This morning I started out early, at 06:30 hours to get ahead of the heat and humidity. Once the temperature rises above the mid-80’s I kind of go limp! I drove to River to Sea first as it was too early for Washington Oaks Gardens — they open at 08:00 a.m. First creatures I saw were about seven rabbits, one gopher tortoise (an endangered and protected species) and I flushed two deer, startling them and myself as they crashed through the underbrush. I was the first one (human) at the park and by myself the entire time.
The humidity was already high and about every half hour I was out, the temperatures climbed at least one degree F. I made sure to keep hydrated.
Marsh rabbits are quite a familiar sight in Florida. Since I was early, I saw about 7 of them just at River to Sea.
This was the first gopher tortoise of the day. I would see another one of these creatures at Washington Oaks Gardens later on. These animals do not swim — they are land-based creatures and can often be found in sand dunes and hammocks.
The paths at River to Sea are wide and sandy. The sand is coquina with coarse grains. It gets sticky when damp. We’ve been having scattered showers in the area, so I wasn’t sure how damp the trail would be… and it was fine. I wore my river sandals.
This photo was taken at one of the view points in River to Sea. It was taken before many boats got underway. Bings Landing is off of Hwy A1A just a couple of miles away and is a very popular boat put-in location with plenty of parking for trucks and trailers, along with restrooms. There is a bar-b-que restaurant located right next door to the Landing. If riding a bicycle, you could park at Bings Landing and hook up with a couple of nearby bike trails.
Next I headed over to Washington Oaks Gardens SP and began the 2.1 mile Bella Vista Nature Trail walk. The whole pathway was open today. I think some brush and tree removal had recently been done as the path was closed for a couple of weeks before.
There are some fine specimens of Southern Live Oak at the Gardens.
On this visit, I caught the Crepe Myrtles in bloom. The azaleas were long gone (go in late February to see those) and the roses were drooping in the heat.
The only rose I got a decent photo of today…
If you happen to live in an area where Pentas can grow, the butterflies love them!
So, there is a brief synopsis of my walk this morning. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home. People were there buying stuff for their Father’s Day celebrations. My father has been gone for 23 years now. I know he is happier where he is now…
Happy Father’s Day to those who are fathers out there amongst my readers.
In Joy,
Eliza
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Sunny's Journal 
Thank you. So gorgeous
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Sounds like a lovely walk! It’s easier to walk here at the moment – barely up to 70 today – but I didn’t see any wildlife at all! Some spring flowers are still out and the lupins are flowering (Quebec). I’ll be melting this coming week – it’s going up to 90. However, then it’ll go back down and won’t get much over 75, thank goodness!
Thanks as always for the nice break and great photos. Mostly plants which I don’t know so it’s always interesting.
Francie
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That is a very decent rose though given the humidity there!🌹
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You should have seen the rest of them… tired and bruised from thunder showers and heat. ~ Eliza
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