Day trip to Ravine Garden Park
@BelleStarr (61047)
United States
February 22, 2017 9:26pm CST
I personally could stay home all day interacting on MyLot but nooooo, my husband gets bored and he wants to do things. So yesterday we hopped in the car and drove about 65 miles to Raine Gardens State Park in Palatka, Florida.
The flower theme of this park are azaleas and the first weekend of March the town has an azalea festival. So much for fixed dates of festivals. We have had a very warm winter and even on Feb. 21st the azaleas are getting past their peak.
In spite of that, I got some really good photos and enjoyed driving the 1.8 miles around the rim of the ravine. For the brave hearts there are two suspension bridges that can be crossed, I skipped that part but was able to get a very pretty picture of a butterfly.
It was a lovely day, warm but overcast and we had a great time.
16 people like this
18 responses
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
23 Feb 17
Sounds like a nice day out. I can't wait for nice weather so my fiance and I can do stuff like that. We like taking day adventures. We never know where we are going. We just hope in the car and go. The picture is really nice.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Feb 17
This time we had a plan but often we just ride off to adventure and see what we find. Since we are so new to this part of Florida there are many places we have never been.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
23 Feb 17
@BelleStarr What part of Florida are you in?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Feb 17
Thank you, I am no Vince but I do enjoy trying to capture nature.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
27 Feb 17
@JudyEv Wow, thank you, I am so in awe of Vince, Susan and other great photographers that I never consider myself to be anywhere near their level and I am sure I am not but I do have my moments lol
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 17
@BelleStarr Your photos are always lovely.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Feb 17
Thank you this I took with my Canon Rebel that I bought last year and I just couldn't resist a butterfly.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Feb 17
It is nice to spend time together though now that we are retired we do spend a lot of time together.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Feb 17
Thank you it helps having a camera that can get close enough to capture the detail.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
23 Feb 17
@BelleStarr You are right, it's hard to capture small animals and objects.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
23 Feb 17
Super little trip and i didn't even know about Raine Gardens so there you go! The weather has been so weird lately and even Florida is warmer than usual!
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Feb 17
Yes it has been a warm winter and that makes my allergies worse, sigh!!!!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
27 Feb 17
@MarymargII I am not sure but it is certainly trees and grasses since that is what is down here now, mold I am not sure about. I use Nasonex almost year round.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
24 Feb 17
@BelleStarr Oh no! That's not good! What are the allergies you have? Pollen, mold, etc?
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
7 Mar 17
@BelleStarr What beautiful flowers-and the butterfly too.You have had a nice day.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
9 Mar 17
Yes it really is a very lovely place.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Feb 17
Thank you, I am trying to improve my photographic skills
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48958)
• United States
23 Feb 17
It sounds like a lovely way to spend the day.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
25 Feb 17
that is a lovely photo... sounds like a nice little trip... 
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
26 Feb 17
Thank you, from you that is a massive compliment. It was a nice trip.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
27 Feb 17
@sueznewz2 Yes when I saw this one I ran back to the car for my long distance lens to try to capture it and luckily it hadn't moved.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
26 Feb 17
@BelleStarr well thank you too.... for that compliment... lol... I would love to capture more butterflies over here in spain... but there are not that many... I do better when I'm in the uk... if i'm quick enough ... lol 
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
23 Feb 17
I've never heard of the park, next time I'm down I will have to look it up. I would love the suspension bridge...
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
27 Feb 17
It is between Ocala and St Augustine so about an hour and 15 minute drive but worth it.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
26 Feb 17
Yes we did, it was nice to do a day trip, I do enjoy getting out to the parks
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
27 Feb 17
You are so right of course but it is hard to stay away isn't it lol
@kingwriter007 (497)
• Delhi, India
23 Feb 17
It looks beautiful. I think you are feeling happy there.
1 person likes this
@kingwriter007 (497)
• Delhi, India
23 Feb 17
@BelleStarr Thanks enjoy.Life is to be happy and make others happy.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
23 Feb 17
Your husband is right. One needs variety as variety is the spice of life (lol)
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Feb 17
Yes I agree, we need to get out and enjoy the scenery more.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Feb 17
I was a steep climb down to the bridge which would have been difficult as well so no, I didn't mind skipping it.
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
23 Feb 17
I LOVE that photo! I am glad you had fun.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
26 Feb 17
Thank you I love it too, I tried very hard to get a good shot of that butterfly even though it was about 30 or 40 feet away.
