Sunday, July 19, 2015

Ocala Florida


I am linking up with   Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday    and NF Trees

They are all fun memes to participate in...I hope you can join in with the fun  and check out some of the participating posts.

I am sharing more from our Florida visit, this was toward the end of our March visit in Ocala Florida. We walked a loop around the lake in Tuscawilla Park. It was a lovely path lined trail with some of the Spanish Moss covered trees that I just love.


A Pileated Woodpecker was seen in one of the moss covered trees.


Ocala is known for all it's gorgeous horse farms. So, it is fitting that there were horse sculptures in the park. In the background are some of the native trees in Ocala and the moss covered trees are common.


A pretty painted horse sculpture.




A look at the lake and  various trees across the way, I love the palm trees.


I like this statue, it could be hubby and I in our golden years.


Anhinga with his dinner.


The abstract fishing pole is one of the many sculptures seen in the park.


The lake shore was just covered with ducks, egrets and cormorants and anhingas.


We walked the pathway around the lake checking out the birds, the lake and all the sculptures. I hope you enjoyed our visit to the park. If you are ever in the Ocala Florida area it is worth a visit.  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  and NF Trees 

 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.  Also thanks to Monica for hosting NF Trees.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead!

107 comments:

Unknown said...

I love the woodpecker. The sculptures are fun too. The horse sculptures are very beautiful. Have a happy week, Eileen!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

What a gorgeous park to wander around and I love all the statues especially the older couple seated on the bench over looking the water. All the bird shots are fabulous as well as are the way you havemade the collages. Have a great week ahead.

Crissi said...

Wonderful pictures!
Have a nice day Crissi

Jo said...

Lovely to see the anhinga with a fish in its bill. I've never heard of this bird; glad I can learn different things through your blog. The abstract fishing rod is amazing - I kept gazing at it. Have a great day. Jo

The Yum List said...

What an attractive coat - the red and dark grey.

LE CHEMIN DES GRANDS JARDINS said...

Superbes photos mettant bien en valeur ce très beau parc où j'aimerais aller marcher, flâner, lire et...prendre des photos, aussi. Bel été à toi.

Roger

Mersad said...

Such a lovely park with many sights to see and take photos of.

Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography

Stewart M said...

That woodpecker is one of my favourite birds - not that I see them very often! A friend of mine has them visit his garden.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Uppal said...

The medley of pictures, just like an exquisite collage express your penchant for clicking the best.

Tomoko said...

Such a beautiful park with those statues and birds. All of them are lovely!! Especially that painted horse is my favorite.
Have a happy new week.

Gayle said...

What a great post - lots of variety and beauty - thanks.

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Isn't ;your woodpecker friend a handsome fellow! I suspect he knows it. There are such wonderful sculptures in the park! A wonderful way to spend the day! Have a grand week!

Maggie said...

This park is a delight for all the senses, love the horse sculptures and the woodpecker captures.
Happy MM.

deb @ frugal little bungalow said...

Great nature shots and that abstract fishing pole is really something! :)

Elizabeth Edwards said...

reminds me of the park we went to in Louisiana. very pretty. love all the sculptures. woody is gorgeous. we see them in our backyard all the time. what a beauty. ( :

Vee said...

What a beautiful horse statue with all the colors, flowers, dragonflies, etc., images. I agree with you..."the couple" is a very realistic portrayal of an older couple enjoying the scene...sort of an "every couple."

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
am a huge fan of 'garden art' and these are some super examples... your bird shots, as always, delight. The 'anhinga' looks very like a darter, must go check it out now! YAM xx

Nancy Chan said...

Beautiful woodpecker. The horse farms is interesting. I like the sculptures in the farm.

Crafty Green Poet said...

great photos of the woodpecker!

Snap said...

What a wonderful walk around the lake in Tuscawilla Park. I loved seeing the sculptures -- fun and clever. Great shots of the pileated woodpecker ... very handsome! I'd say the Anhinga knows how to fish. :) What a treat! Happy Monday!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Enjoyed your stroll.

I wish I saw more Pileated in my neighborhood. Mostly just Northern.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

Great sculptures in that park. I've never seen a piliated (sp) woodpecker before. I don't think they make it to New England....

Mary Hone said...

I love all of those. The sculptures are way cool.

Charlene N. K. said...

Love that woodpecker! It's so beautiful!

Linda W. said...

Nice pics of the woodpecker! What a lovely park.

Linda Kay said...

A horse on Giraffe legs? Hmmm. Love the woodpecker pics. Very pretty design by nature.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful shots of the woodpeckers!

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful photography and presentation ~ love the painted horses!

Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol

Caroline Gill said...

I especially like the stunning photos of the Pileated Woodpecker, Eileen. Thank you for your kind wishes: I am feeling much better ... at last!

Giga said...

Peirwszy bird is beautiful and I like all the decorations in the park. Greetings.

EG CameraGirl said...

Oh, I really like the shots of the abhinga! Ocala looks like a pretty place!

Hootin Anni said...

Love the statuary!!! Excellent horses...we in Texas have Longhorns done this way in many larger cities.

And that Woodpecker....you have me GREEN with envy.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

a horse of a different color!

The Pileated pics are magnificent!
~

Rose said...

I am behind...trying to grab a minute to see what I have missed. I must say I LOVe some of these sculptures..and what great photos you got. Love the ones of the cormorant...but then I love the Pileated woodpecker in all that moss, that I love too!LOL

Linda H said...

The statues are wonderful, I especially like the horses, but those pileated woodpecker shots are fantastic! I too am green with envy. Such a beautiful bird!

Rajesh said...

Beautiful park and I like that sculpture of couple on the bench.

Maude Lynn said...

Gorgeous woodpecker, and I just adore spanish moss!

Florence said...

What a gorgeous woodpecker! And the sculptures are all so interesting. I don't think I've ever seen an Anhinga before. Thanks!!

DeniseinVA said...

The red on the pileated woodpecker is so vibrant and I like those horse statues. Great pictures of the birds also Eileen.

Linda aka Crafty Gardener said...

The red on the pileated woodpecker's head stands out so vividly. Lovely series of photos.

Gail Dixon said...

Eileen! I am so jealous of the pileated photos. WoW!!! The couple on the bench is a sweet scene and the anhinga with his dinner is awesome. Looks like an amazing day at the park.

Anonymous said...

Hi Eileen, Glad you got to visit Tuscawilla Park. Nifty place, especially in Winter months when it is packed with waterfowl and wading birds + Bald Eagles. I agree, the sculptures are wonderful! Have a very pleasant coming week! It has been stormy almost daily but that is Florida in Summer.

Penelope Notes said...

I like the fantastical statues of the horses as well as the couple sitting on the bench. There is a wee bit of “Alice In Wonderland” to be found in this place.

Sylvia K said...

What a terrific place!!! So much beauty and your captures are superb as always, Eileen!! Thank you so much for sharing the fun and the beauty!! I would love the horse farm!! Have a great week!!

Debbie said...

i love finding those special, unusual garden ornaments/statues...they are always so colorful and fun!!

the woodpecker is so beautiful!!!

Unknown said...

What a great park with all that art in it! :)
And that woodpecker looks like a piece of art
itself, his colour matches the moss beautifully :))
My favourites are the painted horses :)

Have a beautiful week Eileen!
Tinna ✐

mick said...

It looks like a great place to visit. The sculptures are beautiful and fun, and the birds very beautiful. I especially like the one you caught with the fish in its beak. I have read about Spanish Moss but we don't have it out here. Lovely!

colleen said...

There is so much to see and absorb here. The four part capture of the bird eating fish is pretty awesome. I like the blue sculpture that looks like it spit out that ball.

Crimson Kettle said...

How interesting, it all looks so different from here. What beautiful birds. Thanks for the tour. Karen :-)

Our photos said...

ery nice series. I love the statue !!

Claire Justine said...

oh wow, so many amazing things to see, love the horse :)

Jemma@athomewithjemma said...

Eileen,
I like this statue too and it could be all of us in our older years!
What a beautiful setting and oh that moss on the trees-isn't it just so charming.
Jemma

This N That said...

Beautiful park to roam around...Gorgeous woodpecker..We don't have those here..Amazing horse sculpture...Great colors...I remember Spanish Moss in Myrtle Beach where they cautioned against taking any because it is full of bugs...

Sue said...

Such wonderful photos, Eileen. I really enjoyed the Pileated ones. Oh, and the statue of the couple on the bench. Very nice!

Photo Cache said...

This is such a beautiful park to visit. I would love to come here. The woodpecker with its red head is such a treat.

Brian King said...

Fantastic shots of the Pileated and Anhinga! Very nice!

betchai said...

oh, what a big catch, and swallowed the fish whole I guess like cormorants and other birds. Beautiful pictures.

Lynne said...

Nice pics . . .
Love the Woodpeckers in the Spanish Moss!

D.Nambiar said...

Interesting sculptures. Especially that of the horses. :)

Gayle said...

I loved everything about the park, and you did a great job making it come to life.

Tom said...

What neat stuff here! Tom The Backroads Traveller

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

What a great park to stroll Eileen. I love all the sculptures and the birds you photographed, imagine eating a fish that big whole!
Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday.

GreenComotion said...

What a beautiful park, Eileen!
You seem to have visited the places in the last two posts during the big birds' lunch hour :)
Great photos!
Have a Great Week!!
Peace :)

HappyK said...

All your photos are wonderful as usual, but that woodpecker is my favorite. WOW

TexWisGirl said...

some neat sculptures! love the pileated shots!

Cloudia said...

Eileen you got SO many fine shots!!!!!

The Furry Gnome said...

Those are aome interesting sculptures!

Al said...

What a great park. I love that fishing pole art, it's got such great form.

Margie said...

Very cool sculptures!

Pietro Brosio said...

What a great park, thanks for sharing these beauties!

Debby Ray said...

Wow...you have captured some great moments here! I wish the Pileated woodpeckers were seen around here...would love to see one. And that shot of the bird with the fish in his mouth was amazing!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

All wonderful photos, Eileen! It looks like a beautiful, well kept, park in Florida in which to stroll. I see pileated woodpeckers here at times--they are very pretty, and noisy!

Ida said...

I would love to see one of those woodpeckers, they seem so huge compared to the variety that is around my area.
Some really neat sculptures in that park.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I agree that the shots of the woodpecker and anhinga are wonderful. I also loved the sculptures. Well done sculptures can really do wonders for a park.

Carola Bartz said...

The Pileated Woodpecker is simply awesome. Such a beautiful bird!

Linda said...

Those are fun sculptures and I love the pileated woodpeckers!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Love seeing the pileated woodpecker in the mossy tree. That is one big fish dinner swallowed whole! Yikes! Beautiful scenery and sculptures. Looks like a lovely place to spend the day!

Ohmydearests said...

wow! that woodpecker is fantastic! and those sculptures so interesting! that Anhinga looks a lot like some of our local cormorants!

Little Wandering Wren said...

Hi Eileen I would love the Sculpture park it looks like a great place for a wander. Wow that's a down in one without touching the sides dinner for that Anhinga! Great photos!
Wren x

Annemor said...

Thank you for some great pictures from Florida.
I like the sculptures you took pictures of.
Have a nice day,
Mormor

Red Nomad OZ said...

Of course you know I will find the Pileated Woodpecker the most attractive bird because of the RED!!! But the Anhinga comes a close second - I really like the strange shapes they can contort their necks into!! We have similar birds down here - the common name is 'snake bird' because of the neck! Have a great week, my friend!

Amanda Peters said...

Wonderful park, I wish more parks had sculptures in them, I like the Woodpecker...
Amanda xx

4 Lettre Words said...

We certainly love Florida...and you found some amazing treasures! Beautiful!

Karen said...

What a unique and interesting park! If I am ever in Ocala I will be sure to visit. Beautiful photos. You captured some great shots of the anhinga. Thank you for the information about the mosaics and the program you use.

Mascha said...

What a pretty woodpeacker and a nice stroll through an unique park.
Greetings from Germany

Teresa S said...

Hi Eileen! Even birds are prettier in your side of the ocean. Wonderfull park you have there!

LifeRamblings said...

that's a wonderful park. So many beauties in one place.

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

I love all of your mosaics and especially the Cormorant with his bad manners ... can't you just hear your mother telling you not to take such a big bite? What a beautiful place, the sculptures, the trees, the birds (still have never seen a Pileated Woodpecker in real life). I would love to visit Ocala. And I would hope to be able to capture the beauty of it the way you have. Really nice, Eileen.

Andrea @ From The Sol

Country Gal said...

Fantastic photos . Thanks for sharing . Have a good day !

Anonymous said...

Fabulous shots. I love the ones of the woodpecker.

merlanne said...

I will probably never visit Florida ("never say never"), so I appreciate your walk around Ocala. The birds, especially the woodpecker, made me smile.

Fun60 said...

I think the sculptures add so much to the surroundings.

Ana Freire said...

Wonderful images!...
What a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing, Eileen!
Kisses!
Ana

Donna@Gardens Eye View said...

Beautiful pileated Eileen....and I love the sculpture...what fun!

Su-sieee! Mac said...

You saw so many wonderful sculptures and birds among the trees and such. Thanks for sharing. :-)

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Wow! It's a small world! This is where I live! I'm glad you came when you did. It has gotten so hot and humid this summer that it's hard to get out and walk much. But it's nice and green! Great photos my friend. Come again soon! Hugs, Diane

ann said...

What a wonderful place to visit. The art work is so whimsical, making the park fun. Great photos, too.

Sally@Toddlers on Tour said...

Love the sculptures colourful, interesting and fun.

Ruth said...

I have enjoyed all your pictures. This city looks like an ideal place to spend a relaxing afternoon. During my recent visit to Yosemite I saw tons of bird including a woodpecker. Like to search for them when I listen the knocking on the wood.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

It really is a pretty city! And I too love the old South look of the hanging moss.

NatureFootstep said...

the woodpecker really looks great in that setting. Beautiful images :)

And such cool horses :) Great place to stay a day or two. :)

DIMI said...

Hello Eileen!!
What a lovely park!!Like the woodpecker photos!!What a beautiful bird!
Great captures!!!
Dimi...

Powell River Books said...

I'm a horse lover, so I enjoyed the sculptures. The long legged one was interesting. - Margy

Black Jack's Carol said...

I dream of seeing Pileated Woodpeckers. Not one thus far in the season. They are around Vancouver but one has to be lucky to come across them, it seems. Your shots are wonderful and I loved Tuscawilla Park. Each bird and each statue held my interest. I smiled at you and hubby in your golden years, loved the painted horses, and thought the trees and pond absolutely beautiful! Thanks so much, Eileen!

Lorrie said...

Pileated woodpeckers are such interesting birds. I love seeing them, although that's not very often. Wonderful shots of a garden park that would be fun to walk through. I like seeing sculptures outdoors.

Bob Carlson said...

I have recently retired as well. I can't wait to get out there and shoot a few photos.

rupam sarma said...

Awesome photos

Happy Monday!

  Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "Calm is a super power. Don't let stress kill your happiness." "Jud...