Leighton Photography & Imaging

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  • This large-flowered sabatia is a real beauty and can be found anywhere where there are open, wet prairies in much of Southern Florida. This one was found on the edge of the Corkscrew Swamp.
    Marsh Pink Sabatia
  • One of the most common wildflowers to grow in the pinelands of South Florida is the chocolateweed, as seen her ein the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails here in SW Florida.
    Chocolateweed
  • This jaw-dropping super-rare color form of the butterfly orchid was found in a dead oak tree knocked over by Hurricane Wilma in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails of northern Collier County, Florida. Had it not been for the hurricane, I never would have stumbled into it!
    White Butterfly Orchid (Encyclia tam..bia)
  • Fulvous hairstreak resting on a palmetto frond in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, Florida. This is one of the most beautiful of all the hairstreaks!
    Fulvous Hairstreak
  • Summer love in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in SW Florida.
    Mating Southeastern Lubber Grasshoppers
  • One of the strangest seedpods of all of Florida's wildflowers!
    Pine Hyacinth Seedpod
  • Vanilla orchid photographed in the early morning in the Fakahatchee Strand. Well worth the hike through standing water and swarms of mosquitoes!
    Oblong-leaved Vanilla Orchid (Vanill..tha)
  • The clamshell orchid gets its name from the upper lip, which is shaped a bit like a clam's shell, but I think it looks more like an octopus! This one was in a swamp near Immokalee, Florida.
    Clamshell Orchid (Prosthechea cochle..dra)
  • This easily identifiable fuzzy orbweaver spider is found commonly in thickly vegetated habitats where there are enough trees to support their large spiderweb traps and enough insects to keep them fed. Beautiful bold banding on the legs, bright red femurs and an obvious cross on the top of the abdomen make this beauty easy to tell apart from other orb weavers. This one was found deep in a jungle-like, mosquito-infested area in eastern Collier County near the Collier-Hendry border in Southwest Florida, but they can be found in most suitable areas of the Southeast, and as far north up the Atlantic coast as New England, and as far west as the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountain ranges.
    Red-femured Spotted Orbweaver
  • Also known as flyweed or flycatcher, tarflowers are an interesting member of the heath family that have a little problem: they rely on insect pollinators such as bees, flies and butterflies to pollinate them, but they also excrete a very sticky substance from the flowers (especially in the center) that often ends up trapping insets. While this appears to make it a carnivorous plant, it doesn't actually consume or use any of the insects that unfortunately die. This incredibly beautiful and fragrant flowering shrub is is found all over Florida except the Panhandle, the Keys and the Everglades. This one was found far out in the the woods of Northeastern Collier County.
    Tarflowers
  • Julia butterfly flying from flower to flower in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, Florida. This one is absolutely stunning to see in person!
    Julia
  • The invasive Mexican bluebell (or ruellia) has escaped cultivated gardens and is now found all over Florida.
    Mexican Bluebell
  • This southern cricket frog (probably the subspecies called Florida cricket frog) is nearly perfectly camouflaged in the thick, humid undergrowth of South Florida's inland wetlands near Immokalee, Florida where there are plenty of insects and plenty of cover from the numerous snakes, birds and alligators that share its habitat.
    Southern Cricket Frog
  • Beautiful flower of the Florida ironweed blooming in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in SW Florida.
    Florida Ironweed
  • Queen butterfly feeding on a wildflower in the Big Cypress National Preserve. This is a butterfly nearly always found in and around wetlands in South Florida with lots of wildflowers.
    Queen
  • Huge female with distinctive "zig-zag" web under a shrub near Hickey's Creek in Lee County, Florida.
    Black-and-Yellow Garden Spider
  • Pine lily found growing on the side of a trail in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, Fl.
    Pine Lily
  • A golden silk spider sits in the middle of her web in the CREW March Hiking Trails in Collier County, Florida.
    Golden Silk Spider
  • White-eyed vireo perched on a branch in the Corkscrew Swamp in Collier County, Florida. One of my favorite songbirds and sometimes difficult to spot even if heard close by.
    White-eyed Vireo
  • Giant swallowtail pauses on a smilax vine on a hot summer day in the Corkscrew Swamp of Collier County, Florida. This big beauty had a 5-inch wingspan!
    Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
  • The always popular black-eyed Susan growing in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, Florida. These can be seen all over Florida in many habitats.
    Black-eyed Susan
  • The beautiful and solitary pineland daisy photographed in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, Florida. This plant has a single stem with a single flower.
    Pineland Daisy
  • This fuzzy wildflower was found growing on the side of an old tram road in the Corkscrew Swamp in Collier County, Florida.
