Leighton Photography & Imaging

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  • A sabatia flower in bloom in one of the deepest and darkest parts of the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida.
    Sabatia
  • A sabatia flower in bloom in one of the deepest and darkest parts of the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida.
    Sabatia
  • A squirrel treefrog (individuals can change their color from green to brown based on their environment) found among the cypress knees in the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida. These frogs are most active at night.
    Squirrel Treefrog
  • A green treefrog waits for night in the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida.
    Green Treefrog
  • Florida adder's-mouth found growing deep in the Gator Hook Strand in SW Florida. I found one colony here with over 100 individual plants here. Just be warned - there is a huge vicious alligator out there than nearly got me! No kidding!
    Florida Adder's-Mouth (Malaxis spicata)
  • Beautiful flower of the Florida ironweed blooming in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in SW Florida.
    Florida Ironweed
  • Eggs of one of the species of Pomacea apple snails found in Florida, only the Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) is native. The four non-native species are the island apple snail, channeled apple snail, spike-topped apple snail, and the titan apple snail. Since the eggs of each species can vary in color and size among the same species, it's hard to tell which one these belong to. This cluster of eggs was found in the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Apple Snail Eggs
  • This very interesting polypore mushroom (also known as a shelf or bracket mushroom) is native to Asia but has recently been found growing in the wild in Florida and Texas in wetland habitats, where they can get quite large. These were found growing in the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Trametes lactinea-2
  • This beautiful black-and-white warbler is a forest and swamp-loving songbird and is the only member of the genus Mniotilta. Found across most of Eastern North America, it spends its winters in warmer climates from Texas and Florida down to northern South America. This one was found and photographed while it was hunting through swarms of flying insects in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples on a chilly November evening.
    Black-and-White Warbler-4
  • This beautiful black-and-white warbler is a forest and swamp-loving songbird and is the only member of the genus Mniotilta. Found across most of Eastern North America, it spends its winters in warmer climates from Texas and Florida down to northern South America. This one was found and photographed while it was hunting through swarms of flying insects in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples on a chilly November evening.
    Black-and-White Warbler-2
  • This beautiful black-and-white warbler is a forest and swamp-loving songbird and is the only member of the genus Mniotilta. Found across most of Eastern North America, it spends its winters in warmer climates from Texas and Florida down to northern South America. This one was found and photographed while it was hunting through swarms of flying insects in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples on a chilly November evening.
    Black-and-White Warbler-1
  • These wonderfully beautiful aquatic snakes are non-venomous fish hunters and are most often seen sunning themselves on fallen logs near freshwater ponds and marshes all over the southeast. This particular subspecies, the Florida watersnake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris) was found on a chilly November evening catching the last rays of the day on a pile of old sticks in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples.
    Banded Watersnake
  • These wonderfully beautiful aquatic snakes are non-venomous fish hunters and are most often seen sunning themselves on fallen logs near freshwater ponds and marshes all over the southeast. This particular subspecies, the Florida watersnake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris) was found on a chilly November evening catching the last rays of the day on a pile of old sticks in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples.
    Banded Watersnake
  • Close-up of the wiry stems of Spanish moss. Contrary to the name, Spanish moss in neither a moss, nor is it Spanish. It's a native bromeliad that is closely related to pineapples and air plants found in the tropics and subtropics. This interesting epiphytic plant is most often found hanging from live oaks in the American Southeast, Texas, Mexico and Caribbean Islands where it clings to the bark of these trees by tiny scales on their long thread-like stems. Spanish moss is completely harmless to their host trees, except in some cases where there can be so much of it that it actually blocks the sunlight needed for photosynthesis. This small, isolated piece on was found in the Corkscrew Swamp near Naples, Florida.
    Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides)
  • A common wetland plant in Florida, Alabama and Louisiana, the alligator flag (also known as bent alligator-flag or arrowroot) has large lance-shaped leaves and can grow in standing freshwater to a height of six to ten feet! This one was blooming out of season (usually May through July) in late November in the Corkscrew Swamp in Southwest Florida.
