Well, folks, I took my “new” camera out for a trial run at Princess Place. Practically every time I go out on these outings, I learn a bit more about Florida flora, plant life. Apparently there is more than one kind of Pawpaw, although these are smaller than the northern varieties. I stumbled upon these patches in open scrub oak and pine highlands in dappled shade. There was quite a bit more in bloom than I remember from last year.

The “new” camera is a Nikon Coolpix L840, one step up from my old Coolpix L830. I’ll be learning more about it in the coming weeks while I use it during my exploratory hikes. I can tell you now that I’m very happy to have another camera. I’ve been doing photography for decades now. Still a beginner and amateur, but it’s a creative outlet and a silent companion on the trail.

Here is one of the broad grassy avenues through Princess Place. The trails can be muddy at times especially after a hard rain, but on Friday, I found them to be drier than usual. The first time I hiked a portion of this route in October 2023, I had to wade through muddy puddles; not this time. The pines are Long Leaf, very tall and sturdy.

The bush with the flower spikes is False Indigo. It can be found on the edge of salt marshes and in the coastal strand like at North Peninsula State Park and Washington Oaks Gardens.

I have a little Florida flower book but it’s hardly comprehensive so I do my best. Florida is a large state with very diverse microclimates.

I first discovered Turkey Oak at Princess Place. It is a scrawny, twisty-growing small oak, growing on poor sandy or rocky soil. I first noticed its distinctive leaves and then its colorful fall foliage which turns bright orange or purplish. It is very attractive in the piney woods. The largest Turkey Oak I’ve seen is about 20 feet tall. It would probably make an interesting specimen tree in a garden if you can find one at a native nursery or sprout one from a gathered acorn. Princess Place has several kinds of oaks, large and small. Here’s another one:

Chapman Oak can be found in piney woods and coastal strand. It usually doesn’t get too tall, especially in coastal strand microclimates, that demanding salty poor thin soil area. It grows amongst the Live sand oak, distinguished by its scoop-shaped leaves. It is deciduous as can be seen by the fresh leaves in the photo above.

Look at those clear Florida skies. Our state government just passed a law forbidding the use of chemtrails or cloud seeding in our skies. Of course, we get rain still, but natural rain, not artificial man-made stuff that gunks up the skies. More states are moving to mandate local regulations as Congress can’t seem to get their act together right now. Still, there is a movement to remove federal influence from dominating local politics, so it is a good thing that people are stepping up and moving to get this important work done.

Princess Place has three camping areas, one group camp, one horse camp, and one tent/trailer camp (no connections) and three cottages. It is a Flagler County Park and the sites must be reserved ahead of time.

Here’s another example of a pawpaw bush. They are kind of sprawly. If growing in a garden, set them into a partial sun well-draining site and don’t prune unless to clean up old dead wood. These bushes do set fruit but you might have to fight with the local wildlife. There are two species at Princess Place, including Woolly Pawpaw which has smaller fuzzy leaves with a gray-green tint.

I would say my new camera works pretty well. Now if I could sort out the storage thing.

Thanks, again, to all those readers who donated towards this new acquisition. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. And to those who couldn’t donate, don’t worry. You’ll have any opportunity to help someone else someday.

Now, I don’t have any photos of a walk in Bulow Woods last Thursday as the camera had not yet arrived, but I would like to report the sighting of a large furry racoon crossing the trail in front of me. I also had the opportunity to briefly chat with an elderly gentleman who was sitting on a bench taking a rest. He confessed to being 93 y.o. which I thought was remarkable. We chatted for a little while until I headed off in another direction. I had come from Fairchild Oak at the southern terminus of the trail and he had come from Walter Boardman Lane to the north. It was a lovely hike and I only saw three people and one dog until I returned back to the parking lot at Fairchild Oak. My favorite kind of hike, alone in the woods with the trees and birdsong.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the photos. The flies are starting to nibble and the weather is gradually getting warmer. Spring in Florida.

Enjoy your weekend.

Eliza Ayres

https://sunnysjournal.com