Heritage Farm at General Coffee State Park

 

We loved the campground at General Coffee State Park and one of the best parts was driving over to Heritage Farm to park by the lake and explore the hiking trails. The park has over 1,500 acres so there is so much to explore. 

I'm always more interested in heading down the forest trails or walking along the river.

But the trails at the lake start at the farmyard!

There are beautiful log cabins, barns and fenced off areas for the animals.

So I spent some time photographing some of the beauty here (before heading off to the river to hike less frequented trails). 

Goats, Sheep, Chickens, Horses and more!

He looks like Billy Goat Gruff! 

Lots of well maintained buildings on the farm.

Aren't the log structures beautiful!

A collage of this one.

One you can go inside or sit on the porch!

And the Purple Martins were in abundance, hopefully eating the gnats that were everywhere!

We really loved the horse and wish we had found out his name.

General Coffee State Park was donated to the state in 1970 and is named after General John Coffee, a planter, US Congressman and military leader. What a treasure it is. More info HERE. 

We would love to go again in the Fall when it is cooler and the Fall leaves are turning.

Have you been to any state parks in Georgia? We would love to visit more of them.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

General Coffee State Park, featuring the Yellow-crowned night heron

 

We made it to Georgia and back, traveling 500 miles to 4 State Parks!

I'll start close to the beginning of the trip with our stay at General Coffee State Park, website HERE.

It was quiet and peaceful and altogether delightful!

But let's get out on the trails and see what we can find.

On the second day (and second hike) I got off the trail and walked out to Seventeen mile River.

I stopped 'dead in my tracks' when I spotted a heron in a little ponded up area.

You can see him in the water in the center of the photo!

I zoomed in!

It was a Yellow-crowned night heron and the first one I had ever seen!

We see a lot of different herons here in Florida but this was a 'lifer' for me!

I wasn't sure at first.

But after some research, I positively IDed it!

I also was fortunate to meet a photographer that lives in Georgia and he said he had seen them there before. A few days later, he told me he had seen the one I saw too. That was special! I appreciated his knowledge and enthusiasm and hope to see him again.

The other neat sighting was the Yellow Flytrap pitcher plant. Info HERE.

We saw several plants but it was hard getting photos through the other tall plants.

This pitcher plant is listed as a conservation priority and is rare to see in the wild.

The blue irises were in bloom and they love the wet areas.

It was a beautiful campground and we loved almost everything about it. The only drawback, and that can be anywhere near the water, was the newly hatched gnats! They don't bite but they drive you crazy. They try to get in your eyes and ears and mouth if you dare to open it. But at least they don't bite! (oh I said that, I was close to crazy before, I may have crossed over! hahaha)

I have lots of photos to share! I hiked 13 hikes in 2 weeks so I took a 'few'!

It's HOT back in Florida! How's the weather where you live?

And have you ever seen a Yellow-crowned night heron?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

Ochlockonee River State Park in Sopchoppy, Florida!

 

Even the name sounds like FUN and indeed it was one of the best experiences we've ever had camping in a Florida State Park! Website link HERE.

I can't resist the temptation to start in the middle of our May camping trip with the cutest critter we've ever seen!

I'm all set to go hiking!

And look who wants to come along!

There are White Squirrels at this park and they are very friendly.

It did not exactly follow me around,

but it did stop and pose for about a zillion photos!

OK...I'm coming!!!

A White Squirrel is a variation of the Eastern Gray Squirrel and not an albino. 

We saw a few in Asheville, NC when we lived there but that's been years ago.

So I'll include some photos of the Ochlockonee River and save my bird photos for another post.

The trail to the river was just steps from the campsite!

It was just gorgeous walking the trails along the river.

And if there was any negative about our stay there, it was the newly hatched Deer Flies!

When I stayed on the open trails and felt the wind from the river, they were not a problem.

But you know me....I want to go deep into the forest and those hikes were limited.

We had done our research to find out about the park before we left and was so pleased to see the forest of Longleaf pines!

Thanks to everyone who leaves such sweet comments. And a special thanks this week to John from John's Island. He wrote  a poem for me! Oh my! It doesn't get any more special than that! Thank you John! The poem is in my comments from last week.

Have you ever seen a white squirrel?  

And on that note, I'll step away from the computer to go on another camping adventure. We are going to 2 different State Parks in Georgia this time, General Coffee State Park and Reed Bingham!

Have a beautiful month of June and I'll catch up with you all when we get back! 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

Manatee Springs State Park, the real and the imagined!

 

We spent a few days at Manatee Springs State Park again this month.

That big clump of greenery in the center is poison oak!

I always see some amazing sights along the boardwalk.

And the Suwannee River is always picturesque!

I had a chance to talk to a fisherman on this particular hike and I learned something valuable!

I asked him what the fish were that we were seeing in the water....over a hundred of them!

And he told me they were Mullet. OK, I am familiar with Mullet. They love to jump high out of the water and are fun to watch. But he told me that after a boat goes through the water, stay put and watch the water. Other fish and sea life will come up to the surface. And lo and behold, it is true! And I've seen some amazing sights by taking the time to stop and watch! I even watched a Manatee come up to the surface at the Ochlockonee River a few days later.

 

Reflection of the Suwannee River

I have a good imagination so I wanted to share some photos of things I saw on this one hike, that are not what they seem....

or are they?

Do you see a Mermaid, or the leaf at the top of the photo?

A bird in the tree?

A shark in the water?

A cute sea monster?

A turtle underwater? (it really is a turtle! lol)

Logs and trees can really fool you!

Do you have a good imagination too?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE.