You may think I meant to say, Dark Dreary Swamps! But of course I didn’t!
![swampIMG_9555 swampIMG_9555](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MEICj6S4p6hSWzN-gK5VLlovZWESu0eD7sn2LUIqsVolwbu0OMx3YW8rXLpCM5R2BVStbpsqrnObp_13MF4NZv0Idbk9C7Sd-WpP4mm06iEuMO_vPG_1Qp6nQTgYlwakHCKhXyCtc1qT/?imgmax=800)
Because swamps are very beautiful and teaming with life.
(you’re seeing reflections in most of these!)
![sIMG_9549 sIMG_9549](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKO-GZCLjsUOaE6QRtHdcrm5wsfBB962-nntSY1Lm3QFmWTInkGyzeq4Ie1NLrfOBWj8ZTfFGkWU8gLmA6wZW22hwjmQWYOCY3x6HrJ6oZJzE49n9qfuLIuqZzYVdsUhwAOuh_bqQAgz86/?imgmax=800)
I think swamps get a ‘bad rap’ and it’s hard to really show the beauty of the swamps we visit in Blue Run Park in Dunnellon, FL.
They ARE dark so the camera has trouble penetrating and focusing on the beauty.
![sIMG_9550 sIMG_9550](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_23fHyCdHSNd47f9uI2WSXLaIMsD8te7XsZJ5vphm0jhFyQXPXQdQNiZDidXc_34FRTyMsvsVM1OyBTJJo-1lAFQupDo2Z3WxXqWuKtsP1vhxaGfsJxo-xVoSSLI8gNxNQapfMGqBp4/?imgmax=800)
The water is dark…
the vegetation is lush…
the trees are gorgeous….
especially the Cypress trees!
And all kinds of birds and critters live there.
![ibisIMG_9543 ibisIMG_9543](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25vPLmIXMTZerRmhAT9ht-daz7UPLjKwvDa6fx4F365o1-ArUjbRPkeLPp0srl8D-_HHNra7kzQh08fYLywTv7T8IPBmh1Fm-B-XwoRZkB_Xj0cXJYKAwZ7u9hYeONopQ80PE5QkSm28/?imgmax=800)
We always see Ibis in the swamps.
![woodduckIMG_9633 woodduckIMG_9633](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYszJmNdsz0wGIAGaKrY2gb-BQTxvzB-v1OlmBlODxsNQfhFuBJIPcnv7DuzEBQRpHGI8Zlzh8j_XmC2TS6bXs-Chz6Dazyprt01stlntvczQCJY_JGIrD9wQQFYLqELLePbR6mkyZEwk/?imgmax=800)
And when we’re lucky we see Wood ducks.
![wIMG_9636 wIMG_9636](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7RYTCOBoP6HKyxE7nHrx2sHUJhnv5eNAeBhe1jjpVOybTan7qdqja0uE6cXRWkg564MlsmJiy4ciAeuF-9fc28ANCQSFz7-IgsLep3IVvlxoiLRGv0xBY_cZreqsqifSUtaD_8NfVCQ/?imgmax=800)
Aren’t they beautiful!
![wIMG_9638 wIMG_9638](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSplSY7OLe0kgxpTw57_qqfjjh9GeqIMZMkV5Jp860lAY9D4PZhK42fFw3qlFO5Vd1lQml1CkanrBoF_GV3Nf5yPAMgYC0TGd_FLM-_hB2HSr_YxDhSjByYyMOQf31mSZavcKu9doO_s/?imgmax=800)
The whole family swam out to greet us.
![wIMG_9640 wIMG_9640](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOOKh0mYQxe5k7SM198ELi2d80mDAB0piiw87do4YUUDguHZ_obKJHR0jl7neu-h-U4ZlnY1g079Ii6xYWWcTQ_quMo42aDFzxlZeWgxn03BxVI8R2sOddGxBiz0FBZcoUpBViqu3Cx0/?imgmax=800)
Or maybe we should say, stayed in the shadows!
![wIMG_9645 wIMG_9645](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPzNfKcBroT7emzjMKpbJFWppYl9sVBYDUIdWIs3rv5fjQMyTuPXZMbQ4K82SzDy9SuE_pLhrE40Q7ISc6HNBVdXPiiKvxcgFAx48OPoHZqHYaejNVSz4GoYhWkYIHsGsMGrILbRsB9I/?imgmax=800)
According to Wikipedia HERE…
“Florida swamps include a variety of wetland habitats. Because of its high water table, substantial rainfall, and often flat geography, the U.S. state of Florida has a proliferation of swamp areas, some of them unique to the state. A swamp is a wetland that is forested.”
Duckweed has such a small petal that it can sometimes look like ‘slime’ but it is a very pretty delicate plant that carpets the swamp in places.
![duckweedIMG_9567 duckweedIMG_9567](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibObbLGcrzVD5x1fUvEjXQ3XWtOxXr798x74qYVDhSMzMAA4indHcuXJntjoB1R7SxH5yktoCuVM_nN3Y7MN1DCY4TxoUDGd5wtx9DBpnmcPIkItTTLXus9lBLKvzoQzSLXXG792TdyrB_/?imgmax=800)
In this photo the green looks like grass but it is Duckweed growing just on the surface of the water.
And yes…
![DSCN4044 DSCN4044](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJQ8eB5lWOSp0tAEyoVh8ds1BIsDXVqBPShdhStfL9k5_tsmkl3t9bgI-c2K5MRi1QXQCPG2Wh3jPcl9PHeB-4liJn-niAKzPqRXUihykU1eKHMqfndljFpPlZGbS7tr_shIc32euPhQ/?imgmax=800)
sometimes when you look closely you see something ALIVE right below the surface!
![wIMG_9644 wIMG_9644](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI6xGo2BYCssbVBw1ibM5FJmOnaXZ_6SBv0-C-DdqZ7kH3OSukpIXB1sM7dd9bQBt3a4qpJodh_azuDlaxXISg-50WGNZmipXAr7JM8M4twAvHtfR1q4Zd7N2iAVElJaMKwr6SCYNA-w/?imgmax=800)
Look out BELOW!!!
![swampDSCN4197 swampDSCN4197](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm5XUzJxOGNHhyphenhyphenpSAnj4OV8H9wLkjkD_VhzYmCeKQoek_UEjwQC3aFauA4efJdPBl-kv0k-WHXaJu0gZmj14sRTwI2mQUV63XSBtdnsR5IIZyf_XRZ5PKaxEY3JnPW83RQcc1-BrPLO9A/?imgmax=800)
Hope you’ve enjoyed seeing photos of the swamp and a few of it’s inhabitants!
I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE
and I’d Rather B Birdin’.