Friends

Wood-Stork
Friends – Mullet Lake Park – April 2015

“I destroy my enemies when I make them friends” – Abraham Lincoln

Experimenting with higher ISO. This was very early yesterday morning – ISO 1600. It helps, picture is still a bit dark overall but  clearer than usual. Later in the morning I was able to handhold and make some pretty sharp pictures.

Quote found at http://www.searchquotes.com/search/Nature_Friends/2/.

Lady’s Day

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Female Cardinal – Blanchard Park – April 2015
female-boat-tail-grackle
Female Boat Tail Grackle – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“…in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, It’s the life in your years” – Abraham Lincoln

While not the brilliant red or the iridescent black of the males, they are beautiful!

Quote found at http://www.searchquotes.com/search/Joyous_Life/3/

Thistle

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Nuttall’s Thistle – Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge – March 2015
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Thistle – Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge – March 2015

“All my life I have tried to pluck a thistle and plant a flower wherever the flower would grow in thought and mind.” Abraham Lincoln

Beautiful plant, 4 to 7 feet high, the flowers are 3 to 4 inches across. As you can see by the thorns, it has an excellent defense system.

Quote found at http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/thistle/