Leighton Photography & Imaging

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  • A chapman's butterwort growing in Liberty County, Florida alongside another unidentified butterwort - perhaps the green form of the same species. In this photo, you can see the fine short hairs on the greasy leaves that attract and trap flying insects.
    Chapman's Butterwort (Pinguicula pla..lia)
  • This extremely rare wildflower, known only in and around the Apalachicola National Forest on the Florida Panhandle was photographed among the pine trees in Liberty County. Why does it have such a strange name? Have a look at the next photo....
    White Birds-in-the-Nest
  • Close-up of water-spider flowers growing in a ditch in Liberty County, Florida. This orchid is most often found among reeds and wetland grasses, and is very easily missed.
    Water-Spider Orchid (Habernaria repens)
  • The elegant and beautiful white-topped pitcher plant growing in a Liberty County seepage bog. This location is possibly the easternmost population in Florida.
    White-topped Pitcher Plant (Sarracen..lla)
  • The brightly yellow fringeless orchid growing in a seepage swamp in Liberty County. This is one of the more rare orchids of North Florida.
    Yellow Fringeless Orchid (Gymnadenio..gra)
  • The cardinal flower is an extremely beautiful member of the lobelia family native to most of the United States (excluding the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies states, and the Dakotas) and Eastern Canada. It is primarily found in somewhat wet soils, near marshes, streams, rivers, floodplains etc. and is such a vibrant red that it is easily spotted from a distance. This particularly large plant stood about five foot tall, and even though I found it growing in a depression of a dried-up creek, it still stood tall in the forest near the Apalachicola River in the Florida Panhandle on a very hot and sweltering summer day.
    Cardinal Flower
  • The cardinal flower is an extremely beautiful member of the lobelia family native to most of the United States (excluding the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies states, and the Dakotas) and Eastern Canada. It is primarily found in somewhat wet soils, near marshes, streams, rivers, floodplains etc. and is such a vibrant red that it is easily spotted from a distance. This particularly large plant stood about five foot tall, and even though I found it growing in a depression of a dried-up creek, it still stood tall in the forest near the Apalachicola River in the Florida Panhandle on a very hot and sweltering summer day.
    Cardinal Flower
  • The cardinal flower is an extremely beautiful member of the lobelia family native to most of the United States (excluding the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies states, and the Dakotas) and Eastern Canada. It is primarily found in somewhat wet soils, near marshes, streams, rivers, floodplains etc. and is such a vibrant red that it is easily spotted from a distance. This particularly large plant stood about five foot tall, and even though I found it growing in a depression of a dried-up creek, it still stood tall in the forest near the Apalachicola River in the Florida Panhandle on a very hot and sweltering summer day.
    Cardinal Flower
  • This endemic subspecies of the eastern box turtle is found only in Florida except for a few small pockets in the extreme southern part of Georgia. I found this female in the oak scrub in the bluffs above the Apalachicola River in an extremely rural part of northern Florida.
    Florida Box Turtle
  • This big spider was actually seen from the car while driving through the Apalachicola National Forest. I just had to pull over!
    Silver Argiope
  • The world's most famous carnivorous plant - the venus flytrap, growing wild in a bog in North Florida. These natives to the American Southeast - primarily North and South Carolina, have been spreading and thriving in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)
  • This incredibly ornate wildflower grows in standing water in the wetlands of the Apalachicola National Forest in winter. Not the most comfortable subject to photograph , I must say!
    Grass-of-Parnassus
  • Close-up with details of the common grass-pink orchid.
    Common Grass-Pink Orchid (Calopogon ..sus)
  • Pale grass-pink orchid growing in the Apalachicola National Forest. We found this particularly beautiful and very delicate orchid among several other types of terrestrial orchids.
    Pale Grass-Pink (Calopogon pallidus)
  • Bald eagle in Lee County, Fl near the Estero River. I got completely shredded by briars while getting close enough for this shot!
    Bald Eagle
  • Hackberry butterfly resting after being chased down for a period of time and finally photographed near the Apalachicola River at Torreya State Park on the Florida Panhandle.
    Hackberry Butterfly
  • I hit the jackpot in the bog where I photographed this beautiful snowy orchid.... there were upwards of 3000 or more in bloom within an area the size of a football field! A week later I only found three of them that still had flowers. Timing is everything!
