Ross Prairie Forest "Holly Hammock Trail"

 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?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !  

Johnson Pond Trailhead in the Withlacoochee State Forest

 We kept waiting for a cooler day with big puffy clouds! It had to be both!

It's a nice hike to Johnson Pond but there are mosquitoes in this area so you need to be able to wear a shirt with sleeves! 

And the big poofy clouds are necessary for pretty reflections in the pond!

On Thanksgiving Day, we had the perfect conditions!

We've had the big family dinners in the past (and I'm so thankful for all of my memories) but it's nice to start new traditions too.

And living in Florida provides some beautiful weather for the Fall and Winter months.

I hope you have a good week ahead. Let's all keep counting our blessings and being thankful for what we have.

I've saved my most favorite photo for last....

the lily pads!

And now to add to my FUN! 

Tom from The Backroads Traveller sent me a special gift this year! A beautiful Christmas wreath!

I wish you could see it and smell the evergreen scent! It's incredible! We hung it on the Jeep just for a photo op! It's back on the front door now! 

Thank you, Tom! You've made my holiday season even more beautiful! I owe you a ride in the Jeep! 🚗

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too! 

Sharing the beauty of Johnson Pond!

 Here are a few more photos from our hike to Johnson Pond.

It was such a beautiful day!

The lily pads had their Autumn colors on!

We've had a few nights of frost this winter so things are looking pretty brown and drab here and there.

But the lily pads were colorful and the water was dark blue.

This one was a dark red!

The temps were in the high 60s with low humidity so it was perfect for a hike. We wear long sleeves for 'cool' weather like this! lol 

We continue to social distance and hike trails that few people hike. On this particular day we met a nice family beginning their hike and from a distance, I asked if I could take their photo. I said this was the littlest hiker I had seen! What a great place for a family outing! (I ZOOMED and cropped this photo....we were 20 ft away from them!)

Have you been able to get outside and enjoy the weather this week?

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

Let's drive over to Citrus County for another hike!

 I wanted to share more of the photos I took at Johnson Pond trail a few days ago. 

A pond really makes a pretty setting for birds, flowers and plants. 

Great Blue Heron

And even though it is winter and we've had some cold temps, it's still beautiful.

We even spotted a pretty little white flower on the trail.

I'd like to go back when there are clouds in the sky that will put some pretty reflections in the water.

This trail is not far but we have to drive past 3 of our MOST favorite trails to get there. It sure is hard to keep driving to go somewhere else!

But we are going to strive to discover some new things on our hikes this year so this was a good start! The lily pads sure make pretty mosaics!

I saw this....

and turned it into this for Mosaic Monday!

And even if you can't get out for a long hike, it's always fun to grab your camera and go for a drive!

This is a lily pad but doesn't it look like a duck? Kinda?

What's new with you this week?

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I'm linking with All Seasons at the Jesh Studio,

AND my Monday post HERE.