Fun farm animals

On October 7, 2026October 2, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn flowers and plants, Tampa bay sights9 Comments

The face of a happy cow being hand fed sunflowers at Sweetfields Farm in Brooksville while I was there for the sunflower festival.

Some of the other farm animals. You could pet the cows and feed the goats.

The gopher tortoise had a big home near the sunflower maze.

It’s always fun seeing baby chicks.

The view of part of the sunflower maze from the treehouse. Yes, I climbed up there with my camera since it wasn’t very high up and there were stairs.

Shots of a portion of the zinnia field. I brought home one of each color.

Shots of the barn.

Sunflowers in the parking lot area.

An afternoon storm on the water

On September 23, 2026October 8, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights7 Comments

I was having knee problems on and off since February. It flared up again in mid-May so I was on my way down to the doctor’s office and saw the rain in downtown St. Pete.

After my appointment I drove over to the water and was able to get a front parking spot along the seawall in time to see the above. I was hoping to see some lightning but none appeared the short time I was there.

Cotton candy colored sky

On September 21, 2026October 8, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights3 Comments

Sunset one night in the middle of May. We had storms most of the day and they moved out just as the sun was going down behind the pond across the street. I ran out the front door with just my phone.

The sky started out bright orange.

I was keeping an eye on the alligator in the water just at the edge of the grass.

The sky turned shades of purple and pink at the very end.

Critters and color on the causeway

On August 19, 2026September 5, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights6 Comments

I was out early in the morning for a walk on the Dunedin causeway in April. It looked like work was still being done on the causeway from all of the damage due to the hurricanes in late 2024.

Looking right into the sun I could see a dolphin that had come close to the shore and the light was so bad but I still had to take some shots of it.

Even a bad dolphin video is a good dolphin video.

The willets and dowitchers were feeding along the washed up sea grass.

Two laughing gulls were walking along with me.

I found the footless snowy egret again.

Just me and my shadow.

Color on the causeway.

A walk along the St. Pete waterfront

On August 17, 2026September 5, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn flowers and plants, Tampa bay sightsLeave a comment

In mid-April Brett and I headed to the waterfront near downtown St. Pete for a long walk and than an early lunch. As we pulled into the parking lot we could see the orchid trees were still blooming (peak bloom is in the winter here).

When I got up close to get some shots I noticed a lot of the blooms around the bottom of the tree were full of bugs.

The hibiscus along the sidewalk were also blooming.

It was a great morning for volleyball.

The view as we rounded the sea wall and could see the pier.

We always take a detour to walk along the marina before getting to the pier.

We walked out on the pier and hiked up the back stairs to take a break before the long walk back to the car. It’s too nice of a view to not stop and take it all in.

Across the yacht basin you can see the Dali Museum.

The splash pad was just starting to get busy.

The view from our bench as we took a short break on the way back.

A sunny walk in April

On August 12, 2026September 5, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights5 Comments

The sun was bright on an early morning walk at one of my usual spots, Philippe Park. I was hoping to see dolphins up close but the tide was out too far for them to come to the sea wall. I did see pelicans far out though.

Pelicans were diving for the fish.

“Wait, come back!” They were in close for a while and then took off.

Another beautiful morning in central Florida, before it got too hot to be outside.

Birds at the beach

On August 10, 2026September 5, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights3 Comments

I was out at Sand Key Park in mid-April hoping to see some migrating birds. It was still a little early for peak spring migration and so far it was mostly a bust. Only a few birds dropping by, not a big fall out so far.

The beach sunflowers were blooming along the trails.

Many of the usual winter-into-spring birds were there including a white eyed vireo, a northern parula and a blue-gray gnatcatcher.

The only migrating bird I saw was a quick look at a prairie warbler.

Rabbits were everywhere.

An osprey eating in the middle of the pine trees.

Zooming in on his yummy fish.

A juvenile osprey was watching from a nearby tree. Probably the offspring of the one above, hoping for a snack but he’s old enough to be getting his own food. The young ones have white spots on the end of the their feathers and orange eyes.

An eastern kingbird was sitting high on a snag.

Looking at Clearwater Beach across the water. That view has changed over the years with so many high rise hotels.

While it’s quiet early in the morning, it will be packed by lunchtime.

It was still early for spring migration so there was still hope for a big fall out.

April skies from the yard.

On August 5, 2026September 5, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights8 Comments

Sunset across the street from my house in early April.

The Pink Moon (refers to the blossoms blooming in April) from the front and back yard and taken with my phone.

Storms were brewing but we got very little rain in April.

A cloudy sunset over the pond across the street.

The sun going down on the gators across the street. Some nights there are two.

🎵 “Baby, you’re a firework” 🎵

On July 1, 2026August 7, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights6 Comments

These are all firework shots from my past. The two above were taken in 2020. Since we were all spending so much time at home I knew there would be a lot of people shooting off fireworks on the nearby Courtney Campbell Causeway. I got out on the causeway right before dark and was able to get a parking spot near the boat ramp. Luckily I was coated with 2 coats of OFF because the bugs were crazy along the water. People were shooting the fireworks right over my head in the parking lot.

I got a good spot on the water and set up my tripod and got shots of the fireworks going off all up and down the causeway.

Zooming out I could see the fireworks in my neighborhood to the left.

The next year I decided to go to the top open parking deck at the airport. I thought I would be able to see tons of fireworks from all over Tampa. Everyone seemed to have that same idea because the deck was packed. The football stadium was all lit up and I could see fireworks going off near there.

Most of the fireworks were very far away and you couldn’t hear the boom so that was a little disappointing but there was a nice breeze up there and not many bugs.

The next year I stayed home and stood in my driveway to see fireworks.

There were lots of parties in my old neighborhood in Tampa and everyone was shooting them off. Above is a quick video from my driveway.

In June of 2023 Brett and I were in Orlando staying near Disney. After dinner we got back to the hotel and could see fireworks going off (on the left) at one of the theme parks and nature’s fireworks (on the right) from our window.

This song by Rhianna will be one of the most played song this weekend:

“You just gotta ignite the lightAnd let it shineJust own the nightLike the Fourth of July’Cause baby, you’re a fireworkCome on, show ’em what you’re worthMake ’em go, “Oh, oh, oh”As you shoot across the skyBaby, you’re a fireworkCome on, let your colors burstMake ’em go, “Oh, oh, oh”You’re gonna leave ’em all in awe, awe, awe”

A cold foggy walk on the waterfront

On June 15, 2026July 6, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights1 Comment

I was out for a wet foggy walk at the Safety Harbor waterfront in late February. It had stopped raining before daylight but the boardwalk was still full of puddles.

I couldn’t see very far out in the bay and I certainly couldn’t see Tampa across the bay. It was a kind of spooky and I passed very few people, only the diehard joggers.

The grass in the park didn’t look well after the freeze but it came back by spring.

I stopped at nearby Philippe Park to walk the stairs to the top of the Indian mound.

If was foggy looking south in the bay but the sun was trying to peek out when I was leaving.

When you walk along the sea wall you can look up and see the top of the mound. This park is named after Odet Philippe, who is credited with introducing grapefruit to Florida. Grapefruit was grown in this park in the late 1800’s. The mound was built by Tocobaga Indians in the late 1500’s. There are several mounds in the area but this one is the largest one remaining.