Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens

In October 2012, I went to my first meeting of the Beaches Photography Club.  It was very nice to be with others who like photography!  It didn't take me long to figure out that there were many professionals in that group - and also, many who just liked taking photos!  I have been able to go on two outings, so far, with the members of this group.  It has been great fun, and at the same time, a learning experience.  Last month, I wrote about a visit to the Guana River Preserve, which is a place I had never before visited, although it is close to home.  This next outing was to another place I had never been to, also close to home, but in a different direction.  Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens was a wonderful place to visit!  We wandered around the trails and the lake.  We saw some flowering cherry trees, some ferns that were uncurling, and a plant that certainly looked like a dandelion variety!  I used my macro Nikkor lens for the first time in quite awhile.  I found that, in some cases, I was trying to get too close to the flowers and plants that I wanted to photograph.  This lens also works very well for some of the woodlands scenery.  I'm glad that I was practicing with this lens again.  I went back a couple of days later and took some more shots.  It was interesting that some of my favorite "tiny" things had changed in the course of two days and there were new "tiny" things to see - nature is always changing!

Guana River State Park

Members of the Beaches Photography Club went on an outing a week ago.  We went to the Guana River State Park and Preserve and spent the afternoon taking photos.  I had never been there before - and what an interesting place it was!  We hiked (or moseyed) along a trail that was about 1 and 1/2 miles long - snapping photos along the way.  It was a beautiful afternoon.  The sun was out, there was a slight breeze, and there were so many interesting looking trees and vines and lichen.  We didn't see much in the way of wildlife.  However, there were many "no-see-ums" that seemed to attack when there was no breeze.  We stayed until sunset and took more photos and then we almost had to jog to get out of the trail area before it got too dark.  I was glad I had a flashlight with me!  This is a great place to come back to and spend more time on the trails.  There is a lot to explore - and a lot to photograph!