Florida Nature

After a 14 hour car ride and being in a whole new place, Stuart was beyond anxious to get out and about, so the day after we arrived, we took him on his own adventure.  We were hoping to take him on the beach but the dog park was closed so we settled for a walk down the surrounding neighborhood street.  It also gave me a chance to see a bit more of Florida's foliage up close. I was amazed by it all because it's nothing like the natural plants that grow in North Carolina.  

My favorite of all was the Sea Grape.  It was growing everywhere, as a plant, a shrub, or a tree.  The rounded leaves were all different colors from burgundy to a brilliant orange or a forest green, and as an accent they had neon green veins running through them.  Native to tropical areas because they grow so well in sandy soil, the fruit is acidic in flavor and can be made into jams and jellies.  I wish I could have found some sea grape jelly to try!

These photos are mainly from our walk with Stuart but there are a few that I captured one morning when I woke up early, from Vlad's mom's garden that was just beautiful with everything blooming this time of year!  So here's a little Florida nature for your morning tea!