{"id":109026,"date":"2026-01-24T11:35:38","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T16:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/?page_id=109026"},"modified":"2026-02-02T20:37:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T01:37:44","slug":"around-the-state","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/around-the-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Around the State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Florida offers so many opportunities to explore. We\u2019ll chronicle our encounters with nature and interesting places and share our stories about the fun events we attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"columns-3 wp-block-post-template is-layout-grid wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-6d3fbd8f wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-109562 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-nature\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/22\/changes-in-the-air\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Changes in the Air<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-22T08:28:59-04:00\">March 22, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260304-4-green-winged-teal-male-looks-for-mate.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260304-4-green-winged-teal-male-looks-for-mate.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260304-4-green-winged-teal-male-looks-for-mate-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260304-4-green-winged-teal-male-looks-for-mate-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260304-4-green-winged-teal-male-looks-for-mate-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260304-4-green-winged-teal-male-looks-for-mate-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260304-4-green-winged-teal-male-looks-for-mate-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260304-4-green-winged-teal-male-looks-for-mate-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260304-4-green-winged-teal-male-looks-for-mate-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The transition to our summer season for birds is beginning. It&#8217;s mid-March and almost all the robins have departed on their journey north. Likewise, the little hooded mergansers that usually populate the many small ponds in the area have left for their northern nesting grounds. As the weeks go by, more ducks will head out<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/22\/changes-in-the-air\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-109502 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-events tag-sports\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/the-2026-indycar-season-begins-in-florida\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >The 2026 IndyCar Season Begins in Florida<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-06T08:14:05-05:00\">March 6, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260301-4-alex-palou-in-turn-10-toward-end-of-st-pete-grand-prix.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260301-4-alex-palou-in-turn-10-toward-end-of-st-pete-grand-prix.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260301-4-alex-palou-in-turn-10-toward-end-of-st-pete-grand-prix-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260301-4-alex-palou-in-turn-10-toward-end-of-st-pete-grand-prix-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260301-4-alex-palou-in-turn-10-toward-end-of-st-pete-grand-prix-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260301-4-alex-palou-in-turn-10-toward-end-of-st-pete-grand-prix-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260301-4-alex-palou-in-turn-10-toward-end-of-st-pete-grand-prix-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260301-4-alex-palou-in-turn-10-toward-end-of-st-pete-grand-prix-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260301-4-alex-palou-in-turn-10-toward-end-of-st-pete-grand-prix-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Last weekend, the IndyCar series kicked off their 2026, 18 race schedule with the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. I had the privilege of obtaining media credentials for the weekend, which gave me access to areas around the track that I&#8217;ve never had before, and it was incredible. On Sunday, during<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/the-2026-indycar-season-begins-in-florida\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-109028 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-events tag-sports\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/24\/2026-roar-before-the-rolex-24\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >2026 Roar Before the Rolex 24<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-01-24T07:36:01-05:00\">January 24, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260116-4-25-m-team-wrt-bmw-leads-group-cars-exiting-international-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2026.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260116-4-25-m-team-wrt-bmw-leads-group-cars-exiting-international-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2026.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260116-4-25-m-team-wrt-bmw-leads-group-cars-exiting-international-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2026-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260116-4-25-m-team-wrt-bmw-leads-group-cars-exiting-international-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2026-1920x1281.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260116-4-25-m-team-wrt-bmw-leads-group-cars-exiting-international-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2026-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260116-4-25-m-team-wrt-bmw-leads-group-cars-exiting-international-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2026-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260116-4-25-m-team-wrt-bmw-leads-group-cars-exiting-international-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2026-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260116-4-25-m-team-wrt-bmw-leads-group-cars-exiting-international-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2026-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260116-4-25-m-team-wrt-bmw-leads-group-cars-exiting-international-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2026-1320x881.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The 2026 racing season is underway. We kicked it off with a trip over to Daytona International Speedway to shoot the Roar Before the Rolex 24. The Roar is a 3-day practice session for teams preparing for the Rolex 24, the iconic 24-hour endurance race. It seems like every year the Roar manages to land<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/24\/2026-roar-before-the-rolex-24\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-109015 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida category-travel tag-events tag-places\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/04\/2025-year-in-review\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >2025 Year in Review<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-01-04T07:24:57-05:00\">January 4, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250824-4-seattle-skyline-from-alki-beach.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250824-4-seattle-skyline-from-alki-beach.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250824-4-seattle-skyline-from-alki-beach-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250824-4-seattle-skyline-from-alki-beach-1920x1281.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250824-4-seattle-skyline-from-alki-beach-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250824-4-seattle-skyline-from-alki-beach-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250824-4-seattle-skyline-from-alki-beach-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250824-4-seattle-skyline-from-alki-beach-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250824-4-seattle-skyline-from-alki-beach-1320x881.