    Snowy Orchid (Gymnadeniopsis nivea)
  • The cardinal flower is an extremely beautiful member of the lobelia family native to most of the United States (excluding the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies states, and the Dakotas) and Eastern Canada. It is primarily found in somewhat wet soils, near marshes, streams, rivers, floodplains etc. and is such a vibrant red that it is easily spotted from a distance. This particularly large plant stood about five foot tall, and even though I found it growing in a depression of a dried-up creek, it still stood tall in the forest near the Apalachicola River in the Florida Panhandle on a very hot and sweltering summer day.
    Cardinal Flower
  • The cardinal flower is an extremely beautiful member of the lobelia family native to most of the United States (excluding the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies states, and the Dakotas) and Eastern Canada. It is primarily found in somewhat wet soils, near marshes, streams, rivers, floodplains etc. and is such a vibrant red that it is easily spotted from a distance. This particularly large plant stood about five foot tall, and even though I found it growing in a depression of a dried-up creek, it still stood tall in the forest near the Apalachicola River in the Florida Panhandle on a very hot and sweltering summer day.
    Cardinal Flower
  • The cardinal flower is an extremely beautiful member of the lobelia family native to most of the United States (excluding the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies states, and the Dakotas) and Eastern Canada. It is primarily found in somewhat wet soils, near marshes, streams, rivers, floodplains etc. and is such a vibrant red that it is easily spotted from a distance. This particularly large plant stood about five foot tall, and even though I found it growing in a depression of a dried-up creek, it still stood tall in the forest near the Apalachicola River in the Florida Panhandle on a very hot and sweltering summer day.
    Cardinal Flower
  • The cardinal flower is an extremely beautiful member of the lobelia family native to most of the United States (excluding the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies states, and the Dakotas) and Eastern Canada. It is primarily found in somewhat wet soils, near marshes, streams, rivers, floodplains etc. and is such a vibrant red that it is easily spotted from a distance. This particularly large plant stood about five foot tall, and even though I found it growing in a depression of a dried-up creek, it still stood tall in the forest near the Apalachicola River in the Florida Panhandle on a very hot and sweltering summer day.
    Cardinal Flower
  • The cardinal flower is an extremely beautiful member of the lobelia family native to most of the United States (excluding the Pacific Northwest, the northern Rockies states, and the Dakotas) and Eastern Canada. It is primarily found in somewhat wet soils, near marshes, streams, rivers, floodplains etc. and is such a vibrant red that it is easily spotted from a distance. This particularly large plant stood about five foot tall, and even though I found it growing in a depression of a dried-up creek, it still stood tall in the forest near the Apalachicola River in the Florida Panhandle on a very hot and sweltering summer day.
    Cardinal Flower
  • This endemic subspecies of the eastern box turtle is found only in Florida except for a few small pockets in the extreme southern part of Georgia. I found this female in the oak scrub in the bluffs above the Apalachicola River in an extremely rural part of northern Florida.
    Florida Box Turtle
  • This endemic subspecies of the eastern box turtle is found only in Florida except for a few small pockets in the extreme southern part of Georgia. I found this female in the oak scrub in the bluffs above the Apalachicola River in an extremely rural part of northern Florida.
    Florida Box Turtle
  • This endemic subspecies of the eastern box turtle is found only in Florida except for a few small pockets in the extreme southern part of Georgia. I found this female in the oak scrub in the bluffs above the Apalachicola River in an extremely rural part of northern Florida.
    Florida Box Turtle
  • Close-up of the flower of Schnell's pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava var. rugelii) found growing in the Apalachicola National Forest in Northern Florida. This stunning carnivorous insect-eating plant is found in seepage bogs across  the East gulf coastal plain from Alabama to Virginia, and is a subspecies of the more common yellow pitcher plant.
    Flower of Schnell's Pitcher Plant
  • Found throughout the Eastern United States and some of the Canadian provinces, this large attractive dragonfly was photographed in the wild and swamp-like Tate's Hell State Forest in Northern Florida on the Gulf Coast.
    Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina)
  • While not an orchid, mushroom, fungus, or anything related, the delicately beautiful Indian Pipes  - also known as the ghost plant - is actually a parasitic plant called a saprophyte. This unusual plant feeds on decaying tree roots and is found in very rich and old forests, but I have found them growing in Central Florida in an oak/palmetto scrub. Since they do not require sunlight to grow, they are most often found in the darkest parts of the forests where there is also a lot of moisture present. Therefore they do not need to be green (contain chlorophyll) to convert sunlight into energy.
