virgin hardwood forest, a large cypress swamp, pine flatwoods, sand pine scrub, bayheads and marsh. There are nine trails that penetrate this thickly wooded preserve, with many having boardwalks that take hikers over the marshier sections affording vistas into the mysterious and fascinating swamps below.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVy0NgMaRhhzwBZsJpV6R8vaL5gRIxMKAo1hKlOYlmwrc_sTOlHIhAC2x0AocqhkF09Ue7ZZ2jiFIbzUqSyT8OmUD_iIahlX34mMKoGtnGUHe7lDUwm6cXx4UKdheYo6_iweFIg/s1600-h/giant+spider.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVy0NgMaRhhzwBZsJpV6R8vaL5gRIxMKAo1hKlOYlmwrc_sTOlHIhAC2x0AocqhkF09Ue7ZZ2jiFIbzUqSyT8OmUD_iIahlX34mMKoGtnGUHe7lDUwm6cXx4UKdheYo6_iweFIg/s400/giant+spider.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119047061565748178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Gigantic golden silk spider</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzP1VDxuJGmgOO9U7OH_T324wtqeC1QXYtpsTRD_gFgC79OMLI0Xk_p4nbJFNRnt02qz-oyMrncaYnvJzNkH-Be8RASqmloOG4-vrPNFzj2LaTdmyjojo-cEwzNkVhjFUHskeLGA/s1600-h/fern+garden+trail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzP1VDxuJGmgOO9U7OH_T324wtqeC1QXYtpsTRD_gFgC79OMLI0Xk_p4nbJFNRnt02qz-oyMrncaYnvJzNkH-Be8RASqmloOG4-vrPNFzj2LaTdmyjojo-cEwzNkVhjFUHskeLGA/s400/fern+garden+trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119047525422216162" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Fern Garden Trail</span><br /></div><br />There is also a campground, restaurant, museum and ranger guided tram tours. Highlands Hammock is located four miles west of Sebring on County Road 634. For such a small park it is dense with natural beauty and a wide array of contrasting biomes. It is well worth the detour off of U.S. 27 if you ever happen to be in this neck of the woods.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGJlchkJPDmgu-B5Toa3PqUMxdLqF7CC6-zjg_1CdAgeUHxzt8gH0VCiZxmP7Z4ejb2eR41T0RC1rpyOlMzd7kuRElBjMTg85ZnIHqzDy86mm5jFO4xyOXLt0XkggsL7nKLeRig/s1600-h/puff+stuff.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGJlchkJPDmgu-B5Toa3PqUMxdLqF7CC6-zjg_1CdAgeUHxzt8gH0VCiZxmP7Z4ejb2eR41T0RC1rpyOlMzd7kuRElBjMTg85ZnIHqzDy86mm5jFO4xyOXLt0XkggsL7nKLeRig/s400/puff+stuff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119051253453829138" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Delicate white fungi on the forest floor<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ttQ9KPw_OqgbZxgBgTm4bgb-8B3zQhljL46_NiDZizM-3Mk69DrAdX45NBNtTfa87t-cQJGds12EgvNrB91bqzWiDMG0SsZj2kpDCzqbYB6PDnNsK2mkk2KoWlEKjkqhVt2aPw/s1600-h/giant+grasshopper.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ttQ9KPw_OqgbZxgBgTm4bgb-8B3zQhljL46_NiDZizM-3Mk69DrAdX45NBNtTfa87t-cQJGds12EgvNrB91bqzWiDMG0SsZj2kpDCzqbYB6PDnNsK2mkk2KoWlEKjkqhVt2aPw/s400/giant+grasshopper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119051425252520994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">An adult eastern lubber grasshopper</span> <i>(Romalea microptera)<br /><br /></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1SgKpZeLuUyOZlgdcIqCzCtJpbJ1YZnwPjo99rCy1DiDMVRutjY8pQU-K_h7tzk8M0HZE_7IKfxP41mJzidgjusCL1OsX0lTSP37lFYgCRpX8mxojaltyhfWEcOn_4TxpVLGvA/s1600-h/oak+by+trail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1SgKpZeLuUyOZlgdcIqCzCtJpbJ1YZnwPjo99rCy1DiDMVRutjY8pQU-K_h7tzk8M0HZE_7IKfxP41mJzidgjusCL1OsX0lTSP37lFYgCRpX8mxojaltyhfWEcOn_4TxpVLGvA/s400/oak+by+trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119051605641147442" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Deep in the jungle wilderness<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKRWCCWt2i7UgDzc7_2I3_OooP3eYDvnIKYaNsv9e-OD55yPG3iOPuIgsKWLtY03IONMJNAQTgjHGg-J3q-2D_cYzKc7eQGDkWUZpYhjVlLWhEn9tQKay1J2wDfid9dDv2NYU1g/s1600-h/giant+trunk.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKRWCCWt2i7UgDzc7_2I3_OooP3eYDvnIKYaNsv9e-OD55yPG3iOPuIgsKWLtY03IONMJNAQTgjHGg-J3q-2D_cYzKc7eQGDkWUZpYhjVlLWhEn9tQKay1J2wDfid9dDv2NYU1g/s400/giant+trunk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119052657908135010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Giant oak trunk</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDWGS0Pzggaxmqor-JIlFEhOUqqz_AxkmlBYnJ-8V2h8jnmgHRAP6jU_m8Qzt5S_IUMkvNH1w6l6fVYGCy701FNP625QEnkj7qHI_RSXlhyphenhyphenFxdUfi-_2S9o787rbwcCntY7XHwQ/s1600-h/hickory+trail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDWGS0Pzggaxmqor-JIlFEhOUqqz_AxkmlBYnJ-8V2h8jnmgHRAP6jU_m8Qzt5S_IUMkvNH1w6l6fVYGCy701FNP625QEnkj7qHI_RSXlhyphenhyphenFxdUfi-_2S9o787rbwcCntY7XHwQ/s400/hickory+trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119052421684933714" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Catwalk on the Hickory Trail</span><br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-15350329956433396592007-10-02T07:01:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:09.106-08:00Myakka River State Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xNPrkpf_8f0-F9vTGn4fvQzFPfaJqItVyKgY81i7UscmXt5nw9HD1IDHMBZENZcGesAp8TJEHud6zO8Y0uLZe4_68aNiPOL78xMyG-FT90-IpUND5bioWUGoQkR61bQNvBKFoQ/s1600-h/park+sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xNPrkpf_8f0-F9vTGn4fvQzFPfaJqItVyKgY81i7UscmXt5nw9HD1IDHMBZENZcGesAp8TJEHud6zO8Y0uLZe4_68aNiPOL78xMyG-FT90-IpUND5bioWUGoQkR61bQNvBKFoQ/s400/park+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116749414088662930" border="0" /></a>This past Sunday we visited Myakka River State Park, one of Florida's oldest and largest (58 square miles). It is located in central Sarasota County, just seven miles east of I-75, and preserves a diverse set of distinctive natural landscapes. In addition to the Myakka River floodplain there are swamps, dense forests of hardwoods and palm, several large lakes and extensive tracts of dry prairie land. This is one of the most interesting natural areas in Florida and judging by the number of visitors very popular too.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyua-KwiFF6HWPCeb3tVaI4aqCvy14_epdkAHa8_mkv3QPE2FBOJxEMVW6Q6bjqqQUwKAXfDSWC6UqJenHZ1h8dj7ipwCLHvog9ljRTKX39pYbhyo8jAqj3Ej5Cgs6QIqkiz8SQA/s1600-h/Myakka+River.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyua-KwiFF6HWPCeb3tVaI4aqCvy14_epdkAHa8_mkv3QPE2FBOJxEMVW6Q6bjqqQUwKAXfDSWC6UqJenHZ1h8dj7ipwCLHvog9ljRTKX39pYbhyo8jAqj3Ej5Cgs6QIqkiz8SQA/s400/Myakka+River.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116742739709484754" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Myakka River</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUroGt3PEhTpWMv5at1hdFHKgpuLYXYaxligexDRyEBjg3UEcnRPfsZkYnKZKtS4XGWXPpYb8lNq85VrdZMAFV8zKK4G31qYMk9kr1icuIh2iDXoyaJAoP5gmzq2BExp8r0KKRw/s1600-h/trail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUroGt3PEhTpWMv5at1hdFHKgpuLYXYaxligexDRyEBjg3UEcnRPfsZkYnKZKtS4XGWXPpYb8lNq85VrdZMAFV8zKK4G31qYMk9kr1icuIh2iDXoyaJAoP5gmzq2BExp8r0KKRw/s400/trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116743010292424418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Trail along the river floodplain</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z-Zib8I0R5Fr25sf8Wf_sqwA26rMWRgJb4hLRs1n-t-aICeN4y2GOaGyHXWEwr4hwimyszxXym0kc1GADqqtTviBufgHYzxoHAbukIdhXT8fxISxRxWYgb9UnqanbcO6OMKgnA/s1600-h/floodplain.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z-Zib8I0R5Fr25sf8Wf_sqwA26rMWRgJb4hLRs1n-t-aICeN4y2GOaGyHXWEwr4hwimyszxXym0kc1GADqqtTviBufgHYzxoHAbukIdhXT8fxISxRxWYgb9UnqanbcO6OMKgnA/s400/floodplain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116743366774710002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Floodplain palm forest</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPD7s0duhtHIYuIhb120OKVRJGMz3_o-YAeXM6wQm3Bml0gkSWx3q2mIQPUi_rWZNF9eXvYQEY1OQNb-sbZFLCrOuIYyU3enjNtIivaLFLh23xoCdrfJlFBIb7JXrC8n2HhtX1Q/s1600-h/canopy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPD7s0duhtHIYuIhb120OKVRJGMz3_o-YAeXM6wQm3Bml0gkSWx3q2mIQPUi_rWZNF9eXvYQEY1OQNb-sbZFLCrOuIYyU3enjNtIivaLFLh23xoCdrfJlFBIb7JXrC8n2HhtX1Q/s400/canopy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116743731846930178" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">The forest canopy as seen from a 74 foot observation tower.