    Alligator Flag Flower
  • This very interesting polypore mushroom (also known as a shelf or bracket mushroom) is native to Asia but has recently been found growing in the wild in Florida and Texas in wetland habitats, where they can get quite large. These were found growing in the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Trametes lactinea-6
  • This very interesting polypore mushroom (also known as a shelf or bracket mushroom) is native to Asia but has recently been found growing in the wild in Florida and Texas in wetland habitats, where they can get quite large. This one growing in the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida was almost twelve inches across!
    Trametes lactinea-4
  • This very interesting polypore mushroom (also known as a shelf or bracket mushroom) is native to Asia but has recently been found growing in the wild in Florida and Texas in wetland habitats, where they can get quite large. These were found growing in the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Trametes lactinea-5
  • This very interesting polypore mushroom (also known as a shelf or bracket mushroom) is native to Asia but has recently been found growing in the wild in Florida and Texas in wetland habitats, where they can get quite large. This one growing in the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida was almost twelve inches across!
    Trametes lactinea-3
  • This very interesting polypore mushroom (also known as a shelf or bracket mushroom) is native to Asia but has recently been found growing in the wild in Florida and Texas in wetland habitats, where they can get quite large. These were found growing in the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Trametes lactinea-1
  • This beautiful black-and-white warbler is a forest and swamp-loving songbird and is the only member of the genus Mniotilta. Found across most of Eastern North America, it spends its winters in warmer climates from Texas and Florida down to northern South America. This one was found and photographed while it was hunting among the trees insects in Southwest Florida's Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, in Fort Myers on a chilly November evening.
    Black-and-White Warbler-5
  • This beautiful black-and-white warbler is a forest and swamp-loving songbird and is the only member of the genus Mniotilta. Found across most of Eastern North America, it spends its winters in warmer climates from Texas and Florida down to northern South America. This one was found and photographed while it was hunting among the trees insects in Southwest Florida's Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, in Fort Myers on a chilly November evening.
    Black-and-White Warbler-7
  • This beautiful black-and-white warbler is a forest and swamp-loving songbird and is the only member of the genus Mniotilta. Found across most of Eastern North America, it spends its winters in warmer climates from Texas and Florida down to northern South America. This one was found and photographed while it was hunting among the trees insects in Southwest Florida's Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, in Fort Myers on a chilly November evening.
    Black-and-White Warbler-6
  • Common in ponds and lakes all over Florida and eastern North America, this native spadderdock is often confused with the water lily, and is found as far north as Nova Scotia. The difference between spadderdock and true water lilies is that spadderdock has heart-shaped leaves and small, half-opened flowers and water lilies have round leaves and large showy flowers. This one was found growing in a lake in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Spadderdock2021-2.jpg
  • Common in ponds and lakes all over Florida and eastern North America, this native spadderdock is often confused with the water lily, and is found as far north as Nova Scotia. The difference between spadderdock and true water lilies is that spadderdock has heart-shaped leaves and small, half-opened flowers and water lilies have round leaves and large showy flowers. This one was found growing in a lake in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Spadderdock2021-1.jpg
  • The brown anole is a member of the spiny lizard family and native to Cuba and the Bahamas. Common, and invasive to the United States, it is spreading north from the Florida Keys, and in a little more more than a century it has established itself as far north as Georgia and as far west as Texas in recent years. The problem with this particular species is that it is outcompeting with the native and less aggressive green anole, with the additional pressure of adult male brown anoles having been known to prey on young green anoles. This one was one of many spotted scurrying around hunting among the trees one November evening in the Corkscrew Swamp near Naples, Florida and the nighttime insects started to come out.
    BrownAnole2021-1.jpg
  • The brown anole is a member of the spiny lizard family and native to Cuba and the Bahamas. Common, and invasive to the United States, it is spreading north from the Florida Keys, and in a little more more than a century it has established itself as far north as Georgia and as far west as Texas in recent years. The problem with this particular species is that it is outcompeting with the native and less aggressive green anole, with the additional pressure of adult male brown anoles having been known to prey on young green anoles. This one was one of many spotted scurrying around hunting among the trees one November evening in the Corkscrew Swamp near Naples, Florida and the nighttime insects started to come out.
    BrownAnole2021-2.jpg
  • This beautiful black-and-white warbler is a forest and swamp-loving songbird and is the only member of the genus Mniotilta. Found across most of Eastern North America, it spends its winters in warmer climates from Texas and Florida down to northern South America. This one was found and photographed while it was hunting through swarms of flying insects in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples on a chilly November evening.