    Flaxleaf False Foxglove
  • A ghost orchid high in a pop ash tree in a secret location in Collier County. It's good to know that they do in fact grow quite well outside of the Fakahatchee Strand and the Corkscrew Swamp!
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • A ghost orchid high in a pop ash tree in a secret location in Collier County. It's good to know that they do in fact grow quite well outside of the Fakahatchee Strand and the Corkscrew Swamp!
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • A rare sight! A pair of ghost orchids from a single plant, high in a pop ash tree in a secret location in Collier County, Florida.
    Double Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax li..nii)
  • Close-up of a cluster of yellow helmet orchid flowers in an isolated pond in Collier County, Florida. These orchids are usually found in wetlands with lots of shade.
    Yellow Helmet Orchid (Polystachya co..eta)
  • Spectacular specimen of yellow helmet orchid in an isolated pond in Collier County, Florida. These orchids are usually found in wetlands with lots of shade.
    Yellow Helmet Orchid (Polystachya co..eta)
  • Gray hairstreak butterfly feeding on a blazing star wildflower in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, Florida.
    Gray Hairstreak
  • This gorgeous polypore mushroom was found growing in a very remote wetland location in northern Collier County, Florida on a pond apple tree in standing water. The key for identification for Ganoderma curtisii is the usual, long purple stalk on which it is attached to the tree. This mushroom is inedible, although some claim it has some medicinal use.
    Ganoderma curtisii
  • Very large deer (for South Florida) photographed just outside of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in Collier County.
    White-tailed Deer
  • Large deer photographed from a distance in the Corkscrew Swamp in Collier County. The largest deer in South Florida can be seen here.
    White-tailed Deer
  • Cowpeas are a very commonly seen wildflower growing in disturbed areas and pinelands. These were photographed in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, Florida.
    Cowpeas
  • The unusual corkystem passionfruit growing on the edge of the Corkscrew Swamp in Collier County - very near Bonita Springs, Fl.
    Corkystem Passionflower
  • The rare and endangered false water spider orchid (Habenaria distans) growing in pine scrub in Collier County in SW Florida on a very hot summer day.
    False Water Spider Orchid (Habenaria..ans)
  • Michaux's orchid found growing next to a pond in CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, east of Estero, Florida.
    Michaux's Orchid (Habenaria quinqueseta)
  • White pine-pink orchid growing in a large colony in the Fakahatchee Strand in Collier County, Florida.
    White Pine-Pink (Bletia purpurea for..lba)
  • This super-rare color form of the clamshell orchid blew me away as I waded around a pond apple tree and saw it in a remote pond in Collier County, Florida. It's exact location is a secret!
    Pale Clamshell Orchid (Prosthechea c..ava)
  • Palamedes swallowtail on a hot summer day in the Corkscrew Swamp of Collier County, Florida.
    Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palam..des)
  • This perfect example of an eastern tiger swallowtail is resting on a wild primrose bush deep in the Corkscrew Swamp of Collier County, Florida.
    Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio g..cus)
  • Silver-spotted skipper resting for a moment on a leaf near an alligator pond in the Corkscrew Swamp in Collier County, Florida.
    Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus c..rus)
  • Silver spotted skipper deep in a swamp in Collier County, Florida.
    Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus c..rus)
  • A gray hairstreak  pauses on an unidentified species of liatris in the Fakahatchee Strand in Collier County, Florida.
    Gray Hairstreak
  • Bromeliads are as common as orchids in the Fakahatchee Strand in Collier County, Florida. These huge West Indian tufted airplants have literally covered this pond apple tree.
    West Indian Tufted Airplants (Guzman..hia)
  • Considered an invasive species in North America, the Peruvian primrose-willow was introduced into the Sunshine State and many other places around the world for its beautiful yellow four-petalled flowers. These days it is a serious problem due to how fast this tall very bush grows and how easily it spreads, outcompeting coastal native plant species in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Texas Gulf Coast. This one was photographed in the Fakahatchee Strand in Collier County, Florida.
    Peruvian Primrose-Willow
  • The uncommon mallow  scrub hairstreak seen here in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, Florida is often found near palmettos and other pine scrub plants.
    Mallow Scrub Hairstreak
  • Alligator swimming in the Turner River, Collier County, Florida.
    American Alligator
  • Eastern kingbird seen in the Big Cypress National Preserve. It kept landing near us and seemed to want to be photographed!
    Eastern Kingbird
  • This common weed is usually found in disturbed areas, such as this one on the side of US41 in Collier County, Florida.
    Sow Thistle
  • The very pretty flowerbud of the purple thistle about to open in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails of Collier County, Florida.