<br /><br /></span></div>The park is also teeming with wildlife and on our fairly short visit we encountered: wild boar, deer, a pygmy rattlesnake, red shouldered hawks, flocks of black vultures, alligators and all kinds of interesting insects.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WWuA3mkcjbD5TKZXCmKVimB752c_OboLjIxHRStSoabFd41YKXGFCpOWX7MacPxL7Y9ZeGE-lsFPGTkzPbPHv6HFxQqOm6gFsdOa7xESzl6wWu2s-D7-KqXaI_QEug_cMrvpEg/s1600-h/pig.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WWuA3mkcjbD5TKZXCmKVimB752c_OboLjIxHRStSoabFd41YKXGFCpOWX7MacPxL7Y9ZeGE-lsFPGTkzPbPHv6HFxQqOm6gFsdOa7xESzl6wWu2s-D7-KqXaI_QEug_cMrvpEg/s400/pig.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116744547890716434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Wild boar<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheju_y2WU6uV2euF2V0T5pP2jI3SYZJcEJO0y_U-R7SbMFg74NrGNbUceGlTL9GsPh1wCsjPR-U5odMhW_o0QlWLCeoW_xDu8SjDY3EefCSBJkvX3Z9qwHb0wxkMd8AuUDk0tKsw/s1600-h/red+tail+hawk.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheju_y2WU6uV2euF2V0T5pP2jI3SYZJcEJO0y_U-R7SbMFg74NrGNbUceGlTL9GsPh1wCsjPR-U5odMhW_o0QlWLCeoW_xDu8SjDY3EefCSBJkvX3Z9qwHb0wxkMd8AuUDk0tKsw/s400/red+tail+hawk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116744736869277474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Red shouldered hawk<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtg0QrHXTRNwllNc0Uog-unH7I4hYRN0FYdiYl1qxOeU-StOYgLErIw1xj5G7Moi57VTQ9R29FPnC0M2lALv42iMQnfMFXRUOONpNfu2tUdn0NAm2F8ZBKiNCkmvivLaDdaS0kaA/s1600-h/upper+myakka+lake.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtg0QrHXTRNwllNc0Uog-unH7I4hYRN0FYdiYl1qxOeU-StOYgLErIw1xj5G7Moi57VTQ9R29FPnC0M2lALv42iMQnfMFXRUOONpNfu2tUdn0NAm2F8ZBKiNCkmvivLaDdaS0kaA/s400/upper+myakka+lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116745200725745458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Upper Myakka Lake<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFw2ot8D3WMhFYZvZ5TELpLc5pGbrThCbZoeladYAwttU_vGUsev_BlXBfK6HkOI0xFNfhe9xrwQWYPQl3MF6R4JIlKJ5Rz9XK-KchX5LLMuQX9bTpC_OJbY-DF9OAOecmM9mX-g/s1600-h/vultures+by+the+lake.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFw2ot8D3WMhFYZvZ5TELpLc5pGbrThCbZoeladYAwttU_vGUsev_BlXBfK6HkOI0xFNfhe9xrwQWYPQl3MF6R4JIlKJ5Rz9XK-KchX5LLMuQX9bTpC_OJbY-DF9OAOecmM9mX-g/s400/vultures+by+the+lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116745406884175682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Black vulture convention by the lake<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In addition to hiking, camping and fishing there are trails for horseback riding and as well as interpretive presentations and guided hikes. You can also hop aboard one of the world's two largest airboats, the <span style="font-style: italic;">Myakka Maiden</span> or the <span style="font-style: italic;">Gator Gal </span>for a scenic cruise on Upper Myakka Lake or take a <span style="font-style: italic;">Tram Safari</span> into the backcountry. There is enough room here to take extended backpacking trips into the interior but I would strongly suggest doing this in the winter when the bugs and heat are less intense. All in all a great place to enjoy the essence of natural Florida.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5kf9VHLJlJLxTn4_JV0dnuCf7UmlKLiUnEWwQdBjBwYAoib6g9UHYmXvwr5hmwghEbX2ja2K-w5kjmkBEljWTCY5hYIgcrPCILFrd1eOcpbIT_83yih1OUYrMRvhnBSAn7un9w/s1600-h/palm+forest.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5kf9VHLJlJLxTn4_JV0dnuCf7UmlKLiUnEWwQdBjBwYAoib6g9UHYmXvwr5hmwghEbX2ja2K-w5kjmkBEljWTCY5hYIgcrPCILFrd1eOcpbIT_83yih1OUYrMRvhnBSAn7un9w/s400/palm+forest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116747575842660178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Where the prairie meets the forest</span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjVZ4ci1DqLiMUqwaKuDWgRQuPaUqs8WvOVxeEfT0F4HZqgjp4NzI9gK01P1SkkJ-iXOX1VUAAFrEj4L1I101b6x6-k2nGOPgBBH_LdUJM6xtF8YMog69y7VZ8vU5sNBu_S0XHA/s1600-h/ant+hills.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjVZ4ci1DqLiMUqwaKuDWgRQuPaUqs8WvOVxeEfT0F4HZqgjp4NzI9gK01P1SkkJ-iXOX1VUAAFrEj4L1I101b6x6-k2nGOPgBBH_LdUJM6xtF8YMog69y7VZ8vU5sNBu_S0XHA/s400/ant+hills.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116747833540697954" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Some very interesting ant hill architecture<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMntQdH1RBeScjO2vxOEtuHoL-rZKiLhdTNlpL_66iKixtd1VL_HraO1b-aGAP-OIT4ZCb5xyHLwF0X0IF2949NBYFv4qVBXU8H8hhsEavK66CM5-XdFB0Dwo9RCSNwA7FMLZYw/s1600-h/velvet+ant.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMntQdH1RBeScjO2vxOEtuHoL-rZKiLhdTNlpL_66iKixtd1VL_HraO1b-aGAP-OIT4ZCb5xyHLwF0X0IF2949NBYFv4qVBXU8H8hhsEavK66CM5-XdFB0Dwo9RCSNwA7FMLZYw/s400/velvet+ant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116748164253179762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Steer clear of the velvet ant (</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;" ><i><span style="font-style: italic;">Dasymutilla magnifica).</span><br /><br /></i></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tYJv3jbzAntGqhGparGIW_-K5VwkCkNoOBi9G1pSDYvCOgr4cjgNlUi3rI66KndQj1lr8SI8qh95xhHK5gptbrmHTpF0oIpqJzccBNsekMpprOxnYijWKgwRYGd2NdoqDgjhOw/s1600-h/vultures+in+the+tree.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tYJv3jbzAntGqhGparGIW_-K5VwkCkNoOBi9G1pSDYvCOgr4cjgNlUi3rI66KndQj1lr8SI8qh95xhHK5gptbrmHTpF0oIpqJzccBNsekMpprOxnYijWKgwRYGd2NdoqDgjhOw/s400/vultures+in+the+tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116748799908339586" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Black vultures in a tree waiting for death to bring them lunch.</span><br /></div></div><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-71247571179344006982007-09-29T11:14:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:09.265-08:00Eastern PondhawkThis morning I saw a beautiful female Eastern Pondhawk lifting off from our driveway rather unsteadily due to an overly large piece of prey that it was grasping in its mouth parts. A few seconds later this graceful insect gingerly alighted on the backyard banana tree, where it began to more earnestly chew and digest its hapless victim. Camera in hand I recorded the gripping mealtime drama for you my gentle readers in cyberspace.<br /><br />It appears that it was scarfing down a male member of its own species.<br /><br />Just another typical day in the bug eat bug world of the Florida jungle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAoQO8zr36ZTY1o450rfiu_E5XnVQq5ClkaUx-rRz5wBHHuae3Qrk0I7fpyXrFYZYRsej8v70a8xMRq_RVihFp0FD5MYEpY_5oNI-_o63WoVMEGyieoeTXvZ7XDPkX8i8zQ1Qbg/s1600-h/eastern+pondhawk.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAoQO8zr36ZTY1o450rfiu_E5XnVQq5ClkaUx-rRz5wBHHuae3Qrk0I7fpyXrFYZYRsej8v70a8xMRq_RVihFp0FD5MYEpY_5oNI-_o63WoVMEGyieoeTXvZ7XDPkX8i8zQ1Qbg/s400/eastern+pondhawk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5115692916558356162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Click on the image for a much more detailed view.<br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-84007770327374054852007-09-19T16:34:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:10.554-08:00Birds of my neighborhoodThe weather has been breezy and a bit cooler the past few days so I've been taking longer walks after dinner with my camera to see what kinds of animals I could capture in the viewfinder for you my dear readers out there in cyberspace.<br /><br />Here in the swamps and lakes of central Florida the bird life is what has struck this newcomer the most. It looks and feels like I live in an exotic jungle paradise. Well maybe I do.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLs4QlaNezlW89XJsLaOK189eeZnUtHYN6ZIjp6DUOk6U4VJQTXYdsNp3sKzQbf5PEw0OOTXZ3bB4crwGxk0Wewt6G3ERDEAasIjCl7Dx6fNgamuaX1XpOYC2J26DLd4vsziZ-g/s1600-h/wood+stork.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLs4QlaNezlW89XJsLaOK189eeZnUtHYN6ZIjp6DUOk6U4VJQTXYdsNp3sKzQbf5PEw0OOTXZ3bB4crwGxk0Wewt6G3ERDEAasIjCl7Dx6fNgamuaX1XpOYC2J26DLd4vsziZ-g/s400/wood+stork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112066097374668754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Wood stork<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CkWOxZXr-ETdsbmP7zy4ONrMVAZYDItO_hW3BI60GTcwTRZ7xjlEOXow8uwNfPv9_aXhP3AydwKTslFsVgDzBN5WLlidEzIGd-IuA-4l9AEjkMogoXszxQdbBglM7wMTXXGGTA/s1600-h/turkey+by+the+pond.