    Black-and-White Warbler-3
  • Starting off as a grey-to-greenish lichen from the humid subtropical and tropical swamps of the American Southeast and southwards, the Christmas lichen develops an unusual and surprisingly bright pigment that becomes red or hot pink on the bark or dead wood of water-loving trees such as bald cypress. This patch was found on a cypress tree growing in the Corkscrew Swamp in Southwest Florida between Naples and Fort Myers.
    Christmas Lichen
  • With the confusing name of Boston fern, this truly global sword fern is native to the tropics around most of the equator in the Americas, Africa and Polynesia. In North America, it can be natively inmost of Mexico and the Caribbean, Florida, Texas, Louisiana and even Arizona. This very healthy specimen was growing just at the top of the flood line on the side of a bald cypress tree in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp.
    Boston Fern
  • Although common all over North America, on rare occasions, you might encounter a very strange-looking raccoon with a very unusual coloration. Sometimes a red raccoon or even a blond raccoon is found when you least expect it, and even more rare is the albino raccoon! While all of them are still the same species, just some win the gene lottery for uniqueness! This red raccoon had a coloration more similar to a red fox, and was heard long before it was seen wading noisily through the Corkscrew Swamp in Southwest Florida as it was catching crayfish and devouring them on the spot. Paying little attention to me, it just kept moving and foraging until the splashing and lip-smacking faded in the distance.
    RedRaccoon2021-4.jpg
  • Although common all over North America, on rare occasions, you might encounter a very strange-looking raccoon with a very unusual coloration. Sometimes a red raccoon or even a blond raccoon is found when you least expect it, and even more rare is the albino raccoon! While all of them are still the same species, just some win the gene lottery for uniqueness! This red raccoon had a coloration more similar to a red fox, and was heard long before it was seen wading noisily through the Corkscrew Swamp in Southwest Florida as it was catching crayfish and devouring them on the spot. Paying little attention to me, it just kept moving and foraging until the splashing and lip-smacking faded in the distance.
    RedRaccoon2021-2.jpg
  • This common, large flycatcher is frequently seen (or just heard) in the Eastern half of North America high in the treetops where it actively and aggressively hunts insects and ripe fruits and even the occasional small invertebrate such as lizards. This one was seen perched out in the open above the black waters of the Corkscrew Swamp on a cool November evening in Southwest Florida.
    Great Crested Flycatcher-5
  • This common, large flycatcher is frequently seen (or just heard) in the Eastern half of North America high in the treetops where it actively and aggressively hunts insects and ripe fruits and even the occasional small invertebrate such as lizards. This one was seen perched out in the open above the black waters of the Corkscrew Swamp on a cool November evening in Southwest Florida.
    Great Crested Flycatcher-4
  • This common, large flycatcher is frequently seen (or just heard) in the Eastern half of North America high in the treetops where it actively and aggressively hunts insects and ripe fruits and even the occasional small invertebrate such as lizards. This one was seen perched out in the open above the black waters of the Corkscrew Swamp on a cool November evening in Southwest Florida.
    Great Crested Flycatcher-3
  • While I was looking up into the trees and marveling at the huge number of moths flying over the black waters of the Corkscrew Swamp just outside of Naples, Florida, this tiny bomber swooped in, grabbed a moth and then began to wolf it down just as soon as it could find a perch to rest. At four and a quarter inches in length, this fast-moving blue-gray gnatcatcher is very common in eastern North American and parts of the Southwest where it forages in high trees for insects. Unusual for what we hear about wildlife and the state of habitat destruction these days, the total number of blue-gray gnatcatchers are on the rise. Not only are they becoming more numerous, they are also extending their range into places they've never been seen before.
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-3
  • Starting off as a grey-to-greenish lichen from the humid subtropical and tropical swamps of the American Southeast and southwards, the Christmas lichen develops an unusual and surprisingly bright pigment that becomes red or hot pink on the bark or dead wood of water-loving trees such as bald cypress. This patch was found on a cypress tree growing in the Corkscrew Swamp in Southwest Florida between Naples and Fort Myers.
