Dotted Horsemint and Horses

 

Dotted Horsemint is in full bloom right now.

It's not only beautiful, it's smells amazing!

You can see why it's called 'dotted' when you look closely.

This is what a big stand of it looks like!

So does that have anything to do with horses? 

I did a search and the only reference I saw was the fact that it has an aromatic beneficial phenol thymol and is used medicinally for horses and humans. 

I went back over some of the photos I've taken of horses at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.

The preserve shares a common fence with a horse farm so it's a good place to see horses.

There are trails on the preserve for horses too.

Our wildflowers are going crazy right now.

They are everywhere in abundance along with a beautiful variety of butterflies and moths.

Our temps for every day this week...high at right around 90, low 70. The humidity is not as bad and there are nice breezes every day so I won't complain! Typical for this part of Florida in September!

Does it feel more like Fall at your house?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

A deer trail, a deer track and a deer tail!

 

I've got them all in this one post!

Two days after I saw the majestic 8 point buck in the previous post, I saw another one!

I was about 10 miles away on a different trail and caught sight of a deer in the brush.

I got off the trail (taking my first photo while walking!) and followed a deer trail.

The buck stopped and took a few steps toward me to warn me to go no farther.

Behind him, was his whole family!

7 deer....which included this precious fawn!

What a neat sighting!

I took a close up of each of the 8 point bucks to see them side by side and they are definitely two different deer.

There goes the tail behind a tree! 

Lots of wildflowers blooming at this time of year.

The Dotted Horsemint is one of my favorites.

It has the best minty scent.

This one isn't quite as pink but it shows the dots better.

It's a beautiful time to get out in the woods here in Florida!

Come on down!

Great White Egret high in the sky!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

A Sixty minute hike!

 

Because of the hot weather and a foot that has bothered me, I've made more sixty minute hikes this summer.

Mourning Dove (on the trail! I had to say Shooo to get it to move!)

It's hard for me to make that turn, 

I always want to go a little bit farther.

But it's been good for me I think.

Dotted Horsemint in full bloom

I've definitely enjoyed getting out in nature whenever I can, for any length of time!

And we've had some funny sightings around the house lately too.

Who wouldn't want a little red MG delivered to the front door?

Our neighbor has a 'new ride' now!

And this Red-shouldered Hawk perched on the roof across the street.

To get ready for Fall....

this black cat walked all the way around our house.

Does that ward off goblins and ghouls?

Can't hurt! lol

Sixty minutes is enough time to get some good exercise and experience nature. (that's a forest monster not me!)

Has it cooled off at your house this month?

Are you ready for Fall?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Florida Fall featuring the 'Littles'!

 

We really don't have a problem seeing little things when we hike. We walk really slow! lol

Palm Warbler (thanks hubby for the photo!)

And we are constantly looking about!

Tiny wasp on Dotted Horsemint (it smells incredible, minty sweet!)

It's been perfect hiking weather here this past week and we even took one afternoon hike with it only in the 70s! 

So here's a few of the 'littles' we saw on the trails.

Grasshopper

Shiny beetle

Hover fly (hard to photograph but so much fun to see)

Probably a Hornet and not as neat to see!

And not little! For a wasp, it was huge! lol

A teeny tiny moth!

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

We're seeing a lot of these birds right now!

Feay's Palafox at top with honey bee, Cypress vine is the tiny red flower and a small purple morning glory.

Even this horse at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve was small!

Has your weather been nice too? Do you love getting outside in the Fall? The birds are returning to Florida so we've had some good sightings too! Lots of photos to sort through! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.   

Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway

There's a section of this trail that I hike OFTEN! 

It's the closest trail to my home (3 miles away) and an easy hike.

The trail is paved so it's a popular trail for bicycling. I rarely see another hiker but I've met and talked to quite a few of the people on their bikes. They stop to ask me what I've seen. And tell me what THEY'VE seen! It makes the hike even more enjoyable.

So we're just hiking along at our own slow pace.

Stopping to see the flowers....

beautyberry

and watch a tiny Phaon Crescent.

Eastern Bluebirds

Looking up in the trees to see what birds are perched on the limb

and marveling at the beauty all around!

American Kestrel

Northern Flicker

I'm trying my best to learn to identify birds. 

Red headed Woodpecker

And I have a good Wildflower ID book now but I still have trouble now and then.

This wildflower is growing in a big clump...not quite what I would call a bush.

And there are several clumps. Now let's take a closer look.

Right now it has hundreds of small flowers.

And they are beautiful up close!

Does anyone know what it is? It's growing in sandy soil up on top of the hill. (not a wet area)

Our weather is changing so we'll be getting out on some of the other trails we have to save for cooler weather. But if I had to pick a favorite, it would be this section of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.

Dotted Horsemint

Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway link HERE.

What is your weather like this weekend? 

We are keeping the President and first lady in our prayers and ask God to bless them and give them a speedy recovery.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.