A spider web at Dog World, my favorite Florida amusement park, between me and Chris and the dogs. A misty morning.
I’ve arrived in Virginia after a delightful sojourn in Florida. When I travel I spend so much more time with people than I do at home. I couldn’t make these trips without my friends along the way, who open their homes and their hearts to my wandering troupe. I’ll be catching up with pictures and thoughts in the next few weeks and hope I’ll bring myself up to date before it’s time to hit the road home. Dog World, where my last three dogs were born, is my favorite amusement park in Florida. When I lived in Florida briefly many years ago, I was even more immersed in the natural world than I am now in Colorado, and when I return to visit I am blessed with many friends who take me out in the wilds of their back yards or their parks or their secret places to experience the wonders of the many ecosystems of their state.
Stellar and Raven love visiting their family at Dog World, and romping on the morning walk.
Such a sweet little vine, I thought as I shot this, with the pink lichens. I love a good juxtaposition. Only later did I realize what it was.
Each morning at Dog World brings a forced march through the field and the forest, down to the stream. The path is rich with big and little beauty.
Dewdrops on the pines, a sight rarely seen back home.
Jack-in-the-pulpit along the woods trail at Dog World.
An abundance of oranges.
A gopher tortoise at the top of the driveway scurries away from me.
During Toes-Up Time one afternoon, while we lay on loungers in the shade reading, watching birds, chatting, this yellow rat snake fell from the tangerine tree, coiled in its own surprise for a few minutes while we admired it and kept the dogs off it, then smoothly slid away and under the house.
The tangerine tree.
Dining on the deck at the Bayport Inn on the Gulf Coast.
Grouper sandwich, yum, at Bayport.
The last cabbage of the season harvested at Dog World. I brought this up to Auntie’s and she made delicious coleslaw from it, so far. It’s so big! We’ll get a lot of meals from it.
Sheila made this gorgeous birthday cake for Mary.
Resurrection fern and other epiphytes grow high in the limbs of ancient live-oaks.
Feral planted azaleas surprise and delight throughout the ancient live-oak forest at Weasel World, a secret wonderland in north Florida where I am lucky to be welcomed when I pass through on my travels.
Wild pinkster azalea at Weasel World.
A swamp maple from the levee at Barr Hammock, the new park near Micanopy and Wacahoota. 6000 acres of wet prairie, a few sandhill cranes, crows, and a mudsnake. My new favorite tree, the swamp maple…
A black bird in the marsh at Barr Hammock.
Loved this entry the best so far! I didn’t even think about eating grouper…so ugly, but so nice looking in a sandwich. Hope you didn’t touch the vine. Loved the spider web and all the rest!
Rita, Loved the photos here. Would like to know about this Dog Park in FL. Would love to meet you here in VA. I became acquainted with your blog when I contacted you about your book, “Killing Mother.” Pat.