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">As we kick off 2026, here is a look back at some of the highlights of 2025. It was a quiet year overall for wildlife photography. The multiple hurricanes of 2024 brought torrential rain and lots of tree damage. This completely changed the migration patterns for countless bird species. The availability of ample water from<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/04\/2025-year-in-review\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-106566 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-nature\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/24\/backyard-birds\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Backyard Birds<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-03-24T08:00:00-04:00\">March 24, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250321-4-northern-parula-perched-on-branch-in-sun.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Northern Parula Perched On Branch In Sun\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250321-4-northern-parula-perched-on-branch-in-sun.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250321-4-northern-parula-perched-on-branch-in-sun-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250321-4-northern-parula-perched-on-branch-in-sun-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250321-4-northern-parula-perched-on-branch-in-sun-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250321-4-northern-parula-perched-on-branch-in-sun-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250321-4-northern-parula-perched-on-branch-in-sun-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250321-4-northern-parula-perched-on-branch-in-sun-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250321-4-northern-parula-perched-on-branch-in-sun-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Sometimes the best place to photograph nature can be right in the back yard. We are very fortunate to have a wonderful yard filled with colorful flowering shrubs and nice trees. The shrubbery provides excellent cover for birds, rabbits, and squirrels and their flowers attract a wide variety of butterflies and often hummingbirds. When the<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/24\/backyard-birds\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-106564 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-nature\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/23\/farmland-of-central-florida\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Farmland of Central Florida<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-03-23T06:58:24-04:00\">March 23, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2464\" height=\"1643\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250319-4-bobwhite-quail-male-resting-on-fence-post.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Bobwhite Quail Male Resting On Fence Post\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250319-4-bobwhite-quail-male-resting-on-fence-post.jpg 2464w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250319-4-bobwhite-quail-male-resting-on-fence-post-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250319-4-bobwhite-quail-male-resting-on-fence-post-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250319-4-bobwhite-quail-male-resting-on-fence-post-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250319-4-bobwhite-quail-male-resting-on-fence-post-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250319-4-bobwhite-quail-male-resting-on-fence-post-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250319-4-bobwhite-quail-male-resting-on-fence-post-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250319-4-bobwhite-quail-male-resting-on-fence-post-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2464px) 100vw, 2464px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">One of our favorite areas to visit for the wide variety of plants and wildlife is the agricultural region of Hardee County, Florida. The area is a vast expanse of farms growing citrus, blueberries, tomatoes and other vegetables, and cattle. Separating the farms are areas of swamp and forests. The diversity of the land is<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/23\/farmland-of-central-florida\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-106484 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-nature\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/10\/springtime-changes\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Springtime Changes<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-03-10T09:44:17-04:00\">March 10, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250225-4-burrowing-owl-crouching-by-den.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Burrowing Owl Crouching By Den\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250225-4-burrowing-owl-crouching-by-den.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250225-4-burrowing-owl-crouching-by-den-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250225-4-burrowing-owl-crouching-by-den-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250225-4-burrowing-owl-crouching-by-den-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250225-4-burrowing-owl-crouching-by-den-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250225-4-burrowing-owl-crouching-by-den-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250225-4-burrowing-owl-crouching-by-den-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Living in Florida, the seasonal changes are a lot less dramatic than in other parts of the country. While our rain dial can go from 0 in the \u201cwinter\u201d to 100 in the summer, our temperature dial usually only goes from 70 to 90. Sometimes we only notice the seasons changing when we must reset<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/10\/springtime-changes\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-106110 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-events tag-sports\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/04\/st-pete-firestone-grand-prix\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >St. Pete Firestone Grand Prix<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-03-04T07:56:49-05:00\">March 4, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250228-4-alex-palou-on-main-straight-st-pete-grand-prix-2025.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Alex Palou On Main Straight St Pete Grand Prix 2025\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250228-4-alex-palou-on-main-straight-st-pete-grand-prix-2025.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250228-4-alex-palou-on-main-straight-st-pete-grand-prix-2025-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250228-4-alex-palou-on-main-straight-st-pete-grand-prix-2025-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250228-4-alex-palou-on-main-straight-st-pete-grand-prix-2025-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250228-4-alex-palou-on-main-straight-st-pete-grand-prix-2025-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250228-4-alex-palou-on-main-straight-st-pete-grand-prix-2025-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250228-4-alex-palou-on-main-straight-st-pete-grand-prix-2025-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The 2025 IndyCar season is underway. The teams arrived on Thursday and hit the track for practice on Friday. The weekend culminated Sunday with the running of the 21st Firestone Grand Prix presented by RP Funding. Mother Nature provided 3 remarkable days of bright blue skies and temperatures in the mid-70s. It was perfect for<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/04\/st-pete-firestone-grand-prix\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-105877 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-nature\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/07\/a-couple-of-recent-trips\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >A Couple of Recent Trips<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-02-07T08:50:43-05:00\">February 7, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250130-4-pair-of-black-swans-playing-in-water.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Pair Of Black Swans Playing In Water\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250130-4-pair-of-black-swans-playing-in-water.