    Christmas Lichen
  • This large shade-loving epiphytic fern is native to the tropical eastern coasts of the Americas and the Caribbean Islands. Going by a variety of common names such as golden polypody, golden serpent fern, cabbage palm fern, gold-foot fern, blue-star fern, hare-foot fern and rabbit's foot fern Phlebodium aureum is commonly grown as a houseplant. This one was found growing at the base of a bald cypress tree deep in the Corkscrew Swamp in Southwest Florida's Collier County between Naples and Fort Myers.
    Golden Polypody
  • Although common all over North America, on rare occasions, you might encounter a very strange-looking raccoon with a very unusual coloration. Sometimes a red raccoon or even a blond raccoon is found when you least expect it, and even more rare is the albino raccoon! While all of them are still the same species, just some win the gene lottery for uniqueness! This red raccoon had a coloration more similar to a red fox, and was heard long before it was seen wading noisily through the Corkscrew Swamp in Southwest Florida as it was catching crayfish and devouring them on the spot. Paying little attention to me, it just kept moving and foraging until the splashing and lip-smacking faded in the distance.
    RedRaccoon2021-3.jpg
  • Although common all over North America, on rare occasions, you might encounter a very strange-looking raccoon with a very unusual coloration. Sometimes a red raccoon or even a blond raccoon is found when you least expect it, and even more rare is the albino raccoon! While all of them are still the same species, just some win the gene lottery for uniqueness! This red raccoon had a coloration more similar to a red fox, and was heard long before it was seen wading noisily through the Corkscrew Swamp in Southwest Florida as it was catching crayfish and devouring them on the spot. Paying little attention to me, it just kept moving and foraging until the splashing and lip-smacking faded in the distance.
    RedRaccoon2021-1.jpg
  • A well-fed juvenile American alligator enjoys a sun-warmed log in the Corkscrew Swamp near Naples, Florida.
    Juvenile American Alligator-4
  • A well-fed juvenile American alligator enjoys a sun-warmed log in the Corkscrew Swamp near Naples, Florida.
    Juvenile American Alligator-3
  • A well-fed juvenile American alligator enjoys a sun-warmed log in the Corkscrew Swamp near Naples, Florida.
    Juvenile American Alligator-2
  • A well-fed juvenile American alligator enjoys a sun-warmed log in the Corkscrew Swamp near Naples, Florida.
    Juvenile American Alligator-1
  • This common, large flycatcher is frequently seen (or just heard) in the Eastern half of North America high in the treetops where it actively and aggressively hunts insects and ripe fruits and even the occasional small invertebrate such as lizards. This one was seen perched out in the open above the black waters of the Corkscrew Swamp on a cool November evening in Southwest Florida.
    Great Crested Flycatcher-2
  • This common, large flycatcher is frequently seen (or just heard) in the Eastern half of North America high in the treetops where it actively and aggressively hunts insects and ripe fruits and even the occasional small invertebrate such as lizards. This one was seen perched out in the open above the black waters of the Corkscrew Swamp on a cool November evening in Southwest Florida.
    Great Crested Flycatcher-1
  • One of the smallest of the songbirds in the eastern half of North America, the highly charismatic and extremely voracious blue-gray gnatcatcher is also one of the hardest to see clearly. The fly at seemly reckless speeds through thick foliage, and rarely stop for more than a second or two before launching into the air for another round of acrobatic avian maneuvers fro tiny flying insects. This one was one of many seen perching among the bald cypress trees just log enough to swallow yet another insect before going off in search for the next victim in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples.
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-11
  • One of the smallest of the songbirds in the eastern half of North America, the highly charismatic and extremely voracious blue-gray gnatcatcher is also one of the hardest to see clearly. The fly at seemly reckless speeds through thick foliage, and rarely stop for more than a second or two before launching into the air for another round of acrobatic avian maneuvers fro tiny flying insects. This one was one of many seen perching among the bald cypress trees just log enough to swallow yet another insect before going off in search for the next victim in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples.
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-8
  • One of the smallest of the songbirds in the eastern half of North America, the highly charismatic and extremely voracious blue-gray gnatcatcher is also one of the hardest to see clearly. The fly at seemly reckless speeds through thick foliage, and rarely stop for more than a second or two before launching into the air for another round of acrobatic avian maneuvers fro tiny flying insects. This one was one of many seen perching among the bald cypress trees just log enough to swallow yet another insect before going off in search for the next victim in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples.
