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Painted Pathways

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Painted Pathways

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🌴Wander Florida’s wild side with me. 🌿

🦌 I capture places that are hidden gems, forest trails, and wildlife both on camera and canvas—while uncovering hidden history and fun facts along the way. 🎨

05/08/2026

While I’m out here sweating on these 90 degree days, this tiny tenant is living his best life in a bromeliad… shade, water, and an all-you-can-eat mosquito buffet 🐸🌿

05/06/2026

These brown anoles can change from light brown to nearly black depending on mood, temperature, or camouflage—and when they’re feeling bold, they flash a bright throat fan, bob their heads, and do pushups to communicate, defend territory, or impress a mate.

Tell me this doesn’t remind you of someone 😅

#

04/29/2026

🦉Spotting this Barred Owl on my daily walk felt like I hit the wildlife lottery.

I hike 4–6 miles with my husky and my camera almost every day and this is only my second Barred Owl sighting. They’re incredibly elusive, and honestly just as rewarding to photograph as a hummingbird (photographers, you get it). They also blend right in with the tree.

I was surprised to see him so late in the morning and noticed he looked sleepy—eyes fluttering like a kid trying to pretend they’re not tired— The lighting wasn’t perfect, but moments like this don’t wait, so I gave it a shot.

Fun fact: Barred Owls are known for their call that sounds like “who cooks for you?” They’re one of five owl species native to Florida, don’t migrate, and tend to be a bit curious—which might explain why he stuck around long enough for this shot.

And one of my favorite little facts… they often mate for life, calling back and forth to each other in the forest. 🦉

04/28/2026

Wait… there are wild monkeys in Florida? 🐒🌴

Back in the 1930s, a tour boat captain released a few rhesus macaques on an island at Silver Springs to spice up his jungle cruise…

One small problem—he didn’t know they could swim 😅

Fast forward to today: hundreds now roam the riverbanks and treetops. A pretty wild surprise whether you're hiking or kayaking.

I suggest keeping your distance, since they like to throw their poo at you for sport. 💩🎯

04/17/2026

Nature’s camouflage is unreal. Can you spot what stopped me in my tracks? 👀🌿

Baby White-tailed fawns like this typically have around 250-350 spots, are odorless, and excellent at remaining perfectly motionless. I can’t tell you how many times I haven’t seen them until I’ve already startled them… and then we both jump. 😅

I love encountering all the babies during spring! 🌷

What animals have you encountered?

04/07/2026

At Rainbow Springs State Park, I took a photo of this beautiful Wood Duck in the wild…

When I got home, I decided to turn that moment into a painting.

But this one meant a little more.

My late Uncle loved anything to do with ducks. I thought of him and how special he was in my life while I painted this, and wish I could show it to him. I plan to frame it with a frame from his home.

If this made you think of someone you miss, you’re not alone ❤️”

👉 Feel free to share or tell me who it reminds you of

03/10/2026

🐢 This healthy Florida softshell turtle looks like it’s whistling…

But recently we found one that was barely hanging on during this drought.

The little guy had tried to bury himself in the dirt to wait for rain and was barely hanging onto life. 🥺

My husband and I felt bad for the little fella and couldn’t just leave him there, so we came back with a tote and about 6 inches of water and transported him to the crystal clear springs at Rainbow Springs State Park.

The moment he hit the water he took off like he had just checked into a turtle resort. 🐢💦

If you ever see a struggling softshell during dry conditions, helping them reach water can save their life. So many of the ponds and reservoirs around here have dried up.

If you must move one:
• Grab the very back edge of the shell
• Keep it away from your body
• Gloves help avoid bites & claws
• Their necks are long and can reach halfway back
• And yes… they might p*e on you 😅

A few cool facts about these fascinating turtles:
• Their shells are covered in leathery skin instead of hard scutes
• Females grow twice as large as males
• One female can lay 200+ eggs per year
• Sometimes they even lay eggs in active alligator nests for protection!
• They are carnivorous and feed on things like insects, fish, and sometimes even small birds!

Nature is wild.

Have you ever seen a Florida softshell turtle before?

👇 Tell me where!

03/07/2026

I Watched These Twin Fawns Grow Up in My Backyard 🦌

Spring is one of my favorite seasons… because it brings baby wildlife with it! 🌱🦌

Last spring, a white-tailed doe decided that my wooded backyard was the perfect place to raise her twin fawns, so I felt like I got a front-row seat to watch them grow up.

The moment that really melted me was when they started frolicking and chasing each other through the leaves. They got used to seeing me and I built a little trust with them that enabled me to get a tad closer with my camera. I used a 300 mm so it only zooms so far!

One interesting thing I learned is that mother deer actually hide their fawns in separate locations for the first few weeks of life. If a predator finds one, the other still has a chance to survive. Around 3–4 weeks old, the fawns begin staying together and following their mother. That explained why I only saw one baby fawn for a while!

Imagine finally getting to meet your twin after a few weeks apart — no wonder they seemed so excited to play!

A few fun fawn facts:
• Fawns can stand and walk within hours of being born
• They begin following their mother at around 3–4 weeks old
• Their white spots help camouflage them in sunlight and leaves
• They lose those spots at around 3–4 months old

Have you ever seen baby deer where you live? 🦌

Let me know in the comments!

03/03/2026

I have never seen a baby fawn this tiny before 🥹

He had just been born that day — wobbly, delicate, and tucked safely in the leaves while his mama grazed nearby. I almost walked right past him!

I snapped a photo and later turned that sweet moment into this painting. 🎨✨Im pretty sure the people in my city consider deer to be the town mascot. How could I not want to paint it?

This little guy is so special to me that he’s now the profile picture across all of my social media pages.

There’s something so fascinating about how deer protect their babies — leaving them hidden in the grass while they feed.

Have you ever seen a newborn fawn in the wild? 🦌 Tell me where!

02/26/2026

We spent the day hiking Raven Cliff Falls Trail, a 4.9-mile round trip trail tucked into the Chattahoochee National Forest.

The whole trail follows Dodd Creek through a valley filled with waterfalls, mossy trees, and massive rock formations that look like something out of a movie. It’s moderately challenging with a few creek crossings — and on the biggest one, I decided it was time to embrace the mountain lifestyle and wade barefoot through the cold water. Honestly? Kind of refreshing.

It’s dog-friendly (which made our pup very happy), and the mountain air alone is worth the drive.

And since it’s right next to Helen, I highly recommend making a full day of it. Hike first, explore the Bavarian-style town after, and order some hot mulled wine (Gluhwein).

If you love waterfalls, forest trails, and a little adventure mixed with laughter, this one’s a good one.

02/12/2026

History tucked into moss covered stone. Crystal clear springs. Waterfalls that feel almost unreal. And hidden among the trees… abandoned zoo cages from the 1960s, quietly rusting.

Rainbow Springs State Park feels like stepping into a forgotten story.

I painted one of the waterfalls, trying to chase the movement of the water and the glow of that impossibly blue spring. This time lapse captures the process — but the real masterpiece is the park itself.

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