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CkWOxZXr-ETdsbmP7zy4ONrMVAZYDItO_hW3BI60GTcwTRZ7xjlEOXow8uwNfPv9_aXhP3AydwKTslFsVgDzBN5WLlidEzIGd-IuA-4l9AEjkMogoXszxQdbBglM7wMTXXGGTA/s400/turkey+by+the+pond.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112066355072706530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Florida wild turkey or also known as the Osceola<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoetTTn-BEHdOQgDQ7G3xsuASd2HbzO_BP_KSJpstkQUyFCEmiT5XJrFYXYpjXC8Hr6EH1eflRK2qedmeCHwYUv-QlLNuaoR9q6j4Nge_IMn6Q837Iyws1_qQXt30zxaVKI2tjg/s1600-h/woods.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoetTTn-BEHdOQgDQ7G3xsuASd2HbzO_BP_KSJpstkQUyFCEmiT5XJrFYXYpjXC8Hr6EH1eflRK2qedmeCHwYUv-QlLNuaoR9q6j4Nge_IMn6Q837Iyws1_qQXt30zxaVKI2tjg/s400/woods.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112067291375577074" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Woods that surround the ponds<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja04-JFGrPasbQJAKG6vH-x_TTWgoRmsAkKcT3xQLV_RGm1kkF7JD4ljTz9xAS2kAtmoaB9DYmPql_sj4MvMOAeHJEufrEVY7u0doevn38Fa-iap2Od1SiECxEpLcxl930FvzQcQ/s1600-h/gator+closeup.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja04-JFGrPasbQJAKG6vH-x_TTWgoRmsAkKcT3xQLV_RGm1kkF7JD4ljTz9xAS2kAtmoaB9DYmPql_sj4MvMOAeHJEufrEVY7u0doevn38Fa-iap2Od1SiECxEpLcxl930FvzQcQ/s400/gator+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112067566253484034" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">This gator was watching me take pictures.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC5KYJ9YFrWD-hcjnD8bqa384aXojfGocwdat-V4Use9eOLeS8mChPNxDs8Z_xfFxU6sGlt68P8iK9IyPEItI-bdnBd5-oSLD2h6n_avVjn3XjkpO6drKDodRH-GuzMotS3zkXQ/s1600-h/white+ibis.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC5KYJ9YFrWD-hcjnD8bqa384aXojfGocwdat-V4Use9eOLeS8mChPNxDs8Z_xfFxU6sGlt68P8iK9IyPEItI-bdnBd5-oSLD2h6n_avVjn3XjkpO6drKDodRH-GuzMotS3zkXQ/s400/white+ibis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112067862606227474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">White ibis<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD2VPAOsNq1zyXxSbNjv3BXw2ivI83UpGQNctoWcl7SHgmbKCpTj0778_3Ho35ZpOTxRoOSmY1KhrpsyPfTVYZT6BTdLU-rt4a0QXls8PV-0M2gV31-q5V2-AX8Rymdq1fhityQ/s1600-h/turkey+pond.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD2VPAOsNq1zyXxSbNjv3BXw2ivI83UpGQNctoWcl7SHgmbKCpTj0778_3Ho35ZpOTxRoOSmY1KhrpsyPfTVYZT6BTdLU-rt4a0QXls8PV-0M2gV31-q5V2-AX8Rymdq1fhityQ/s400/turkey+pond.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112068137484134434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Another day is done in the Florida outback.<br /><br /></span></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-86632671351200371532007-09-18T08:02:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:10.907-08:00Golden orb weaverThis morning my wife beckoned me to come out on the back porch to welcome a newly arrived guest at our Florida jungle outpost. During the overnight hours a beautiful Golden orb weaver (<span style="font-style: italic;">Argiope aurantia</span>) had spun a most delicately graceful web above the barbecue prep table.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPtqJLUPFeE9nfZRWFZeAlNszX-p9udRdsWizbS8Jm8z4MQnf98mUJjEMQdLFdVMvUv51lAeYzUw_0x0YfWC0SiuwfOP5TiJSkWKU2V9-LVTPUVrnwcYj3Pd8JbMcNmIBi-dIGA/s1600-h/argiopes.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPtqJLUPFeE9nfZRWFZeAlNszX-p9udRdsWizbS8Jm8z4MQnf98mUJjEMQdLFdVMvUv51lAeYzUw_0x0YfWC0SiuwfOP5TiJSkWKU2V9-LVTPUVrnwcYj3Pd8JbMcNmIBi-dIGA/s400/argiopes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111561548256144866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">According to my trusty copy of <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Golden Guide to Spiders</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">"Argiopes are large, conspicuous spiders that hang head down in the center of the web. The web usually has crossed zigzag bands, and the young spiders may construct more zigzags than the adults. Some species are easily recognized by their color and pattern. Species of Argiope are found in tropical and temperate regions."<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3NAVe6n6j1Czpdb3gy-zFCLOuPTWAv09Nye_-PrQuHTYCTFw7I9uulvaz0jpsMlXgnnSlMOyzI7TCKqOjIIuPueiSFIwt0wnhcYsJ_NWWrvPi9fWI20QrN6K1ONRRVZODRBTiQ/s1600-h/mary+ann+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3NAVe6n6j1Czpdb3gy-zFCLOuPTWAv09Nye_-PrQuHTYCTFw7I9uulvaz0jpsMlXgnnSlMOyzI7TCKqOjIIuPueiSFIwt0wnhcYsJ_NWWrvPi9fWI20QrN6K1ONRRVZODRBTiQ/s400/mary+ann+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112291256740194354" border="0" /></a></div><br />Now to find something to feed this hungry girl.......<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span><br /></div></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-29778875163369520982007-08-31T14:57:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:11.193-08:00Golden silk spiderWhen traveling between the Panhandle and central Florida we always try to take a break at the mid-way point in the small logging town of Perry. If it is still light we prefer to stop at a state historical park on the south end of town which commemorates Florida's long leaf pine forests and their contribution to the state's history and development.<br /><br />On our latest journey we arrived at dusk to stretch our legs and use the restroom. I took a short stroll along the edge of a thickly wooded area that gently slopes down into a large bug infested swamp. It was here that I encountered some very large and colorful specimens of <span style="font-style: italic;">Nephila clavipes, </span>commonly known as the golden silk spider.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrufPFzO1Kd9Xw11gqDx9Q1rfYgP2Qarn52DDPn9SMYBVNNVFy4WtHK-_XjToFOFcTLjpTJ9Ptq-EIGAYCv-S0VjpknbxIneUMCNmZpZfWdR_TozR880NYRZOqYh5ADlxExi4Ug/s1600-h/spider.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrufPFzO1Kd9Xw11gqDx9Q1rfYgP2Qarn52DDPn9SMYBVNNVFy4WtHK-_XjToFOFcTLjpTJ9Ptq-EIGAYCv-S0VjpknbxIneUMCNmZpZfWdR_TozR880NYRZOqYh5ADlxExi4Ug/s400/spider.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104991081414051666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This swollen beauty rests after a moth and beetle supper.</span><br /></div><br />According to the University of Florida science website: <span style="font-style: italic;">"The golden silk spider is found throughout Florida and the southeastern United States. The female is distinctively colored, and is among the largest orb-weaving spiders in the country. The female is 25 mm to 40 mm long and has conspicuous hair tufts on her long legs. Males are about 4 mm to 6 mm long, dark-brown, and are often found in the webs of females. These spiders feed primarily on flying insects, which they catch in webs that may be greater than a meter in diameter. They are most commonly found in forests, along trails and at clearing edges."<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZHuT8OiHKLc3An-OWBzK7ImzLbcMh3_u88RoyAUMR-GY5pfJuhreuRFGvfjXF3W9Fg5_FB4RljViqk97IEoxBoPrqIO-Pc2hRu0tS44sz-RLz_1WEw2p5taYnk-aTegipd-4dg/s1600-h/spider2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZHuT8OiHKLc3An-OWBzK7ImzLbcMh3_u88RoyAUMR-GY5pfJuhreuRFGvfjXF3W9Fg5_FB4RljViqk97IEoxBoPrqIO-Pc2hRu0tS44sz-RLz_1WEw2p5taYnk-aTegipd-4dg/s400/spider2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104992378494175074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">She's all girl!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">So the next time you find yourself down in Taylor County make sure you stop at the Forest Capital State Historical Park and check out the most amazing array of giant orb web spinning spiders you're likely to see this side of the Amazon jungle. Happy hunting.