Kayaking in Weeki Wachee Springs

Mother’s Day weekend ended with a lovely afternoon kayaking in Weeki Wachee Springs. 

Liz, Jon, and Jenny.

Mom.

Myself with mom and Liz.

Myself with Jon and Jenny.

 Myself with Jenny and mom.

Liz (with an egret).

A manatee coming up for air. 

The Curious Goat

Back in April I had gone to an SCA event near Miami. Sergio, Tiger and I all spent the night at Dan and Whitney’s house. They have a small farm with several horses, donkeys, and goats. As a side gig, Whitney makes artisan soaps from the milk she gets from her Nigerian milking goats. We arrived early in the evening and I was able to take a picture of this curious little guy.

Sunset at The Zoo

The Central Florida Zoo has extended hours on the last Friday of the month through out the summer. I only found out about it at the last minute and decided to go on a whim.

Some caterpillars clinging to a vine.

One of the zoo keepers explaining the logistics of caring for the curious bears. 

A Florida Pine Snake.

The Everglades Rat Snake.

An enormous Gaboon Viper. This venomous snake comes from Western Africa and can weigh up to forty pounds. Its head was the size of my fist. In their natural habitat they hide on the forest floor and wait patiently for prey to get within striking distance.

The Aruba Island Rattlesnake, the rarest rattlesnake in the world due to habitat destruction.

The Desert Horned Viper, a venomous sidewinder from North Africa and the Middle East.

An Emerald Tree Boa from the Amazon Basin. 

Some beautiful succulent plants around the zoo. 

The giraffes reaching for a piece of lettuce from an eager child.

A Bed of Daisies

This little lizard just loves my daisies.

Brave Squirrel

I spotted this little guy the morning after Hurricane Ian hit. He looked like he had been through it and I left him a hand full of peanuts.

Dragonfly in The Garden

Abercrombie Park

A little bird huddled at the base of the bench between my feet.

Ducklings

The Evening Hunt

Harlequin Flower Beetle

Typically found in Texas, this striking beetle was on the steps outside of my condo in Florida.

Sunken Gardens