Monday, February 13, 2023

Yellow Jessamine and the Red-banded Hairstreak

 
We always feel like Spring is just around the corner when we see the Yellow Jessamine in full bloom.


It blooms in February here and our weather has been in the 70s and 80s for highs so it does feel like Spring.


The vines were draped all in the trees and at one point we were walking on a carpet of yellow blooms that had fallen on the trail.


We hiked a part of the Florida Trails that we call Limerock Road.  (views from the trail)


It has a gate but there's no sign. It's off SR 200 across from Ross Prairie and a trailhead that is easy to miss. We turned down a side trail and hiked a trail we hadn't been on before.


There was a water hole but it was just about dry. (hopefully there are others nearby for the animals)


And up on a plateau was a new bench.


Don't you love the details on this bench?


It was a beautiful day to be trekking through the woods.


We even spotted a small butterfly and identified it as a Red-banded Hairstreak.


Have you seen any signs of Spring yet?

I'm joining Mosaic Monday HERE 

and I like Thursdays HERE !  

35 comments:

Latane Barton said...

No sign of spring here this morning. temp is 40 degrees. So, the photos of that lovely jasmine was a welcomed sight.

Tom said...

...the yellow jessamine is fabulous. We have a fabulous sun shiny day, but spring is still off in the future. Happy Valentin's day tomorrow.

Jenn Jilks said...

We are weeks away from Spring, happy to see yours, though.
I love the header!

MadSnapper said...

Yes, I like that design. really pretty and a nice bench. yes I love yellow flowers and yes, we have signs of spring, the culverts down the roads we walk are full of yellow streams of pollen. OUCH achooooo. and the yard is full of robins and sparrows and 2 hawks and flickers. almost 100 robins in the two yards this week at one time. pecking food like crazy. also possums are a digging holes in the yard like crazy... all signs of spring

Cathy said...

No signs of spring except some warmer temperatures that we're loving.

Teresa said...

Todo precioso. La primavera ya empieza a verse un poquito por aquí, hoy hace un sol esplendido. Un abrazo.

Julie's Creative Lifestyle said...

Diane, what a nice hike you went on with your husband. I love the pretty yellow flowers. The weather is warming up this week. It's supposed to go to 50 degrees today. I hope you have a nice day and week Diane.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

As usual awed by your skills in IDing ... wildflowers and butterflies. I've seen that plant -- the Jessamyn (what a pretty name) and now I will know it! What a nice hike.

Carla from The River said...

Oh, you have me smiling with that sweet yellow flower.

I do have spring fever. ;-)

roentare said...

Beautiful flowers and the signs in your hike

Creations By Cindy said...

That bench is too cute! We sure have crazy weather in Florida don't we? Everyone around seems to be getting some good rain but us! We sure need some. As always, your pictures turn out so great on your hikes. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Inger said...

Another lovely hike for you, my friend. No signs of spring yet, other than that it gets warmer in the afternoons when the sun is out.

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

Glad you love to go hiking--and am near places where you can do that!
And glad you said something about 'cards' in your comment to me--cause-I nearly forgot to do 'the card'--good timing--
hugs, di

Wally Jones said...

Yes! Come on Spring!

I really enjoyed walking with you, virtually speaking. We, too, have found the Yellow Jessamine in profusion in several places. Butterflies, too! Tiger Swallowtails. Love your Hairstreak!

Life is good.

Life outdoors is awesome!

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Yes, we have the Carolina Jessamine growing here in our trees around our property. They are so pretty. And I am so glad we got some good rain over the weekend. It helped our pond and watered our flowers that are starting to send forth new greenery, etc. We have azaleas blooming in the yard too. So yes, spring is coming, and we are glad. Today was rather chilly, but not bad. At least the sun was shining. Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow.

Vee said...

What is this thing you call spring?

Will you be taking a Valentine's Day walk?

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Diane

That heart and hands design you saw is Irish--it is called a Claddagh. I have it as a ring and love it!

Spring is far away here but I am loving the snow and the moisture it brings now, and to the rivers when it melts.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

What a beautiful flower - and butterflies, too! I have one small sign of spring - a crocus is blooming, but it's supposed to snow tonight. Love the bench.

BeachGypsy said...

Beautiful pictures, my friend! I also love the Jessamine! We had swirls of it up in the tall trees at our other house, not sure yet if there is any growing here! I always loved it as it sure meant SPRING IS HERE! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

Irma said...

What beautiful photos you took during your walk.
The yellow Jessamine is really beautiful, wonderful that spring is coming.
Greetings Irma

Ann said...

That yellow jessamine is so pretty. I have seen a few things starting to pop through the ground here.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
Looks like another great walk. The Yellow Jessamine is pretty, does it have a lovely scent? Pretty capture of the butterfly. Happy Valentine's Day, have a great day!

Rostrose said...

Dear Diane,
the Yellow Jessamine looks beautiful. It will be a while before we see spring here, but at least the sun is shining today. When I see dried up waterholes it always makes me very worried... and in the last few years I've seen a lot of waterholes dry up... But your trail looks very nice. And the bank goes especially well with Valentine's Day!
ALL THE BEST from Austria and 🌹🌹🌹 Happy Valentine ❤️,
HUGS, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2023/02/costa-rica-5-kapitel-la-paz-waterfall.html

Lea said...

Beautiful!
Love the flowers and the butterfly!

Tanza Erlambang said...

we observe yellow jessamine now....
beautiful flower

Lowcarb team member said...

We do have some early flowering daffodils in flower!
I do like the yellow jessamine.

All the best Jan

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my flowering trees, I so can not wait for those days to come, we are having warmer days here and there but still getting days in the 30's yet. Looks like it was a beautiful day for a hike. Such a fancy decoration on that bench for a nice sit down in the sunshine :)
Happy Valentine's day!

Rainbow Evening said...

yes, details of the bench look so beautiful... love it

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Great photos
Unseasonably warm in Vermont at this lower elevation. Mountainous states can have winter at the top, and spring in the valley. It feels like spring here in the Champlain Valley.

Sue said...

Beautiful photos, looks like a bench for lovebirds to sit, very pretty details.
Our daffodils are almost in bloom, lots of nest building in our bluebird boxes.
Thank you for sharing,
Blessings
Sue

Jeanie said...

So nice to see those cheery yellow blooms!

Between company last week, prepping for a Cork Poppers do, an ear and/or sinus infection, and then this week's mass shooting in our town, I'm so behind blog reading, I'll never catch up! I'll try to take a look at all but not comment and hopefully be back on schedule this week!

Jim and Barb's Adventures said...

So nice to see spring has sprung somewhere in the country. We cannot wait for it to get to South Dakota!

Debbie said...

the yellow flowers are GORGEOUS...how nice to see a butterfly!! my crocus have bloomed, purple, they are so pretty!!

Red Rose Alley said...

No signs of Spring yet, and I'm still enjoying Winter. I think it's so nice that they put a bench right there along the trail. I love the symbol they made with the heart and hands. Reminds me of Valentine's Day. The skies are so pretty. You take the most lovely sky photos. And the yellow jessamine is a cheerful flower. I love its name. That butterfly sure is a beauty too!

~Sheri

Angie said...

Diane - nope, nary a sign of Spring in this neck of the woods! But I am glad for you! Loved the description of walking on a carpet of fallen yellow blooms! And I laughed at the name of the butterfly - don't you wonder who comes up with these names?