These photos are from a couple of walks I did this past week in Flagler County, including North Peninsula State Park, Betty Steflik Preserve, Lehigh Trail and Bulow Woods (starting from Fairchild Oak SP). The weather has been fairly dry and pleasant, making for excellent hiking weather. Today was cloudy with a wind, but snuggled down among the big trees of Bulow Woods, I didn’t notice it too much, unless I came to the water’s edge.
In this journal entry, I’m not going to spend a great deal of time describing my walks, just give a slight notation on the whereabouts in case you’re interested. Some of the photos were taken for “artistic” purposes, exploring design and texture, not simply a record of a walk I’ve taken already four or five times since returning to this area of Florida.
As you might have noted, I normally do not take photos in areas of human habitation, preferring to focus on nature. The photos above reflect three different outings, all within a half hour’s drive of home. I hope you enjoyed my efforts.
Eliza
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Sunny's Journal 
Muy hermoso. Gracias. Bendiciones.
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I imagine smelling a salty, musky air when I view your photos. Can you compare the smells where you are now with those you perceived when you were in the PNW? We recently had a severe wind storm here (north of your PNW) and the following morning, the smell from the downed cedar branches was very refreshing. Much love, Altea
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Ah, yes… the air of coastal Florida is very humid and salty. As I walk through these various hammocks, there is the crunch of discarded leaves. The live oaks shed old leaves and the ground has a crunchy brown and gold carpet, which smells slightly spicy. Red bay trees grow in the woods and now and then I catch that delicious fragrance. The marshes and damp areas of the forest smell slightly rank, rotting, muddy, as the vegetation undergoes nature’s recycling. Then, today, there was the sharp odor of recent burning, scorched scent, as seen in one portion of the forest where the rangers had performed a careful controlled burn. Occasionally I would catch the scent of flowers and new leaves. The Saw Palmetto are dry, stiff and slightly dusty.
The mountains and forests of the Pacific NW have their own peculiar scents, as well, depending on the time of year. Fall = spicy, scent of falling leaves; winter – crisp cold scent of ice and snow; spring, burgeoning growth, sticky scent of rising sap; summer – flowers and berries ripening in the woods and meadows. The scent of rivers, creeks, and lakes… yes, I miss the PNW. Florida is very different than the PNW. It has its own beauty, a sort of tangled ancient air, humid, salty and gritty underfoot due to the sandy soils. ~ Eliza
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Wonderfully said, Eliza, thank you. Now I can enjoy the scents, too, with your photos. It’s good to have a break from the ‘news’… perhaps that should be ‘olds… as you take us on your walks. A.
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Beautiful scenery.. you’re a very good photographer.. much love, Fiona ❤️
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Thanks, Fiona. Right now, photography is my one artistic outlet. Keeps my interest in my surroundings, in effect keeping me grounded in the Now. ❤
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