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-26292936278521276392007-07-10T10:04:00.001-07:002008-12-10T03:42:11.491-08:00Florida Has Giant SpidersThis morning, as I was minding my own business in the garage, I came upon what has to be the largest Wolf Spider I've ever seen. Its body was at least two inches long and from the look of things it had been eating quite well in the murky darkness, as there were lots of hollowed out insect carcasses laying around the immediate vicinity of this enormous arachnid. My guess is that this is a Rabid Wolf Spider <span style="font-style: italic;">(Lycosa rabida) </span>but will patiently await the scrutiny of my panel of experts out there in cyberspace.<br /><br />According to the Audubon Field Guide To Insects & Spiders: <span style="font-style: italic;">"This species is harmless to people, but its bite is often feared----hence its common name. According to a legend, the only way to save a victim bitten by the related European Tarantula is to dance the tarantella."</span><br /><br />In other words you'd better watch where you're walking when it's summertime in Florida.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ68JnDOK7PmYrndBKC1KFWRcnjHVT5M2_OqQCB5gKrdQHSwF-hREHxwE2UJgXyKYSXkIT3iHZQFjGgaZj19BXaMXtJ-PBLrR30cIY4_9-vzEgxdXkdpTgEAZPVQT5dh7nm2eSFQ/s1600-h/giant+spider.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ68JnDOK7PmYrndBKC1KFWRcnjHVT5M2_OqQCB5gKrdQHSwF-hREHxwE2UJgXyKYSXkIT3iHZQFjGgaZj19BXaMXtJ-PBLrR30cIY4_9-vzEgxdXkdpTgEAZPVQT5dh7nm2eSFQ/s400/giant+spider.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085617590970494738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(Lycosa rabida)</span><br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-14633479963398031592007-05-12T14:20:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:13.496-08:00Cruise to Shell Island<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VpsvyspGZjZa1-O73nWEji7QXy6e5K-sHlBCMwq8zr9fojMyo55UiIGBDa6fjf23dUYbiS5jhVbSsg2rycLxqk3mhqAmqfmrMrolretOsZhyphenhyphenWTEltOaZK2zcgdif1N7krqyBXQ/s1600-h/sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VpsvyspGZjZa1-O73nWEji7QXy6e5K-sHlBCMwq8zr9fojMyo55UiIGBDa6fjf23dUYbiS5jhVbSsg2rycLxqk3mhqAmqfmrMrolretOsZhyphenhyphenWTEltOaZK2zcgdif1N7krqyBXQ/s400/sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063794112250870674" border="0" /></a>One of the better island adventure bargains in the world can be found in Panama City, FL where cruises are conducted daily to beautiful Shell Island. This barrier island is located on the opposite side of St. Andrews Bay and fronts on the Gulf of Mexico.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxAoZAeQToxIcVYPUWHUknDrhW1ZDtpuqnR_X8v3cIhlnsIkm4lfucN31SxQ_ps6vMT6-tME2FuWG4mFFzHhrhtFkNLtlvNEVHIZIvf8Jovsu8dJmlOy7ZZ5C5fbh3TIWDLwCtA/s1600-h/boat.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxAoZAeQToxIcVYPUWHUknDrhW1ZDtpuqnR_X8v3cIhlnsIkm4lfucN31SxQ_ps6vMT6-tME2FuWG4mFFzHhrhtFkNLtlvNEVHIZIvf8Jovsu8dJmlOy7ZZ5C5fbh3TIWDLwCtA/s400/boat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063792123681012514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Ashley Gorman</span><br /></div><br />Shell Island is about 12 miles long and completely undeveloped. Most of the land is administered as a part of nearby St. Andrews State Park and the only way to get there is by boat. When you arrive you will encounter a pristine wilderness paradise located a mere stones throw from a bustling commerical harbor and nearby miltary bases. For $16 you get a three and half hour tour (lunch included) with a one hour stay on the island to collect shells and frolic in the crystal clear waters of its Gulf beach front. This being Florida the boat has a snack concession and a full service bar. What more could y'all want? After Memorial Day there are three trips a day so you can arrange to stay longer on the island if you so desire. So what are you waiting for? Get thee to Shell Island!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvJes3mdYA0cTuyPQjMm_sylhyRzQFVBZ_SoNC7gKdzB7rYmqxSbPe-xlcIBFyijyfF2yU-Jhny5V9NqaXb9ezg8uaz2AceRL0UaUzavEodpWz-Bp7wQJf64TzbEsd6HYsXycSw/s1600-h/st.+andrews+bay.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvJes3mdYA0cTuyPQjMm_sylhyRzQFVBZ_SoNC7gKdzB7rYmqxSbPe-xlcIBFyijyfF2yU-Jhny5V9NqaXb9ezg8uaz2AceRL0UaUzavEodpWz-Bp7wQJf64TzbEsd6HYsXycSw/s400/st.+andrews+bay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063792922544929602" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">St. Andrews Bay from the front of the boat</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA5qMkdv-AczgDAprH2QPzh2ooHqdaB4n2Vj2B49qkz_miovaR9-NsOaTzGlZykmJ8k-5oo5_94re1WXFjj_ntpHnjg76h96ftQ_4pw9APyJqSwvFStZVR8I31lCKtpwuhgcoFQ/s1600-h/dolphin.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA5qMkdv-AczgDAprH2QPzh2ooHqdaB4n2Vj2B49qkz_miovaR9-NsOaTzGlZykmJ8k-5oo5_94re1WXFjj_ntpHnjg76h96ftQ_4pw9APyJqSwvFStZVR8I31lCKtpwuhgcoFQ/s400/dolphin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063792368494148402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Atlantic bottlenose dolphin<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMPMPZEGoT7vJBzpiF3kNGWh_-1EXhSh9Cxj65VrIkiJkoCtUogCrcJ0W9uYscWLxcgDOfO1arEtYk9hXduywO3MpHIBE_Z-sNfg0kWoOXrYDEX8LDwBTTTm7d0F0n_I2ME5uTQ/s1600-h/coming+ashore.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMPMPZEGoT7vJBzpiF3kNGWh_-1EXhSh9Cxj65VrIkiJkoCtUogCrcJ0W9uYscWLxcgDOfO1arEtYk9hXduywO3MpHIBE_Z-sNfg0kWoOXrYDEX8LDwBTTTm7d0F0n_I2ME5uTQ/s400/coming+ashore.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063793274732247890" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Coming ashore on Shell Island<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkf_SsAKjKhMvV9XYNuoztDewaViCId9KwBWKIuYHy5yM3VI5tXuqDl-b30Z1sLsc8VOTDl8V3AZ42EYdNyx9d1HOreaCoQ6zGv3GSTzDgRrr9QeBkq1aax_MfWnytqcwxx_avtw/s1600-h/beach.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkf_SsAKjKhMvV9XYNuoztDewaViCId9KwBWKIuYHy5yM3VI5tXuqDl-b30Z1sLsc8VOTDl8V3AZ42EYdNyx9d1HOreaCoQ6zGv3GSTzDgRrr9QeBkq1aax_MfWnytqcwxx_avtw/s400/beach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063793442235972450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pristine beach<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6w3O6b9zdzZioW6hylaaMpbRw_0eUhxJjhAdhKf1qBjvzTUz0W_BKhEkMBYCPd-pkwYmXHOZsZlLvLprWH_c9esCx5DuLGojy-y7FcBujFjZxLAEczBPVvo6EIfh4Xl88ybsaEg/s1600-h/clear+water+of+the+bay.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6w3O6b9zdzZioW6hylaaMpbRw_0eUhxJjhAdhKf1qBjvzTUz0W_BKhEkMBYCPd-pkwYmXHOZsZlLvLprWH_c9esCx5DuLGojy-y7FcBujFjZxLAEczBPVvo6EIfh4Xl88ybsaEg/s400/clear+water+of+the+bay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063793601149762418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Crystal clear water of St. Andrews Bay<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4Zh9XRzE_hADmtxMLjsH53MPI23LoDIDVKi96V8wrtp85WKXvnACTX36rQGz8X8LXv_Wc0jyqlr0QJar5igi9G2Fbd3-M1XMcu69Ne4HBN4HXMb9tcqannD1tZ83b5eoHQBnbQ/s1600-h/bay+palms.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4Zh9XRzE_hADmtxMLjsH53MPI23LoDIDVKi96V8wrtp85WKXvnACTX36rQGz8X8LXv_Wc0jyqlr0QJar5igi9G2Fbd3-M1XMcu69Ne4HBN4HXMb9tcqannD1tZ83b5eoHQBnbQ/s400/bay+palms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063793841667931010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Leaving Shell Island</span><br /></div><br />For more information: <a href="http://www.shellislandcruises.com/">http://www.shellislandcruises.com/</a>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-37255332769646343922007-04-02T19:20:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:14.696-08:00Manatee Springs State Park<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfUYer2CcBPsAoKM-X0a4wcP5bt64H4A2YfsSxDfFY9gmBfYJnJMIggg8zdAQ-1FJXhfQoTdSwqOMYWz6h06i8OOmV5hXEdRbqv1_4E36WH-mcSzNcvhvZKk-RkO3bQkuPbTsHg/s1600-h/park+sign.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfUYer2CcBPsAoKM-X0a4wcP5bt64H4A2YfsSxDfFY9gmBfYJnJMIggg8zdAQ-1FJXhfQoTdSwqOMYWz6h06i8OOmV5hXEdRbqv1_4E36WH-mcSzNcvhvZKk-RkO3bQkuPbTsHg/s400/park+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049035528992766514" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Manatee Springs State Park is in Levy County along the east bank of the Suwannee River near the town of Chiefland. Over 100 million gallons of water flow from this first magnitude spring every day into the Suwannee. The water rises to the surface through a large underground aquatic cave system that is believed to be one of the longest in North America.