Monday, February 7, 2022

The Beauty of the Swamp in February

 
I'm always hoping to show the beauty of the 'real Florida' all through the year.


And take away some of the misconceptions too.


The swamp we walk along when we are on the trail at Blue Run Park is a good example of beauty you might not expect to find. 


It truly is breathtaking in February. 


Sometimes the sun filters down and gives it a neat effect and other days, some of the maple trees show their color. 


And the huge Cypress trees always look pretty with the pink and white lichen and yellow tones of the tree trunks.

Just a few of the neat sightings on this particular hike!


Anhinga


Anhinga immature


We saw several Anhingas this particular day.


I love the reflection in the water!


And this one looks like a work of art!


And maybe not what we consider beautiful, the young alligators are still very cute!


For the locals, they are near the bridge on the Eastern side, down on the bank below.


Enjoy your week and the beauty that surrounds you!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

34 comments:

MadSnapper said...

these are the best anhinga photos I have ever seen, they are really hard to photograph. these are amazing. so is that darling baby gator. I find that Florida Outdoors is always beautiful and amazing, sunnny, rain, storms, even night time. I am glad you showed us the dreary look can be as pretty as the sunshine look

Tom said...

...always seek the beauty!

SImple and Serene Living said...

Such an amazing and beautiful place to walk. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. xo Laura

NanaDiana said...

I think many people don't see the hidden beauty of Florida. They think of all the beaches and coastal regions but don't see the subtle beauty of the interior of Florida. You almost have to live there to experience it.
I hope you have a great week, Diane. xo Diana

Creations By Cindy said...

Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos. I so agree with you and Diana on the hidden in Florida that we fail to see. Especially those of us that live in Florida. There is actually so much beauty to see and we often miss it. Why, I can walk in my own back yard and become enthralled in the beauty of nature and the things that God has given me that many would love to experience. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Marcia said...

Those are some beautiful photos. Thanks for the walk in the swamp.

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Absolutely stunning photos! Wonderful Anhinga pictures...yes, they should be framed! And I do love the colors in the swamp...there are some places like that up here that we occasionally drive by and I always want to stop and take pictures, but the road is too busy and narrow to stop. But yes, the swamps are very lovely in their own way. Just wouldn't want to be trying walk my way through them, especially at night! LOL. Those little alligators are good reasons why not to try it. They have mamas and papas in those waters. But so lovely from a distance. Thank you!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

The bird reflection photo is fantastic.

Debbie said...

i have always thought kindly of florida. i would probably move there if not for our moms needing our help here. you have shared its beauty every day on every walk, these are beautiful images and the little gator is adorable!!

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

It's lovely to view your anhinga photos, Diane. The reflection in the water is great. The baby gator sure is smiling! Have a great week ahead.

Ann said...

I've always thought of a swamp as a creepy, scary place. After seeing your photos I see that's not always the case.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

A virtual world of plenty...a gorgeous tour (except for the gators!)...jp

Martha said...

Such a great outing and your photos sure do show the real Florida!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

The picture of the Cypress swamp is my hands down favourite. I could spend many, many happy days exploring that kind of habitat, all the while harbouring a certain sadness knowing that it was formerly inhabited by Ivory-billed Woodpeckers until we shot them and drained their habitat until we drove them to extinction. A magnificent bird, lost forever, so that no human ever again will gaze on its magnificence.

happyone said...

You do a great job of showing us the beauty of Florida. :)

Carla from The River said...

I love alligators, I just think they are so unique. Of course I do not want to get in the way of one. ;-) But such amazing creatures.
Thank you for sharing.. I like the pink lichen.

Cloudia said...

You have a beautiful way of sharing your area!

Terri D said...

Look at those cute baby gators!! I always love your photos! Thanks for taking us along!! xo

BeachGypsy said...

Howdy there Diane, I loved the past few posts because we got to go on hikes with yall and see neat things! Love all the colors and the life in the swamps, and yes, even in winter it is mysterious and pretty. Love the bright colors of the flowers and the leaves, and the pink on the trees too. I don't think I've ever seen a young/or baby Anhinga before......it's cute! Those scrubjays are very pretty. I love bluebirds and blue jays so I think the scrubjays are pretty too. Hope your week is wonderful my friend. Is it warm there? PS---do y'all have painted buntings there and have you seen one? I've been hoping to spot one for YEARS NOW....no luck. They are so beautiful!

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
I have always loved Florida's park and wildlife. Your photos are beautiful.
Great captures of the Anhinga and the little gators. Take care, enjoy your day and the week ahead.

Caroline said...

Beautiful photos of the bird and the alligator.

John's Island said...

Hi Diane, To me, the most fascinating things in this post are the little alligators! :-) I won't be seeing them on my waterfront walks. :-) They are cute and I love your photos! John

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Great photos. We have a couple of Anhinga that hang around our lake. Did you know that they are also called snake birds because when they are swimming some times only their neck and head come out of the water and it looks like a snake head! Love the pink on the trees!

Wally Jones said...

Good Morning, Diane!

So much to see in our swamps. It seems every time we visit, we find something beautiful and amazing. Like your photographs illustrate!

Preconceived notions would picture a swamp as dark, dismal and foreboding. An actual visit proves otherwise. Your vibrant leaves, subtle shades of the lichens, ancient-looking Anhinga and the renewal of life highlighted with young alligators - should delight and inspire all who explore these timeless wonderlands!

Thank you so much for sharing your Nature adventure!

Julie's Creative Lifestyle said...

What a nice walk through the swamp Diane. I love looking at the photos and it feels like I'm right there with you. I like the cute alligator and the bird photos. I hope you have a nice week Diane.

Teresa said...

Me encantaría pasear por ahí. Tus fotografías son preciosas. Besos.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

I enjoyed these photos so much. I live on the beach and don't really see so much of Florida's wildlife and Beaty. I do see lovely sunrises and sunsets on the beach. I should get out more ( off the beach and explore) Thanks as always for taking us on your journeys in Florida.

Kim said...

Your swamp is beautiful. Who knew there would be so many colors in the dead of winter? I've never heard of Anhingas. They look beautiful and so soft. Baby alligators are very cute, I agree. Take care, Diane. So glad you're enjoying those Danish whisks so much.😊

Lowcarb team member said...

What fabulous colour in your swamp.
Wonderful photographs and mosaics.

All the best Jan

Lorrie said...

You are a great ambassador for your part of Florida with all the beauty you highlight in your posts. I always like seeing photos of the anhingas - a bird I'm very unfamiliar with. Thanks for sharing your world with us.

Red Rose Alley said...

You do have some pretty birds in Florida. The Anhinga is very attractive, and I like the pictures where he is in flight. The baby alligators are cute, but oh my, they would frighten me as they get bigger. The red leaves along the trail are really pretty. Looks a bit like Autumn. We have some misconceptions here as well - seems that some think the sun always shines in California and that it doesn't rain or snow. I live in an area where it certainly DOES haha.

Have a pleasant February week, Diane.

~Sheri

Crafty in the Med said...

Amazing! I even had Sr P looking over my shoulder at your photographs. He is an amateur biologist and has been all his life. He definitely missed his vocation as he knows so much about wildlife. He was fascinated by the little alligator photos. Impressive images indeed! keep well. Amanda x

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Anything in miniature is cute including alligators! But you be careful. Loved these bird photos...so interesting to my eyes. Our winter birds here tend to the browns and greys and the landscape now very white. But the daylight is lengthening.

Kim@Snug Harbor said...

This looks like a nice hike. You always take such great photos!