Summer sightings at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

 I've taken a few short hikes this summer and loved every minute of my time in nature.

Do you see the little Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in my new banner?

The web is full of caterpillars so he appears to be getting ready for a feast!

When I drove onto the dirt road that runs along the preserve, I saw this in the field.

It looked like a couple of critters waiting to greet me!

But it was a pair of cute cactus plants!

There were so many Eastern Meadowlarks singing their beautiful song.

Some of them flew along beside me as I walked. 

There were a lot of Bobwhites calling each other but I didn't get photos of them.

I did see a nice flock of Red-winged Blackbirds though with some young ones in the flock.

This is one of the most beautiful butterflies I've ever seen and it lit on some frogfruit.

Checkered White Butterfly

And I will report that I wasn't just hanging around the house all this time goofing off like this critter.

This Raccoon was in our backyard for a few days, cleaning out our bird feeders.

We left them empty for a couple of days and I think he's moved on now.

I got a lot done around the house on my break. So when the weather improves, we'll be ready to go camping! 

What's new with you? What did I miss?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

"Oddities" and time off for good behavior!

 I wanted to share photos of some of my sightings that didn't make it into a post this summer.

And as far as the 'good behavior'....it depends on who you ask! heehee!

This Utopia sign is at Ross Prairie State Forest, so we'll see what we've missed there!

I saw this Scarlett Tanager but it was deep in the dark woods so the photos aren't great.

But it sure was a good sighting!

I think this is a Painted Lady butterfly.

There were TWO of them!

I just wish it had stayed put for a longer photo shoot!

And this Gopher Tortoise was running as fast as his short legs would carry him when he saw me coming.

They really are surprisingly quick!

He was a beauty and close to our campsite at Ross Prairie.

Here's his home! 

The Cactus was in full bloom and I took these at the same time.

I am going to take a couple of weeks break from the computer to get some things done. We are busy with 'home improvements'. Nothing big, just cleaning out and tidying up! I finally removed the silk tree from my bedroom. 

I loved it but it was impossible to keep clean. The dust collected on it! 

Photos taken at different times of the year. I don't change much, just a throw pillow or two!

A view out my bedroom window. 

 Maybe we'll even do a few 'fun' things in the next couple of weeks. I hope so! 

See you later, gator! 🐊 Hugs, Diane 🐢

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

I won't lead you down the Primrose Path!

 

I looked up the definition of 'primrose path' and it has a negative connotation so I'll just lead you down Limerock Road until we find the patch of Water Primroses. 

Water Primrose (Ludwigia Octovalis) 

It was a challenge to find the proper ID for these flowers. This area was very wet the first time we saw them, so we went back a few days later so that we could walk down into the marshy area and get better photos.  They are tiny but very showy!

I got my ID from the website HERE and this one HERE. If you think I am mistaken, feel free to enlighten me! 

They sure were beautiful and flowers we've never seen before.

It was a day of yellow flowers with many of the cactus in bloom.

That's white sand in the background.

It seems like April is yellow wildflower month. Here are some more pretty blooms.

And then when we got home, I photographed the Magnolia tree next door.

What a beauty!

I hope your week is filled with beauty and a chance to see some wildflowers in bloom!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

A Passion for Hiking!

 

Everyone knows I have a passion for hiking! And this week, we are seeing the Passion Flower in full bloom! It's the funniest thing. The vines don't stand out in the forest but when the big beautiful bloom opens, you can see it here there and everywhere. 

We always say that about the cactus. We don't notice how much cactus there is until you look out and see all the yellow blooms. They 'jump' out at you!

It's been perfect weather for hiking this week!

Warm but lower humidity and a nice breeze most days!

(trying to stay away from bugs and bears! lol)

We'll keep going while we are able!

And enjoy the beauty along the way.

We've seen some amazing sights this week.

And just when we think we've 'seen it all', we see something we've never seen before.

Like a hiker on the Florida trails with a guitar on his back. 

There he goes! He was headed to Deer Woods at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve. Other photos taken at the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, HTP, Florida Trails, 49th Ave Trail and Limerock Road. Get out and enjoy the sights! 

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE 

AND my Monday post HERE.

How about a trip to the 'hog waller'?

You don't have to be Southern to walk with me to the hog waller! And I'll tell you why....there weren't any wild hogs there so we can relax and enjoy the trip! And if you want to call it a 'wallow' I won't hold it against you. I looked up the definition of hog wallow, "The shallow depression denuded of vegetation and potentially muddy, created by the wallowing of hogs." Sounds a lot like a hog waller! hahahaha!

The first time we hiked this side trail we found a mud bog with hog prints and hog 'wallers' so that's what we named it.

Most of the time, you can't get down this trail because the grass is grown up or the sand is too soft to walk on. But it was perfect a few days ago.

Imagine our surprise to see such a pretty sight! 

It looked more like a tropical garden that a hog waller.

A few more sights along the way!

Isn't this the most perfect tree you've ever seen?

And I love this big ole bumble bee!

Have you seen anything out of the ordinary this week, or that has surprised you?

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .