Happy Thankful Thursday

 Happy Thankful Thursday! 

 Is Florida the sunshine state?  Washington Oaks State Park has a two parts. There is a beach area with the Coquina Rocks and the formal gardens.  We visited this park on Christmas Day, we walked on the beach and around the gardens. It was another 7 mile day.

 When in Florida, you have to have a pretty day for a beach walk.  Yes, clear sunny skies did appear on our December trip.  I am thankful to see the sunshine.

 Shorebirds landing on the Coquina rocks.

Tidal pools in the Coquina rock formations. 

A pretty sky and Brown Pelicans. 

The rocky Coquina Beach, Washington Oaks State Park.

 The formal gardens at Washington Oaks State Park. Christmas decorations and trees, Monarch Butterfly, pond, Zebra Longwing, rose and iris. Our total miles walked on Christmas day was 7.2 miles. Most of the Garden walk was a loop trail at Washington Oaks, I think it was almost 4 miles and the rest of the walk was at the beach.

I am thankful for sunny skies on my vacations. 
I am always thankful for the beauty all around me.  
I am always thankful for your visit and comments.
Live simple and be happy!  😊




Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday




Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

Saturday's Critters #168

Saturday's Critters #168

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

If you have not guessed already from my other post, the Circle B Reserve in Lakeland is one of my favorite birding places in Florida. Sometimes we visit the Circle B twice in a week. Here are some more of my favorite scenes, birds and a butterfly from the reserve.

Two Wood Storks.

A Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Two baby gators.

A Roseate Spoonbill

A Pied-billed Grebe

Green Heron

Sandhill Cranes

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.

Hershey Gardens Part II

Linking up with Skywatch Friday  and Good Fences  and NF Winged


 I have some more photos to share from my Hershey Gardens visit.. While at Hershey I was lucky to include some sky and fence shots for Skywatch Friday and Tex's Good Fence memes..Some other shots were of the moon from my yard and of course I had to throw in a yardbird.   

The day before I took a shot of the almost full moon and the almost Supermoon..

Before leaving for Hershey Gardens, I had to check out my yard birds. It seems I have become overrun with these House Sparrows.. This one is sitting on the pokeberry bush..

Another prettie from the Hershey Butterfly House.. A Queen butterfly..

The entrance to the children's garden and walkway to the butterfly house..this shot include a clear sky and some pretty fences too.

For Tex's Good Fence meme... here is a fence with some pretty roses was all around the pond. 

Above is a scene from the gardens showing the pretty blue sky with some puffy white clouds. It was perfect weather for walking around the gardens, not too hot and no humidity. I love these lovely plants.. Elephant Ears.

For the NF Winged part of my post. I am sharing another one of my favorite butterflies..It is called the Zebra Longwing..

Another shot of the Zebra Longwing...It is beautiful!

This colorful moon was also taken the morning before the actual supermoon..I like the color of this setting moon..The moon shots were all taken hand held using my Canon SX40HS, no special lenses were necessary.


I hope you enjoyed my post and photos
To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and check more fence shots at Tex's Good Fences
and for anything that has wings check out NF Winged

Thanks to Tex @ The Run*A*Round Ranch for hosting Good Fences and to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday also thanks to Monica of NF Winged!   I wish everyone a safe and happy long weekend.