    Indian Pipes (Monotropa uniflora)
  • A panoramic view of the Apalachicola photographed near Bristol, Florida.
    Apalachicola Bluffs Panorama
  • A true infrared photograph of this majestic river on the Florida Panhandle.
    Apalachicola River
  • Apalachicola River on the Florida Panhandle photographed from Torreya State Park.
    Apalachicola River
  • The utterly beautiful dark forest in Torreya State Park in North Florida, with its steep decent to the Apalachicola River.
    Torreya State Park
  • A striped lynx spider waits patiently for something to be drawn to these false asphodel flowers in the Apalachicola National Forest in North Florida.
    Striped Lynx Spider
  • A cluster of parrot pitcher plants growing in the Apalachicola National Forest. This is the smallest and most common pitcher plant to be found in Florida.
    Parrot Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia psi..ina)
  • Close-up of the hairs underneath the "umbrella" part of the pitcher plant that guide the unsuspecting insects into the trap, or pitcher. Look closely and you can see the 13-14 gnats tangled among these hairs.
    White-topped Pitcher Plant (Sarracen..lla)
  • The beautiful and intricate design of red veins in the white-topped pitcher plant.
    White-topped Pitcher Plant (Sarracen..lla)
  • Huge Schnell's pitcher plants growing in the Apalachicola National Forest. These carnivorous plants grow in poor soil, and get what they can't get from the soil by trapping and digesting insects inside these long trumpet-like leaves, which are lured by a sweet-smelling nectar. They are absolutely incredible to see in the wild!
    Schnell's Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia ..lii)
  • A field of Schnell's pitcher plants with some yellow pitcher plants in the foreground in the Apalachicola National Forest. Among these were numerous other types of carnivorous plants, as well as a couple types of terrestrial orchids. This is a regular stop for us when we are in the area, and something that really must be experienced. No photograph can do it justice!
    Schnell's Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia ..lii)
  • Yellow pitcher plants found growing in a dried bog in the Apalachicola National Forest. At times, whole prairies can be loaded with these large trumpet-shaped plants!
    Yellow Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia flava)
  • The tiny and beautiful pink sundew has many leaves with sticky pads arranged in a rosette. These sticky sweet drops of muscilage attract flying insects that become trapped and then are slowly digested by the plant.
    Pink Sundew (Drosera capillaris)
  • A very common find in some of the seepage bogs of the Apalachicola National Forest, the leaves of these beautifully colored butterworts are covered in tiny sticky hairs that trap and digest unsuspecting insects.
    Chapman's Butterwort (Pinguicula pla..lia)
  • The yellow butterwort - the only one with a pure yellow flower, blooming on a cool spring morning in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Yellow Butterwort (Pinguicula lutea)
  • Close-up of yellow pitcher plants in the Apalachicola National Forest, Fl. Insects are lured with with a sweet secretion, trapped, and digested by this carnivorous plant.
    Yellow Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia flava)
  • Bald eagle with massive nest in the Estero Bay Preserve in SW Florida. Can you see the dark brown baby poking its head out of the nest?
    Bald Eagle with Chick
  • White birds-in-the-nest flowers viewed from above look exactly like what they are called. This is a very rare summer wildflower endemic to North Florida.
    White Birds-in-the-Nest
  • Chapman's milkwort found growing in a dried-out bog in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Chapman's Milkwort
  • This unusual member of the milkweed family was photographed on a very hot summer evening in the Aplachicola National Forest. These are most commonly found where pinelands become bogs.
    Largeflower Milkweed
  • These large and beautiful wildflowers can sometimes be seen in large patches on the side of the highways in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Stoke's Aster
  • Drumheads growing in a wet bog in the Apalachicola National Forest. These can be found almost all over the state.
    Drumheads
  • These three orchids were part of a much larger colony of about 100 plants found in the Apalachicola National Forest. Incredible yellow color!
    Yellow Fringeless Orchid (Gymnadenio..gra)
  • A snowy orchid growing in the acidic soil of a seepage bog in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Snowy Orchid (Gymnadeniopsis nivea)
  • This nice looking little crested orchid was in perfect shape for a photo. Most of the time, the flowers are shriveled at the bottom, open in the middle, and still unopened at the top. The short spur behind the flower is the best identification tool for this late summer bloomer.
