Tag Archives: Florida

~Can you say – Wimauma?~

Paved roads at Little Maatee River State Park
Paved roads at Little Manatee River State Park

Wimauma, is the name of the town where Little Manatee River State Park is located. Its founder made up the name using the names of his three daughters, Willie, Maude, and Mary. Wil-Mau-Ma. Go figure! Earlier in the day we were on the phone with my sister trying to guess the origin of the name.

Site 19, easy to back into, wide, lots of room on the driver's side and in the back.
Site 19, easy to back into, wide, lots of room on the driver’s side and in the back.

Paved roads within the campground, and a shell and sand mixture in the campsites.

Side yard
Side yard

There are 34 campsites with water and electricity (50amp) and they are very private. Each site separated by native plants and trees.

Lots of room in the back yard. Site is very private.
Lots of room in the back yard.  Up goes the ham antennas!

For the horse lovers out there, LMRSP has four equestrian campsites and twelve miles of riding trails.

 

Artsy fun!

Howard with pen and paper, whoa what's with that? Must be a ham radio diagram!
Howard with pen and paper, whoa what’s with that? Must be a ham radio antenna diagram!

We are looking forward to exploring this lovely Florida State Park.

A new place, a new adventure…

~Tonight’s Sunset~

Sunset on Lake Hammond
Sunset at Lake Dixie

The sunsets, at Lake Louisa State Park, this week haven’t been very pretty or just non-existence, because of heavy cloud cover. 

Tonight’s sunset, looking west from the pier at Dixie Lake, paints a different picture! It was breathtaking.

We are heading out in the morning traveling to Little Manatee River State Park. This will be our first visit to this Florida state park.

Nature’s beauty… 

~A Golden Orb Weaver~

A  web of silk,

I weave,

For all who trespass,

so naive.

A trap to catch my prey,

I deceive,

None the wiser,

may leave.

Golden Orb (female)
Golden Orb (female)

On Christmas day we were hiking a trail at Lake Louisa State Park. A foot off the trail, suspended at eye level, was this gorgeous Golden Orb spider. You have to admit she is pretty.  I wouldn’t want her touching me, but she was nice to admire and capture with my camera.

A few facts about this gorgeous spider: (taken from the web)

  • Physical features: The female generally exhibits yellow spots on a muted orange/tan abdomen (with banded brown and orange legs), and the male is a fairly plain dark brown. The male is 1/2” (12mm) long and the female is much larger, at 1″ to 3″ (25 mm to 75 mm) long. The abdomen on both the male and female Banana spider is 2 1/2 to 3 times as long as it is wide. The female’s legs have brownish stripes with noticeable tufts of black hair on her 1st and last pair of legs. The male has a less colorful appearance, but he also has tufts of black hair on his legs.
  • Poisonous: No
  • Lives in: warm, sunny climates
  • Eats: Like many spiders, prefers to eat flying insects like bees that are attracted to the golden web it weaves. These spiders also go after larger prey like butterflies and moths.

 

Until next time…

Posted on Monday Macro 2

http://macromonday2.blogspot.com/2014/12/ornamental.html

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~Photo of the Day-Green Leaf Bug~

A funny looking bug, trying to hitch a ride on one of our car roof rails!

Leaf Bug
Green Leaf Bug – (Katydid)

As we were getting in the car, I spotted what I thought was a green leaf on top of the roof. I reached up to grab the leave and throw it on the ground and quickly realized it was not a leaf.

 

 For a few Fun Facts on this bug go to  http://www.bugfacts.net/katydid.php#.VJ4SUJ0B

Sharing with: Saturday’s Critters at Viewing Nature with Eileen

http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com

 

 

Until Next Time…..