Birds, trees and other delights

 

Sharing the water's bounty, Everglades

We spent most of our recent getaway in the different areas of Everglades National Park, but one day we drove from our campground in Homestead to Key Largo, the start of the Florida Keys.  It's less than an hour's drive but a whole different world.

We'd sort of planned on just a look-around drive and an early dinner, but then we passed a sign for this State Park we'd never even heard of, so we stopped.   Marked nature trails sounded good, so we  paid the small self-service entry fee and set off.   

 

OK -- so we didn't want to bushwhack through unmarked wilderness,  but the "trail" above was  too tame  for us!  It was  very odd, like walking down the middle of the highway.   But we persisted and eventually found some side trails that were more fun.  

When we finished our walk we read the signs at the entrance more carefully and learned that the paved part of the walk is leftover from the early 1970s, back when the property was privately owned and slated for a large condo development.    The developers had big ideas, but failed to get financial backing (fortunately).   I'm glad they didn't get too far on their development before giving up.

Anna Dagny Johnson, for whom the park is named, was a lawyer and environmentalist who spearheaded the campaign to get the State to purchase the property.  It has been a State Park since 1982.    

 

 Both along the main trail (the street) and the side trails, occasional signage told us the names of some of the unfamiliar trees.    We learned that the park includes one of the largest tracts of tropical hardwoods in this country.  It was an interesting walk and the cool shade  more than welcome on this hot March day.   The Coquina wall is probably also left over from the planned development but it fit into the natural area.  

 

 

 We took a closer look at the wall and found that a lot of the stones  contained sea fossils.    This shows that some of the history in this park is a few centuries more ancient than the successful campaign to thwart over-development.   

The following pictures are from the Everglades part of this trip:

 

More shore birds and wading birds getting along together.

 

Birds-eye view of a smallish alligator.  

And back at  the campground where we stayed near Homestead, some more feathered friends:

 

Peacocks roamed freely through the old RV Park where we stayed and one evening we counted at least ten!  A few of them wandered over to check us out on the afternoon we checked into the park and then we'd see them every evening when we returned to our camp site.  We never saw them in the mornings.  They're loud and probably kind of messy, but it was a delight to watch them strut their stuff as if they owned the place.   (Who knows, maybe they did.  It was only the manager who checked us in for them.)   We definitely didn't eat on the picnic table however. 

Linking this week to the following with thanks to the hosts:

MOSAIC MONDAY;   NATURE NOTES; THROUGH MY LENS; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;  WILD BIRD Wednesday;  SIGNS SIGNS;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SATURDAY CRITTERS and RATHER B' BIRDING  

Comments

[Heidrun]

Belated Easter wishes, it seems you have had fine days.

I read with special interest. Fort Lauderdale is well known.

Very best greetings, hugs by Heidrun

[Traude "Rostrose"]

Happy Easter 🐣🐰🪺!
All the best from Austria, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2023/04/ruckschau-auf-den-marz-2023.html

[DeniseinVA]

I love the Everglades. It has the most amazing wildlife and fauna as shown in your very enjoyable photos. Thank you for sharing them Sallie and enjoy the rest of your week.

[Stewart M]

This is such a famous part of the world - and the alligator looks big enough for me!

Cheers Stewart M - Melbourne

[Beatrice]

Sallie, yes is it fortunate that the financial backing fell through for that condo development as now there's a lovely nature area to explore. That certainly was a gathering of peacocks, perhaps out for a picnic too? The best view of an alligater is in the water and far away in my opinion.

[Anni]

Like your bird sightings, but the part of the trail that would interest me the most is the fossils!!
For taking time to share this post with us at IRBB, I want to thank you.

[Adam Jones]

Love those shore birds, and the alligator looks quite frightening.

[Michelle Keltner]

Fun that all of those peacocks were around. I know they can be quite loud, but they are beautiful. Glad you didn't use the picnic table! lol Thanks for linking up and have the best weekend.

[A ShutterBug Explores]

Oh such gorgeous nature shots ~ you are so blessed to have each other to enjoy days with together ~

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

[JBig - Kentucky]

Nice walk and beautiful pics. Watch out for that gator!

[Lavender Dreams]

I'm back to look again! I love seeing the birds we have here in our beautiful state of Florida! Happy weekend!

[Eileen]

Hello Sallie,
Great photos of the trail, the pretty birds and the gator.
Seeing the peacocks is a treat. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend.

