The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

I had never heard of this place until I was in The Keys but I'm so glad I found it! It was absolutely breathtaking! 

The Florida Keys

I realized that I had lived my whole life in Florida but I had never been to The Keys. I planned a road trip for my mother and I as well as Sue, my mothers best friend since high school. 

Sue and my mother on the patio outside The Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory.

Bridge on the Overseas Highway.

We got out to admire the view and my mother spotted wild manta rays. 

My mom on the dock ouside of our hotel room.

Catch of the day: a beautifully painted wooden fish.

Wild iguana.

Breakfast slice of key lime pie with a view.

Uninhabited island along the highway.

Kitesurfer.

Shallow coral outcrop.

Mom in an oversized beach chair.

One of the boats docked at our hotel.

Ended The Keys the way it began: with a stop at The Blond Giraffe.

Hello

My family recently took up the hobby of raising butterflies. When I came home a few of them had begun to emerge from their chrysalis. The tent was placed outside to get them acclimated but ants began to swarm into the netting. Once we realized what was happening my mother and I worked frantically to brush the ants away. I was able to get this shot of one of the survivors we were able to save before they flew away. 

Looking Inward

A lovely southern pink-striped oakworm moth watching me set up for work early one morning. 

The Sunflower Patch

When I went home for Easter I was surprised to see a small crop of sunflowers had sprung up under the bird feeder. To my joy I found it swarming with bees and a colorful variety of little critters. The bees had also found the milkweed plant my sister had set up nearby. 

Christmas on the Beach

Given the inherent craziness of the holiday season, my sister Jenny and I usually make it point to go to the beach whenever we visit home. We broke away an spent a few moments together forgetting the city behind us. 

Mailbox Frog

I had a frog take up residence in my mailbox for a little while. 

La Jolla Cove

My friend Emily took me to La Jolla Cove only a few hours before I had to be at the airport for my return flight. La Jolla Cove was home to a wild sea lion colony and people were permitted to climb to cliffs alongside them. It was cold, overcast, and absolutely perfect. I felt like a National Geographic photographer on assignment. Of all the amazing things I got to see in California this was my favorite.

I left a piece of my heart in La Jolla. 

These four cuddling sea lions melted my heart. 

Adorable baby sea lion. 

I took this photo of a scuba diver (far right) and the two sea lions who came in to investigate him. 

The view of La Jolla Cove from the cliffs above.