Sunday, March 29, 2015

Florida trip, Part I


I am linking up with   Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday   They are both fun memes to participate in...I hope you can join in with the fun  and check out some of the participating posts.

On March 13th, hubby and I went on a two week road trip to Florida. I did the driving and I drove straight to our first night at Jacksonville Florida without stopping except for short breaks. Surprisingly the drive went fast, maybe because I was happy to leave the cold and snow behind me..LOL!

Our second night we moved down the Atlantic coast to our hotel near Saint Augustine Florida.  We spent the next day and half checking out various beaches and parks.. Besides the cool little coquina rock tidal pools, a pretty beach we saw a few shore birds like the cute Sanderlings..



Scenes from our walk along the beach at the Washington Oaks State Park. This park has two parts, one is the beach and across the street are the formal gardens.


Some of the Coquina Colums seen on the beach at Washington Oaks State Park. This is the largest cropping of the Coquina rock on the Atlantic Coast.


The pond, moss covered trees and plants are all looking lovely in Florida..  In the formal gardens are some beautiful oaks, hickory and magnolia trees. And beyond the hammock are the marshes of the Matanzas River.


Some scenes from walking the trail at the park.


Above are a few of the birds we saw at the Washington Oaks State Park. I hope you enjoyed my post. Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. I appreciate the nice comments..

I use Pic Monkey to create my mosaics, you can use Pic Monkey free or pay for an upgraded version.
I hope you can join in on our fun at  Mosaic Monday and   Our World Tuesday

 Thanks to Judith our  host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  I wish everyone a happy week ahead!

88 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

a great place to get away to - especially to escape winter! :)

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

HI Jacksonville is where The mercy Ship was moored and I was working on board at the time as well as my daughter (not married then) Someone took us into the shops and we bought her wedding dree there. These collages ofyour are beautiful and for you it must have been lovely to see the sun adn not the snow!

Pat said...

How nice to get away to a warmer place during this neverending Maryland winter.

chica said...

Foi um passeio muito lindo esse"Adorei! bjs, tudo de bom,chica

Giga said...

August does not blame you ran away from the snow in such a beautiful place. Wonderful beach, water, garden with flowers and birds. Regards.

Irma said...

This must have been a wonderful road trip, Eileen.
What a beautiful park, you made beautiful collages.
Have a good Sunday.
Best regards, Irma

Sue said...

Such lovely photos, Eileen.
I particularly like the pink flowering shrubs. Color!---so lacking at this time of year. Well, I tell myself the four hundred shades of brown are better than the 500 shades of white we just got out of--LOL!
Have a wonderful week

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful trip you had, love it.

Anonymous said...

Hi Eileen, That is a park I certainly will visit - it is about 2 hrs. from home so I can make it a pleasant day trip. I like that area a lot. Beautiful birds! Have a wonderful coming week!

Hannah said...

What a wonderful warm escape, so lovely to see your photos. My sister also fled to FL some weeks ago from NY, she broke her wrist last winter in the ice. I hope spring arrives quickly for you. The pelicans and herons are favorites of mine, and love the beach columns.

Lynne said...

Looks like a great trip and away from the snow!
Great driving on your part Eileen!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

When shall this cold air be gone? Happy you had time in Florida too Eileen. It seems likes ages ago since I went, but only 3 weeks and what a difference our lives have taken since. Your images show of a beautiful time~

Stephanie said...

Wow, a gorgeous place to escape to, Eileen. Love your mosaics!

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

Coquina rock is a new one to me. We have lots of fossil shells in our local rock but I think it is harder than coquina, and also looks much more irregular.

DIMI said...

Hello Eileen!
I'm sure you had a lovely trip visiting Florida!!Your collage are very beautiful!!Great shots of the heron birds and from the beach!
Have a happy week!
Dimi...

Nancy J said...

Lovely mosaics, what a warm and beautiful place for a holiday, that would make the return home to colder days lots easier.

Country Gal said...

Lovely photos ! Sounds and looks like you both had a nice trip ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !

Helma said...

Very nice to see. Beautiful colors, flowers and nature moments. You've driven the car at a stretch. And you laugh when you say that you are the cold and snow behind you. That's what I truly believe. We had here in the Netherlands nijna no snow!

Cloudia said...

so SO NICE!

LOL, I'm designated driver too, LOL

ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=

jp@A Green Ridge said...

