Great Egret Profile

Close-up of Great Egret with lure richly colored for mating season.

Flowers on the Pacific

Flowers growing along a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Torre Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California.

Boy Meets Monster Truck

My son demonstrating his super powers against an old truck rigged out for mud bogging at the Putnam County Fair in Palatka, Florida last weekend. Yeah think the owner might be a Gator fan?

Life is Just a Tire Swing

Fun on the tire swing at Swing Park, Saint Augustine, Florida.

Pelicans on the Dock

Pelicans resting at the end of a day on a dock in Everglades City, Florida.

Soldier at Castillo de San Marcos

Volunteer in role of Spanish soldier during reenactment of cannon firing at the Castillo de San Marcos, Saint Augustine, Florida.

Spillway

Water flowing over a small spillway at Highlands Hammock State Park, Sebring, Florida.

Water Snake Tasting the Air

Water snake. Ravine Gardens State Park, Palatka, Florida.

Bright Flower

Close-up of Flower.

Azalea Bloom

Azalea bloom. Ravine Gardens State Park, Palatka, Florida.

Fern Close-Up

Close-up of a fern at Ravine Gardens State Park, Palatka, Florida.

Macaw Portrait

Another photo of one of the Macaws at the Alligator Farm and Zoological Park in Saint Augustine, Florida.

I like this image for its rich colors and sharp definition of the head feathers and eye.

Castillo de San Marcos - Hot Shot Oven

Hot shot oven at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Saint Augustine, Florida. This furnace was used to heat iron cannonballs till the were "red hot". The idea being that, when fired into a wooden ship, it would set the ship on fire.

Sunset in the Wake

Warm colors of sunset reflecting in a boat wake on the otherwise smooth waters of Matanzas Bay, Saint Augustine, Florida. Photo taken in November of 2008.

Saint Augustine Lighthouse

The Saint Augustine Lighthouse.

Sunrise at the Pier, 03-15-09 - Saint Augustine

Image just before sunrise at the Saint Augustine Beach Pier, Saint Augustine, Florida. Taken on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Face of a Flower

One more of the flower series from Leonardi's Nursery, Saint Augustine, Florida.

Beware the Thorns

Cactus. Taken at Leonardi's Nursery, Saint Augustine, Florida.
Note the insect which became trapped among the thorns of this plant.

Three Amigos

Group of flowers. Taken at Leonardi's Nursery, Saint Augustine, Florida.

Flower

Another beautiful flower who's name I do not know.

Croton Leaf

Today's post is a close-up of a Croton leaf back lit by the sun. Taken at Leonardi's Nursery on Anastaia Island, Saint Augustine, Florida.

African Daisy - Leonardi's Nursery

Today's post is a close-up of an African Daisy (I think). Taken at Leonardi's Nursery on Anastaia Island, Saint Augustine, Florida.

Flowers - Leonardi's Nursery

Today's photo was taken at Leonardi's Nursery. This is a wonderful nursery on Anastasia Island, Saint Augustine, Florida, just a stones throw from the lighthouse and Alligator Farm. My daughter had purchased a couple of plants here a few weeks back at which time I asked if I could return at a later date to take some photos. They said it would be fine, and yesterday, I returned with a macro lens and tripod to capture the images I'll be posting through the week.

Now, I'm no expert on the names of plants or flowers and didn't think to take some notes as I was shooting. So if anyone wants to help with the identification, that would be fine.

Hope your week gets off to a good start!

Ed

On the Nest

A pair of Great Egrets resting on their nest at the Alligator Farm and Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida.

Sunrise over the Matanzas II

Another image of the sun rising over the Matanzas River in St. Augustine, Florida. This one was taken just moments after the photo posted last Saturday, 2/28/09.

White Ibis

Today's photo is of a White Ibis and was taken early in January at the Saint Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park.

Night Heron

Yellow-crowned Night Heron perched close to the boardwalk at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park.

Great Egret Touching Down

A Great Egret preparing to land in the tree where he and his mate are building their nest.

Photo taken at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park.

Wood Stork at Branch Depot

A Wood Stork works to free a branch from a tree to take back to the nest he and his mate are building.

Photo taken at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park.

Great Egret Nest Building

A Great Egret returning with a branch to contribute to the nest he and his mate are building.

Photo taken at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park.

Great Egret on Display

The birds at the St.Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park are very busy building nests, mating, and as you can see from this photo, showing off their colors and plumage. Its a truly spectacular place at the moment for bird lovers. And compared with many areas were I've gone to shoot wading birds, very photographer friendly. The boardwalk literally takes you within several feet of some of the activity.