We are having so much fun on our hikes this year and hiked on a new trail last weekend.
But first I want to show you what is so pretty in the fields here in North Central Florida right now.
It appears to be a grass and has a pretty red tip on it. Here’s a close up of an individual plant.
But what is it? It’s Dock weed!!!
This is the trail we hiked last weekend. (one of them)
Halpata Tastanaki Preserve
The preserve is named after Seminole leader Hálpata Tastanaki (Chief Alligator).
And I got to see Scrub Jays for the very first time!
According to Wikipedia, “The Florida Scrub Jay is found only in Florida scrub habitat, an ecosystem that exists only in central Florida. The Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens[A]) is one of the species of scrub jay native to North America. It is the only species of bird endemic to the U.S. state of Florida and one of only 15 species endemic to the United States. Because of this, it is heavily sought by birders who travel from across the country to observe this unique species.”
They were so beautiful and didn’t seem to mind us being close to them on the trail.
I couldn’t help but think of some captions.
Is she STILL back there?
Just ignore her.
Or give her ‘THE LOOK’!
She’s still there… time to fly!
I’m joining Beautiful Sunday,
and Amaze me Monday!
Waterlogue effect (IPAD app)
Have you ever seen this red tipped grass in the fields where you live?
Thanks Linda from Wetcreek blog! I think it IS Dock week. Wikipedia has the ID as Rumex crispus HERE. Curly dock, yellow dock or dock week
And it’s found all over North America!
Now we know!
And special thanks to everyone that helped with the ID! You sure are a smart bunch of bloggers!!!
.JPG)
49 comments:
Morning! It looks like dock weed to me. Enjoy your walks. Did you paint the bottom painting? Lovely work! Linda@Wetcreek Blog
Still giggling at the expression on the jay's face!
Jane x
Nice photos! I really like that Water Painting look to the last one. As a matter of fact, those red grasses or weeds look very similar to what we have up here out in the pastures. It's not real popular, but no one seems able to get rid of it, it's so wide-spread.
Wow. That photo lent itself beautifully to be waterboarded...errr...waterlogued. It looks wonderful. Now I have to go see about dock weed. Fun party with the jays you had...
Never saw the grasses you showed. I hope you figure out what it is. The pictures of the birds are great.
Are you kidding? I don't even see green tipped grass in thr region I'm living ;) Those birds are beautiful! How nice to see such pretty colors outside!
Love the new effect on your header:):) That photo of the grasses is wonderful. We have blue jays around here...I have never seen a scrub jay. good pictures of them. Happy Sunday, xoxox,Susie
Morning, such lovely pictures, the birds are so beautiful. Not sure of the plant, no help, Blessings Francine.
I just love the scrub jays. No idea what the grass is - maybe those are seed pods.
Your mystery plant looks like curled pasture dock, don't think it comes under the grass category. The scrub jays are cute. Here is a link to a photo
http://www.imagejuicy.com/images/plants/a/apocynum/16/ or here http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/curldock.pdf
And now you have an rare bird to add to you list...they are beautiful.
Jen
What pretty birds!
oh all is awesome. Thanks for sharing this Sunday morning in my area. Your explanation notes to go with the pictures. Did you use program to enhance a different look. I love it. If you painted it. Awesome twice girl. You got my attention big time.
Nice you had that adventure of trails and walks.
Nothing like the trials and the feel of Gods beauty everywhere at your feet and through your camera click, click.
Us snow people who have snow up to our knees so long to be able to walk and click, click with are cameras.
beautiful jays and lovely field colors!
that plant sort of looks like what we call Tobbaco weed here, but I'm sure its not,giving the distance between us! The scrub jays are such a beautiful color,
The red from that weed gives the field a really pretty hue. Those little scrub Jays are just adorable! Have a wonderful week.
Hello Diane, I have never seen that kind of grass, but it certainly add a wave of red to the landscape. The Scrub Jay is absolutely a beautiful bird. Such lovely bright colors. Hugs Judy
I love how the dock weed looks when you added that "painterly" effect. Beautiful!
