La Florida

St. Augustine

2010-07-07T11:07:00.000-04:00

Wood storks etal.

Photo by Mark M.

Please click on image for best viewing.

St Augustine

2010-07-06T09:41:00.000-04:00

Roseate spoonbills

Photo by Mark M.

Please click on image for best viewing

St. Augustine

2010-07-04T09:34:00.000-04:00

Juvenile tri-colors

Photo by Mark M.

Click on image for best viewing

St. Augustine

2010-07-01T11:11:00.000-04:00

Juvenile spoonbills on their nest

Photo by Mark M.

A very rare site in North Florida

Please click on image for best viewing

St. Augustine

2010-06-29T09:30:00.001-04:00

Roseate spoonbills

Photo by Mark M.

St. Augustine

2010-06-28T09:52:00.000-04:00

Great egrets

Photo by Mark M.

St. Augustine

2010-06-27T13:38:00.000-04:00

Roseate spoonbill

Photo by Mark M.

June 26, 2010

St. Johns County

2010-06-06T10:23:00.000-04:00

Juvenile tri-colored herons

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Photo by Mark M.

St. Johns County

2010-06-01T09:17:00.000-04:00

Tri-colored heron

Photos by Warren A. and Mark M.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

St. Johns County

2010-05-31T09:05:00.000-04:00

Roseate spoonbill

Photo by Mark M.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

St. Johns County

2010-05-29T10:30:00.000-04:00

Baby great egret.

Photo by Mark M.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

"Hey! Can I get some service around here!"

St. Johns County

2010-05-28T12:02:00.000-04:00

Little blue heron

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Photo by Mark M.

St. Johns County

2010-05-27T09:37:00.000-04:00

Woodstorks

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Photo by Mark M.

St. Johns County

2010-05-26T08:49:00.000-04:00

Great egret

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Photo by Mark M.

St. Johns County

2010-05-25T10:54:00.000-04:00

Great egret

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Photo by Mark M.

St. Johns County

2010-05-23T14:41:00.001-04:00

Roseate spoonbill

St. Augustine Alligator Farm
Photo by Mark M.

The Day in Photos (May 20, 2010) : Treasure Coast Photo Galleries : TCPalm.com: Local Treasure Coast, Florida News Delivered Throughout the Day.

2010-05-22T13:20:00.000-04:00

The Day in Photos (May 20, 2010) : Treasure Coast Photo Galleries : TCPalm.com: Local Treasure Coast, Florida News Delivered Throughout the Day.

St. Lucie County

2010-05-17T10:05:00.001-04:00

Hummingbird moth
Photo by Patricia N.

Guest contributor

St. Lucie County

2010-05-16T09:16:00.000-04:00

Gulf fritillary

Photo by Patricia N.

Guest contributor

St. Lucie County

2010-05-15T09:55:00.000-04:00

Giant swallowtail

Photo by Patricia N.

Guest contributor

Spring Garden 2010

2010-05-13T09:08:00.000-04:00

Wisteria (Florida native)

Photo by Mark M.

Spring garden 2010

2010-05-11T11:22:00.000-04:00

Photo by Mark M.

Spring garden 2010

2010-05-09T11:43:00.000-04:00

Cherry laurel.

Photo by Mark M.

Indiro Savannah

2010-05-08T09:22:00.001-04:00

St. Lucie County

Saving Florida one fire at a time. My son Mike and the state forestry division did several controlled burns last week to minimize fuel loads before wildfire season and to help fire dependent plants and trees.

Spring garden 2010

2010-05-04T12:28:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure what this is.

Photo by Mark M.

Spring garden 2010

2010-05-03T06:27:00.000-04:00

Photo by Mark M.

This spring's garden

2010-05-02T09:39:00.002-04:00

This begins a series of photos from this year's garden. Gayle gets all the credit.

Clematis

Pinelands Natural Area, St. Lucie County

2010-04-27T08:44:00.000-04:00

Photo by Mike M.