    Purple Thistle
  • Florida Everglades. Absolutely Beautiful!!!
    Florida Everglades
  • This stunning large native hibiscus can be found in many of the wetlands that offer deep shade and fluctuating water levels seasonally that vary from standing water to dry.
    Scarlet Rosemallow
  • Close-up of toothpetal flowers deep in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Oftentimes, it is the fragrance that is noticed before the plant is actually found, as in the case here.
    Toothpetal Orchid (Habenaria floribunda)
  • Perhaps the most delightful orchid to encounter in the swamps, this wildly shaped flower can often be found in huge colonies, if one doesn't mind wading to reach them. Luckily, these are usually found over permanently standing water, often with alligators and cottonmouths in the area. This is a great deterent to keep poachers away!
    Clamshell Orchid (Prosthechea cochle..dra)
  • A salt marsh skipper feeding on beggarticks (a type of wild aster)  in the southern part of the Fakahatchee Strand where fresh and saltwater meet.
    Salt Marsh Skipper (Panoquina panoquin)
  • A sudden storm comes and goes in a flash in Southwest Florida’s Fakahatchee Strand leaving behind a beautiful rainbow over the palms, sawgrass, alligators and legions of nesting birds on a cool sunny autumn day.
    Rainbow over the Fakahatchee Strand
  • I was photographing native turtles along Lake Trafford in Immokakee, Florida when I passed an overflowing dumpster near a restaurant swarmed with vultures. This one posed for me long enough to make a portrait.
    Black Vulture Portrait
  • Close-up of a wild coco growing in the Fakahatchee Strand. These large flowers can vary in color and shape from one plant to another.
    Wild Coco Orchid (Eulophia alta)
  • The terrestrial cowhorn orchid found growing in the Fakahatchee Strand - in full flower weeks before it was stolen from the wild. This is why I no longer tell anyone where the rare orchids are - this happens all too often! They are too hard to find, and very disheartening when they are taken - usually to die in some orchid enthusiast's collection because it has been shocked by its removal from the conditions in which it grew from seed.
    Yellow Cowhorn Orchid (Cyrtopodium p..lum)
  • Yellow cowhorn orchid found in the Fakahatchee Strand by another orchid enthusiast, and he told me where to find it. This plant was stolen from the wild a couple of weeks later by some lowlife.
    Yellow Cowhorn Orchid (Cyrtopodium p..lum)
  • This incredible orchid has a long history of being taken from the wild for the orchid trade. There are stories of single plants weighing hundreds of pounds being pulled out of the Everglades by the wagon load. These days, small ones are difficult to find.
    Cigar Orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum)
  • How it gets its name. In the summer, these orchids lose all their leaves, and the result looks like a clump of cigars attached to the base of a tree or cypress knee. This massive cigar orchid is the biggest I've ever seen!
    Cigar Orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum)
  • The fantastically mottled and twisted flowers of the cigar orchid in a massive display deep in the Big Cypress National Preserve. This is by far the largest one I've found, and hopefully will provide plenty of seeds for this orchid to recover after decades of poaching.
    Cigar Orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum)
  • A close-up of a cigar orchid flower against a black diffuser (a photographer's tool for adjusting natural light) in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Cigar Orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum)
  • SW Florida's Corkscrew Swamp is a remarkable wetland with a rare virgin cypress tree forest, that is now under the protection of the Audubon preserve system. The biodiversity of this region is amazing!
    Corkscrew Swamp
  • Foggy morning in Corkscrew Swamp in Naples, Florida. The stillness of this prairie in the middle of such a huge old cypress swamp was absolutely enchanting!
    The Foggy Dew
  • An alligator with its head framed in shimmering light from the sun above.
    American Alligator
  • Sunrise in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Misty Morning
  • Open prairie in the Big Cypress National Preserve. This is a wonderland for nature photographers, as it is loaded with all kinds of wildlife and rare plants.
    Big Cypress National Preserve
  • Eastern gray squirrel feeding on some birdseed left out in Naples, Florida. It faced quite a dilemma - run from the camera or eat as much as it could!
    Eastern Gray Squirrel
  • White-tailed buck photographed in the Fakahatchee Strand. These are often seen here and other places in and around the Everglades.
    White-tailed Deer
  • Close-up of the non-venomous banded watersnake - often confused with the venomous cottonmouth. Unfortunately many of these beautiful snakes are killed for this confusion and misidentification.
    Banded Watersnake
  • Young cottonmouth (or water moccasin) in the the middle of the road near the Corkscrew Swamp in SW Florida early in the morning. I should have used a zoom lens!
    Ready to Strike!
  • This aquatic snake is very commonly seen in the Florida Everglades. This one was photographed while I was stalking a hawk. I saw this from the corner of my eye and took this shot.
    Banded Watersnake
  • Huge fishing spider carefully photographed in the Fakahatchee Strand. These guys can get aggressive and do bite hard!
    Fishing Spider
  • A banded watersnake resting on a submerged log in the Fakahatchee Strand.
    Banded Watersnake
  • A juvenile cottonmouth warming up in the morning sun on a dirt road near the Corkscrew Swamp in Naples, Florida.
    Juvenile Cottonmouth
  • The ultimate ambush predator! I was out photographing wildflowers and didn't even notice this little spider until I was focusing on the flowers!
    Goldenrod Crab Spider
  • The incredibly colored lubber grasshopper is a very common sight in South Florida in the summertime. These insects eat anything and everything!
    Southeastern Lubber Grasshopper
  • This tiny winter visitor was photographed here in the Corkscrew Swamp as it paused for a moment over the middle of a hardwood hammock.
    Black-and-White Warbler
  • One of the more difficult Florida birds to photograph, these shy birds fly swiftly with dexterous precision through the thick brush of Florida's wetlands and pine scrubs, and are easily recognized by their cat-like screech, and black "mohawk".
    Catbird
  • Male boat-tailed grackle showing off its beautiful metallic colors in the morning sunshine in Naples, Fl.
    Boat-Tailed Grackle
  • One can find these beauties everywhere in the springtime in the Big Cypress National Preserve!
    Black-eyed Susan
  • Florida's State Wildflower! This very common coreopsis is found in nearly any wet or dry habitat in South Florida.
    Tickseed
  • This large beautiful canna was found unexpectedly growing in the Corkscrew Swamp. It is native to Florida and often found in the Everglades.
    Golden Canna
  • This distant relative to the magnolia is also known as a squirrel-banana. These are found in dry, sand pinelands and flower in winter. Photographed in the Estero Bay Preserve in SW Florida.
    Beautiful Pawpaw
  • Swamp lilies growing deep in the Fakahatchee Strand. In the summertime, these can be found just about anywhere there is standing water in the Florida Everglades.
    Swamp Lilies
  • Yellow colicroot growing in the Big Cypress National Preserve along an old tram road. This was a very important medicinal plant used by that native Americans to treat digestive disorders.
    Yellow Colicroot
  • These interesting wildflowers, seen here in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in SW Florida, are commonly found in moist pinelands, especially among or near palmettos.
    Yellow Bachelor's-Buttons
  • The vanilla plant gets its name from the vanilla-like scent emitted when dried. This is an extremely common plant in South Florida and can be found in many types of habitat.
    Vanilla Plant
  • This large showy sabatia is commonly found in freshwater wetlands in South Florida, such as this one in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Bartram's Rosegentian
  • Swamp mallows are a very common member of the hibiscus family in the Everglades, as seen here in the Fakahatchee Strand.
    Swamp Mallow
  • This large showy sabatia is commonly found in freshwater wetlands in South Florida, such as this one in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Bartram's Rosegentian
  • Ribbon orchid growing on the side of a tree deep in the Fakahatchee Strand. Without leaves to help spot it, this orchid is nearly invisible until it blooms. This one is just starting to bloom.
    Ribbon Orchid (Campylocentrum pachyr..zum)
  • Close up of the tiny jingle bell orchid. This is the largest one of these I have found to date, and I repeated the five mile hike from the road about a half dozen times until this 3mm flower bud finally opened for this photograph!
    Jingle Bell Orchid (Dendrophylax por..tus)
  • A very large (for this tiny orchid) and mature jingle bell orchid with seedpods. How tiny are these orchids? The trunk the roots are clinging to is about one and a half inch thick.
    Jingle Bell Orchid (Dendrophylax por..tus)
  • View of this tiny leafless orchid with flower buds. The only way to find these in the wild is to look for these long tangling roots.
    Jingle Bell Orchid (Dendrophylax por..tus)
  • The world-famous ghost orchid photographed here in its natural environment.
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • A very rare sight!!! Although the ghost orchid is known as a "leafless orchid" - when it is just sprouting its recognizable  and distinct roots on its host tree, there is a tiny vestigial leaf - an evolutionary throwback to an earlier ancestor.
    Ghost Orchid Seedling (Dendrophylax ..nii)
  • Ghost orchid in the early morning, catching a rare sunbeam in the deepest part of the Fakahatchee Strand. Truly one of the most beautiful and exotic orchids in the world.
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
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