I have so much to share but it's such beautiful weather for camping and hiking that I'm still not sitting at the computer as much. It will get HOT here in Florida soon and then I'll catch up. I guess! lol
This is right at the halfway point and you really have to look to see the turn.
Sparkleberry bush
Link for the ID is HERE! And thank you so much to my blog buddy "Tom the backroads" for help with identifying it! These bushes are in full bloom and smell so sweet!
We've camped at Ross Prairie State Forest Campground twice now and I hiked different trails both times. I did hike the Holly Hammock THREE times though because it's my favorite.
For locals, the trail is in the best shape I've ever seen it. And when you take the loop you come to a pond at the halfway point. The pond is full of water with lily pads in full bloom.
With the bonus of wetlands beyond the pond with so much to see.
It took me about 2 hours to hike it because I spent 20 minutes at the pond taking photos.
But it's an easy hike. Just watch out for roots and stumps in the trail. Lift your feet when you walk!
This is a popular trail and I've met a couple of hikers that leave little trinkets along the trail.
A dragon on the trail?
They are fun to find.
When I say it's popular, I still only saw 1 other person hiking it on this 2 hour hike. I just wish more people got out to enjoy a nature walk. There are so many rewards.
Mourning Dove
And WHAT is this little critter?
Have you walked outside this week?
38 comments:
The lotus and lilies are lovely
sparkleberry or farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)look great.
Hello Diane :=)
Beautiful Water Lily shots and lovely Dove capture. the trinkets left by hikers are fun to find.
Enjoy your weekend
Hugs
Sonjia
This is a beautiful post! Such a great advisement to walk outside. Aloha friend!
it looks like a great place for a walk. it almost doesn't matter what you see, if you are out on a trail, enjoying a walk and the weather!! it will get hot soon and you will have plenty of time to catch up sharing your pictures then!! the water lilies are beautiful!!
those lily pads are awesome, love the header, the way the light made it look black. its pretty hot here, 88 right now and they say next week will be hotter... the deadly humidity is not here yet that brings the deer flies and gnats and skeeters so enjoy while ye may. its a beautiful place to wander
That photo of the pathway is lovely, Diane. And those waterlilies are just terrific!
Everything is so beautiful, especially those water lilies. I love hiking and wish I were still well enough to do it.
That looks like a really nice park. How fun finding all the little things that people leave.
Those Water lilies are really pretty.
No walks for me. Now my excuse is the heat and humidity. Ha! Love your photos, always!!
The water lily pictures are so lovely.
Enjoy your May days.
All the best Jan
The water lily pictures are so lovely.
Enjoy your May days.
All the best Jan
PS This comment may come through twice as I got an error message when I hit publish!!!
I've been out for a couple of short walks and once to the gym this week. It's getting a bit cold and I have to admit to not enjoying being out in the cold and wind. Your trail walks are so interesting, I always enjoy them :)
Hello,
I am like you, I try to get outdoors for a hike as much as possible.
Nature is great and your photos of the trail flowering bushes and the pond are beautiful. It is fun finding the trinkets people leave behind. I have seen the painted rocks but I am not finding any dragons. Sweet photo of the dove. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Hello, my friend! The water lily photos are absolutely stunning! I am not much of a walker, but I may have to reconsider if I had you as a neighbor! We would have to start on the slow, flat, easy course, though! Now, a jeep ride is another story!
All those creatures in the forest are interesting, but I absolutely love the picture of the bee and the lily pad!
Love the trinkets left along the trail - what a fun way to add to the hike! Sparkleberry bushes sound lovely - must be a treat to smell them in bloom. Nice pics!
That looks like a wonderful trail. I have only been out for city walks this week on sidewalks!
Oh what a delightful post ~ Such fun photos and gorgeous landscape ones and can see why you like this trail ~ thanks, hugs,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Oh, I love your pond and water lily photos! I have been enjoying seeing ours on our pond too. You have to go when the light is just right to see their beautiful reflections in the water! You got some great photos! Love all the little critters and gifts you find along the trail. I wish I could hike to some different locations now and then, but we enjoy what we can see here locally and are thankful for what we have. Still, I do long to "wander" a littler farther now and then. Thank you for sharing your "wanderings" with us. Always a treat.
Such beautiful photos! Wow!
the Sparkleberry bush is new to me — neat name! Looks like a great place to explore.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hello Diane - love your sparkleberry bush - never heard of it! It looks like someone glued lily of the valley on a bush! And the water lilies - gorgeous! I can see why it would take a while to hike the trail when there are so many photo opportunities! We are in the UK at the moment and yesterday walked around one of our favorite local parks - if I find the time, I might write a quick blog post about it! I am linking up from Lee Anna I Like Thursday and Mosaic Monday this week - hope you stop by for a visit!
Such lovely pictures.. enjoy your beautiful weather.
Un placer para mí pasear contigo, la ruta es preciosa. Besos.
Lovely little creatures along the way
It is time to be on the look out for those painted rocks.
Happy Camping!
Beautul photos. You can share your photos when the weather is bad. Happy time on the camping. Have a nice week. Greetings Caroline
Here I am again. Hopefully more diligent in visiting around and posting. I always enjoy your woodland walks with your beautiful photographs. I especially enjoy the water lilies--one my own gardening passions. Glad to see that you are well and still walking about.
Enjoy... thank you for sharing all the fun little things you spy. I just love that about you!
Happy May my friend.
Carla
Sparkleberry — what a delightful name! I have seen these flowers but never knew their name. So pretty!
Your Lily Pad photos are beautiful.
Thats a beautiful walk Diane -- the water lilies are the prettiest ones I've ever seen. Fun to find the critters along the way. You might want to be careful what you wish for though as far as wishing more people would take this hike -- it would be wonderful if they all appreciate nature as much as you do, but honestly during the season over here some of the places we like to go get so crowded that it isn't even fun anymore. (I hate it when people just walk along the trails or boardwalks talking about something else entirely or even worse being on their cell phones. Not even paying any attention to the nature.).....OK rant over. I promise no more. Thanks for the beautiful pictuires.
Love waterlilies. A favourite flower. :)
You're beginning to sound like us. We know the heat and humidity are coming so we're trying to cram in as many days outside as possible now!
Ross Prairie is on our "to visit" list. Your fabulous images and description have moved it up on the list.
Gotta go. There are flowers blooming and birds calling.
Oh yes, dear Diane,
enjoy the wonderful hikes before it gets too hot for them. You brought lovely photos <3 <3 <3
I can understand why you stayed at the pond for so long and took a lot of photos - it's beautiful there with the water lilies!
Hugs and all the best, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2024/05/rostrosen-alltag-nach-der-reise.html
What a lovely post, Diane!
And what an amazing spot for a stroll.
It must be fun discovering all the treasures that people leave behind.
Happy Thursday!
Looks like a wonderful hike. Nice to see the lily pads in bloom!!
you discovered a lot of interesting things.... wonderful.
yes, we walked on the city garden trail as always.....
I looked up that campground to see where it's at. You must really like it if you've been there twice. Did you do a blog post showing your camping set up yet?
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