American bald eagle

2010-04-26T10:24:00.000-04:00

New home security system in Port St. Lucie

Please click on image for best viewing

Photo by Bob R.

Pinelands Natural Area, St. Lucie County

2010-04-25T10:44:00.000-04:00

Tick seed

Photo by Mike M.

Pinelands Natural Area, St. Lucie County

2010-04-24T11:27:00.000-04:00

Thistle

Photos by Mike M.

Pineland's Natural Area

2010-04-22T09:02:00.000-04:00

St. Andrew's Cross

Photo by Mike M.

St. Lucie wildflowers

2010-04-21T09:48:00.000-04:00

Orange milkwort

Photo by Mike M.

Pineland Natural Area

2010-04-20T10:22:00.000-04:00

Rain lilly

Photo by Mike M.

St. Augustine

2010-04-18T10:48:00.000-04:00

Photo by Mark M.

It's that time of year again. The rookery at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm is packed with nesting wading birds. Highly worth a visit.

Volusia County

2010-04-12T10:40:00.000-04:00

Deep Creek

4.7.2010

Photo by Mark M.

Volusia County

2010-04-10T09:43:00.000-04:00

Deep Creek

4.7.10

Photos by Mark M.

Volusia County

2010-04-09T13:37:00.000-04:00

Deep Creek

4.7.10

Photo by Mark M.

This is a panorama. Please click on the image for best viewing.

Volusia County

2010-04-08T09:08:00.000-04:00

Wildflowers at Deep Creek

Florida dogs

2010-04-06T10:48:00.000-04:00

Polk County originals

Bounder and Glider

Photo by Gayle M.

Dog handling by Mark M.

End of an era

2010-04-05T09:30:00.000-04:00

For Floridians, this was the last night launch of the space shuttle.

Photo by Mark M.

4.5.10

Jacksonville

2010-04-04T13:09:00.000-04:00

Thomas Creek

Photo by Mike M.

Please click on image for best viewing.

Jacksonville

2010-04-03T11:34:00.000-04:00

St. Johns River

Photo by Mike M.

Please click on image for best viewing.

St. Lucie County

2010-04-02T06:50:00.000-04:00

Sherman's fox squirrel

Photo by Mike M.

Ravines Gardens State Park

2010-03-31T18:49:00.000-04:00

Orchid or iris

Photo by Caren B., guest contributor

St. Lucie County

2010-03-26T15:39:00.000-04:00

American bald eagle

Photo by Mark M.

St. Lucie County

2010-03-24T07:55:00.001-04:00

American bald eagle

3.23.10
Photo by Mark M.

Please click on image for best viewing.

Pumpkin Hill Creek State Buffer Park

2010-03-20T10:25:00.000-04:00

These photos are from a prescribed fire meant to reduce fuel loads as fire season approaches and to help fire dependent species, like longleaf pine trees, regenerate. The mouse, however, was unimpressed.

Photos by Mark M.

St. Lucie County

2010-03-18T14:29:00.001-04:00

Scrub wetland

Spruce Bluff AIS Indian Mounds

Photo by Mike M.

Signs of Spring

2010-03-16T10:00:00.000-04:00

Skyblue lupine

Spruce Bluff AIS Indian Mounds

Photo by Mike M.

Sail Jacksonville

2010-03-13T11:50:00.001-05:00

At the starting line off the coast of Jacksonville

Photo by Mark M.

