Myakka!
One of my favorite nature places to go is Myakka River State Park and in spring time it is glorious! Priscilla and I went there Saturday and it was just what my soul needed. We got there at 8 a.m. just as the gates were opening.
Our first stop was the Bird Walk. As I got out of the car, suddenly, cutting through the silence, I heard the distinct and haunting call of Sand Hill Cranes before I ever saw them. My head shot up and my eyes started scanning the fields.
Finally I saw them! This little family was traveling quickly through the marsh land and made it difficult for me to get a picture of the three of them together, except for this one.
More pictures and commentary of various things I saw that day
Even though it is almost equal in size, the crane on the left is the baby and hasn't gotten a red head yet.
~ ~ ~
June begins the season of the delicate little Florida Butterfly Orchid, but they are often seen sporadically flowering throughout the year. Unlike the rolling fields of coreopsis (pictured towards the bottom of this post), butterfly orchids sprout on Live Oak branches about 10-30 feet in the air! Whenever I go to Myakka, I love stopping by a little spot called Clay Gully to see how they are doing there.
The Butterfly Orchid is an epiphyte, meaning its roots do not grow into the ground. The shallot-looking bulb nestles into the rough bark of Live Oak branches. The plant grows multiple thin stems which sprout a handful of little flowers. Each flower is about 1.5 inches diameter, with five petals/sepals. The flowers are a variety of soft yellows, oranges, and/or whites. The flower has a purple and white lip directly in its center that is the perfect landing spot for pollinators.
~ ~ ~
Some deer pictures . . .
Old eyes watching young eyes. Both our hearts pounding as the fawn gives a last look before disappearing into the tall grasses.
"Don't move little one . . ."
Family of three . . .
Wish I could have gotten a better shot from this perspective . . .
~ ~ ~
Everywhere there was water, we saw gators . . .
~ ~ ~
A young wild turkey . . .
~ ~ ~
And acres and acres of Coreopsis (tickseed) in bloom. It is the Florida state wildflower.
Everyone was taking pictures like the one above, but I like to "walk a different path" sometimes.
I was on Powerline Road, standing in the shadows. When I turned to my right, most everything was dark and tangled but my eye quickly went to this small patch of coreopsis that was simply popping with light and color extraordinaire!
After a friend saw this picture they said, "Why do they call it negative space? It’s so positive!"
That's it for now . . .
Our first stop was the Bird Walk. As I got out of the car, suddenly, cutting through the silence, I heard the distinct and haunting call of Sand Hill Cranes before I ever saw them. My head shot up and my eyes started scanning the fields.
Finally I saw them! This little family was traveling quickly through the marsh land and made it difficult for me to get a picture of the three of them together, except for this one.
More pictures and commentary of various things I saw that day
Even though it is almost equal in size, the crane on the left is the baby and hasn't gotten a red head yet.
~ ~ ~
June begins the season of the delicate little Florida Butterfly Orchid, but they are often seen sporadically flowering throughout the year. Unlike the rolling fields of coreopsis (pictured towards the bottom of this post), butterfly orchids sprout on Live Oak branches about 10-30 feet in the air! Whenever I go to Myakka, I love stopping by a little spot called Clay Gully to see how they are doing there.
The Butterfly Orchid is an epiphyte, meaning its roots do not grow into the ground. The shallot-looking bulb nestles into the rough bark of Live Oak branches. The plant grows multiple thin stems which sprout a handful of little flowers. Each flower is about 1.5 inches diameter, with five petals/sepals. The flowers are a variety of soft yellows, oranges, and/or whites. The flower has a purple and white lip directly in its center that is the perfect landing spot for pollinators.
~ ~ ~
Some deer pictures . . .
Old eyes watching young eyes. Both our hearts pounding as the fawn gives a last look before disappearing into the tall grasses.
"Don't move little one . . ."
Family of three . . .
Wish I could have gotten a better shot from this perspective . . .
~ ~ ~
Everywhere there was water, we saw gators . . .
~ ~ ~
A young wild turkey . . .
~ ~ ~
And acres and acres of Coreopsis (tickseed) in bloom. It is the Florida state wildflower.
Everyone was taking pictures like the one above, but I like to "walk a different path" sometimes.
I was on Powerline Road, standing in the shadows. When I turned to my right, most everything was dark and tangled but my eye quickly went to this small patch of coreopsis that was simply popping with light and color extraordinaire!
After a friend saw this picture they said, "Why do they call it negative space? It’s so positive!"
That's it for now . . .