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Walking in the Woods

The T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve is a 24,500+ acre area  used for nature studies and recreation.  There is a clipboard on this little building where people can enter the flora and fauna spotted. 
There are horse back riding trails, biking trails, hiking trails, orienteering and geocaching activities.  There is a moonlight hayride sceduled for the next full moon.
Panthers have been photographed here and one was noted on the day's list for Sunday, but we did not get to see anything that exciting.

Still, it was a pretty day for a walk.

It has been very dry.  The small ponds that are usually filled with wading birds were pretty much dried up.  You have to go to a golf course to see the water fowl in times like this.  Fire danger is high right now and it is not hard to imagine a field like this turning tinder.  They do call it dry prairie for a reason.


We went on to the Sleeping Turtle Preserve nearby.  It is bordered by the Myakka River--lots of oak trees dripping with Spanish moss and other epiphytes.  We will have to return after some rain to see the resurrection ferns.  Might be fitting if that should happen on Easter...
Definitely more of a tropical vibe.
We still did not see a Florida panther, though.  We did not see any snakes either and that was very okay with me.
 


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Comments

  1. MuffieMarch 12, 2013 at 11:25 AM

    Gorgeous photos, and it sounds like a lovely walk! Glad you didn't experience either of those animals!
    Peace,
    Muff

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OlgaMarch 12, 2013 at 5:20 PM

      There were so many bike riders and dog walkers that day. Both tend to scare off any wild life.

      Delete
  2. RianMarch 12, 2013 at 11:46 AM

    Loved the tropical vibe! (especially photos 4 and 5). Glad you didn't see a panther... altho it would be a great photo op!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OlgaMarch 12, 2013 at 5:22 PM

      We have seen a panther--several years ago now. It was near a rural beach, early morning. We were in the car, not really believing what we were seeing.

      Delete
  3. Muffy's MarksMarch 12, 2013 at 12:00 PM

    What a wonderful place to spend some time. Loved your photos!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OlgaMarch 12, 2013 at 5:24 PM

      Thanks, Muffy. You'll notice the coffee-like color of the river water--some contrast to your recent river pic.

      Delete
  4. TaborMarch 12, 2013 at 2:37 PM

    I have visited there and actually did a little canoeing down that river. I saw LOTS of alligators.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OlgaMarch 12, 2013 at 5:28 PM

      We did a canoe trip down the river, but Mike won't go with me any more. God, tip a canoe over twice in one trip and he gets so cranky. (It was on a VT canoe trip, but he says he is not chancing a FL river run again.)

      Delete
  5. Arkansas PattiMarch 12, 2013 at 3:54 PM

    That moonlight hayride sounds nice. Hope you will still be there. I hate hearing Florida is so dry. Fire season is scary.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OlgaMarch 12, 2013 at 5:32 PM

      We will be here and I hope to go. There have been a few fires reported more to the north of us. And did you hear about that sinkhole in the Brandon area (I think)? I can't imagine how horrible it must be to wake up as your bed is sinking into a huge hole in the ground.

      Delete
  6. SakuMarch 12, 2013 at 11:13 PM

    I love the last photo, it is absolutely gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Country GirlMarch 13, 2013 at 5:22 PM

    What part of Florida are you in? My bro in law lives in Cape Carol (near Fort Myers)and my sister lives in Ocala. We visited both of those places last may. I so enjoy the reserves down there. Did you see any huge gators? Or wild pigs?

    ReplyDelete

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