[mae]

The rare area in southern Florida that IS preserved in a near-natural state is so valuable! We found a few such locations on our various trips to that area, but mostly it’s kind of depressing to learn what has been (and is still in process of being) lost and gone forever! Thanks for these nice photos.

best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

[Breathtaking]

Hello Sallie :=)
What an interesting visit to the Anna Dagny Johnson State park. I'm pleased the Condo development didn't happen, kudos to A. D. Johnson for her campaign to get the State to purchase the property. The limestone walls are fascinating.I know that Coquina is Spanish for Cockle, and this is the main shell component to the rock. I would love to get a closer look as I have never seen a wall like this. Your image of the waders and shore birds is beautiful, especially since they are all white and stand out against the browns and greens of the Everglades.How wonderful that you saw ten peacocks on your return to base. They are such impressive and colourful birds, although noisy. I hope they didn't disturb your well earned rest/sleep after your day's outing.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my visit, and I loved your generous comment. I too would love to share lunch and a glass of wine with you on my balcony, if only!! :=)

[somewhereinireland]

That was a great decision to save this area. Wonderful wildlife photos and a beautiful place to walk and enjoy nature. Have a wonderful weekend, Sallie.

[Fun60]

That was a good find. How different it would have been had the developers found the finance needed. The fossils are an important part of the history of the area.

[Linda]

Area, not ariel.

[Linda W]

If I remember my childhood rock collection correctly, coquina, by definition, is a rock made up of sea fossils.

I’m glad that Ariel was saved from development.

[Michelle Banks]

More and more places are being given to industry or housing sadly...Michelle

[Heidrun]

Yes, this places should be saved.

Very interesting to read. I enjoyed. Thank you for sharing with

MosaicMonday

Have a wonderful week.

[Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie]

So fun to find this hidden gem, Sallie! I love that it was turned from development to a state park. The little scene of the waterbirds is so nice and the stone wall is very interesting with all the fossils. The peacocks are a surprise and good idea to skip the picnic!

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...Sallie, you sure have plenty of delights here!

[Veronica Lee]

Love the photos of the birds and the gator.

I'm so glad this piece of land wasn't developed.

Hugs and blessings, Sallie

[Carol]

I've never been to this park but love all the photos - nice place.

[Alan]

That little botanical state park you found is a treasure. I love finding stuff like that. Amazing to, that probably due to the one person's persistence to make it happen. I love the big asphalt trail and the idea of side trails.
It looks like there is one geocache there as well.

[Sandy]

Glad you didn't eat on the table. As soon as I saw those big birds I freaked. I used to always have a plastic table cloth when we camped. You got some great pictures, glad you were able to venture out. Super glad to hear the planned development did not happen.

[ellen b.]

Haha...good idea not to eat off that picnic table. I think it's so nice to be able to have your travel trailer and be able to enjoy these short trips around your area without rushing to get home before dark. Interesting development history of this park. Happy it is preserved. Great photos.

[Jenn Jilks]

That was a lovely adventure! It's been good to get out of the house.

[Amy]

I do enjoy reading history of places we visit and especially fossils, how cool is that.

[William Kendall]

Good that this place was saved.

[Lavender Dreams]

State Parks in Florida are really special. I'm so glad this piece of land wasn't developed. And we love getting off the paved trails too...always more to see! Neat photos of the peacocks!

[hena]

Sounds like a good time.

[Pat]

Hi Sallie

We loved visiting the Florida Keys.

How wonderful that this beautiful area was kept natural and the condo plans failed. We see too much new development happening here along the front range and most of it thoughtlessly gobbling up nature. The peacocks are enormous!!

It is still chilly here --today we had an inch of fresh snow. Spring is waiting on the sidelines...lol

[Cathy]

Beautiful peacocks! I do enjoy visiting here for you share photos that I enjoy looking at. Have a grand week!

[Eileen]

Hello,
I am glad the land was saved and made into a park. Great photos of the birds and the gator. I like seeing the fossils in the rocks.
It is a surprise the campground had so many peacocks. I heard they can be very loud. Take care, have a happy new week!

[Traude "Rostrose"]

Dear Sallie, I'm also glad that the condo development came to nothing and the area is now on environmental protection! The wall is really a witness of the past with all the fossil traces.
Peacocks at a campsite can be a real challenge - as I know from experience they are extremely noisy. But of course also pretty and interesting animals ❤️
Have a happy week! Hugs, Traude 😘
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2023/03/costa-rica-9-kapitel-nationalpark.html

[Sharon Hein]

Love those pictures, as usual. Hope the peacocks gave you a show!

[Diane]

What a lovely adventure. The off road trails look great and cool. Lovely photos.