Sunday, February 27, 2011
Deep Creek Preserve
Deep Creek Preserve is a 2000 acre Slash Pine Flatwood belonging to the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
It's main purpose is to protect the watershed along the Peace River,
and it is also open to the public as a multiuse recreational area.
It has 9 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, river access, and campsites.
Located adjacent to our development, this wonderful preserve is a great spot for an afternoon hike.
We have the best of both worlds here....a well-kept suburban, deed restricted neighborhood next to a 2000 acre preserve and a beautiful river flowing gently into Charlotte Harbor.
Flatwoods Paw Paw (Asimina reticulata)
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicirollis)
Southern Dewberry (Rubus trivialis)
Wild HoneyBee (Apis mellifera)
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
We found a reminder that this Flatwood had once been cattle country...there is even an old working pen tucked way back in the preserve.
Wild Bachelor's Button or Candyroot (Polygala nana)
Sachem Skipper (Atalopedes campestris)
Common Tickweed (Coreopsis spp)
Slash Pine Seedling (Pinus elliotti)
Primrose Willow (Ludwigia peruviana)
The highlight of the hike was seeing and photographing this beautiful butterfly.
Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)
Another lovely afternoon here in Southwest Florida!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Another Ho Hum Punta Gorda Sunset!
Sunset last night at Gilchrist Park in Punta Gorda.
Ponce DeLeon watches the sun set over Charlotte Harbor.
Fishermen and strollers watch from the fishing pier.
Ibises wing their way home for the night.
Lights play on the water with US41 (Tamiami Trail) in the background.
Tamiami Trail southbound from Tampa to Miami.
A balmy evening at the marina.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Orchid Tree
The Orchid Trees (Bauhinia variegata)
are blooming in Laishley Park, here in Punta Gorda, Florida.
This ornamental is native to northern India, Vietnam and southern China
Considered an Invasive Species, but planted as an ornamental!
While we were phtograping the beautiful blossums, a Loggerhead Shrike was busy
hunting the polinators, mostly wasps.
Lots of nature in the city of Punta Gorda!
Pleasant River Community Forest. Columbia, Maine
The Downeast Salmon Federation's
Pleasant River Community Forest
is a 418 acre tract along the Pleasant River watershed in Columbia, Maine. As part of their Downeast Rivers Land Trust, this forest is open to the public for hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, birding. It is a wonderful example of Boreal Forest and has several well marked trails with great views of the Pleasant River. The wilderness campsite is on the river and can be accessed with a 4WD vehicle.
We love hiking in the Pleasant River Community Forest and thank the Downeast Salmon Federation for preserving this beautiful boreal forest, for making it available for public use, and for working to save and restore the noble Atlantic Salmon. Please visit the DSF webstie
and support this great organization!