May, 2015 Photos

All 32 photos were previously posted on Facebook (Note that photos of our vacation in Utah from April 20 through May 4 was previously posted).

Optionally click on an image for a larger view and slideshow.

MAGNOLIA FLOWER
-Wakulla Springs

LEAVES OF AMERICAN BEACH
-Having just returned from our vacation in Utah, I immersed 
myself in the green forests of Wakulla Springs

MARSH GRASS IN TIDAL MARSH CREEK

PELICANS  AND PINES
-Bald Point

SHORELINE AT BALD POINT

LANCELEAF BLANKETFLOWER
-Sopchoppy

YELLOW PITCHERPLANT 

-Forest Road 314, Apalachicola National 

Forest

FLOWER OF PARROT PITCHERPLANT 

-Forest Road 314, Apalachicola National 

Forest 

YELLOW PITCHERPLANT
-Forest Road 314, Apalachicola National 
Forest

YELLOW PITCHERPLANT

-Forest Road 314, Apalachicola 

National Forest

HAIRY WICKY - YELLOW PITCHERPLANT
-Forest Road 314, Apalachicola National Forest

FLOWER OF YELLOW PITCHER PLANT

-Smith Creek Highway, Apalachicola 
National Forest

THISTLE ASTER
-Smith Creek Highway, Apalachicola 
National Forest

STOKES ASTER 
-Sopchoppy

WATER STRIDER 
-Porter Lake, Ochlockonee River

FLORIDA MOUNTAINS

TURTLES ON A STICK
-Porter Lake, Ochlockonee River

SKIPPER BAY SHORELINE

BLUE SKY CABBAGE PALM

SKIPPER BAY SHORELINE

SALT MARSH BLACK AND WHITE
-Fiddlers Point

TRICOLORED HERON OUTSTANDING IN HIS FIELD 

-Fiddlers Point

MOSQUITO HAWK B&W 
-Lighthouse Road, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

IMMATURE FOUR SPOTTED PENNANT DRAGONFLY
-Lighthouse Road, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

YELLOW WATERLILY
-Lighthouse Road, St. Marks National 
Wildlife Refuge

WHITE WATERLILY
-Lighthouse Road, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

WHITE WATERLILY
-Lighthouse Road, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

WHITE WATERLILY
-Lighthouse Road, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

WHITE WATERLILY
-Lighthouse Road, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

PINEWOODS MILKWEED
-Munson Hills, Apalachicola National 
Forest

SEEDS OF PINEWOODS MILKWEED

-Munson Hills, Apalachicola National 

Forest

BARRED OWL

-End of my driveway, between Medart 

and Sopchoppy

Utah Vacation - April 20 to May 4, 2015

(Optionally click on a photo for a larger view and slide show)

BRIEF SUMMARY Trudy and I flew to Las Vegas, rented a car and visited Utah's mighty 5 national parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, & Arches) as well as a tiny portion of the Grand Staircase/Escalante Natonal Monument, and flew from Salt Lake City back to Tallahassee.

An now a tiny sample of photos from the vacation:

Our Zion experience in the valley of the Virgin River was 

primo, with so much to see and so many trails to hike.

Virgin River along the River Walk Trail.

The red sandstone cliffs of the valley contrasted nicely with

azure blue skies. Elevation here was about 4,000 feet.

The Patriarchs.

Slickrock area beyond the mile-long tunnel in the eastern

portion of Zion.

Wandering off road/trail, we explored a

tiny slot canyon.

Groov'n on the wavy rock formations of our first slot.

We rented gear to walk in the shallow river up the Narrows 

beyond the end of the River Walk trail.

The sheer cliffs of the narrows were as high as 300 feet tall.

Bryce Canyon was our next stop.

View from the canyon rim of THE Amphitheater!

We walked a portion of the Queens Garden trail, but passed on

the steeper Navajo trail.

The temperature in the early mornings was in the low 30's!

Note the ice to the right of Natural Bridge.

We hiked a portion of the Bristlecone Loop Trail with an

alpine plant community.

Fairyland Canyon.

Our next adventure driving north was a 

hike on the Calf Creek Falls in the 

Grand Staircase/Escalante Canyon 

National Monument.

Clarecup Catctus

I couldn't resist this self-portrait with my

favorite rock of the moment.

From Boulder, Utah we drove east on the fabulous, 5-star

Burr Road.

ROCK RULES here.

... and more ROCK RULES!

The horizon seems so much farther away in Utah.

Ice and Aspens on a ridge line between Boulder and Torrey, Utah

This our trusty Thrifty Kia Sorento.

Is this the last gasp of an ancient juniper tree?

To the right of large cottonwood tree is the entrance to Long 

Canyon Slot.

The slot of Long Canyon is only about 1/3 mile long, round trip

And this slot is magical!

Capitol Reef The Narrows of the Cassidy Arch Trail 

was one of most awe inspiring hikes of our vacation.

I included Trudy in this photo to provide

you a feeling of the scale of this dry wash.

Pectroglyphs on canyon wall of the Narrows.

Canyonlands Mesa Arch

Canyonlands Grand View

Arches We arrived in Arches late in the day for dramatic

lighting at the Park Avenue viewpoint. 

Just when you think you have seen Utah's rock formations ...

View from Lasal Mountain Viewpoint.

Courthouse Tower

Moon over Balanced Rock

Trudy in an arch along the Windows Trail

Double Arch

Landscape Arch in Devils Garden. With a span of 290 feet, this

arch may be the longest in the world.

OK, so this Floridian is fascinated by rock.

A stop in the shade during an off trail
hike up Courthouse Wash.

Mulears flowers along the Salt Valley Rd 

Sage Lizard in Courthouse Wash.