    Orange Crested Orchid (Platanthera c..ata)
  • Detail in the flowers of the orange crested orchid. The flowers that I've found tend to be smaller than those of similar species. The short spur is a key to identification.
    Orange Crested Orchid (Platanthera c..ata)
  • Water-spider orchid in full flower on the side of the highway in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Water-Spider Orchid (Habernaria repens)
  • The Chapman's fringed orchid found growing in a quiet untouched area in North Florida while searching for pitcher plants. This unexpected find was a pleasant surprise and also one of the biggest of this kind I've ever seen.
    Chapman's Fringed Orchid (Plantanthe..nii)
  • I hit the jackpot in the bog where I photographed this beautiful snowy orchid.... there were upwards of 3000 or more in bloom within an area the size of a football field! A week later I only found three of them that still had flowers. Timing is everything!
    Snowy Orchid (Gymnadeniopsis nivea)
  • A massive specimen of the Chapman's fringed orchid in the Apalachicola National Forest growing next to a small water pool in the edge of a pine stand. These are quite difficult to find, and I've only found them in two locations so far. Luckily you can see the bright orange from a long distance!
    Chapman's Fringed Orchid (Plantanthe..nii)
  • Pale grass-pink orchid growing in the Apalachicola National Forest. A good identification tool (not 100% accurate) is that the sepals are curved upward in what I call an "I surrender" pose. Not very scientific, but I think everyone gets the idea!
    Pale Grass-Pink (Calopogon pallidus)
  • Common grass-pink orchid growing in the Apalachicola National Forest. This delicate beauty can be seen nearly all over the state where there are seepage swamps or bogs near pinelands.
    Common Grass-Pink Orchid (Calopogon ..sus)
  • A perfect specimen of the bearded grass-pink orchid in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Bearded Grass-Pink (Calopogon barbatus)
  • A beautiful specimen of the common grass pink orchid in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Common Grass-Pink Orchid (Calopogon ..sus)
  • White form of the pale grass-pink orchid growing in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    White Pale Grass-Pink (Calopogon pal..rus)
  • One of the two small grass-pink species, the bearded grass-pink is among the first to appear in the springtime in Florida wetlands.
    Bearded Grass-Pink (Calopogon barbatus)
  • Sometimes if there are two similar orchids growing in the same region and habitat, hybrids can be found. In this case, a cross between the common and pale grass-pink.
    Grass-Pink Orchid Hybrid (Calopogon ..dus)
  • A grey hairstreak feeding on wildflowers in the Apalachicola National Forest.
    Gray Hairstreak
  • The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is home to a vast variety of species. This bald eagle was keeping an eye out for a meal as we were heading to the coast.
    Bald Eagle
  • Bald eagle flying overhead in the Estero Bay Preserve in Lee County, Florida.
    Bald Eagle in Flight
  • Bald eagle flying overhead in the Estero Bay Preserve in Lee County, Florida.
    Bald Eagle in Flight
  • A wild bald eagle keeping a watchful eye on its nest in the Estero Bay Preserve in SW Florida.
    Bald Eagle and Nest
  • Close-up of a bald eagle.
    Bald Eagle Portrait
  • While uncommon in Florida, this pair of common wood nymph butterflies was obviously preoccupied from their normal habit of flying away and landing on the other side of pine trees to escape being photographed!
    Mating Common Wood Nymphs
  • The Apalachicola River photographed from atop the bluffs in rural Liberty County, Florida.
    Apalachicola River
  • A purple pitcher plant in flower in a bog in Liberty County, Florida. This petite carnivorous plant tends to be a bright red color when growing in the open where it is exposed to more sunlight, as compared to those that grow in the shade.
    Parrot Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia psi..ina)
  • When traveling through the Apalachicola National Forest in Liberty County, Florida, yellow pitcher plants stand in groves in the seepage bogs along several of the roads.
    Yellow Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia flava)
  • A tight cluster of panhandle butterworts growing among some small pond cypress trees in Liberty County, Florida.
    Panhandle Butterwort (Pinguicula ion..tha)
  • These short beauties were found growing along the side of the road in Liberty County, Florida in a colony of about thirty.
    Orange Crested Orchid (Platanthera c..ata)