Dunedin, Florida: Hammock Park Boardwalk Shelter

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I've said it before. It's no secret. I love Hammock Park in Dunedin, Florida. It's a wonderful, peaceful place to wander about and unwind. It's also a great place to see some wildlife, and enjoy some wooded areas that are more like what Florida should be, or used to be at least. I've been to the park a number of times for a lunch break, and it always brings a little more relaxation into the rest of my day than would be there otherwise.

If you are looking for a nice place to stop and get away from the frantic pace of work for a while, or a good place to get close to nature without having to drive for an hour or two, visit Hammock Park and learn what all the fuss is about for yourself.
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Dunedin, Florida: Inviting Garden Swing Under A Shade Tree

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No, it's not a terribly elaborate garden, but I find it very inviting just the same. The bench swing, the plants, the cool shade. All framed under and within the welcoming arms of a beautiful shade tree. When you are walking around in the hot summer heat, that we all love so much, it's nice to feast your eyes on an oasis of cool like this one.

This is not my garden I'm afraid, nor is this garden owned and created by any friend of mine. I spotted it while on walking photo safari in Dunedin, and thought you may enjoy it like I did... from a distance, but with joy just the same. And as for the swing itself, I found two free plans, and one for sale, in just a few minutes online. The two free plans were from Build Eazy and Black & Decker, and the one for sale was from WoodCraftPlans.com. Check them out if you like, these are not affiliate links, and I can give no assurances as to suitability or safety of the finished products. :) There are lots more out there I'm sure, these are just some I found easily, so I thought I'd pass along the links.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Nature Trail 12

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I honestly cannot be sure that this is number twelve in this series... but I really didn't think you would mind if I got the number wrong.

What this is... is another shot of the trail on Honeymoon Island. The hiking trail, or nature trail, has various turn around points so you can enjoy it a little longer if you'd like, or get back to your car sooner if you'd like. Honeymoon Island State Park.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Nature Trail 11

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I have been feeling the urge to get outside a bit more lately. But I have been stymied by work. So, since I can't get there in person, I decided to post some pictures of the kinds of places I would like to be. Why? Because I like to share these beautiful places with you all, so you can enjoy them too!

This photograph was taken out on Honeymoon Island, also known as Honeymoon Island State Park, while hiking the Nature Trail. It's a really awesome place, that gives you a deeply natural feeling. It's easy to get out there, the trail is easy to get to and easy to hike. Definitely a thumbs up recommendation on this trail!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: What's The BUZZ?

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Hmmm, what's that buzzing noise? I don't know. It's so... so... so deep. I mean, it sounds like a thousand bees all buzzing at the same time...

Yeah, that is one HUGE bee hive! I would put it at about 3 feet tall, and maybe a foot around. I spotted this beauty high up in a tree, and at first I could not be sure it was a bee hive. Then it seemed like there were little dots whirring about. Finally, I came back with my camera and telephoto lens. The result is there in living color. Each one of those little golden dots is a bee.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: A Treehouse Grows In Dunedin

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And by the by... on the way out to Honeymoon Island for a walk on the beach, DW spotted this way cool treehouse!

This is a pretty 'citified' area around here, and one just does not expect to find a treehouse like this. I LOVE TREEHOUSES!!! Did you know that there are builders out there who specialize in building treehouses for ADULTS... yes, like YOU and ME!!!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Hiking Trail Flashback

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I have been thinking about Honeymoon Island lately, and the wonderful hiking trails they have out there. This is a shot from one of those trails. I love hiking out there, even though I don't go nearly as often as I would like to. It's a wonderful place to get away from the 'madding crowd' for a while, and forget you live in the city.

If you get the chance, I heartily recommend you get out to Honeymoon Island and get your feet on the trails, and your head out of your work for a while. There are lots of wonderful reasons to live in this area. Honeymoon Island is one of the best!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Hammock Park Trail: Look Up!

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Before I forget, I want to say, again, don't forget to LOOK UP! Look up and see more and more of the world around you. Look up and see wonders that are there to be fascinated by.

I once read a quote that was ascribed to a famous architect: "God is in the details." I have never forgotten that. When I look up and see the amazing intricacy of all these leaves and their branches that get smaller and smaller as they grow out from the trunk of this beautiful tree, I can believe that some sort of amazing power is at work there.

By the same token, seeing all these myriad leaves reminds me what a big world it is, and how easy it is to be lost among so many numbers. A forest of leafy trees is a good analogy for the internet. When one considers that a web page is like a single leaf on a tree in a forest of a million trees, each with thousands and thousands of leaves, it's amazing to consider that you found your way here to my web page. I'm glad you made it! Thanks for coming!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Hammock Park: Nature Trail Getaway

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If you are on a nature trail in Florida, don't forget to look UP too! You never know when there might be a delicious harvest of juicy citrus fruits dangling just overhead. I saw ample evidence of the local fauna enjoying these citrus fruits, with small piles of peels on the ground beneath the trees.

It's been some nice days of lower humidity lately, and we are still not into the truly hot months yet. So it's been very enjoyable walking the shady trails of Hammock Park lately. I imagine it will still be nice as the summer reaches its peak, as long as you can dress in shorts and a light shirt.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Hammock Park Trail Lunchtime Hike

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Here is a little bit more of what Dunedin probably looked like before all the houses were built and streets paved. In fact, this might be what a lot of it still looked like when the Fenway Hotel opened, in 1925! Yesterday, we first started on the Vivian Skinner Grant Trail N. But that is a large, wide open trail, and we are looking for something more intimate, a trail that will get us closer to nature.

So we take a sharp right turn, and start on a much smaller trail. The map is a little confusing. We are on either the Oak Trail W. or the Cline Trail. Either way, it is smaller, more quiet, and takes us deep into the woods (for just a little while). This picture makes me think of Robinson Crusoe. What do you think?
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: City Of Dunedin, City Hall

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I guess you could say this is the heart of the City of Dunedin. City Hall, the one and only. Cool. It's really a pretty nice looking place. I LOVE the tree out front... way cool.

I have to give them credit... it's not some overdone palace of waste. They seem to run a really nice City, providing a nice place to live and work and play.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Trees Need Love Too

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I found this incredible example of Trees In Love near Lake Paloma. I have seen some interesting Tree Love before, but this is the most extreme. The Oak has completely encircled the Palm tree. Talk about a heart breaker... the Palm tree has died.

If you click and enlarge the photo, you can see one of our local lizards hanging head-down on the Palm trunk, just below the Oak circlet. If you are cruising Dunedin, this tree is just off San Christopher Dr., near the Coca-Cola facility.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today!

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