Who Am I?

Linda snapped this picture at Myakka River State Park yesterday.  Upon further review, we've discovered that neither of us know its' name. These flowering plants are about 4 feet tall and are plentiful in the wetland areas around the lake toward the north side of the park.  There are hundreds visible from the main road throughout the park.  Anyone have any ideas?

Fox's Low Road Trail

We live about 50 miles from Myakka River State Park near Sarasota.  After seeing some wonderful pictures of Florida native orchids last weekend, I decided to make a trip to the park and check it out for myself.

We left the house about 7:30 a.m. in Riverview and arrived about 8:30.  After a short conversation with the Park Ranger at the gate we were hiking on the Fox's Low Road Trail east of the Upper Myakka Lake by 9:00. 

It was about this time that Linda discovered she forgot the bug repellant. Yikes! I'm o.k. to go-with-the-flow for most things, but bugs and Linda don't get along well.  Undeterred we trudged onwards willing to risk it. No pain, no gain, right?

Less than a 1/4 mile into the trail we saw two small does foraging just off the trail.  We rounded a turn that opened out into a massive prairie of palmetto and various scrub brush and other grasses. Their heads were barely visible above the brush line. I snapped this picture as the second one meandered across the road seemingly unconcerned about us.

I'm not knowledgeable about orchids and wouldn't know a "Florida native orchid" if it walked up to me and offered to shake my hand, but we continued our search for another 3/4 mile down the trail. Linda successfully located some nicely apportioned fire ant hills.  It was a very lovely introduction (ouch).

This trail was loaded with dragon flys of a variety of colors.  This blue one photographed pretty well and cooperated better than most by "sitting still".

We also saw a couple of red shouldered hawks hunting for breakfast and later crossed paths with a very well fed osprey.  Our search for orchids ended and we headed back to the parking area and toward the birdwalk. 

Myakka River State Park Birdwalk

The birdwalk is a short 1/2 mile drive from Fox's Low Road trailhead.  We arrived a little late to see any bird activity, but it was nice 1/4 mile walk to the viewing area.

Here are two of the only flying animals we did get close enough to for picture taking. 

   

I'm not up for much bicycle riding these days, but we ran across several riders on the way back to the vehicle.