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-7
  • One of the smallest of the songbirds in the eastern half of North America, the highly charismatic and extremely voracious blue-gray gnatcatcher is also one of the hardest to see clearly. The fly at seemly reckless speeds through thick foliage, and rarely stop for more than a second or two before launching into the air for another round of acrobatic avian maneuvers fro tiny flying insects. This one was one of many seen perching among the bald cypress trees just log enough to swallow yet another insect before going off in search for the next victim in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples.
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-10
  • One of the smallest of the songbirds in the eastern half of North America, the highly charismatic and extremely voracious blue-gray gnatcatcher is also one of the hardest to see clearly. The fly at seemly reckless speeds through thick foliage, and rarely stop for more than a second or two before launching into the air for another round of acrobatic avian maneuvers fro tiny flying insects. This one was one of many seen perching among the bald cypress trees just log enough to swallow yet another insect before going off in search for the next victim in Southwest Florida's Corkscrew Swamp near Naples.
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-9
  • While I was looking up into the trees and marveling at the huge number of moths flying over the black waters of the Corkscrew Swamp just outside of Naples, Florida, this tiny bomber swooped in, grabbed a moth and then began to wolf it down just as soon as it could find a perch to rest. At four and a quarter inches in length, this fast-moving blue-gray gnatcatcher is very common in eastern North American and parts of the Southwest where it forages in high trees for insects. Unusual for what we hear about wildlife and the state of habitat destruction these days, the total number of blue-gray gnatcatchers are on the rise. Not only are they becoming more numerous, they are also extending their range into places they've never been seen before.
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-6
  • While I was looking up into the trees and marveling at the huge number of moths flying over the black waters of the Corkscrew Swamp just outside of Naples, Florida, this tiny bomber swooped in, grabbed a moth and then began to wolf it down just as soon as it could find a perch to rest. At four and a quarter inches in length, this fast-moving blue-gray gnatcatcher is very common in eastern North American and parts of the Southwest where it forages in high trees for insects. Unusual for what we hear about wildlife and the state of habitat destruction these days, the total number of blue-gray gnatcatchers are on the rise. Not only are they becoming more numerous, they are also extending their range into places they've never been seen before.
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-5
  • While I was looking up into the trees and marveling at the huge number of moths flying over the black waters of the Corkscrew Swamp just outside of Naples, Florida, this tiny bomber swooped in, grabbed a moth and then began to wolf it down just as soon as it could find a perch to rest. At four and a quarter inches in length, this fast-moving blue-gray gnatcatcher is very common in eastern North American and parts of the Southwest where it forages in high trees for insects. Unusual for what we hear about wildlife and the state of habitat destruction these days, the total number of blue-gray gnatcatchers are on the rise. Not only are they becoming more numerous, they are also extending their range into places they've never been seen before.
    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-4
  • Sunset on Lover's Key in Lee County, Florida. Beautiful!.
    Lover's Key
  • Lover's Key in Lee County, Florida. Just in the right spot at the right time.
    Sunset at Lover's Key
  • Sunset on Lover's Key in Lee County, Florida. Beautiful!
    Lover's Key Sunset
  • Sunset on Lover's Key in Lee County, Florida. Beautiful!
    Boating at Lover's Key
  • 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)
  • Sunset photographed in Bonita Springs, Florida in June 2009. It was one of those strange evening skies that was incredibly colorful and busy. Glad I was out working that night!
    Bonita Springs Sunset
  • Osprey spreading its wings on top of a dead tree in Punta Rassa, Florida. Beautiful!!!
    Magnificent Osprey
  • The old Boca Grande Lighthouse on Florida's Gulf Coast.
    Old Boca Grande Lighthouse
  • A trail through the palmettos and cabbage palms of Southwest Florida.....
    Feels Like Home
  • Not commonly seen in southern Florida, the black-throated blue warbler is native to Eastern Canada down to the Carolinas, and is one of the few blue-colored birds in the Southeast. It is usually only seen while it is migrating south to the Caribbean or Central America where it spends its winters. This one was photographed in the Big Cypress National Preserve of SW Florida on a brisk fall morning.
