White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn following its mother on a foraging trip in the woods east of the northern campground loop at Lake Kissimmee State Park.

Near Park Road, Lake Wales, Florida: 13 October 2013

part of the Lake Kissimmee State Park album

I have not yet written about Lake Kissimmee State Park in Lake Wales, only posting the below favorite photo of a white-tailed deer fawn, but my camping trip there in October 2013 was excellent. It was an ideal place to watch wildlife.

In addition to the usual suspects, we had close encounters with a rafter of turkeys who twice emerged from the woods into our campsite to look around, a pair of hawks, several flocks of turkey vultures, a drove of Florida Cracker cattle, woodpeckers and more orb-weaver spiders than I care to recall.

The highlight of this particular trip was discovering a white-tailed deer doe and her fawn foraging in the woods. I happened upon them while exploring the woods behind our campsite. It was just after 1530 when I first spotted them, so it was nice to have sunlight — I typically spot deer at dusk in state parks.

I followed the two of them through the woods for about thirty minutes, keeping some distance so as not to frighten them but staying remarkably close regardless. They kept an eye on me but mostly seemed interested in eating. Hopefully, this nonchalance toward humans does not prove unwise.

After the deer entered a particularly dense area of forest and realizing that I had not been paying any attention to our course, I decided to let them go and figure out my way back. I emerged from the woods just a few campsites down from Site 13 where we were staying; not bad, all things considered.

With a nice campground, the circa 1876 frontier cow camp recreation complete with guide, thirteen miles of trails and teeming wildlife, we definitely enjoyed this park. And on our way out, we stopped by the nearby Bok Tower Gardens where I captured those great butterfly pictures.

Footprints in the snow show where people walked over the completely frozen Capitol Reflecting Pool (1971) near the United States Capitol (1811/1866) and United States Botanic Garden (1867).

Near 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, District of Columbia: 29 January 2014

part of the National Mall album

Golden rat tail cactus (Cleistocactus winteri) in the world deserts environment within the Conservatory at the United States Botanic Garden (1867).

100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, District of Columbia: 29 January 2014

part of the United States Botanic Garden album

Of all the diverse botanical species on exhibit at the United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, I found these Cleistocactus winteri native to Bolivia to be one of the most unusual and visually interesting.

A member of the Cactaceae (cactus) family, Cleistocactus winteri is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Cleistocactus winteri is only known to exist in two locations — a combined area of 96.53 square miles — within the Province of Florida. They occur on forest cliffs in seasonally dry inter-Andean valleys at elevations around 4,400 feet.

The northern subspecies is only found on a single cliff, while the southern subspecies occurs over a six mile or so stretch of cliffs. The latter is also subject to frequent collection by locals who in turn use them as ornamental plants.

There is no shortage of interesting and free things to do in the District, but I definitely recommend visiting the United States Botanic Garden. Open daily from 1000 to 1700, the various themed areas like the world deserts environment can provide a nice change of pace… especially during a wintertime trip.

A cast iron star-shaped anchor plate on the semi-detached brick house at 311 Queen Street (1880) in Old Town Alexandria.

311 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia: 30 January 2014

part of the Old Town Alexandria album

Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) flying over the frozen Potomac River in the Torpedo South Pier along the Torpedo Factory (1918) Wharf at the City of Alexandria Marina.

Near 105 North Union Street, Alexandria, Virginia: 30 January 2014

part of the Old Town Alexandria album