Photos by Eliza Ayres, April 14, 2025
Okay, I headed out for my second outing with the new camera. First I walked the two-mile trail of North Peninsula State Park. Then, I headed to Tomoka State Park to pick up an annual State Park Pass. However, getting there was quite a feat as High Bridge Lane was out of commission. It’s being repaved. I had to drive along John Anderson to Granada Avenue in Ormond Beach and then back again long Beach Drive and Old King’s Road. This route is a beautiful drive, but there is a lot of utility work being done right now so don’t expect to drive too fast. Besides, it is a beautiful neighborhood once you reach Ormond Beach (from the north). The drive northward goes through neighborhood and then a long causeway across the swamps back towards Tomoka SP and several other old sites marking the former plantations of the area.
I knew the Coral Bean would be blooming this time of the year. It certainly was, bursting out of the green foliage of oaks, Red Bay, Wax Myrtle, Saw Palmetto and hollies with its distinctive reddish-orange flower spikes.
Wildlife sighting: one Gopher Tortoise (sorry, it was moving too fast to get a photo!)
The weather was perfection, starting in the fifties in the morning and then rising to 80F by noon.
If you’re planning to be in the area, avoid Flagler Beach proper on A1A… there’s all kinds of construction work as the sand dunes are rebuilt and the highway repaved. One way traffic and slow-downs are possible.
Hope you enjoy the photos. They’re not in any particular order.
Eliza Ayres
Sunny's Journal 
Great photos – so much colour and variety!!! Isn’t it lucky that you got your camera right when you needed it! Do you have the app iNaturalist? You can take a photo of a mystery plant and often find out what it is. Love going on your walks with you – thank you!
Francie
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Francie, No I don’t have iNaturalist. I don’t have phone in hand when I go hiking. It’s stuffed into my little pack. I’ve heard of the app though. Florida has a wide variety of wild and naturalized plants. Frankly I detest phones. Just me. When and if I get another phone maybe I’ll download the app. Thanks. ~ Eliza
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I felt as much re you and phones! My phone’s main work is as my camera in the woods, and sometimes iNaturalist is a help, other times the Merlin app if I happen to hear a bird song which sounds different. So I’m no longer as averse to having one in my pocket, but I agree; other than the above, nature is not where they fit!
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I have been following you for a very long time. Always knew you were a great lady with lots of knowledge and caring. I have always loved Mother Earth and Mother Nature. I live of the West Coast of Florida and you are on the East Coast. I love seeing all of your nature walk pictures. The plants are so lovely and seem to always make people (that care) feel refreshed. I can’t take those walks now because of bad knees. Had one done about a year ago but it gets really stiff after a little while on my feet. Thank you also for the names of all of the plants you find. I love learning new additions to the ones I have always totally loved. Hugs to you for all you do for us on a daily basis. Leslee
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Beautiful colors, and a lot of detail in your new camera pics. And oh, yes, we have magnolia trees here in the Canadian SW and indeed the wonderful aroma of their flowers is extraordinary, calming and inspiring at the same time. I’m envious of your clear, blue skies. Alas, what begins as a lovely sunny day here, quickly turns into a soggy brown/grey overcast mess, yet the weather people keep reporting “sunny” all day. Hopefully, the “normies” will start to notice! Much love, B.
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Such a delight to see in all ways…. thankyou
We are now experiencing the beautiful colours of Autumn in southern Australia and I Am just loving all the leaf colours. Such a gift too.
Libby
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Hi Eliza,
Yeay! You are back in business and just at the right time. Lovely, lovely photos and I do believe that this camera is even better than your last one. Clarity, color, etc. Good to see all those flowers blooming as it is just starting in CT and I am hungry to see more. Love seeing the flora of Florida. Email you soon with art and photos…
Eileen
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I agree. This new camera has excellent focus & clarity. I don’t have to do as much color correction. BTW, I used to work at Eastman Kodak (a long time ago) and had a talent for processing film. I also have an art background. So, camera work is a creative outlet, plus I love learning about plants. Thanks for your comment.
~ Eliza
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Eliza,
Just commented but don’t see it posted. In any case will email you tomorrow.
The pics are great!
Eileen
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ALL COMMENTORS PLEASE NOTE: I have to personally approve of each comment. I don’t always get to them immediately, so be patient. They’ll get posted once approved. Thanks, everyone. ~ Eliza
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