Florida

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Leavenworth’s Tickseed – Orlando Wetlands Park – May 2015

“Alone with uncovered head I bared my life, my all to the Great Power of the Universe, call it Nature, God, Jehovah, Allah, Brahma or whatever you will, and reverently worship.” – Charles Torrey Simpson

This is how I feel – early in the morning – camera in hand – walking in the sunshine. The quote is from the book Out of Doors in Florida written by Charles Torrey Simpson in 1923. He was a naturalist and who, like me, has made Florida his adopted home. More on the book over the next couple of days.

The tickseed is Florida’s state wildflower.

Good Morning

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Clouds – Orlando Wetlands Park – May 205
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Free Coffee – Orlando Wetlands Park – May 2015

“Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself.” – Henry David Thoreau

Summer patterns have arrived and we are blessed in the mornings with clouds in the east. Due I believe to the proximity of the Gulf Stream. I kept this picture despite the artifact from the lens. Kind of looks like a camp fire.

As for the second picture there were spoonbills, glossy and white ibis, great egrets and more – all deciding on a fly around at the same time. wonder why?

Quote found at https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/morning

Carolina Wild Petunia

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Petal and Pollen – Orlando Wetlands Park – May 2015

This flower is a native that makes a great landscape substitute for the invasive Mexican petunia.

This coming weekend I am going to concentrate on the flowers – I’ve decided to “focus” on that for a while. Although I will have great difficulty heading out to the berm with my macro lens – instead of telephoto.

Georgia Gators

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Cruisin – Okefenokee Swamp – May 2015
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Is That a Smile – Okefenokee Swamp -May 2015

“Good judgement is the result of experience and experience the result of bad judgement.” – Mark Twain

Slightly different quote theme to go with my title. This is a regional reference, With one of our state university mascots being the gator (in fact the inventors of Gatorade), Georgia is a natural rival. So the title will surely make some cringe.

Back to nature, with a brief encounter I did notice the behavior of the Gerorgia alligators is altogether different than ours at the wetlands.  Going to need to investigate.

Quote found at https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/paradox

Bird Monday

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Barred Owl – Okefenokee Swamp – May 2015
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BarredOwl – Okefenokee Swamp – May 2015

“None of Nature’s landscapes are ugly so long as they are wild.” – John Muir

Nothing ugly about a swamp – just a thoughtful quote. Okefenokee swamp is the largest swamp in North America. The Seminoles called it the land of trembling earth. Very impressive, although the small bit I was able to see was completely altered by man through canal digging and wood harvesting.

quote found http://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/favorite_quotations.aspxat