St. Pete, FL Daily Photo

2012-01-10T16:48:00.000-05:00

My favorite nature park is no longer free. The city now charges a $5 parking fee. An annual pass for $75 is also available. Since I come here a lot and don't always stay very long, the annual pass is the only practical option for me.

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Hello, Folks! I am back! ^_^

2010-12-28T19:25:00.000-05:00

I hope this finds you all well. Happy new year!

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

On Hiatus

2010-06-12T13:37:00.000-04:00

To my dearest fellow-world travelers:

The more ascetic side of life has slowly insinuated itself into my play time in the last couple of weeks. I must capitulate and attend to its demands, but only so I can win back my precious play time. In the meantime, I shall be lurking around your blogs and continue to share in the celebration of your beautiful cities.

God bless you all.

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

St. Pete Wildlife: Anhinga

2010-06-03T00:00:00.001-04:00

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

The anhinga is also known as snakebird or water turkey.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

St. Pete Wildlife: Armadillo

2010-06-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

St. Pete Wildlife: Florida Cottonmouth

2010-06-01T00:00:00.001-04:00

A Florida cottonmouth basks in the sun on the water bank. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, the cottonmouth is one out of six venomous snakes in Florida.

Thanks to the information board at the entrance of the trail, I was forewarned to watch out for them and stay away! I was quite safe on the boardwalk when I took these photos.

Florida Cottonmouth
(Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti)
Look along the water's edge, on the bank, or on a rock or log for this snake basking. It is one of the three venomous snakes here in the park, so you can look, but do not disturb!

The Florida Museum of Natural History has more information on the species: Florida Cottonmouth, Cottonmouth Moccasin, Water Moccasin, Moccasin

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

St. Pete Wildlife: Great Egret

2010-05-31T00:00:00.002-04:00

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Florida Wildlife: Turtles

2010-05-30T00:00:00.002-04:00

A gopher tortoise ignores me while I take pictures. I so love turtles, don't you?

A ban on commercial harvesting of fresh water turtles went into effect in July last year. Some locals consume turtles as delicacies, but the real pressure on the species comes from international export:

Increased demand for freshwater turtles in Asian and South American markets led to the conclusion that the pressure on the species would continue to increase. In addition, neighboring states began tightening their freshwater turtle rules, leading more harvesters to Florida's fresh waters.

The ban also impose limits to individuals:

Individuals will be allowed to take one freshwater turtle per day per person from the wild for noncommercial use. People cannot transport more than one turtle per day. The rule prohibits taking turtles from the wild that are listed on Florida's imperiled species list. Individuals cannot take species that look similar to the imperiled species; these include common snapping turtles and cooters. In addition, the ban includes collecting freshwater turtle eggs.

I've caught a few turtles in previous years, but always to pick them up out of the streets and into parks, where they should be. It is not uncommon to find them on city streets, and it sometimes takes guts to stop a busy traffic to rescue these guys.

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Beach Wildflowers - Saturday

2010-05-29T00:00:00.001-04:00

St. Pete Daily Photo celebrates spring this week in the language of wildflowers. All photos were taken at Fort de Soto Beach.

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Beach Wildflowers - Friday

2010-05-28T00:00:00.004-04:00

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Beach Wildflowers - Thursday

2010-05-27T00:00:00.002-04:00

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Beach Wildflowers - Wednesday

2010-05-26T00:00:00.005-04:00

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Beach Wildflowers - Tuesday

2010-05-25T00:00:00.002-04:00

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Beach Wildflowers - Monday

2010-05-24T19:49:00.000-04:00

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Beach Wildflowers - Sunday

2010-05-23T00:00:00.016-04:00

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

A Day in Paradise

2010-05-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Beach goers enjoy the nice weather while nature plays a soothing symphony.

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Beach Time!

2010-05-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

The beach is one of the favorite destinations here in St. Pete throughout the year. During the winter, most locals stay of the cold water, but visitors from the northern part of the country, where it's cold and snowy, think nothing of it.

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

A Bird for Company

2010-05-20T00:00:00.006-04:00

A bird sits above my picnic table by the beach. Taken at Fort de Soto Park.

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Waterside Living

2010-05-19T00:00:00.004-04:00

One's destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.
~ Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Tierra Verde

2010-05-18T01:18:00.003-04:00

One's destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.
~ Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Mini-Fisherman

2010-05-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

It was the cutest thing to watch this kid take his fishing seriously.

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Port of Tampa

2010-05-16T00:00:00.002-04:00

A view of the port of Tampa at sunset from the Channelside District.

Tampa is across the water from St. Petersburg.

View Larger Map

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

Bongo's by the Bay

2010-05-15T00:00:00.031-04:00

I love the playful paintings on this building. The colors are so beautiful and vibrant it makes me smile just looking at them. The inside is as whimsical as the inside. The store is full of delightful whimsies that will make you smile even more.

Bongo's is located in Safety Harbor, a city several miles north of St. Petersburg.

View Larger Map

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

One of Twins

2010-05-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

A metal sculpture of a giant armadillo by the great Paul Eppling, a local artist.

Eppling's palette is his workshop, which he fills with raw material found in salvage yards, sheet metal plants and one of his favorite sites, farm auctions. Years ago, farm implements were created by hand and great care was taken on each tool. As he holds up a small cultivator, he illustrates the graceful curves and detail, which are perfect raw material for his metal sculptures.

View the slideshow featuring some of his works.

Location: Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]

What was That Again?

2010-05-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

So tell me, did you read the sign right the first time or is it just me?

For whatever reason, I thought it said "No beer". Seriously. I was laughing myself silly when I saw it, and never realized my mistake until I looked at the pictures at home. Sheesh.

“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

[Check out the links on the sidebar to know more about the locations featured here.]