St. Johns River

2010-03-05T12:49:00.000-05:00

near Jacksonville

Photo by Wes Lester, guest contributor

Sail Jacksonville

2010-03-01T09:49:00.000-05:00

Tenacious

Off the coast of Jacksonville

Operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust

Matanzas National Monument

2010-02-27T15:23:00.000-05:00

Great horned owl

Photo by Melissa T., guest contributor

Matanzas National Monument

2010-02-26T16:28:00.000-05:00

Great horned owls

Photo by Melissa T., guest contibutor

Blue Spring State Park

2010-02-24T13:32:00.000-05:00

Florida manatees

Photo by Melissa T., guest contributor

Alpine Grove Park - St. Johns County

2010-02-22T08:35:00.000-05:00

Green anole

Photo by Melissa T., guest contributor

Mickler's Landing - St. Johns County

2010-02-20T10:52:00.001-05:00

Sabal palm and sea oats

Photo by Melissa T., guest contributor

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

2010-02-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

Scrub jay

Photo by Clay Henderson

Guest contributor

End of an era

2010-02-09T13:09:00.001-05:00

Space shuttle Endeavour streaks toward space in the last of the program's night time launches.

Photos and story by Clay Henderson, valued friend and colleague:

There was no stopping me from getting up early this morning to see the last night launch of the space shuttle. I really don't know how many night launches I've seen but have seen most of them since seeing the first in 1983. They have all been memorable events, even those from our front yard a mere 25 miles away.

That first night launch was still in the infancy of the shuttle program. A bad weather system came through that summer night and we loaded up on our old sailboat around midnight to make our way south through Mosquito Lagoon to get within ten miles of Pad 39. Because the weather had been so bad, we were the only boat in the lagoon, lonely witnesses to the first night launch of the space shuttle. That first launch was around 2:30 in the morning and I remember seeing something not unlike a sunrise in the middle of the night. The pictures we took that night, with old slide film, captured colors we had not seen in nature. It was quite a site.

Obviously what is special about a night launch is the way it turns night into day. The orange fire ball streaks upward on a arc as it not only makes its way to space but across the Atlantic. About 90 seconds into the flight, the solid rocket boosters which launched the shuttle flame out and are discarded over the ocean. Two orange flames drop toward the ocean while an object which appears to be the brightest star in the sky moves on. At this point you are seeing the flames from the shuttle engines moving away and it makes its way across the ocean it appears to set toward the horizon. On some clear and cold nights, we've seen the shuttle star make it's way all across the Atlantic while appearing to set in the east.

It's also fun watching the birds and fishes react to the shuttle. The night herons are nocturnal species who roost in the mangroves during the day and feed along the shore by night. At every night launch I've watched the surprised night herons stop feeding and figuratively look at their watches and think this was a short work day. Then they take flight back to their roosts. The rhythm of their day was shortened.

The mullet go crazy with every night launch. A few minutes after the launch, the land rumbles with the shock wave from the multi-million pounds of thrust. It's like a mini-tremor or as close as we get in Florida. Apparently, this shock wave is also felt by the fish in the water because without fail the schooling mullet start jumping out of the water and splashing all over each other in reaction to the abnormal vibration.

The penultimate night launch was last August and I joined a few friends at Haulover Canal to paddle in kayaks out into the lagoon. As awesome as the launch was the blue-green energy of the bioluminesce in the water. We positioned ourselves with several other kayakers against the jetties at the entrance to Haulover, with no other boats between us and the brightly illuminated pad only ten miles away. I think this was the best night launch ever at midnight on a full moon with a clear sky. It was a night I'll never forget.

For almost 30 years, the launch of the space shuttle has been a regular feature around these parts but the night launches are ones we remember the most. To see the bright flame of the rocket turn night into day and then disappear into the blackness of space is the closest any us will get to touching the sky.

Early signs of spring

2010-02-08T10:18:00.000-05:00

We are ready to move these plants out of the house. C'mon spring time.

Road to Olustee - 2010

2010-02-07T09:02:00.001-05:00

Camp Milton Historic Preserve

1.31.10

Photo by Mark M.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

2010-02-06T09:01:00.000-05:00

Some of our old friends at the Alligator Farm

Photos by Mike M.

Road to Olustee - 2010

2010-02-06T08:56:00.000-05:00

Camp Milton Historic Preserve

1.31.10

Photo by Mark M.

