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 !  

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!

If you LOVE red!

 

My knock out roses are just blooming their pretty heads off!

They love these warm humid days of early summer!

Thanks to my sweet hubby, I have rose bushes all around my house and roses blooming year round!

And thanks to my sweet neighbors that have beautiful flowers planted right where we can enjoy them from our front windows!

They are the prettiest I've ever seen this year!

More of the flower garden....

and another rose mosaic!

Oh and if you are still in the mood for 'red'!

A few photos from the trailheads this week. We hiked on Limerock Road the other day and I love the photos at the trailhead. I have a smile on my face when I see my Jeep parked at a trailhead at the end of a hike.  We open the roof and snack on apple slices before we head home. Life is good!

Did you have a nice Mother's Day weekend?

(the reflection seen in the side window of the Jeep)

Hope you're having a nice week with lots to smile about!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

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

Also I like Thursdays HERE. 

A Colorful Week in March

 

The wildflowers are bright and colorful growing along the highways here in North Central Florida right now.

I think most of the fuchsia pink is Phlox!

And I know the red is Dockweed!

There are other wildflowers popping up in the woods and pretty sights every time we hike.

They make pretty mosaics I think!

We've gone on some of our usual hiking trails but also a few we rarely hike.

Several of you are afraid we'll see an alligator up close and personal. But I would be more afraid to see a Wild Hog. (we've seen a few at a distance over the years) This week we HEARD the squeal of a Banshee...probably a wild hog. I picked up my pace and set a record time for getting back to the car! hahaha!

Anything 'wild' to report in your comings and goings this week?

Have a WILD colorful week!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

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

AND my Monday post HERE.