What a wonderful excursion...so scenic and warm!...:)JP

MadSnapper said...

these are all so very beautiful. my favorite mosaic is the one with the pond and gazebo. stunning place and photos

Unknown said...

I sure did enjoy this post Eileen :)
Gorgeous pictures of beautiful sunny places!
Looking forward to seeing more of them :)
Have a beautiful Sunday!
【ツ】Knipsa

Brian King said...

It looked warm! Beautiful photos!

Sonja said...

It must have been lovely to arrive in the warmth and sunshine, and it does look like an attractive area from your lovely photos. I'm looking forward to seeing more as I'd like to visit Florida one day. Well done with the drive too!

Kristin_Texas said...

I just want to climb inside that first photo of the beach. I haven't been to the beach in ever so long.

Our photos said...

Very nice series !

Michelle said...

It all looks so beautiful and warm!

Anonymous said...

Looks so nice. I haven't visited that area in many years.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Your vacation photos and mosaics are all wonderful. Looks like a perfect time for a visit to Florida. I always do the driving, too. Glad you had a good trip!

George said...

It looks as if you got your trip to Florida off to a great start. Washington Oaks State Park looks like a wonderful place to visit. We've been to that part of Florida, but haven't visited the park. We'll have to change that.

21 Wits said...

So very cool, I've been looking forward to seeing some of your photos! Lucky you to get away from winter's clutches, I would have loved to do that this winter too! Great captures.

Linda W. said...

Lovely photos! I always love reading about people's trips. Looking forward to part two.

The Yum List said...

What beautiful shots today. Thanks for the breath of fresh air. ;-)

Linda said...

Lovely pictures! The birds are spectacular.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I love visiting Florida thsi time of the year as the weather is so nice and not yet humid there. The Coquina Columns at Washington Oaks State Park were so interesting to see! I know you saw nmany unusual birds while on vacation. This looked like a perfect place to see them

betty-NZ said...

What great pics--wish I had been with you! I adore your heron and pelicans. Plus, I learned a new word--coquinas.

Roses, Lace and Brocante said...

Florida looks like a wonderful place to visit for the scenery and some warmth!
The birds are amazing - are they cranes and pelicans?
I'll be linking to you on Saturday Eileen - sorry I've been missing but there have been blogger issues!

Nancy's Notes said...

What wonderful photographs, each one is just awesome. What a trip!

podso said...

Beautiful Florida picture. I'm sure it was good to get away from the cold weather!

DeniseinVA said...

These are great photos and how fantastic that you were in Florida for a while. I look forward to your other pics. Thanks for the visit and have a great week :)

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

What a difference it makes when you can move around to various places for photography outings, and, have a husband with the same interest. :-) I've been enjoying the birds you share on FB Eileen and really like the collage here with all the colourful blooms.
Yes, it sure is nice to get away from the snow for a while.
Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

I know that heron. His name is Hewie.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I know you must have enjoyed every minute you were here....there are SO many photo ops! And we love St. Augustine but we've never been to that state park. I'm going to google it now! You took amazing pics! Hugs, Diane

Debbie said...

so wonderful to go somewhere warm and get yourself out of this crappy weather!!!

gorgeous images of all the wildlife!!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous shots and how fun to get away from the snow.

Maude Lynn said...

Gorgeous shots, Eileen!

Sylvia said...

Eileen, Great pictures, I especially liked the big bird pictures (heron?). They were very close to people.
Sylvia D.

Antiques And Teacups said...

Lovely photos! I love your collage. Enjoyed your beach photos...bit too cold here for that yet!
Ruth

Caroline Gill said...

How lovely to be on your travels, Eileen. That Coquina rock looks extraordinary!

This N That said...

Looks like a lovely place to escape this never ending winter..Wonderful pictures Eileen..Thanks for sharing..

Rajesh said...

Beautiful shots of the place, very picturesque.

A Colorful World said...

Wow! Beautiful state park! You got some great photos! Love that blue heron also. Wonderful!

Joyful said...

Awesome photos Eileen. I really like the coquina columns on the beach. Very interesting and new to me. have a wonderful week.

Fun60 said...

Can't think of a better place to spend the winter. Looks brilliant.

Sylvia K said...

