More flowers from my garden.  My garden was amazing this year until I was gone for 2 weeks on vacation-- the deer came and mowed everything down.

My Stargazer Lillies were amazing this year.  And they smelled sooooo amazing! 

Found 2 swallowtail catapillars eating my dill.  They were fat, colorful things!  Apparently, when they feel threatened, they raise their stink horns (the orange things) and release a God aweful smell. 

Rocky Mountain High.... Colorado.  Went home to visit this summer.  While I was there I went up one afternoon to Rocky Mountain National Park.   It was hot, but rainy.  Still, beautiful though!

Finally, the last of the Everglades.  We were watching a storm rise up on the horizon--made for some stunning skies! I can't wait to go back to the Everglades!

This is a giant grasshopper that they call a Lubber.

I'm back in town and hopefully done traveling for a while.  Here are a few more from the Everglades. 

Osprey

We found this little lake/pond in the everglades that was full of birds!  There were way too many to count.  Egrets, spoonbills, storks, Ibis.... It was amazing.  And very loud!

I'm back in town for a few days.  Here are some more of the amazing Everglades.

They have all of these amazing trails that you can walk all throughout the park.  However, you need to bathe in insect repelent because the Mosquitoes are thick, large and very hungry!

The Air Plants cover the trees there.  Beautiful!

We found this large snail roaming around.  He was very cool looking, and fast for a snail.

A large Soft Shelled Turtle.

Snowy Egret

Baby gators!  They were kind of cute in that "once I grow up I can eat you" kind of way.   I enjoyed taking their photos until I heard them calling for mom, then I was a little distracted looking for her.

This was a big guy!  He wasn't scared of us at all.

Purple Gallinule-- one very colorful bird..... who never ever seemed to stand still enough for me to photograph properly.

One of my favorite birds -- the great Blue Heron

Their wingspan is over 6 feet!

The everglades are gorgeous and a bird lovers dream!

Great Egret

White Ibis

Gator!

Green Heron

In all the times I've traveled to Florida, I had never been to the everglades.  We decided that this time we would go.  We booked an airboat tour.  Right now the Florida everglades are in a severe drought - 21 inches behind in rainfall for the year-- so a lot of it is dried up.  Then they had a huge fire the day before we arrived, so we were limited in where we could go.  Still, was one of the best experiences I've had.  I fell in love with the everglades and can't wait to go back!

This is a young Alligator-- probably 2 or 3 years old. 

These lilies open up at the same time each day and close up at the same time each day.  You can set your clock by them.

Great Egret