Florida Flora

We recently took a drive down to Florida for the weekend. I love that this sentence is part of my world now!

I absolutely adore the lush tropical vibe.

This palm below has a gorgeous green trunk top with foliage growing out of it. It really appears artificial, making it more awesome.

I also got a close up view of a banyan tree! A banyan is a type of fig that grows on host trees. 

They end up dropping aerial roots and spread laterally. Needless to say, they are quite invasive.

I do wish I took a photo to demonstrate its girth as this one is super wide. 

Apparently Thomas Edison planted one in Fort Myers, FL that now spans 1 acre. Now that sounds like something to see!

A banyan looks like a thick, messy jungle. It also seems like something out of a fairy tale.

The flowers are gorgeous.

Some coral rock.

Papaya fruit growing on a tree.

An air plant growing in the wild. It is that big grassy bit on the trunk below.

Bananas growing.

The flower is a shoot that grows below the fruit.

I don't recall ever seeing a banana flower before.

Lots of deep green foliage.

Gorgeousness everywhere.

This awesome trunk below is a date palm. Another natural tree that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale.

We stopped at Sand Key Park in Clearwater, a county park that is only $5 per car to park all day. 

We took a beautiful stroll along the pale turquoise waters. The beach and water were dotted with people enjoying a lovely beach day.

I am not used to this rough beach. It is loaded with shell fragments. We walked barefoot, but with great care.

I hope you enjoyed this bit of The Sunshine State.

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val