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPFICFqUe4xJA2bDBaZHued03jvUr2iu8E4bYQBo4H3cZUudJTLDUKy67t1wslRlEwDifEVyr-r3vPGjLOEiUqrkhuNwn61a1amNXth839kMntU_NncqfWYnA6ccOqetUPFqUrQ/s1600-h/main+spring.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPFICFqUe4xJA2bDBaZHued03jvUr2iu8E4bYQBo4H3cZUudJTLDUKy67t1wslRlEwDifEVyr-r3vPGjLOEiUqrkhuNwn61a1amNXth839kMntU_NncqfWYnA6ccOqetUPFqUrQ/s400/main+spring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049033278429903314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Manatee Springs</span><br /></div><br />The warm waters of the spring attract West Indian manatees in the winter. They swim up the Suwannee River from the Gulf of Mexico to spend the colder months near this source of warmth and refuge. These magnficent mammals are a favorite attraction for park visitors.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cIZj1Zc8p9nvillET4r4SjLLy5TOozAg7XOmKZ-rGPxYLlPrQHvWKUN9hsVQhT95qjA86cYMeZzONUoVrPjqns6WLGp8PJ41cgaJ8qTgZNVv9fNdf4FsWkL4S36BNhH3PP09yg/s1600-h/manatee+%26+turtle.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cIZj1Zc8p9nvillET4r4SjLLy5TOozAg7XOmKZ-rGPxYLlPrQHvWKUN9hsVQhT95qjA86cYMeZzONUoVrPjqns6WLGp8PJ41cgaJ8qTgZNVv9fNdf4FsWkL4S36BNhH3PP09yg/s400/manatee+%26+turtle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049033557602777570" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris)</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">with a turtle on its back</span><br /></div><br />The park is divided into two distinct sections with the area around the springs and the quarter-mile run it forms to the Suwannee dominated by water-loving trees like cypress, tupelo, gum, ash and maple. The uplands of the park are drier and contain a sandhill plant community that contains turkey oak, longleaf pine, wiregrass and palmetto.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh48lXRMIoQwSj5sgv19vAmeA9DgfJi9P1F5Lvm_WKiNACsnJD3ZKu3-uhpCm3W0ZFdlF1vQfqXGvn3qXN3aHjVPzhyboDjfiRzG5LiME0bHa8cvsenzBK5Px_9hHFwpVlaDEqA/s1600-h/jungle+splendor.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh48lXRMIoQwSj5sgv19vAmeA9DgfJi9P1F5Lvm_WKiNACsnJD3ZKu3-uhpCm3W0ZFdlF1vQfqXGvn3qXN3aHjVPzhyboDjfiRzG5LiME0bHa8cvsenzBK5Px_9hHFwpVlaDEqA/s400/jungle+splendor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049033832480684530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">View from the elevated boardwalk</span><br /></div><br />18th century naturalist William Bartram was the first person to describe Manatee Springs in detail and also to note the presence of manatees. The area was once famous for its old growth cypress trees, with some specimens being over 3,000 years old. Cedar was also extensively logged here by the pencil industry in the late 19th century and was processed and shipped from nearby Cedar Key in the Gulf of Mexico.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JjFrhzkNWNu8mR9rX3gTEXU8il55R0LD6YhCr7EBC0NzlIudpXVu6ddRK7RbXjXl4nW1cKQPigtYezExgtvYEGpnHOrqp7OvzXVw1N2uC_8U1MuaezkTbdoEnqCfUCrMmzo_9w/s1600-h/black+vulture.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JjFrhzkNWNu8mR9rX3gTEXU8il55R0LD6YhCr7EBC0NzlIudpXVu6ddRK7RbXjXl4nW1cKQPigtYezExgtvYEGpnHOrqp7OvzXVw1N2uC_8U1MuaezkTbdoEnqCfUCrMmzo_9w/s400/black+vulture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049034738718784018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Black vulture (Coragyps atratus)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMG5VFGY1MwiGt28ZxVal-fybIIpP_8p8koPcfoS_mwJLnPtVe4N5CLkcEqiuzPfaF-ek9ZfCSQN6yHNPvr4qQ_bLDSDMxd4ow-C5nVm2PPyTrrnb-C7kM2nPwZ36Nb0Tbh2UPw/s1600-h/suwannee+river.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMG5VFGY1MwiGt28ZxVal-fybIIpP_8p8koPcfoS_mwJLnPtVe4N5CLkcEqiuzPfaF-ek9ZfCSQN6yHNPvr4qQ_bLDSDMxd4ow-C5nVm2PPyTrrnb-C7kM2nPwZ36Nb0Tbh2UPw/s400/suwannee+river.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049035258409826850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Suwannee River</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Activities include swimming, scuba diving, fishing, boating and hiking. There is a campground and food concession near the spring. The best time to view manatees is November through April.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZuN6rJ7D0PX2J0EZfkWCBO5tIGvsIRcebPNStqNT8yrA56N_PAQkVNgkr-OxCLU64hAyIyL0PzDFNDhdn10v0osFUjcYzqfHIkIt4v0ZflUrFjmSoD4NSfzSryVTqjJsdkl24g/s1600-h/trail+in+the+woods.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZuN6rJ7D0PX2J0EZfkWCBO5tIGvsIRcebPNStqNT8yrA56N_PAQkVNgkr-OxCLU64hAyIyL0PzDFNDhdn10v0osFUjcYzqfHIkIt4v0ZflUrFjmSoD4NSfzSryVTqjJsdkl24g/s400/trail+in+the+woods.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049034463840877058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The North Trail</span><br /></div><br />For more information:<a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/manateesprings/"> http://www.floridastateparks.org/manateesprings/</a>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-89590441469679693972007-04-01T18:06:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:15.892-08:00Spring Flowers<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5fEFhP342IPuqogBFKgZlan9wpgFFv6qlZK5YD_vgsS5cOvBvSGDABgjPeGbP8Dt8MPGYO3OUG9CKz_MCrpAG-J2966HeI2u1R08jX3Ajm8PDmS0WDcjcXWr0KY65qg3gmNDoQ/s1600-h/Ponce.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5fEFhP342IPuqogBFKgZlan9wpgFFv6qlZK5YD_vgsS5cOvBvSGDABgjPeGbP8Dt8MPGYO3OUG9CKz_MCrpAG-J2966HeI2u1R08jX3Ajm8PDmS0WDcjcXWr0KY65qg3gmNDoQ/s400/Ponce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048640250267613618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ponce de Leon discovering the Fountain of Youth</span><br /></div><br />The naming of Florida is credited to Ponce de Leon who christened this land in 1513 with a Spanish term<i> Pascua Florida</i>, meaning “feast of flowers” which was also another word for Easter. With this in mind I thought it fitting to showcase a photo gallery of flowers that we observed today on this most splendid Palm Sunday.<br /><br />The photographs were taken in two state parks about ten miles apart (Camp Helen and Eden Gardens) where the signs of spring were everywhere in evidence. Have a Happy Easter week everyone!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q1uFWR39KuMlwpzOzjWtfZMBsMp6DBYzoTWSwTi3u3_i8RG9hLanD30yST35eCJoCwgqYDQX4VdiyaEkfphRyQjfdnUHxmpdfzsD_kFyUhYKl8cpJemWXsmoo0_83Yl4yx35jw/s1600-h/water+lily.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q1uFWR39KuMlwpzOzjWtfZMBsMp6DBYzoTWSwTi3u3_i8RG9hLanD30yST35eCJoCwgqYDQX4VdiyaEkfphRyQjfdnUHxmpdfzsD_kFyUhYKl8cpJemWXsmoo0_83Yl4yx35jw/s400/water+lily.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048635061947119970" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Water lily (</span><i><span style="font-style: italic;">Nymphaea odorata)<br /><br /></span></i><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7aJUXJze21zE8S6JEybSGJQl_yNhoT7MXrS5_Q4Ogw8qXvwnV_d6FU5v4cx9pdUFAK7roApAdS2hGfn-C5hJuVMtaz88DycQlb-oKuUd9J0sG5rBN8J7ncoyerMlnGQmyq_p0g/s1600-h/azaleas.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7aJUXJze21zE8S6JEybSGJQl_yNhoT7MXrS5_Q4Ogw8qXvwnV_d6FU5v4cx9pdUFAK7roApAdS2hGfn-C5hJuVMtaz88DycQlb-oKuUd9J0sG5rBN8J7ncoyerMlnGQmyq_p0g/s400/azaleas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048635663242541426" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Azaleas (Rhododendron periclymenoides)<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DLPDI4kcFi9doOrMswSGcuEeYLfzW67nDGLVumOkIqaT8VcDUU8c3HjmHzlNSoQ6D1D5yPRWlMLPmMAqD2XrjyAtIzWBcf3FRf_lGYofCuJs1wJ9WXpIwaaK1AZzQ0cBXyx3Dw/s1600-h/wildflower.