On Monday, I visited another portion of Princess Place Preserve, traveling on a broad loop from the parking area, on the Equestrian Trail and towards Styles Creek to the Pellicer Campground and return to the parking lot on the Equestrian Trail alongside the Preserve’s main road. I didn’t see anyone on the trails at all, just a few cars passed when I was closer to the main road. It was a windy morning. I did spot an Osprey who dove for a fish and then flew overhead with a fish in its talons.
The red berries in the foreground are Yaupon Holly. The bush with the white fuzzy flowers is Baccharis, Groundsel Tree and/or Sea Myrtle. It blooms in the cool weather when there are few other flowers.
These magnificent pines are Long Leaf Pine, a Florida native. It is a lumber tree. The baby trees will probably be thinned out at some point.
The photos below are from the Fairchild Oak State Park (southern end) of Bulow Woods. I probably did a 4.5 to 5 mile walk in very pleasant weather. I didn’t see anyone until on the last leg of the walk, about a mile from the parking lot. Then, there was a small crowd at the picnic tables on the lawn near the giant oak tree.
There, another couple of successful hikes done.
And just two months ago, I was lying in the ICU recovering from major surgery. Pretty good recovery wouldn’t you say?
Enjoy your weekend, everyone…
Eliza
Sunny's Journal 
Gorgeous shots 🙏Eliza The ‘Quiet Path’ is a favourite 🙂
Happy Holiday Wishes to you and yours.
WendyXO🇨🇦
Sent from Proton Mail for iOS.
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Beautiful pictures – so peaceful. Thank you for sharing and for all you do to keep us grounded. Blessings to you! Lori S.
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Beautiful !
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excellent recovery indeed…
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Congrats on your recovery, and thanks for the superb photos. This planet/realm is nothing short of otherworldly, and you’re needed here…
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Thank you for sharing these photos they brought such a sense of peace over me, such beauty!
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Thank-you, a delightful recovery indeed including such extensive photographs.
Why do you refer to the tree as signal ?
denis
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Ah, the Signal Tree. It lets me know where the trail is about to split and that I’m near the bottom (southern most) of the loop. It’s just a playful name for a sturdy old tree. In the photo, you are only seeing about a third of this forest giant. It appears dead, but high above are curling branches reaching out and covered in leaves. It shows endurance, ancient gnarled beauty, resilient, having survived numerous hurricanes and wind storms. It’s the only tree I’ve named and look for when I walk through this hammock. ~ Eliza
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