Road to Olustee - 2010

2010-02-05T08:59:00.002-05:00

Camp Milton Historic Preserve

1.31.10

Road to Olustee - 2010

2010-02-04T08:50:00.002-05:00

Camp Milton Historic Preserve

1.31.10

Photo by Mark M.

Road to Olustee - 2010

2010-02-03T08:43:00.001-05:00

Camp Milton Historic Preserve

1.31.10

Photo by Mark M.

Road to Olustee - 2010

2010-02-02T08:56:00.000-05:00

Camp Milton Historic Preserve

1.31.10

Photo by Mark M.

Road to Olustee - 2010

2010-02-02T08:50:00.001-05:00

Camp Milton Historic Preserve

1.31.10

Blue Spring State Park

2010-02-02T07:51:00.000-05:00

Great blue heron

1.24.10

Blue Spring State Park

2010-02-01T07:53:00.000-05:00

Blue Spring run

1.24.10

Photo by Mark M.

Blue Spring State Park

2010-01-31T07:47:00.001-05:00

Great blue and one footed salute to manatee mom and calf

1.24.10

Photo by Mark M.

Road to Olustee 2010

2010-01-30T12:02:00.002-05:00

Road to Olustee 2010-22
Originally uploaded by City of Jacksonville

The Road to Olustee is taking place at Camp Milton this weekend. Weather should be great on Sunday.

Photo by Wes Lester

Blue Spring State Park

2010-01-30T08:36:00.000-05:00

Not so hungry American alligator

1.24.10

Photo by Mark M.

Manatee Festival

2010-01-29T08:33:00.002-05:00

Jungle Jim and friend

Note the Master Naturalist patch. I have one more class to go before I earn mine.

1.24.10

Lake Winona

2010-01-28T09:32:00.001-05:00

Sandhill cranes

1.24.10

Photo by Mark M.

Blue Spring State Park - Manatee Festival

2010-01-26T08:59:00.001-05:00

Great blue attends the festival to watch the manatees.

Photo by Mark M.

1.26.10

Please click on image for best viewing.

Orange City

2010-01-25T11:13:00.000-05:00

"Harley Davidson," the amazing frisbee dog

at the Manatee Festival

from the Disc Connected K9s show

Jacksonville

2010-01-20T13:39:00.000-05:00

Castaway Island Preserve

1.20.10

Photo by Mark M.

St. Lucie County

2010-01-16T12:44:00.007-05:00

Lakela's mint

Indrio Savannahs

Photo by Mike M.

Status: Endangered.

See:

Florida Natural Areas Inventory

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

2010-01-15T12:22:00.001-05:00

Great blue heron

Photo by Mark M.

1/8/10

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

2010-01-14T12:16:00.001-05:00

Wood stork

Photo by Mark M.

1/8/09

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

2010-01-13T12:03:00.001-05:00

Juvenile little blue heron (I think)

Photo by Mark M.

1/8/10

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

2010-01-12T11:29:00.007-05:00

Roseatte spoonbills

Photos by Mark M.

1/8/10

Please click on image for best viewing

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

2010-01-11T12:30:00.001-05:00

Cold front approaches

Photo by Mark M.

1/8/10

From the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 as an overlay of NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center. Consisting of 140,000 acres, the Refuge provides a wide variety of habitats: coastal dunes, saltwater estuaries and marshes, freshwater impoundments, scrub, pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks provide habitat for more than 1,500 species of plants and animals. Many recreational opportunities are offered at the Refuge. Bird and wildlife observation, a wildlife drive, manatee observation deck, fishing and hunting opportunities, and boating and paddling are examples of available activities.
The Visitor Information Center located 4 miles east of Titusville, Florida, is a great place to start your visit.

Refuge roads, trails, and boat ramps are open daily from sunrise to sunset. However, closures can be expected for space shuttle operations.

From I-95, take Exit 220 (Titusville, State Road 406 Exit). Drive east on SR406, also known as Garden Street. Continue east on Garden Street for 4 miles and travel over the Max Brewer Causeway Bridge. The Refuge begins at the east side of the causeway.

