Sharing the Trail at the Shangri-La trailhead!

Let's drive back over to Shangri-La trailhead!

(horse trailer from the rear)

You can always count on seeing a few horse trailers and horses on the trails.

But let's see if I can find a parking space! lol

Some of the trails I hike on are shared trails but that's never been a problem.

I sometimes see a horse but it's an easy trail to step aside. And I always give the horses a wide berth. I don't want them to be nervous around me.

And the riders are always friendly when they pass.

Don't you love this horse trailer and the artwork at the top?

It's beginning to be one of my favorite hikes because of the beautiful forests with a chance to see wildlife and birds, flowers and butterflies.

Zebra Swallowtail butterfly, bull thistle

And when I left, this lone turkey wandered onto the dirt road in front of the Jeep.

So it was a chance for me to pull over in the grass and watch him wander!

I think I've learned my hiking form from him...a bit of a wander and meander!

Have you seen signs of Spring at your house this week?

It's beautiful here in Florida and I'm still hiking just about every other day which makes me happy AND healthy!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !  

Jungle Birds

 

I was in the bad habit of calling birds by whatever name I thought fit, back in the olden days. 

When I lived in the mountains of NC, I encountered a large bird that flew up and down the creek, making sounds just like a jungle bird. But since I've never been to a jungle, that may be my imagination too! lol 

It turned out to be a Pileated Woodpecker. And I heard him for a long time before I ever got a good sighting.

Pileated Woodpecker LINK

At Blue Run Park, they are a regular. But of course they are still fun to see and hear!

Another bird I saw this week with a flaming crest was a Cardinal.

Northern Cardinal LINK

Usually the male is the showiest but the sun was just right to show off the pretty colors of this female.

We've had some rain but no bad weather here at our house. We watched the weather channel and saw the damage just East of us though. One lady even sat in her car as a tornado tore through the area. We had no idea any of that was happening, but it is the time of year for violent thunderstorms here in Florida. The rain has brought some of the most beautiful wildflowers and along with those, butterflies galore! 

Always something beautiful to see in nature!

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly LINK

I hope you have a chance to enjoy it where you live too!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Fun with Photography

I'm still having fun with my new camera, even when I stay close to home. ( Canon Powershot SX70 HS)

This White Peacock butterfly was in my front yard.

I walked around the yard and took pics of my roses.

I found a few Magnolia blooms in my neighbor's tree.

I had to look straight up to the top of the tree to find them.

And I looked up in the sky to see the beautiful clouds.

We are having good weather so far. Hopefully the storm will not cause any major damage here in the US. So far, so good!

Another neighbor has a lime tree that is loaded with limes! I wonder if they would miss one...or two! lol I keep trying to catch them outside so that I can ask. They do look tempting though, don't they?

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

And of course I've taken my camera out for 2 hikes already so I have more photos to share. Butterflies are in abundance at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

Do you have many butterflies this year? 

We have lots of them in Florida right now!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I'm linking with All Seasons at the Jesh Studio too!

Take a Walk in the Woods with me!

I know we have to stay home more and I know most of our hiking trails are closed but I know where we can get out in the woods nearby! 

So let's go and see what we can see!

I was walking along the trail and saw movement in a tree! 

I think it may be a Dwarf Huckleberry.

And what I DO know for sure is that it was active with bees and butterflies!

Isn't this Zebra Swallowtail gorgeous?

I had such fun trying to get a few good photos!

I also saw one Butterfly weed...

and one Day Flower.

Lots of cactus in bloom right now too! They love the warm temps and sandy soil that we have here in Florida.

I saw one big bunny rabbit but I didn't get a photo of him... 

just this bunny cloud! lol

Are you seeing flowering trees in your area now too? How are you doing this week? We are fine and for that I am very thankful.

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

Wildflowers and Butterflies!

We've had a very hot summer but enough rain to make the wildflowers prolific in the forest!

And with wildflowers, come butterflies!

I think this is the prettiest Long-tailed Skipper I've ever seen!

 They are not that big but have such an unusual color!

The yellow flowers in this mosaic are Showy Rattlebox (Crotalaria spectabilis).

This is a Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly.

The flower he was on is the Blazing Star. 

The white flower in the mosaic is Dotted Horsemint. Can you see how the stem of the flower goes through the center of each bloom?

This pretty little lavender flower is a Blue Pea and they have been blooming all summer. 

 I won't try to id everything in this mosaic (I'm still learning!) but the solid black butterfly sure was gorgeous!

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .