I love maps! 'Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway'

 

I've always loved maps. I'm not the best at following them but they have always intrigued me. 

And now they are a great tool for planning a hike!

A few years ago a sweet couple that volunteered for the Cross Florida Greenway gave me a set of maps. We used to see them on the ATV with the blower attachment that cleaned off the paved trail. And then the last time I saw her, she told me her beloved Kenny had passed away.

Now we can walk past the bench dedicated to Kenny with fond memories. 

We hike from several different trailheads when we hike what I usually call  the 'Florida Trails'.

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon when we started our hike at the 49th Ave Trailhead.

And it was too nice to stay on the pavement so off into the woods we went.

Lots of neat things to see like this Fence Lizard.

And the wild plum is blooming all through the forest!

Lots of green year round here.

Lots of palmetto palm and ferns in this area!

And a view from the trail.

Several people have poured over these maps to look at the trails close by but I can't be talked out of them! 

I love pouring over maps. Do you?

I'm joining Mosaic Monday HERE 

and I like Thursdays HERE !  

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 !