Happy Fourth of July!

 What a blessing to live in the beautiful United States of America!

I thought I would share a few photos from the past.

One of the fun traditions here in our community is the golf cart parade.

I walked over to watch it go by.

And loved all the golf carts that were decorated for the event.

Everyone puts a lot of effort to make it special each year.

My 'critter' for this holiday is the Bald Eagle.

It's a bird we see often here in Florida.

But it's still makes you stop and marvel.

More photos of the parade...

it's makes you feel so proud!

A special thanks to the sheriff's department and the firemen that come out to support us. 

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

"Attention to Details"

 

I like to think I'm observant but I am still surprised when I work on my photos how many 'hidden details' I've missed!

Hey, Mr. Flycatcher! 

Spit out that grasshopper and eat some of these pesky gnats and mosquitoes!

And it's going to take this Osprey a long time to build a nest at this rate!

But look how interesting those wispy feathers are along the legs of this Great Blue Heron.

And this seemed like an unusual place for a mushroom to grow.

I guess it likes more light and air!

I'm going to get a little creepy now.

I took this photo thinking I was looking at a pretty plant but when I bent down to look more closely, this Green Anole jumped. I jumped too. I don't know who jumped higher! Isn't he perfectly hidden?

This poor alligator!

He has no body!

And I wasn't even sure this was an alligator until I looked at my pics!

He's trying to look like a 'knot on a log'! 

How do you like this pretty little pond at Reed Bingham State Park?

Read the small sign at the bottom! 

These ponds are for the kids....oh and the alligators!!!

Halloween Pennant

And now to dedicate this next part of my post to my dear friend, John from John's Island HERE. 

He has written me another poem dedicated to my last post and I want to share it today.

"Beneath the pines where hoofbeats roam,

Heritage Farm feels just like home.

Log cabins stand with rustic grace,

As goats and sheep patrol the place.

The Martins dart through gnats with gless,

While trails invite both you and me.

The river calls, the forest hums

Where quite peace and beauty comes.

So here's to the cabins, hooves and leaves

To Autumn dreams and golden eves!''

This is one of the true blessings of having a blog...making blog friends along the way. I know we all feel like sharing our photos with other like minded bloggers enhances our lives. John has really surprised me with these gifts of poetry. Thank you John for your thoughtfulness.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

Heritage Farm at General Coffee State Park

 

We loved the campground at General Coffee State Park and one of the best parts was driving over to Heritage Farm to park by the lake and explore the hiking trails. The park has over 1,500 acres so there is so much to explore. 

I'm always more interested in heading down the forest trails or walking along the river.

But the trails at the lake start at the farmyard!

There are beautiful log cabins, barns and fenced off areas for the animals.

So I spent some time photographing some of the beauty here (before heading off to the river to hike less frequented trails). 

Goats, Sheep, Chickens, Horses and more!

He looks like Billy Goat Gruff! 

Lots of well maintained buildings on the farm.

Aren't the log structures beautiful!

A collage of this one.

One you can go inside or sit on the porch!

And the Purple Martins were in abundance, hopefully eating the gnats that were everywhere!

We really loved the horse and wish we had found out his name.

General Coffee State Park was donated to the state in 1970 and is named after General John Coffee, a planter, US Congressman and military leader. What a treasure it is. More info HERE. 

We would love to go again in the Fall when it is cooler and the Fall leaves are turning.

Have you been to any state parks in Georgia? We would love to visit more of them.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

General Coffee State Park, featuring the Yellow-crowned night heron

 

We made it to Georgia and back, traveling 500 miles to 4 State Parks!

I'll start close to the beginning of the trip with our stay at General Coffee State Park, website HERE.

It was quiet and peaceful and altogether delightful!

But let's get out on the trails and see what we can find.

On the second day (and second hike) I got off the trail and walked out to Seventeen mile River.

I stopped 'dead in my tracks' when I spotted a heron in a little ponded up area.

You can see him in the water in the center of the photo!

I zoomed in!

It was a Yellow-crowned night heron and the first one I had ever seen!

We see a lot of different herons here in Florida but this was a 'lifer' for me!

I wasn't sure at first.

But after some research, I positively IDed it!

I also was fortunate to meet a photographer that lives in Georgia and he said he had seen them there before. A few days later, he told me he had seen the one I saw too. That was special! I appreciated his knowledge and enthusiasm and hope to see him again.

The other neat sighting was the Yellow Flytrap pitcher plant. Info HERE.

We saw several plants but it was hard getting photos through the other tall plants.

This pitcher plant is listed as a conservation priority and is rare to see in the wild.

The blue irises were in bloom and they love the wet areas.

It was a beautiful campground and we loved almost everything about it. The only drawback, and that can be anywhere near the water, was the newly hatched gnats! They don't bite but they drive you crazy. They try to get in your eyes and ears and mouth if you dare to open it. But at least they don't bite! (oh I said that, I was close to crazy before, I may have crossed over! hahaha)

I have lots of photos to share! I hiked 13 hikes in 2 weeks so I took a 'few'!

It's HOT back in Florida! How's the weather where you live?

And have you ever seen a Yellow-crowned night heron?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

Ochlockonee River State Park in Sopchoppy, Florida!

 

Even the name sounds like FUN and indeed it was one of the best experiences we've ever had camping in a Florida State Park! Website link HERE.

I can't resist the temptation to start in the middle of our May camping trip with the cutest critter we've ever seen!

I'm all set to go hiking!

And look who wants to come along!

There are White Squirrels at this park and they are very friendly.

It did not exactly follow me around,

but it did stop and pose for about a zillion photos!

OK...I'm coming!!!

A White Squirrel is a variation of the Eastern Gray Squirrel and not an albino. 

We saw a few in Asheville, NC when we lived there but that's been years ago.

So I'll include some photos of the Ochlockonee River and save my bird photos for another post.

The trail to the river was just steps from the campsite!

It was just gorgeous walking the trails along the river.

And if there was any negative about our stay there, it was the newly hatched Deer Flies!

When I stayed on the open trails and felt the wind from the river, they were not a problem.

But you know me....I want to go deep into the forest and those hikes were limited.

We had done our research to find out about the park before we left and was so pleased to see the forest of Longleaf pines!

Thanks to everyone who leaves such sweet comments. And a special thanks this week to John from John's Island. He wrote  a poem for me! Oh my! It doesn't get any more special than that! Thank you John! The poem is in my comments from last week.

Have you ever seen a white squirrel?  

And on that note, I'll step away from the computer to go on another camping adventure. We are going to 2 different State Parks in Georgia this time, General Coffee State Park and Reed Bingham!

Have a beautiful month of June and I'll catch up with you all when we get back! 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE.