Floridiana Gloriana

'Stand Firm' by Ralph Orona | Miami | Used by Permission

The photographer wrote:  "This guy was battling the wind all day!"  I love the petals blowing in the wind like hair, and I don't think I really need to say anything about the effect of that brilliant yellow against that celestial cloud-streaked blue, do I?

'Stand Firm' by Ralph Orona | To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here | Website:  Ralph Orona Photography | To see the largest version of this photograph at Flickr, click here

This photograph is used with the express written permission of its owner.  Please do not save or download it without first obtaining his permission.  You can write to him here.

'I'm so hungry I can eat a tree' by Ralph Orona | Miami | Used by Permission

"Num, num, num.....What?"

This little cutie has his little black claws wrapped around that nice, juicy leaf.   Isn't he so ferocious with his tiger stripes and his fierce black horns?  This is one of my favorites of all the wildlife photographs I've posted so far. 

The photographer took this adorable portrait at Miami's Fairchild Gardens. 

'I'm so hungry I can eat a tree' by Ralph Orona | To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here | Website:  Ralph Orona Photography | To see the largest version of this photograph at Flickr, click here

This photograph is used with the express written permission of its owner.  Please do not save or download it without first obtaining his permission.  You can write to him here.

'An Eye' by Etrusia UK | Tampa | Creative Commons

I was mesmerized by the golden eye of this snowy egret set against the blue-green background.  Look at the luminousness and delicacy of its feathers, and the streaks of paler blue against the slate-colored bill.  Taken in Tampa, it's just an awesome capture and has deservedly won all sorts of Flickr awards and honors.  Gorgeous.

'An Eye' by Etrusia UK  | To see his Flickr photostream, click here |  Website:  WhyDon'tYou; also Etrusia--British History  To see the largest version of this photograph at Flickr, click here

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it pursuant to a restricted Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license.  The license can be viewed here.

'Orchids at the Mount Dora Plant Fair' by Judy Malley | Mount Dora | Creative Commons

More splendor from the Mount Dora Plant and Garden Fair....

Photograph by Judy Malley | To see her other Flickr photographs, click here |  | To see the largest version of this photograph on Flickr, click here

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it pursuant to a restricted Creative Commons license.  Do not save or download it without first consulting the terms of the license.  The license is shown here. 

'Why do you come here?' by Greg Turner | Gainesville | Creative Commons

When I was living in Gainesville in the late Eighties, I dated a man who lived in a house much like this one.  It might even have been this one.  In a town inhabited by a huge transient population of students, many living hand to mouth, the quaint old places survive better than they might do elsewhere.  The eerie green light here is perfect.

"Why do you come here?" by Greg Turner |  To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized photograph at Flickr, click here |

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it in compliance with a restricted Creative Commons license.  Before saving or using it, consult the terms of the applicable license (shown here).

'No Picnic' | Cedar Island | Winter, c. 1997

My late husband Don took this photograph during a day trip to western Florida (Taylor County).  We just stumbled upon this row of houses out on the Gulf---very quiet, very peaceful, very silent.  There was a little park nearby and Don took this photograph.  You can see the beautiful blue-green cedar in the background.  It's a lovely Florida winter scene.

'Mind Blur' | Ginnie Springs, Florida' by Lucian Badea | Used by Permission

Here's another place I've visited, strangely transformed by the photographic art of Lucian Badea (Twisted Visions Photography).

This photograph has deservedly attracted a great deal of attention at Flickr. Notice how the gold of the trees---a winter color here---is strangely reflected among the green within the river---a beautiful juxtaposition of seasonal color.  Or is the gold really the pale green of an early spring?  Is it vernal or autumnal?  Note that you can see the reflections in the water of a bright blue sky---yet the mist among the trees is an autumn or winter phenomenon.  But this is what Ginnie Springs is like in my dreams, where I can have the best of all the seasons. Magic realism, indeed.

  

'Mind Blur' |  Ginnie Springs, Florida' by Lucian Badea |  See his work at Twisted Visions (!):  Landscape Photography, Fine Art Photography, Black and White Photography, Nature Photography, Abstract Photography, Experimental Photography, and More!

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it with the express written permission of its owner, Lucian Badea.  Do not save or use it unless you first obtain his permission.

'Monkey' by Gerald Schmidt | Miami | Creative Commons

You don't even have to be human to love Florida oranges. This was apparently taken at "Monkey Jungle" in Miami (Slogan: "Where Humans are Caged, and Monkeys run Wild!")

'Monkey' by Gerald Schmidt |  To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here 

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it in compliance with a Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown here.