To reach the Visitor Information Center, continue 4 miles past the Refuge entrance (remain to your right at the fork in the road) and the Visitor Center entrance sign will be on your right.

From the north, access is available from US 1 on the Kennedy Parkway (SR 3) about two miles south of the community of Oak Hill. Access is not available from the south on SR 3 because of the restricted area surrounding the Kennedy Space Center. From the south, visitors must use the Titusville entrance.

Map of Refuge

Travel distances from common destinations include:

Cocoa Beach - 37 miles
Daytona Beach - 39 miles
Jacksonville - 135 miles
Melbourne - 49 miles
Miami - 226 miles
New Smyrna Beach - 37 miles
Ocala - 130 miles
Orlando - 52 miles
Tallahassee - 296 miles
Tampa - 126 miles

Merritt Island website

Ft. Matanzas National Monument

2010-01-10T09:11:00.000-05:00

Photos by Mark M.M.

Ft. Matanzas National Monument

2010-01-09T09:50:00.002-05:00

Photos by Mark M.M.

Crescent Beach

2010-01-04T13:11:00.001-05:00

Ft. Matanzas National Monument

Photo by Mark. M. M.

Guest contributor

From the National Park Service:

The area of the Matanzas inlet, now preserved within the park boundaries, was the scene of crucial events in Spanish colonial history. The massacre of French soldiers here in 1565 was Spain's opening move in establishing a colony in Florida. Later, the construction of Fort Matanzas in 1740-1742 was Spain's last effort to ward off British encroachments from the north.

Fort Matanzas National Monument is open every day of the year except December 25. The park is located on Hwy A1A, fourteen miles south of downtown St. Augustine, the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the continental United States and home of the Castillo de San Marcos which is also a unit of the National Park system.

Free Ferry Service to the fort leaves every hour at half past the hour, 9:30 am -- 4:30 pm from the dock behind the visitor center. Tours generally last 45-50 min.

Port St. Lucie

2010-01-01T12:01:00.000-05:00

Near the North Fork of the St. Lucie River

Photo by Mark M.

You know the Florida real estate market is bad when your only tenants are buzzards.

Castaway Island - Jacksonville

2009-12-31T12:02:00.001-05:00

Preservation (33)
Originally uploaded by City of Jacksonville

Photo by Wes Lester
Guest contributor

New photos coming

2009-12-27T11:19:00.003-05:00

Spruce Bluff AIS Indian Mound
Port St. Lucie
Photo by Mark M.

I will be heading to Central Florida in 10 days for meetings and hope to hook up with a photographer friend for a tour of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. I am hopeful, weather permitting, to come back with some interesting photos. In the meanwhile, I will continue posting photos from St. Lucie.

St. Lucie wildflower series

2009-12-20T16:46:00.001-05:00

Photo by Mark M.

2009-12-15T15:19:00.001-05:00

North Fork St. Lucie River
Photo by Mark M.

Please click on image for best viewing.

St. Lucie wildflowers 3

2009-12-14T10:25:00.002-05:00

Paw paw
Photo by Mike M.

St. Lucie River - North Fork

2009-12-12T11:30:00.001-05:00

Photo by Mark M.

12.10.09
Please click on image for best viewing

St. Lucie wildflowers - 2

2009-11-27T10:52:00.000-05:00

Blue flag iris

Photo by Mike M.

St. Lucie wildflower series - 1

2009-11-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

Prickly pear cactus

Photo by Mike M.

Ponte Vedra Beach

2009-11-22T11:37:00.000-05:00

Passion flower (I think)

Photo by Gayle M.

Volusia County

2009-11-11T13:57:00.000-05:00

Deep Creek
Photo by Clay H., guest contributor

The Mocama: New name for an old people | Jacksonville.com

2009-10-18T11:45:00.002-04:00

The Mocama: New name for an old people | Jacksonville.com

Shared via AddThis

A video can be seen here.