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DLPDI4kcFi9doOrMswSGcuEeYLfzW67nDGLVumOkIqaT8VcDUU8c3HjmHzlNSoQ6D1D5yPRWlMLPmMAqD2XrjyAtIzWBcf3FRf_lGYofCuJs1wJ9WXpIwaaK1AZzQ0cBXyx3Dw/s400/wildflower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048636797113907586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Golden Aster (Chrysopsis floridana)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIfvEl-U-CN_pDrjA2bZpMH0ZX-MQ2UIKJwrpnWoePfJi8pUPRhIho1rPBBELgcYTa05FvA61mXkceMFQngSQACxHeKt31JaBVFtiw60Mn9ezJ_WymFg5Picafsa7InpqolJNEw/s1600-h/camelia.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIfvEl-U-CN_pDrjA2bZpMH0ZX-MQ2UIKJwrpnWoePfJi8pUPRhIho1rPBBELgcYTa05FvA61mXkceMFQngSQACxHeKt31JaBVFtiw60Mn9ezJ_WymFg5Picafsa7InpqolJNEw/s400/camelia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048637643222464914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Camellia (Camellia japonica)<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvIytmIh2hFSWyKMbbcrD-ZeNYCnATqaSPyPSa71PRGCYmjoQd83qIt9VRQkfuuUqAiczLTsOSgGyPdqGHye18jMRP-8FZ7ZKBer2_wo_v0LPluGUAFLk7M9DX1-k6w2jdbEtbw/s1600-h/honeysuckle.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvIytmIh2hFSWyKMbbcrD-ZeNYCnATqaSPyPSa71PRGCYmjoQd83qIt9VRQkfuuUqAiczLTsOSgGyPdqGHye18jMRP-8FZ7ZKBer2_wo_v0LPluGUAFLk7M9DX1-k6w2jdbEtbw/s400/honeysuckle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048638244517886370" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Orange Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis)</span><br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-46771661772135397822007-03-30T17:30:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:17.391-08:00Saint Andrews State Park<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbhlrDBGeRvNX0RxLkHh5xv-XbL2-cP7StBRKgpm5vpy-mAah8N4jOkqh463RuJBfpqCn7gTSdqdC7lOrA_Q3320BT0568pV_MMsvygQYyGx1arQrZZpzIJSEF0cJI69MJRL2zA/s1600-h/state+park+sign.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbhlrDBGeRvNX0RxLkHh5xv-XbL2-cP7StBRKgpm5vpy-mAah8N4jOkqh463RuJBfpqCn7gTSdqdC7lOrA_Q3320BT0568pV_MMsvygQYyGx1arQrZZpzIJSEF0cJI69MJRL2zA/s400/state+park+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047890915913414978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>This park had somehow passed under my radar screen until today, when I suggested that we incorporate a visit there while on a trip to run errands in nearby Panama City. I had always viewed St. Andrews State Park as recreational in its orientation with a busy public beach, large campground and extensive facilities for boating and fishing. Well that all turned out to be true but this park also contains an untamed side where one can see wildlife up close through a nifty network of trails that penetrates into a surprisingly diverse set of terrains and habitats.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAIUMoposrxIBwJbORUietSCBUCZH0lWVJHxBAh-iv0he2YDWwJzlKnp5BW44PE_k4dSUdhK3DkmpAfj-IAwGEsc_nJTzOvQpMwRnVerax1khhH16EhtCUqzUlCt1bA_eYhoX8A/s1600-h/beach+again.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAIUMoposrxIBwJbORUietSCBUCZH0lWVJHxBAh-iv0he2YDWwJzlKnp5BW44PE_k4dSUdhK3DkmpAfj-IAwGEsc_nJTzOvQpMwRnVerax1khhH16EhtCUqzUlCt1bA_eYhoX8A/s400/beach+again.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047896538025605458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The beach and jetty<br /><br /></span></div>Known throughout the Panhandle for its sugar white sands and emerald green waters, this 1260 acre preserve, which is a former military reservation, has over one-and-a-half miles of beach front on the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon and is located a scant three miles from Panama City.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAREwo6-KIifOlrNS_eySzdzaW84dWbdeHN_dovHjlsn1T0wX60-rbZEejPo7tmmE9l2IPgCswf7iqMau18vBYHrKuhxgOTXt_WMb4-Gz9LkFPzXPIO6FjIrUbO_5rEp27sUOmQ/s1600-h/red+wing+blackbird.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAREwo6-KIifOlrNS_eySzdzaW84dWbdeHN_dovHjlsn1T0wX60-rbZEejPo7tmmE9l2IPgCswf7iqMau18vBYHrKuhxgOTXt_WMb4-Gz9LkFPzXPIO6FjIrUbO_5rEp27sUOmQ/s400/red+wing+blackbird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047887638853368018" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoniceus)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdYJzUbxSI4VlSvRPZmMk8-b1V3gkGAGbXbOpgsuodTZviR1UztM76ta_umZz4rExUDUKPxNQSvua5k2j0vOxuH59wc2pAo6Q7gQ51wFK0rjTdVP7tOb850XGLpPBh9f_Le78Eg/s1600-h/hiking+trail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdYJzUbxSI4VlSvRPZmMk8-b1V3gkGAGbXbOpgsuodTZviR1UztM76ta_umZz4rExUDUKPxNQSvua5k2j0vOxuH59wc2pAo6Q7gQ51wFK0rjTdVP7tOb850XGLpPBh9f_Le78Eg/s400/hiking+trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047887883666503906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Gator Lake Trail<br /><br /></span></div>The two most visited parts of the park are the beach on the Gulf of Mexico which is protected by a jetty and the bay frontage on the Grand Lagoon with boat ramps, docks and picnic areas. The park's more remote uplands are characterized by rolling white sand dunes separated by low swales of either pine flat woods or marshes. Dunes covered with sea oats abound. Dunes found farther inland are covered with sand pines, scrub oaks, rosemary and other hardy plants that play an important role in preventing erosion during intense storms and hurricanes. This lesser visited part of St. Andrews is where you'll find the wildlife.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5MiZTM9jqUMaABNY6KqtLyK1DsK8ATK-M3A_CUMHOQZyt_9HNpp3TZwxwLM_43gBpwPzAHMB_yHoXNtLDIgDisAopdRqZgVz_drt6Z7EeXEqmt87GQCPriNqmPzPnwzdsBDJPQ/s1600-h/gator.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5MiZTM9jqUMaABNY6KqtLyK1DsK8ATK-M3A_CUMHOQZyt_9HNpp3TZwxwLM_43gBpwPzAHMB_yHoXNtLDIgDisAopdRqZgVz_drt6Z7EeXEqmt87GQCPriNqmPzPnwzdsBDJPQ/s400/gator.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047888119889705202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">American Alligator (Alligator mississipiensis)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOluH89yPR1nEAPdc2uTu3Ms5S2Nsag-6oDhedID18_-i2Yed1mogfVQzl9FS8WyS1TiZp1lZRSch6t7kT-C3nN2x-3TGRkgEl8TA52wFedyuspsvfaTwpRt5CqpaSvGdlrbDOw/s1600-h/egret.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOluH89yPR1nEAPdc2uTu3Ms5S2Nsag-6oDhedID18_-i2Yed1mogfVQzl9FS8WyS1TiZp1lZRSch6t7kT-C3nN2x-3TGRkgEl8TA52wFedyuspsvfaTwpRt5CqpaSvGdlrbDOw/s400/egret.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047889026127804674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Common Egret (Casmerodius albus)<br /><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqbDPLmW4WH6lOcr_HbTItisnLijgcmA9SOmwMHHPLxmWhDpptD9PwyEkec_FgtnVN9fCdayZ2JS8PuKQSIjOFG8y-OTM65cwf4sqlkfU3p3pm4o_UQJfpjCmUNKU3voFiQYluA/s1600-h/oak+hammock.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqbDPLmW4WH6lOcr_HbTItisnLijgcmA9SOmwMHHPLxmWhDpptD9PwyEkec_FgtnVN9fCdayZ2JS8PuKQSIjOFG8y-OTM65cwf4sqlkfU3p3pm4o_UQJfpjCmUNKU3voFiQYluA/s400/oak+hammock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047889524344011026" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Oak hammock with palmetto<br /><br /></span></div>One of the interesting highlights of the park is the Gator Lake Trail which traverses several different ecosystems and affords an opportunity to observe a variety of animals including many species of birds, mammals and of course alligators. The pond itself reminded me a lot of peninsular Florida with it's egrets, herons and reptilian swamp life. Be careful when you hike this trail because it takes you right up close and personal to where the gators live. Watch out for snakes too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUFKiap_nhpm_6oIOsv6kZybrhB-d90Nj-AuxGgPcuW6J28CkaYdA1M7DghwbUEF7NEUV_SOomSy7Tg3eZZvbQ9FxIFaVkgZvcgncMJ13tOMktGh7fgFro2G-1PxZvTRyFIFYAg/s1600-h/pelican.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUFKiap_nhpm_6oIOsv6kZybrhB-d90Nj-AuxGgPcuW6J28CkaYdA1M7DghwbUEF7NEUV_SOomSy7Tg3eZZvbQ9FxIFaVkgZvcgncMJ13tOMktGh7fgFro2G-1PxZvTRyFIFYAg/s400/pelican.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047889876531329314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOlDwGl0wYzbc0_yQyGucw_uTKPqnGuQZPn2frgSLXkslgN09wpSVFqZUzYWMjj8kqQfkWDJek13m06R90cUfZoTT0zMIxWhkcoVZLGxjtExiuD1mflVQUrExTFj9yKdju4x-rQ/s1600-h/gator+swim.