Rick,
Great shots! You might want to submit one to the Photo contest!!!!
Tony

Great photos Rick.

Thanks for sharing all of those great pictures Rick!
It's good to see your 5-4 gets a lot of fresh air

Nice shots Rick and great knife.

Thanks guys!!

I know how much I like seeing everyone's photos, so now I have a new habit of stopping whenever I see something interesting and thinking, "Maybe the guys on the forum would like to see this."

Hey Capt, I debated with myself about which forum to post these pics in, and I think the Tents and Trails one probably would be better. Would you move it there please? And then I can add to it now and then. Thanks!

Rick

I really enjoy your photos. Not only the content, but the quality.

On the lighter side, you frequently have a knife in the middle of a great photo. I think you should send me the knife, as it keeps cluttering up your picture. Heck I would even pay for the shipping!!!

That big ham of a knife has ruined so many good photos! It's always getting in the way and blocking the view. It just has to be the center of attention all the time. It wants to be the focus of everything.

I try not to encourage it. Even my camera trys to ignore it and just look past it.

Great shots, Rick. Where is this preserve located?

Thanks, Chad! It's in eastern Hillsborough county near Plant City.

This is Wild Coffee (Psychotria nervosa).

This plant is native to Florida. The pics show a small specimen but it can grow to ten feet or more. It's utilized by birds and butterflies, but according to the University of Florida "wild coffee is not recommended for human consumption." It has been used as a coffee substitute, but apparently it's not very palatable. And it doesn't contain caffeine. One source said that it was used by Native Americans for medicinal and ceremonial purposes.