Monday, June 30, 2008

Baldwin Bay



Old growth cypress forest
4/11/2004
Photo by Mark M.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Cradle Creek Preserve


Osprey fledgling
6/28/2009
Photo by Mark M.
Please click on photograph for best viewing

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Editor's note

Today, La Florida begins examining through photographs the historical and cultural aspects of Florida. While the landscapes and natural resources here are spectacular, it is the history and cultural of our home state that makes this an incredibly unique place to live.

Matanzas River

Ft. Matanzas
6/26/2008
Photo by Mike M.
Click on photograph for best viewing

Location: Fort Matanzas National Monument is located about 15 miles south of the historic district of St. Augustine, Florida on Highway A1A South. St. Augustine is located on Florida's Northeastern Atlantic coast midway between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach.
- From the National Park Service

History:

Since its founding in 1565, the military outpost town of St. Augustine had been the heart of Spain's coastal defenses in Florida. After the completion of the Castillo de San Marcos in 1695, the town had only one weakness: fourteen miles to the south Matanzas Inlet allowed access to the Matanzas River, by which enemy vessels could attack the town from the rear - out of range of the Castillo's cannons. The presence of Ft. Matanzas physically demonstrates the determination of the Spanish colonial authorities to improve their defensive posture in northeast Florida.

Completed in 1742, the fortification was erected on the West Bank of the Matanzas River, immediately north of an inlet from the ocean, in order to prohibit enemy ships from proceeding northward along the river in an attack against the settlement at St. Augustine. Cannons mounted on the gun deck of the fort could easily menace any ship proceeding along the waterway.
- From the National Scenic Byways Program

Relevant links:

National Park Service, Ft. Matanzas

National Scenic Byways Program

Friday, June 27, 2008

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Mosquito Lagoon


Reddish egret
6/23/2008
Photo by Mark M.
Please click on image for best viewing

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge


White ibis, roseate spoonbill and snowy egret
6/23/2008
Photo by Mark M.
Please click on image for best viewing

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Mosquito Lagoon


Immature reddish egret
6/23/2008
Photo by Mark M.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Monday, June 16, 2008

Sunday, June 15, 2008

St. Augustine


Wood stork
7/31/2004


Great white heron
7/31/2004



Tricolored herons
7/31/2004



Great white egret
7/31/2004
Photos by Mark M.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Friday, June 13, 2008

Pumpkin Hill Creek State Park


Longleaf pine, grass stage
5/14/2005
Photo by Mark M.
Please click on image for best viewing.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Huguenot Memorial Park


Black skimmers
5/30/2007
Photo by Mike M.
Posted by Picasa

Huguenot Memorial Park


Black skimmer colony
5/30/2007
Photo by Mike M.
Click on the photograph for best viewing
Posted by Picasa

Monday, June 9, 2008

Sunday, June 8, 2008

St. Augustine

Juvenile great white egrets
4/24/2008
Photo by Mark M.

Click on photo for best viewing

Posted by Picasa

St. Augustine

Tricolored heron
4/24/2008
Photo by Mark M.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Salt Springs


Swallowtail kite
4/29/2007
Photo by Jim M.
Guest contributor

Friday, June 6, 2008

Salt Springs


Great white egret
4/29/2007
Photo by Jim M.
Guest contributor

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Salt Springs


River otters
4/29/2007
Photo by Jim M.
Guest contributor and great grandfather as of yesterday

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Monday, June 2, 2008

St. Augustine


Great white egret juveniles
5/31/2008
Photo by Mark M.

Click on photo for best viewing

Sunday, June 1, 2008