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOlDwGl0wYzbc0_yQyGucw_uTKPqnGuQZPn2frgSLXkslgN09wpSVFqZUzYWMjj8kqQfkWDJek13m06R90cUfZoTT0zMIxWhkcoVZLGxjtExiuD1mflVQUrExTFj9yKdju4x-rQ/s400/gator+swim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047890495006619954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">An alligator in Gator Lake, of course.<br /><br /></span></div>For more information: <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/standrews/default.cfm">http://www.floridastateparks.org/standrews/default.cfm</a>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-70638598492851565162007-03-26T17:40:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:17.778-08:00Cottonmouth SnakesIt's spring in Florida and time for everyone to become aware of the potential dangers posed by venomous snakes. Today our condominium complex had a little brief moment of excitement when it was discovered that a cottonmouth snake was sunning itself by the swimming pool. We helped the security guard put it in a collection bag which made Connie and I feel just like Steve and Terry Irwin on the Crocodile Hunter TV show. Connie said that it was definitely "not a very pretty sheila at all."<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8otqnVMLLQ4jRTPf8uJvDAajdnu0whIlN_sGnO24u3frZaZhkfPqW5RCWzP_rVaFvvyGI13TZf5pu1iKjZ-9ZqiZe11-Lt0yS-0Cot-QO3_Dn9DtpbKJ1XfEYaSiLa30Y613U_A/s1600-h/stayaway1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8otqnVMLLQ4jRTPf8uJvDAajdnu0whIlN_sGnO24u3frZaZhkfPqW5RCWzP_rVaFvvyGI13TZf5pu1iKjZ-9ZqiZe11-Lt0yS-0Cot-QO3_Dn9DtpbKJ1XfEYaSiLa30Y613U_A/s400/stayaway1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046738297015023778" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Cottonmouth or water moccasin</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />(Agkistrodon piscivorus conati)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The cottonmouth is dangerous because unlike other snakes they don't slither away when someone approaches but can become defensive and easily stirred to strike out aggressively.<br /><br />From the very well written website <a href="http://www.marshbunny.com/">www.marshbunny.com</a> I found this:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cottonmouth snakes are poisonous and extremely aggressive. They get the name cottonmouth because when they prepare to strike they open their jaws wide, exposing the puffy white lining of their mouths. Alligators only get aggressive during mating season, but cottonmouths are in a constant state of PMS - they not only will NOT run away from you, they will seek you out and chase you down.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Most anyone would rather have an alligator in their boat than a cottonmouth any day of the week. I have heard a few snake-in-the-boat stories and they are about equally divided between "we all jumped overboard" and "I grabbed my gun and shot the boat full of holes trying to kill the snake". You learn to not only keep an eye on things moving on the water, but to perform a "snake check!" anytime you pull up under a tree. Some snakes (in a fit of whimsy, no doubt) like to drop from trees into boats to see how fast they can empty the boat out. </span><br /><br />I hope that none of these things ever happens to me or any of you my dear readers. So let's be extra careful and ever mindful of our surroundings, so we can steer clear of these dangerous reptiles in our midst.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83TgSmedhxolCZZCpjhiWzXho0wabYSh8fBXdV5NlwIF6D8bDN7WBV_P86zLsHad6HP1TKngc9PIQaw2BHmpexUHqL-jqSFmV9fZYf9RPcJLkrDifeB0-L6XPUsxvuRNxbBG-IA/s1600-h/Irwin_holding_snake_gallery__433x400.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83TgSmedhxolCZZCpjhiWzXho0wabYSh8fBXdV5NlwIF6D8bDN7WBV_P86zLsHad6HP1TKngc9PIQaw2BHmpexUHqL-jqSFmV9fZYf9RPcJLkrDifeB0-L6XPUsxvuRNxbBG-IA/s400/Irwin_holding_snake_gallery__433x400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046697976196762530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Steve Irwin I'm NOT!</span><br /></div></div></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-79157101272821485952007-03-16T16:11:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:42:19.430-08:00Wildlife PhotographerI have been out in the field lately and blessed with enough good luck to get some great closeups of Florida wildlife. Here are three recent favorites I thought y'all might enjoy:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJtb5gX6-b7tBkOGUxSL8GFKsrAy4W1bEX9c2tPOcZ2R5JomlzvBOEFNMdFY5rsepilIuQ5okt_cxp_HL_cd8ZOzOJl4P857CS673yu6qw1P45eQ0OMEnLPSaYhvzd_LFitYX7Q/s1600-h/alligator.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJtb5gX6-b7tBkOGUxSL8GFKsrAy4W1bEX9c2tPOcZ2R5JomlzvBOEFNMdFY5rsepilIuQ5okt_cxp_HL_cd8ZOzOJl4P857CS673yu6qw1P45eQ0OMEnLPSaYhvzd_LFitYX7Q/s400/alligator.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042664527876364674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">American Alligator (Alligator mississipeinsis)<br />Lounging by a pond in Osceola County</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LQWj52dJGJjykHBD4u9jrIS7tCPgzLjm2RM9XKJfSFWBpIVElLfFDMgE2ArAl8Cg8vZqDLcs4BcUxeNcfcyvmjkCCzx7bVc9KbRQc7Kj0LTwoXiA507gh-JtmqwjGubwl5PiWA/s1600-h/fence+lizard2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LQWj52dJGJjykHBD4u9jrIS7tCPgzLjm2RM9XKJfSFWBpIVElLfFDMgE2ArAl8Cg8vZqDLcs4BcUxeNcfcyvmjkCCzx7bVc9KbRQc7Kj0LTwoXiA507gh-JtmqwjGubwl5PiWA/s400/fence+lizard2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042665373984922002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Southern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus undulatus)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Walton County</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAmP_3MngkVIhttz11aPePWOH3Oj34s5rGTDayYA3mDQGVrODsUMeI2HjNFMR-M8GWMzMdG0q3tJCc0vBNRh4Qnl_9zF8pv8L2cFx3unS1Sen1eLDin6uQserlPS-qqze0WcRNQ/s1600-h/dragonfly.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAmP_3MngkVIhttz11aPePWOH3Oj34s5rGTDayYA3mDQGVrODsUMeI2HjNFMR-M8GWMzMdG0q3tJCc0vBNRh4Qnl_9zF8pv8L2cFx3unS1Sen1eLDin6uQserlPS-qqze0WcRNQ/s400/dragonfly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042666344647530914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Georgia river cruiser dragonfly (Macromia illinoiensis georgina)</span><i style="font-style: italic;"><br /></i><span style="font-style: italic;">Topsail Hill Preserve State Park</span><br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-78254974883600556992007-02-09T11:28:00.000-08:002008-12-10T03:42:20.133-08:00Sunrise on the Emerald Coast<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYF7x8eSYAqNaK1vW7witEv4PVrE6P6jh7lVzSNzm3qdAvn9hcRVzmttypETtuOSuKMq8pn9OLR0-rKbjbO6tlTR6XqHAMWOLP6VKsu7zTcUa7lA22KPx4yia22A5bOuA-RkXaQ/s1600-h/sunrise1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYF7x8eSYAqNaK1vW7witEv4PVrE6P6jh7lVzSNzm3qdAvn9hcRVzmttypETtuOSuKMq8pn9OLR0-rKbjbO6tlTR6XqHAMWOLP6VKsu7zTcUa7lA22KPx4yia22A5bOuA-RkXaQ/s400/sunrise1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029624987149768114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunrise on Seagrove Beach</span><br /></div><br />My wife has become quite accomplished at taking excellent photographs with the digital camera we recently purchased and has determinedly taken it out each morning for her daily walk at dawn. Again, as many of you may already know, I don't do the dawn's early light very often. To be more exact I NEVER get up that early, so it's great having someone out covering the dawn patrol on the most beautiful stretch of coastline this side of Fiji. I kid you not.<br /><br />This morning I was asked to download the contents of today's sunrise from the camera and admire one of the most beautiful mornings yet. Well I gotta admit she warn't exageratin' none t'all.<br /><br />So for today I just wanted to share the beauty which is our home here on the magnificent Emerald Coast of Florida. Enjoy it y'all.