Found a new nature preserve - really cool!
 

this is the (terribly named) Long Key Nature preserve- located in David Florida, 3 hours north of the actual Long Key???

annnnnnyyyyywayyys- it was awesome. some really cool OLD growth live oaks COVERED in life.

i could not get really into the weed as my big girl was with me and she prefers the paths


like look at this Oak with an entire other tree in it!!!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...437a6b20_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr


and here is a small dinosaur we met


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dba5d89c_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr


i will be returning and i will upload some more pics later

Always does the soul good to get out in nature.

Is that dinosaur in a coffee bush?

Near as we could tell.

Certainly a coffee bush, almost as certain it’s a dinosaur

Really cool! :)

went back to this spot again and had bit more time and better planning (hot as satan's bellybutton) brought water and big hats

wow. i am so amazed at what untouched florida can be

this first pic blew my mind... that is not a fern in the cruck of the tree, it is an Antherium!!! and there are two others on the other side!

so cool

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...23617d13_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr



i would GUESS, this Live Oak is 60' tall...the phiodendrum has not only done the trip, it looks like it goes up and does itself!!!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...77627d5c_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr


one of the neat things they try to teach here is about ecotones or transitional regions in the environment. they have a great pond, a salt marsh and a huge oak forest...really neat

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0c4a95b5_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...415f160e_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr



saw a couple of these guys eating the pads....

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0e9af91c_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr


oh and a crazy lizard ran across the pads at light speed ...i could not get a good ID lol




i told the park ranger i would come back and remove this iguana if they wanted....he asked how and i said i would bring an airgun and shoot it in the eye and then toss it in the lake and he bristled and politely declined but asked for my phone number so he could discuss it with the another ranger lol....i said the offer was open


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d39d06c6_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr

Awww... that iguana is cute. Just checking out the Visitor's Center. What a beautiful place that preserve is!

They’re cute away from my orchids lol

I like your humor @ DirtyCoconuts. I have gotten several chuckles from some of your posts. Beautiful preserve. Thanks for sharing.

Wow, that's awesome. Thanks for sharing

a little late, but thanks for sharing! fla is such a weird place, innit? i have to admit that while i very very much prefer the human society here in Europe, the one thing i absolutely miss about North America is the access to raw, rugged nature. keep on sharing, please!!

I understand that a couple basilisk species are now reproducing in FL. One of their common names is "Jesus lizard" for their ability to run across the surface of water. Was your water walker green or brown?

i was not able to get enough of a clear look for that, plus he was running across brown water with green lilypads so i would not trust my eyes in that circumstance regardless lol

---------- Post added at 11:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 AM ----------

these are from a park close to my house and i did not feel they needed a whole thread as it is basically all cypress swamp in one phase of its evolution or another lol

this is Sherwood Forest park

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...20b2d93f_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr


beauty berries in progress


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1b8b0db9_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr



and done


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9cf40a67_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr




this is a dedicated epiphyte!!!! lol this is about 30' up the palm tree and the hanger-on is at least 12'


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6b52c2a9_c.jpgUntitled by J Solo, on Flickr