A beautiful place and lovely captures!! The next best thing to being there!! Thanks for sharing, Eileen!! Hope you have a great new week! Enjoy!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

what a great place to have a gazebo. lovely shots. fun times. ( ;

Leovi said...

Beautiful photos, I really like these mosaics!

4 Lettre Words said...

Oh, how we love Florida...and we'll head back down at the end of May. Always an adventure!

carol l mckenna said...

How wonderful that you got away to FL ~ Marvelous photography ~ and it all sounds like a great time!

Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol

Poppy said...

Beautiful photos, Eileen, of your wonderful adventure in Florida. I love the hot, bright pinks of the flowers and all the greenery.

Thanks for sharing!

Have a lovely week!

Poppy

Montanagirl said...

Nice Mosaics, and I ALWAYS enjoy your posts!

Carver said...

Fantastic shots from Florida.

Cynthia said...

Beautiful photos, and the park looks like a wonderful place to visit. I think I will put it on my "list".

Lew said...

Delightful to see warm places! The trip south is nice if you catch the traffic right. Your heron looks like it is expecting a meal from the fisherman. Our daffodils are in a corner where the garage meets the house and get the afternoon sun. They actually started blooming with about 3 inches of snow on them.

Valerie said...

A lovely series of shots Eileen. Fascinating rock formations!

Photo Cache said...

Great shots from your vacation. I would like to see those rocks, perfect for tidepooling.

Donna@Gardens Eye View said...

How lovely to get away to warmth....I love that first mosaic with the rocks and water.

Pat said...

Lovely shots. It looks so warm and inviting there.

Unknown said...

LOVED looking at your photos
sounds like you had a good trip :)

Debby Ray said...

Wow what great photos! It looks like you also went to the moon...amazing! :)

Adam Jones said...

Lovely images Eileen. Love that Pelican.

Ela said...

Eileen, this is so gorgeous place !! Florida looks like a real paradise !!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos!! Greetings :)

eileeninmd said...

Hello Michelle, great shots of your birds. I love the heron and the pretty robin! I am looking forward to the spring birds returning.. And the bees.. Thanks for hosting, have a happy week ahead!

EG CameraGirl said...

Looks so inviting! It's so pretty this time of year.

Inspired By June said...

Great collages, Eileen! So glad you could get away!

Lorrie said...

What a great place to get away from winter. I've only been to St. Augustine once, years ago, but thought it so pretty. Great photos of the beach and the birds.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Weve definitely not spent enough time in this part of our (still) new State! Someday .... Beautifully made collages.

Liz said...

It looks like a fabulous place to holiday! I'm heading to the US (LA, Seattle & Alaska) in less than a month as a 50th birthday gift from my parents. I'm really looking forward to it!

D.Nambiar said...

I'm sure you were glad to get away to warm Florida for a bit.
Lovely pictures and nicely done collages, Eileen :)

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Enjoyed seeing of the shots. The picture of the rock formations looks like one taken of the moon service. Have not been to Florida in many years so enjoyed the tour.
Thanks for stopping by. Was going to check on the wisteria again this afternoon, but looks like rain .

Mari said...

Those tidal pools have very interesting patterns. I like those trees with branches widely speaded out. This is a great tip. It feels like I've been out there with you.

Powell River Books said...

A beautiful beach, especially the worn rock. - Margy

Jenn Jilks said...

You have amazing travels. And amazing photos!

Life Images by Jill said...

Eileen it must have been wonderful to get away from your wintery world and be in the warmth and amongst the colour. I think if I was driving on a long trip though the trip would be even longer because I would have kept stopping to take photos!
Have a great week Eileen and thankyou for stopping by to say hi!

Noushka said...

What a great post Eileen, Florida is magnificent!
I never fail to go to the "Parrot jungle" when I go there, but it has been ages...
Lovely photos!

Stacy said...

I have heard St Augustine is a great place to visit. And gardens at the beach are so much fun to visit!! I'm glad you had a great time!

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Eileen; What a GREAT (get away from cold) trip to Florida♡♡♡ Your BEAUTIFUL pictures there (and with collages) made me wish to be with you (as always,haha)
WONDERFUL scenery and heron, pelican are pretty, too♪

Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

Red Nomad OZ said...

Wow! What a great place to visit! So much variety - and it looks a little like the northern tropical areas of OZ where WE go to escape the cold! AND see the birds!!

Happy Monday!

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