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB1mPQEFtdeGA1Tth-pJ5pGfnV9jBkkbezCtDbUGVYiKeZmlybEf5lW8OBr7Iilzoyj9G5142Zwmc7d4F8z-29cWmplhHfmf8D66JeWccmLikQNhV5Q7O__HiFaORs1fN3kKsAA/s1600-h/sunrise2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB1mPQEFtdeGA1Tth-pJ5pGfnV9jBkkbezCtDbUGVYiKeZmlybEf5lW8OBr7Iilzoyj9G5142Zwmc7d4F8z-29cWmplhHfmf8D66JeWccmLikQNhV5Q7O__HiFaORs1fN3kKsAA/s400/sunrise2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029624604897678722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33cDNHofNAPeIKYo04k8vGScEnp-2OwiV2mLUavXYFR_WQcWS6iwBwhXxZbrS3Aq1xeP3egekJh1YsdA14swWeW2MJ4utXtIycbZwitw-gjK__M0Xj5tcTKfXkTI1sJkzJm-wuw/s1600-h/sunrise3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33cDNHofNAPeIKYo04k8vGScEnp-2OwiV2mLUavXYFR_WQcWS6iwBwhXxZbrS3Aq1xeP3egekJh1YsdA14swWeW2MJ4utXtIycbZwitw-gjK__M0Xj5tcTKfXkTI1sJkzJm-wuw/s400/sunrise3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029624725156763026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUQk4o2Bqg-d3Y9Edznqm-7Zd-TMA2OecMREAzppbY8K6DsP-xzA4yLevy1oYwOAiZk3d46TDzB6ScjRaz_cmjMySiz0H9gTlpIisBcDR4hhZrVbA70UEjJx63PWTUx8tAH7c2Q/s1600-h/sunrise4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUQk4o2Bqg-d3Y9Edznqm-7Zd-TMA2OecMREAzppbY8K6DsP-xzA4yLevy1oYwOAiZk3d46TDzB6ScjRaz_cmjMySiz0H9gTlpIisBcDR4hhZrVbA70UEjJx63PWTUx8tAH7c2Q/s400/sunrise4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029624823941010850" border="0" /></a><br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36868226.post-49925303979943262242007-02-01T17:11:00.001-08:002008-12-10T03:42:21.902-08:00Springs along the Suwannee River<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iVBz9xeLyOsh1g-zDHY0qwx3EWR_rcynjcXKUP22g9dnkN8_mGA8p439hn7mnk3fcrmzez4u-IdRLnzjcn6iwR5FJkmv-f7ty-CgOLz5FvsjE5BK-ebMiU3eTzICQ7lQbVpEKQ/s1600-h/branford+sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iVBz9xeLyOsh1g-zDHY0qwx3EWR_rcynjcXKUP22g9dnkN8_mGA8p439hn7mnk3fcrmzez4u-IdRLnzjcn6iwR5FJkmv-f7ty-CgOLz5FvsjE5BK-ebMiU3eTzICQ7lQbVpEKQ/s400/branford+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027018902892540402" border="0" /></a><br />U.S. Highway 27 parallels the scenic Suwannee River for 25 miles through Lafayette County, Florida. We began a detailed reconnaissance of the remarkable springs and state parks that are located along this stretch of river in the small town of Branford. From here we traveled west to Troy Springs and Lafayette Blue Springs State Parks, both of which empty directly into the dark and murky waters of the Suwannee.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ6jmzXFDNc1N2Wgd2PY-2pfxdeyyuyhqvDUfIZuBzr7Ad7A9onaI-xVw1coE3KB6dzw5cbJ2yPEoMLV3ZDxn1DuHNestwKgr3P9nnXSOTaLKFc_Y4JiDQHVycOnOjiRXYG1y0A/s1600-h/banks+of+the+suwannee.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ6jmzXFDNc1N2Wgd2PY-2pfxdeyyuyhqvDUfIZuBzr7Ad7A9onaI-xVw1coE3KB6dzw5cbJ2yPEoMLV3ZDxn1DuHNestwKgr3P9nnXSOTaLKFc_Y4JiDQHVycOnOjiRXYG1y0A/s400/banks+of+the+suwannee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027018512050516434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Way down upon the Suwannee River</span><br /></div><br />This part of Florida is very laid back and rural. It reminded me a lot of Georgia and Alabama. People in the rest of the country often forget that Florida is indeed located in the heart of the Deep South and as such there is still much of it that looks and feels like a place unaffected by the modern world, much less the close of the Civil War. Everywhere we went in this section we saw people, both black and white, fishing along creeks, hanging out at barbecue shacks and lazing away the end of an era. Yes indeedy, my kind of place.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXd2y_flvrqG443pA-VjUDBOMNcRkIhBpYB21qGpIYlIJo9QN3bQJ08Dxg2JzB_equYIQoWyYkVzfbuQzydUj1MLMJzrdY-eGMxi8rCWsAM4gfWrB19wGgIwobOaCaHmzYgaMGfw/s1600-h/branford+spring.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXd2y_flvrqG443pA-VjUDBOMNcRkIhBpYB21qGpIYlIJo9QN3bQJ08Dxg2JzB_equYIQoWyYkVzfbuQzydUj1MLMJzrdY-eGMxi8rCWsAM4gfWrB19wGgIwobOaCaHmzYgaMGfw/s400/branford+spring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027018709619012066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A beautiful spring in the middle of Branford's city park</span><br /></div><br />The geology of Florida is dominated by a porous limestone layer known as the Floridian Aquifer. It is the main source of water for the springs which bubble to the surface in this part of the state. A large portion of the annual precipitation that falls to the ground is absorbed into this limestone layer and eventually returns to the surface through an elaborate underground network of caves and rivers that are carved through this unique formation. When this subterranean water table intersects with the surface of the land it forms artesian springs. Florida has more of these springs than any other place in the world.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwGigI5fNBJL1ggkOBx8xZcCkwioy9gzchVa9hz3qdVgZphknmOlv0FOiWZ8pWfQH10Z7454Ok4peCmbfrXmrdN2GVrNef3hGi0DjOH0tQHZbJQyJBtD_ymv4yf_33TO_8IIKPQ/s1600-h/red+tail+hawk.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwGigI5fNBJL1ggkOBx8xZcCkwioy9gzchVa9hz3qdVgZphknmOlv0FOiWZ8pWfQH10Z7454Ok4peCmbfrXmrdN2GVrNef3hGi0DjOH0tQHZbJQyJBtD_ymv4yf_33TO_8IIKPQ/s400/red+tail+hawk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027018202812871090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Red-tailed hawk soars over the Suwannee</span><br /></div><br />If you're ever in this part of Florida I highly recommend that you leave the mindless grind of interstate travel and come enjoy this stretch of old U.S. 27. You'll discover the beauty and serenity of a genuine piece of the Old South.<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><dl><dd>Way down upon de Swanee ribber,</dd><dd>Far, far away,</dd><dd>Dere's wha my heart is turning ebber,</dd><dd>Dere's wha de old folks stay.</dd></dl></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjia6U0-0gwHmQdvAXPrnQJMfKwXsj4J3stnzaw-og0FrDHvdtu5XYx5-xw2H7AfqGFSPI03w7rRGQhuRMHRUDQCHhcHZcVDsTqB2tQUYY7TGWZ3ajrRaJmVBRJ8dHeqFchMGHZGQ/s1600-h/troy+spring.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjia6U0-0gwHmQdvAXPrnQJMfKwXsj4J3stnzaw-og0FrDHvdtu5XYx5-xw2H7AfqGFSPI03w7rRGQhuRMHRUDQCHhcHZcVDsTqB2tQUYY7TGWZ3ajrRaJmVBRJ8dHeqFchMGHZGQ/s400/troy+spring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027018069668884898" border="0" /></a><br />The clear waters of Troy Spring empty into the Suwannee<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ohyBsKsd4YDwP8Lz1MSMRDQszwDHangSNDEEksNOqNfIktI_esLXvvqLWj60f3cVl-TL_gE0RReF3lqCEaEm4lEYT3XyFhVduQwmFoSKag6ytH9Z5BAqMIbDgJ6nynCdXtulFQ/s1600-h/shipwreck.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ohyBsKsd4YDwP8Lz1MSMRDQszwDHangSNDEEksNOqNfIktI_esLXvvqLWj60f3cVl-TL_gE0RReF3lqCEaEm4lEYT3XyFhVduQwmFoSKag6ytH9Z5BAqMIbDgJ6nynCdXtulFQ/s400/shipwreck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027017902165160338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Remains of the Confederate warship Madison in Troy Spring<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcXW3JH3rzPplfR45MwlMBRYNlb8HxC5qDqkRcpUquLzks0B_0ObaOVsIqY93x8f4SDigWk7Mqg6rAH6zN6ZpVora8maQAkQGevUJl86qnAlW2sagwRw2BmW5P1WGkksG-G91Og/s1600-h/river+from+bridge.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcXW3JH3rzPplfR45MwlMBRYNlb8HxC5qDqkRcpUquLzks0B_0ObaOVsIqY93x8f4SDigWk7Mqg6rAH6zN6ZpVora8maQAkQGevUJl86qnAlW2sagwRw2BmW5P1WGkksG-G91Og/s400/river+from+bridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027017653057057154" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Suwannee River as seen from the highway bridge in Branford, FL<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM0ZbP1yTs62zFYcLA-julm-usSCqaI1SwYpUu0ebsUhEzgHZkcFZtad-NzC_M9vMRofe6qArulnUY_ljzWQ3k2EyYJNXUhw7FnyhGCHAeG5D865JVrSOlmj7lDudf5oa6z_TlA/s1600-h/floodplain+forest.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM0ZbP1yTs62zFYcLA-julm-usSCqaI1SwYpUu0ebsUhEzgHZkcFZtad-NzC_M9vMRofe6qArulnUY_ljzWQ3k2EyYJNXUhw7FnyhGCHAeG5D865JVrSOlmj7lDudf5oa6z_TlA/s400/floodplain+forest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027019615857111554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Late afternoon light filters through the floodplain forest</span><br /></div>beamishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03573400877018313541noreply@blogger.com0