Ross Prairie and the Gopher Tortoise

 

I had to gas up the Jeep last week so I took a little drive over to Ross Prairie and actually hiked for one hour! One hour for the months of Oct and Nov! I haven't worried about it though. I'll hike when I get a chance and right now I have other priorities.

It was neat to see a brand new sign up at the trailhead.

And of course I love these piney woods hikes. The pine straw on the trail softens the sound and it is quite an experience. There was only one other hiker on the trails, a nice lady with her Yellow Lab.

There were so many Gopher Tortoise homes in the woods so I went back and found some old photos I had taken on this trail a few years ago to share.

I had hoped to keep up with my blog while we are going through a really hard time. But I realize now I can't. I have too much to do and rarely get on my computer. I look at my IPAD and try to read blogs and a library book when I sit down to take a break. But I am struggling. My husband has cancer, as most of you know by now and he is not doing well at all. He had 6 hours of Chemo yesterday and everything is a struggle.

I hope you all have a blessed holiday season. I need to take a break now for a couple of weeks but I so appreciate your prayers and kind words of encouragement.

Sweet hugs to you all, Diane 💜

Aliens from outer space....close to home!

 The 'close to home' part of my title concerns our weather.

With the storms this month we've hiked close to home and went on a camping trip close to home.

The Alien?

Don't you love this beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly?

He was very photogenic and stayed around long enough for me to shoot a whole roll of film!

I guess back in the days of film cameras, I wouldn't have gotten this many photos!

The month of October has been stressful from the storms and restful with the camping trip.

And I won't complain about staying close to home.

Our weather has at least been good for the mushrooms! Lots of moisture, heat and humidity!

Hermit Thrush taken at Ross Prairie State Forest

We didn't have any damage from Hurricane Milton! I'm keeping everyone who did in my prayers. And we continue to pray for those affected by Hurricane Helene. It's been a tough Fall for this part of the country! 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

The Florida Trails "Ross Prairie State Forest"

 Let's take a hike!

I've taken so many photos this summer and I know I can't share them all.

But I wanted to take you all on a hike.

Let's hike the Holly Hammock trail in the Ross Prairie Forest.

These photos are all taken on the same trail....

one right after another.

You can see how the trail changes as we walk.

This is all in about 2 miles of the trail (before we make the turn and loop back around).

It's always changing and one of the reasons you never get tired of hiking in the forest.

Let's take a drink of water now and keep going!

This is a good spot to look at the prairie!

Back into the brambles!

And since most of you follow my blog, you know all of the interesting things I see along the way.

So I'll go back in time and share these bear photos with you.

Black bears live in the forests here in Ocala, Florida.

Getting out in the forest is an experience you never forget.

The weather is changing and I'll be spending more time out there.

Who...Who? Me! Me!

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 !

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 !  

Birds and Birdhouses

 

Ross Prairie State Forest is a great place to visit to see birds and wildlife. It's just West of Ocala on SR 200.

On this particular hike, I took the time to take photos of all the birdhouses I could find.

They are placed all over the forest and I almost missed this one!

It looks like something a fairy would inhabit!

I didn't see birds nesting on this hike but maybe we'll see some the next time we hike there.

These are some of the small birds we've seen this week.

Northern Parula

A good view of the back of the Northern Parula pulling on the Spanish Moss, perhaps to line a nest.

Carolina Chickadee

Raven (or crow)

He had one white feather sticking out of his side!

Warbler

It can be hard to spot some of the tiny birds!

And did I find a fairy in the forest? Well, of course! 

You just never know what you'll see in the woods. I hope you find a special place to walk in the woods. It's the best place to enjoy a hike!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

  Mosaic Monday HERE and I like Thursdays HERE !