As far as the scrub jays go, all of the birders are welcome to my backyard as long as they each take one home with them. We are overrun with scrub jays around here. They are very aggressive and drive away all the song birds from their "territory" and used to even attack my poor kitty.
Love the little jays.
Beautiful jays and very pretty field..
Hugs x
Beautiful fields and birds of FL!!
Dock weed grows along our gravelly roadsides but I've never seen a field of it. Nice job on the Waterlogue effect.
I have seen dock weed or curly dock growing here too. I love your waterlogue photo of it. The scrub jays are very pretty. How wonderful to see them and snap their photos. Have a great week Diane. Hugs. Pamela
Would love to see those cute scrub jays. We only have brown grass so no can't remember any other kind :)
xo
Laura
Great pics, love the birds and the waterlogue effect.
Those are beautiful birds. I don't think I've ever heard of them. Such a bright blue.
Judy
The grasses are pretty, lovely field.! And I would love to add this Scrub Jay to my life list. They are cool Jays! I will need to make another trip someday ..Enjoy your week ahead!
Those are great pictures, Diane. You get the best Florida pictures. Love them- xo Diana
Some super sleuths here! Great job!
I love those Jays. Very pretty coloring.
I used to go to a restaurant/bar in the late 70's, called "DOC Weeds". But I think it was named after a common 70's drug and not a plant. LOL!
Great post! The park name reminds me of Maori words here in New Zealand.
Such beautiful birds and a fun conversation. I think I've seen dock weed here - at least it looks like your plant although I never knew its name.
I'm so envious of your WARM hikes! What fun you always have. Thank you for sharing!
That dock weed is beautiful and the scrub jays are a sweet treat! They are beautiful birds..
Fascinating birds. And lovely photos -- looks like a great hike before the real heat arrives. And great water color! :-)
I don't think I've ever seen dock weed before...it sure looks pretty in the field. Oh...if the Jays could talk...I'm sure that is what they were saying!! LOL...
hugs,
Cindy
The scrub jays are a handsome bird! I like your Waterlogue effect, I just bought the app.
Yep, bloggers sure are a smart group. I have never seen the red tipped grass here, sure is pretty!
Carol
What pretty blue birds!! never seen those before!! I wonder if we have those here?... will have to check!
love the jays! :)
Those scrub jays are beautiful!
Ha ha ha, love the captions. It's exactly what I imagined they would be saying. Every part of the world seems to have its own blue jay variety. Love those guys. One of my friends in Vancouver has a bird who taps on the kitchen window every morning for a peanut. Cheeky little guy.
Love that watercolor app!! Amazing!!!
AND - I have never seen the scrub jay before!! They are very unique!! Love the coloring on them. Do they seem to have the personality of a plain jay bird?? Neat - so glad that you shared!
You saw many interesting things on your new trail, Diane. The blue birds are sweet. It's nice to hear that you enjoy walking on the trails because that is one of my favorite things to do with husband. There is so much beauty that we don't see every day, and trails are the perfect place to come across this beauty.
Have a blessed week.
love,
~Sheri
Hahahaha.... Such a cute post. Love the mosaic and your watercolor edit too! Lovely day!
~Rainey @ The Project Table~
Amazing that you saw so many scrub jays ... those dedicated birders are going to be calling you for hints as to where to go. (I think it's kind of funny about scrub jays -- they are very common in Oregon and I honestly can't see where they look any different from the Florida ones ... although I've only seen ONE here, so I can't really compare. )
Your spring decorating is beautiful as is your waterlogue work! Very nice.
What beautiful birds, the scrub jays are! Had never heard of them before. The fields are pretty and picturesque and I'm sure a pleasure to walk through during these first days of spring!
Have a lovely week!
Poppy
Those Scrub Jays are just wonderful, I am thinking that in my many trips down South and even living there a bit, I have never seen one~
Gorgeous birds! Thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday...
Blessings,
Cindy
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