    Black-throated Blue Warbler
  • 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
  • The wonderfully beautiful pine hyacinth growing in the pinelands of the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in SW Florida.
    Pine Hyacinth
  • Close-up detail of a ghost orchid bud at night in the Fakahatchee Strand! Probably not recommended for the bravest of orchid hunters, the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida is an especially busy time at night! This bud opened a few days later.
    Ghost Orchid Bud
  • Ghost orchid bud at night in the Fakahatchee Strand! Probably not recommended for the bravest of orchid hunters, the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida is an especially busy time at night! This bud opened a few days later.
    Ghost Orchid with Flower Bud
  • 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
  • Dawn on the Myakka River in SW Florida.
    Dawn on the Myakka River
  • 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!
  • Summer love in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in SW Florida.
    Mating Southeastern Lubber Grasshoppers
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Mornging glory growing on the beach on Lover's Key in SW Florida.
    Oceanblue Morning Glory
  • Wild pennyroyal grows almost everywhere in SW Florida that is dry and sandy - particularly around palmettos. It also makes a wonderful tea!
    Wild Pennyroyal
  • Dragonheads blooming near a lake in Charlotte County in SW Florida in the Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area.
    Dragonheads
  • Blazing Star growing in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in SW Florida.
    Blazing Star
  • Blue-eyed grass wildflowers blooming in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in SW Florida.
    Blue-Eyed Grass
  • The tiny bay lobelia flowering in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in SW Florida.
    Bay Lobelia
  • The large Palamedes swallowtail is perhaps the most common of the swallowtails found in SW Florida.
    Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palam..des)
  • Also known as the hoary airplant, this rare bromeliad is infrequently seen in the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida, as this one was.
    Fuzzywuzzy Airplant (Tillandsia prui..osa)
  • The super rare nodding strap airplant growing over a pond in the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida.
    Nodding Strap Airplant (Catopsis nutans)
  • A wild bald eagle keeping a watchful eye on its nest in the Estero Bay Preserve in SW Florida.
    Bald Eagle and Nest
  • Three male zebra longwings were excitedly waiting for this new female to emerge from her pupa in the Corkscrew Swamp in SW Florida. This is a common mating practice for longwings.
    Zebra Longwing Mating Ritual
  • Viceroy butterfly in the heat of a summer day in the Corkscrew Swamp in SW Florida. This is one of the several species to mimic the Monarch's colors and pattern - known to birds for being toxic to eat.
    Viceroy
  • White Peacock feeding on common beggar's-ticks in the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida. These are extremely common on hot, humid mornings in the southern part of the state.
    White Peacock
  • Female tropical checkered skipper followed, chased and finally photographed in the Corkscrew Swamp in SW Florida. These are fast!
    Tropical Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus o..eus)
  • Lover's Key in Lee County. Just in the right spot at the right time.
    Lover's Key
  • 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)
  • Red Mangroves on an idyllic day on Sanibel Island.
    The Mangrove Coast
  • The rising sun at Lighthouse Point on Sanibel Island.
    Sanibel Sunrise
  • Cabbage Palm on Sanibel Island taken from a very relaxing position on the beach!
    The Best View
  • Portrait of the beach on Sanibel Island.
    Land, Sea & Air
  • A storm brewing off of Sanibel Island.
    Sanibel Storm
  • Red Mangroves on an idyllic day on Sanibel Island.
    The Mangrove Coast
  • Vanilla "beans" in the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida. Very similar yet not quite the same as commercial vanilla beans which come from another vanilla orchid - Vanilla planifolia. They do however have a strong vanilla scent when the seedpods are fully developed.
    Oblong-leaved Vanilla Orchid "Beans"..tha)
  • This distant relative to the pineapple is endangered in the wild in North America. Confined to a few remaining counties in locations far out into the Florida Everglades and Puerto Rico, it is listed as a threatened species. Major concerns for this species are habitat loss and an invasive exotic weevil (Metamazius callizona) found in South Florida that kills it. Luckily this species is also native to Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia, where populations are more stable. This one was photographed in SW Florida's Fakahatchee Strand. Look closely and you will see it sharing a limb with native zig-zag orchid (Epidendrum rigidum) in this submerged pond apple tree.
    West Indian Tufted Airplant (Guzmani..hia)
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