It is now the next day (2/10/14), and we are approaching a lake filled with manatees.
It is a nice lake.
Lakes do have fish.
Spanish moss abounds.
Signs provide helpful information.
Florida 2014 Part 4
Re: Florida 2014 Part 4
This is a portrait-oriented picture plopped inside a portion of itself.
Where are the manatees?
Flowers just hangin'.
I have to tell you that this is a manatee or you'd never know. You can see one and not even realize it.
I like this odd mix of foliage.
I'm waving at my son, who is holding my camera.
Another way to deal with portrait-oriented images.
Attack of the trees!
I have a thing for those trees.
Here are the fans. Where's the dancer?
The sun, trying to do its thing, is blocked by trees.
Not me again! Yes. Nice bridge, though.
Where are the manatees?
Flowers just hangin'.
I have to tell you that this is a manatee or you'd never know. You can see one and not even realize it.
I like this odd mix of foliage.
I'm waving at my son, who is holding my camera.
Another way to deal with portrait-oriented images.
Attack of the trees!
I have a thing for those trees.
Here are the fans. Where's the dancer?
The sun, trying to do its thing, is blocked by trees.
Not me again! Yes. Nice bridge, though.
Re: Florida 2014 Part 4
This is the top part of a portrait-oriented image. I like the yellow leaves.
Thankfully, the water was so clear, you could actually see the manatee. The first glimpse was exciting.
Here's another view. You can see his nose up out of the water.
He almost looks like a submarine here.
This bridge/walkway extended for quite a distance along the lake.
You could get all kinds of Spanish moss views.
I almost didn't notice all the manatees in the water here.
Backing off here to gain an appreciation for the surroundings.
Well, now, doesn't this look out of place. It is the Thursby house. You can go through it, but I didn't. Too busy trying to find manatees.
Here is another from-a-distance view of the lake.
It's almost like tree hair.
Oh, look! A momma manatee and her baby.
Thankfully, the water was so clear, you could actually see the manatee. The first glimpse was exciting.
Here's another view. You can see his nose up out of the water.
He almost looks like a submarine here.
This bridge/walkway extended for quite a distance along the lake.
You could get all kinds of Spanish moss views.
I almost didn't notice all the manatees in the water here.
Backing off here to gain an appreciation for the surroundings.
Well, now, doesn't this look out of place. It is the Thursby house. You can go through it, but I didn't. Too busy trying to find manatees.
Here is another from-a-distance view of the lake.
It's almost like tree hair.
Oh, look! A momma manatee and her baby.
Re: Florida 2014 Part 4
This is about as close as I could get to a manatee. Unfortunately, it is not real.
This is the Thursby house. I could have gone inside, but I didn't.
I liked this portrait-oriented image. To get it to fit into a 4:3 shape, I flipped a duplicate and put the two together.
Yours truly, waddling onto the viewing deck.
You can spot a few fish and manatees here.
I wonder where these fish are going. To school?
Fish version of Peter Lorre.
We didn't come here to see birds, but this one is nice. Love the drapes.
Two for the money. Manatees and an alligator.
Nice moss against a blue sky.
Backing off a bit.
Gathering at the end of the road. Er, lake.
This is the Thursby house. I could have gone inside, but I didn't.
I liked this portrait-oriented image. To get it to fit into a 4:3 shape, I flipped a duplicate and put the two together.
Yours truly, waddling onto the viewing deck.
You can spot a few fish and manatees here.
I wonder where these fish are going. To school?
Fish version of Peter Lorre.
We didn't come here to see birds, but this one is nice. Love the drapes.
Two for the money. Manatees and an alligator.
Nice moss against a blue sky.
Backing off a bit.
Gathering at the end of the road. Er, lake.
Re: Florida 2014 Part 4
I like the water pads, but what's really nice is the tilapia nests below them.
Here are a whole bunch of them. Notice that there is one fish hovering just above each circular nest.
Nice lake.
Another view.
More tilapia nests. They are rather captivating.
Awww. I got permission to take his picture. I don't think he was thrilled.
You'd think I'd get tired of moss.
Whoever posted this sign doesn't have to worry about me. Maybe the sign is addressed to the alligator. But there is no comma, so he's good.
Make it stop!
I named this picture "Shore Bird," but I couldn't find him. There he is, standing on the branch near the water.
I wonder what makes those ghostly shadows in the water.
Trees wearing grass skirts.
Here are a whole bunch of them. Notice that there is one fish hovering just above each circular nest.
Nice lake.
Another view.
More tilapia nests. They are rather captivating.
Awww. I got permission to take his picture. I don't think he was thrilled.
You'd think I'd get tired of moss.
Whoever posted this sign doesn't have to worry about me. Maybe the sign is addressed to the alligator. But there is no comma, so he's good.
Make it stop!
I named this picture "Shore Bird," but I couldn't find him. There he is, standing on the branch near the water.
I wonder what makes those ghostly shadows in the water.
Trees wearing grass skirts.
Re: Florida 2014 Part 4
Oh, no! Another Spanish moss picture.
Two manatees.
Manatees, through the trees.
The fan-like fronds simply demand to have their picture taken.
This is one of those portrait-oriented images where I put a copy next to itself and flipped it. It's almost like a skirt.
In its relatively natural state.
The lighting was too good to ignore here.
We have left the park and are now roaming around the grounds at our hotel. As you may know, I love grass, and these grasses are beautiful.
A flower bouquet presented on the end of a branch.
Even the branches are nice.
Flower candy.
The leaves are prettier than the flower.
Two manatees.
Manatees, through the trees.
The fan-like fronds simply demand to have their picture taken.
This is one of those portrait-oriented images where I put a copy next to itself and flipped it. It's almost like a skirt.
In its relatively natural state.
The lighting was too good to ignore here.
We have left the park and are now roaming around the grounds at our hotel. As you may know, I love grass, and these grasses are beautiful.
A flower bouquet presented on the end of a branch.
Even the branches are nice.
Flower candy.
The leaves are prettier than the flower.
Re: Florida 2014 Part 4
All of these pictures were taken around our hotel at the end of the day. Mostly flowers. Mostly of the same kind. Mostly pretty.
Small, but holding their own.
Like hard candy.
Oh, no! A plane flying into a tree!
Count the colors.
Nice bouquet.
Different kind. Still nice.
Different view.
The moon got chopped off when I cropped the image into an oval. So I left it in the background.
Close-up of the berries on the tree above.
Plant making shadows on the wall. Eerie.
Odd plant on the window sill.
Are you glad this day is over?
Small, but holding their own.
Like hard candy.
Oh, no! A plane flying into a tree!
Count the colors.
Nice bouquet.
Different kind. Still nice.
Different view.
The moon got chopped off when I cropped the image into an oval. So I left it in the background.
Close-up of the berries on the tree above.
Plant making shadows on the wall. Eerie.
Odd plant on the window sill.
Are you glad this day is over?
Re: Florida 2014 Part 4
Unbelievably beautiful area.
Re: Florida 2014 Part 4
Thank you for commenting, Dan. Yes, the area is beautiful. Even the natural flora next to the hotel. The "grasses" photo is one of my favorites.
Re: Florida 2014 Part 4
Florida is great. Nice and Warm. No Snow. Lived in Central Florida before.
Re: Florida 2014 Part 4
Florida can be wonderful. However, it can be terribly hot and humid during the summer months. Still, warm is better than cold.