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250130-4-pair-of-black-swans-playing-in-water-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250130-4-pair-of-black-swans-playing-in-water-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250130-4-pair-of-black-swans-playing-in-water-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250130-4-pair-of-black-swans-playing-in-water-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250130-4-pair-of-black-swans-playing-in-water-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Last week Pam and I took a quick trip over to Lakeland to meet up with an old friend from Canada who spends the winters with his wife and dogs in Florida. We met him at Lake Morton, which is one of our favorite bird spots in the region. It was a beautiful sunny day<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/07\/a-couple-of-recent-trips\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-104569 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-events tag-sports\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/25\/roar-before-the-rolex-24\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Roar Before the Rolex 24<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-01-25T08:29:58-05:00\">January 25, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250117-5-10-wayne-taylor-racing-cadillac-entering-west-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2025.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac Entering West Horseshoe At Dayto\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250117-5-10-wayne-taylor-racing-cadillac-entering-west-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2025.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250117-5-10-wayne-taylor-racing-cadillac-entering-west-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2025-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250117-5-10-wayne-taylor-racing-cadillac-entering-west-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2025-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250117-5-10-wayne-taylor-racing-cadillac-entering-west-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2025-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250117-5-10-wayne-taylor-racing-cadillac-entering-west-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2025-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250117-5-10-wayne-taylor-racing-cadillac-entering-west-horseshoe-at-daytona-international-speedway-2025-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Last Friday, my good friend and fellow photographer Art Nadelman and I attended the Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway. The combination of seemingly non-stop on-track action, and the anticipation for the upcoming Rolex 24 made this a very busy day. In fact, we walked over 6 miles covering many areas around the<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/25\/roar-before-the-rolex-24\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-104485 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-nature\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/03\/a-rare-encounter-fork-tailed-flycatcher-at-bahia-beach-nature-preserve\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Rare Fork-Tailed Flycatcher<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2025-01-03T10:32:21-05:00\">January 3, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241204-4-fork-tailed-flycatcher-rests-on-small-branch.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Fork Tailed Flycatcher Rests On Small Branch\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241204-4-fork-tailed-flycatcher-rests-on-small-branch.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241204-4-fork-tailed-flycatcher-rests-on-small-branch-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241204-4-fork-tailed-flycatcher-rests-on-small-branch-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241204-4-fork-tailed-flycatcher-rests-on-small-branch-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241204-4-fork-tailed-flycatcher-rests-on-small-branch-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241204-4-fork-tailed-flycatcher-rests-on-small-branch-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Birdwatching is often about patience and timing, and sometimes it rewards you with unforgettable moments. During a recent visit to Bahia Beach Nature Preserve in Ruskin, Florida, we experienced such a moment when we encountered a fork-tailed flycatcher. This rare vagrant to North America dazzled with its graceful flight and striking appearance, making it a<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/03\/a-rare-encounter-fork-tailed-flycatcher-at-bahia-beach-nature-preserve\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-104425 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-news\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/28\/hurricane-update\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Hurricane Update<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5dfcbf0e054a3eda17b7ca8fbbb975e6 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-medium-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2024-10-28T12:01:17-04:00\">October 28, 2024<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241022-4-red-headed-woodpecker-resting-on-broken-pine-tree-branch.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Red Headed Woodpecker Resting On Broken Pine Tree Branch\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241022-4-red-headed-woodpecker-resting-on-broken-pine-tree-branch.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241022-4-red-headed-woodpecker-resting-on-broken-pine-tree-branch-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241022-4-red-headed-woodpecker-resting-on-broken-pine-tree-branch-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241022-4-red-headed-woodpecker-resting-on-broken-pine-tree-branch-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241022-4-red-headed-woodpecker-resting-on-broken-pine-tree-branch-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/241022-4-red-headed-woodpecker-resting-on-broken-pine-tree-branch-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3ec9d1792ba6185bdb7dc6ad91ec89e1 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">It has been an active hurricane season with 3 storms affecting us since early August. Hurricane Debby kicked things off with incredible rain. Despite making landfall in the big bend region as only a category 1 storm, our area received over 15 inches which caused a lot of flooding. In fact, several streets in our<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/28\/hurricane-update\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<nav class=\"aligncenter wp-block-query-pagination is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-query-pagination-is-layout-84f7cab9 wp-block-query-pagination-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Pagination\">\n\n\n<div style=\"letter-spacing:12px;\" class=\"wp-block-query-pagination-numbers\"><span aria-label=\"Page 1\" aria-current=\"page\" class=\"page-numbers current\">1<\/span>\n<a aria-label=\"Page 2\" class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"?query-13-page=2\">2<\/a>\n<span class=\"page-numbers dots\">&hellip;<\/span>\n<a aria-label=\"Page 10\" class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"?query-13-page=10\">10<\/a><\/div>\n\n<a href=\"\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109026?query-13-page=2\" class=\"wp-block-query-pagination-next\">Next Page<\/a>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida offers so many opportunities to explore. We\u2019ll chronicle our encounters with nature and interesting places and share our stories about the fun events we attend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"folder":[1696],"class_list":["post-109026","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109026"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109026\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":109476,"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109026\/revisions\/109476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=109026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}