THE P-51 MUSTANG - FLYING BEAUTY.

Once in my life I have been up close and personal with one of the most beautiful machines ever created - the P-51 Mustang.  This one is located at Fantasy of Flight between here and Orlando.  I have never flown in one and this is likely the closest I will ever come to it, but even this was a wonderful experience.  Please remember that the flight shots were taken from the ground with a long lens, a lot of good light, all with a decent camera.  I only wish I had been in a chase plane along side to take these.  That would require a pretty good chase plane, come to think of it.  The ground shots truly were close up.  Clicking on an image will allow you to see it enlarged.

Not only have we won the "weather lottery" but we also live in a beautiful area with wonderful places to walk - all right in the neighborhood.

A Bismark Palm in the neighborhood.  I like these enough to not only photograph them but also to learn what they are.

We walk nearly every day.  Sometimes I see what I have not seen before. This is a small palm shot against the sky and highlighted.

Nearly every "village" in Tampa Palms has a wall surrounding it and they are mostly covered with vines.  This is a nearly bare spot.

These two low palms are not the same plant although they are similar.  They remind me of an explosion of joy.

I am guessing that what we have here is some form of Holly with berries. Does any one know more?

The Tampa Palms Neighborhood

We live in an area of New Tampa - up on the north side - called Tampa Palms.  The development is some 5600 acres in size and it contains about 17 subdivisions they call villages and one heck of a lot of conservation space as well as a country club.  The photos presented here are all of things we see on our walks in the neighborhood.

The Tampa Palms logo is everywhere.  This one is on a wall on the country club grounds.

Between the house and the club we encountered these palms silhouetted in the sunset.

The club house at the golf course from that back side.

 Part of the clubhouse includes this portico

 The park behind our house is fully equipped with trees covered in Spanish Moss and lights to highlight everything when the sun goes down.

 More Spanish Moss in contrast to the palms behind.

 The water hazard behind the club house is the home of at least one Snowy Egret.

 And of course, all Snowy Egrets worth their salt can fly.  If only I could get this one to fly toward the camera.

What Kind of Stuff Grows on Palm Trees?

While taking a walk yesterday afternoon we happened on three different palm trees in the neighborhood that have become hosts to other plant life.  At the top is a full blown fern garden. Next we have some ferns but other smaller plants as well.  And finally we have a trunk covered with a vine of some sort.  I am new to Florida, so the correct names of all of these escape me.  Remember, a click on each photo will allow you to see a larger version.

A Tampa Palm at Sunset

Tampa, the back yard,  19 November 2011, 6:15 p.m., 79 degrees.  Sunset as a form of comfort food.  Click to see the photo larger if you so desire.

What is it?

I will be first to admit that sometimes things I see look differently to me than to others.  I am not sure whether that is good or bad, but it is what it is.  So what is this?  Let me know what you think.  Remember you can click on the photo to enlarge your view of it.

The First Shots from Tampa

Any one who has looked at this blog knows that I like to shoot photos as I walk.  Well, I walked - in the neighborhood, walking up past Pride Elementary School where the girls attend.  the White Egret, and whatever the big black bird in the top of the tree is, were in a conservancy area across the street from the school.  There are many such areas near here where there is a broad spectrum of wild life, including gators, in addition to what you see here.  Alas, the ducks were in a pond on the property of a much less exotic apartment complex.  Please remember that clicking on any given photo will make it larger and will reveal more detail.  Enjoy.