Fakahatchee Strand.....A year in review

[Ghost Hunter]

Here is a big series of photos that I took from April 2010 - April 2011. Fakahatchee is just such an awe inspiring place. I fell in love with it from my first trip and will continue to visit and explore the park for the rest of my life.....I'm an orchid'oholic....what can I say...

First up is Eulophia graminea. I spotted this little non native growing on the side of Janes Scenic Drive by a culvert. It was a single plant and I did not find any more anywhere else along the road for a good mile in either direction. Took a little while to identify but with a little help from Paul Martin Brown I got it figured out. This was my first sighting.

And down Janes we go.....


Found these two growing side by side.

Blethia purpurea & Blethia Purpurea forma alba / "Pine Pink's"

Campylocentrum pachyrrizum "Ribbon Orchid"

A pretty big Encyclia cochleata "Clamshell Orchid" out of bloom.

Here's a few flowers I found on some other plants.

And my absolute favorites....

Dendrophylax lindenii "Ghost Orchid"

And a treat.....another Fakahatchee first for me...

I'll post some more pics tomorrow....hope you enjoy as much as I did.


Jared H.




Living life one photo at a time.

[Justin Parkkonen]

Wow, phenomenal post Jared! I love the two Bletia side by side! I've never seen that exotic you posted.

Great shots. Looking forward to more!

[Ghost Hunter]

Thanks Justin.....I'll get more pics up today.

I'm thinking about going to Fakahatchee tomorrow morning (Sunday)

Anyone interested??




Living life one photo at a time.

[flhiker]

Your making me home sick. What time of day did you see the Panther? way cool.

[Ghost Hunter]

Sorry I'm making ya home sick....where you located now??

I photographed the panther at about 8:45 am. I got to the park at around 7am hoping to be one of the first people there to have a better chance of seeing and shooting some wildlife pics. Well....it paid off. I was actually shooting pics of a Barred owl that crossed over Janes so I had gotten out of my truck and I was just focusing on the bird when I heard a "meow" literally 3' from me. I took my eye from my camera and looked down in front ofme and there it was.......an 85+lb panther....thing is......I was down wind of her and she didn't realize I was even there. Then she glanced over


Living life one photo at a time.

[Ghost Hunter]

Where are you located now?

I got to the park at about 7am that day in hopes of being the first person down Janes so I could have a better chance of seeing & shooting more wildlife. Well it paid off. At around 8:30am I saw an owl fly across Janes so I pulled over and shut my truck off and hopped out to photograph the bird. About 5 minutes later while I was taking pics I heard a very familiar "meow" (I used to raise panthers for a wildlife refuge) literally right in front of me.....I'm looking through my viewfinder thinking to myself....."no way"......so I glance down and sure enough 3' away from me is a 85+lb. panther poking it's head of of the brush......we made eye contact and she very slowly proceeded out onto Janes and while keeping an eye on me she headed towards gate 7 which was just ahead of us. When my brain clicked on I remembered I was holding my camera so I snapped off a couple pics before she crossed the road and disappeared back into the swamp. What an amazing beginning to a rediculously awesome day in Fakahatchee. I saw 7 ghosts in bloom as well as a number of other flowers and birds or prey.


Living life one photo at a time.

[Eyebabe]

What an awesome experience and so much appreciated your sharing it

[Ghost Hunter]

Birds of prey.....


Living life one photo at a time.

[Justin Parkkonen]

I wish I could make it tomorrow but I am pretty tied up for the next few weeks.

I might be looking into relocating to the Naples area soon though, which would help me make it there much more often.

[Ghost Hunter]

Thanks and you're quite welcome. I'm glad other people can enjoy things they would otherwise not get to see through my photography.

Jared


Living life one photo at a time.