Frenchman's Forest and Riverbend

Today, we visited the Frenchman's Forest and Riverbend Park.

We stopped at Frenchman's Forest first. This a nice nice park with numerous Palmetto Palm hammocks and huge Live Oaks whose canopy create large shaded areas, as well as a nice medium for the various air plant species. We did not notice any of the Butterfly Orchids that are listed on the park's website. We did not see many critters. We saw several bird species, many squirrels, a few butterflies and dragonflies, a woodpecker, and a gopher tortoises. This is a nice park.

Wood Pecker

Giant Air Plant

Spanish Moss

Fern Covering the forest floor

Termites have created a nice home for some critters

The beautiful canopy of a Live Oak

The Woodpeckers really got this tree! There are several holes that completely go
through the tree!

A great example of a Palmetto Palm hammock. The park is loaded with the hammocks created by this species of palm.

A Gopher Tortoises. schlepping around the parking lot.

On the way to Riverbend Park, we noted these orchids and the Bromeliad below growing in some trees next to a well planted house/yard.

We walked the Riverbend Park. It was a nice long walk (several hours). Again, we did not see many critters. We mostly saw Squirrels, a few raccoons, a Black Racer,a few butterflies and dragonflies, as well as a few water birds. Halfway through the walk, the bone spurs on my left heal really started bothering me; however, I did complete the walk. This park is still being developed, so not all of the paths are open to the public. The park does have nice bike paths! Next time, we may bring the bikes; then, my ass will be hurting instead of my left heal!

Giant Air Plant

Mocking Bird

We noted the posted warning signs several times; however, no gators were to be seen today!

Black Racer