What's in the swamp?

 The swamp is beautiful in Blue Run Park!

The Cypress trees are magnificent and on the surface of the water are thousands of duckweed plants.

It gives the impression that the swamp has slime but it is alive and well.

It was interesting to see the Green Heron in the swamp.

But what made it unusual was seeing it fly and jump from one cypress knee to another.

That's a cypress knee with the orange on top.

It's simply a structure growing above the roots and serves as a perch for all kinds of birds and critters.

We tried to keep up with this Green Heron.

But it finally said, HEY, you're crowding me and flew further into the swamp.

And this Wood duck seems to be saying something to the turtles.

Like.....TRY to keep up!

Talked to any birds this week? 

Join us for Saturday critters and birds!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Native Florida Wildflowers

 

I think it's a challenge to identify wildflowers here in Florida even though I have several ID books now. 

Hibiscus Coccinieus

This scarlet hibiscus was growing in a wet area on the river side of the trail.

And the blooms are as big as a dinner plate!

We have so many different habitats here in North Central Florida.

Saltmarsh Mallow

This was growing in the water near the bridge.

Blue Run Park has a trail to the Withlacoochee River that has a swamp on one side and a river on the other. There are 2 rivers that come together, the Rainbow River and the Withlacoochee River.

This is a Rain Lily! Thanks Pamela for the ID! 

And when you begin your walk, there are some dry areas too.

It's a beautiful place to hike, even in the summertime!

I think it would be nice to go fishing there sometime too!

Anyone have a boat I can borrow? heehee!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.   

Summertime Hiking!

 

It was in the low 80s with a nice breeze so we drove over to Halpata Tastanaki Preserve! 

We were anxious to see what the water levels were like in the low areas.

This was the most water standing we've ever seen at the Pruitt trailhead. The low area filled with water is usually where we park! (the red Jeep is photo bombing my photos again, Sandra! heehee)

The trail was dry until we got to our turn around and then it was a big mud hole. It was a good place to see animal tracks though! 

But it felt great to be out in nature seeing so many birds and 'critters'.

Lots of dragonflies, butterflies and grasshoppers and we weren't bothered by mosquitoes or flies on this particular day. It may have been because of the nice breeze.

We always see quite a few birds that we don't get good photos of so I'll just list a few. We saw a Stork fly overhead and 2 Little Blue herons. We saw a young bluebird, warblers and tree swallows. We even had a beautiful Red shouldered Hawk fly across the trail in front of us.

Lots of flocks of Cattle Egrets,

Great White Egrets,

and Ibis.

And at the end of our hike, we turned to look back and saw 2 deer bound across the trail. 

It was the perfect ending to a wonderful hike. 

Florida in the summertime....it's still pretty nice!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Fun experiences in NC!

 

It's always so nice when you get treated in a special way when you are on a trip.

I try to be kind in the way I live my life, but I also appreciate kindnesses shown to me.

It makes me very thankful.

So here are a few kindnesses along the way!

I had a few nice 'antique' items I was ready to get rid of so I drove over to The Garage to ask the owner if she would want them. (a couple of big bowls, old cookbooks and a small child's chair) She was very happy. And I told her I didn't want to sell them, I wanted to donate them. 

She looked around the store and said for me to pick out a Garage T shirt!

 I liked the blue color, don't you? What a nice surprise!

Maybe next time we'll eat next door!

We drove down the hill to the Library so I took a few photos there too. 

I can't go to NC without visiting my favorite library.

Another day, a neighbor gave me some ripe local peaches that she had bought from a farm stand.

Thanks to everyone that made our trip even more special!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.   

Back to Fletcher Park in NC for another hike!

 This park is only 1 mile from our condo in NC so it's quick and easy to run over there for a hike. 

The weather was beautiful! 

We're going to walk over to Sycamore Lane for this hike.

It meanders through big Sycamore trees and stays shady most of the day.

I love this old rusty bridge.

Can you see it 'steaming'? The sun was coming in on the moist bridge and causing it to steam. I was surprised the photo showed it so well.

And walking on a side trail leads down to Cane Creek.

We spotted this Great Blue Heron up in a tall tree.

And watched a squirrel having a little mid morning snack.

This little dog was trying to keep up with his master on a bike.

Above photo, Thanks David G. for identifying this as a damselfly, a male Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata).

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

The S & S Greenway Trail

 We hiked in Georgia on our trip! It made it more fun to have a hike planned at the end of the first day of traveling. And even though it was hot and humid, we hiked the S & S Rails to Trails Greenway.

 It was a Sunday afternoon and we only saw 2 other people and no bikes, which was a surprise. 

The trail has swamp on both sides so you couldn't stand still long to take photos are the 'skeeters' would carry you off. 

But it felt good to be walking after driving all day.

One of the funny parts was getting to a tunnel and deciding it was a good place to turn around. 

Lo and behold, when you looked up the grassy slope, there was an Olive Garden! 

Cracker Barrel and a Mexican restaurant were in full view too. If we hadn't been tired and sweaty, we could have walked right up there and eaten dinner. (we stopped and got KFC chicken on our way to the Hampton Inn instead and enjoyed eating in our room though... a girl needs a refreshing shower before dressing for dinner in her pjs! lol)

Taking a hike was definitely a fun part of the trip.

Have you ever walked on the Rails to Trails paths? They sure are nice!

This flower was blooming like crazy in big shrubs along the trail. 

Does anyone know what it is?

Thanks Angie for the ID on this beautiful flower!

Its St. John's Wort! 

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.