{"id":109026,"date":"2026-01-24T11:35:38","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T16:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/?page_id=109026"},"modified":"2026-05-16T08:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T12:34:14","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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 is-style-wide is-style-wide--1\" 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-0d5c60d9 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-115630 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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/scrub-jay-update\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Scrub Jay Update<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-13T18:55:31-04:00\">August 13, 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\/260811-4-scrub-jay-looks-back-with-bug-in-beak.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260811-4-scrub-jay-looks-back-with-bug-in-beak.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260811-4-scrub-jay-looks-back-with-bug-in-beak-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260811-4-scrub-jay-looks-back-with-bug-in-beak-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260811-4-scrub-jay-looks-back-with-bug-in-beak-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260811-4-scrub-jay-looks-back-with-bug-in-beak-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260811-4-scrub-jay-looks-back-with-bug-in-beak-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260811-4-scrub-jay-looks-back-with-bug-in-beak-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260811-4-scrub-jay-looks-back-with-bug-in-beak-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Last week I reported on the release of a group of threatened Florida scrub jays at Wingate Creek State Park. We went to check on the jays but they were nowhere to be found. On the way home, we stopped at another preserve a few miles to the west. This area was home to scrub&hellip;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/scrub-jay-update\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-115621 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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/06\/new-home-for-a-threatened-species\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >New Home For a Threatened Species<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-06T22:29:38-04:00\">August 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\/260805-4-banded-scrub-jay-perches-on-top-of-scrub-oak.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260805-4-banded-scrub-jay-perches-on-top-of-scrub-oak.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260805-4-banded-scrub-jay-perches-on-top-of-scrub-oak-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260805-4-banded-scrub-jay-perches-on-top-of-scrub-oak-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260805-4-banded-scrub-jay-perches-on-top-of-scrub-oak-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260805-4-banded-scrub-jay-perches-on-top-of-scrub-oak-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260805-4-banded-scrub-jay-perches-on-top-of-scrub-oak-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260805-4-banded-scrub-jay-perches-on-top-of-scrub-oak-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-4 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">About 20 miles east of here is a small state park that is probably unknown to the majority of people who drive past it everyday. But to bird enthusiasts, it is destined to become a hotspot to visit. According to my friend Art Nadelman, the state of Florida recently released almost 60 Florida scrub jays.&hellip;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/06\/new-home-for-a-threatened-species\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-115521 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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/09\/fort-myers-area\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Fort Myers Area<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-09T07:26:44-04:00\">July 9, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" src=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260624-4-burrowing-owl-portrait-looking-back.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260624-4-burrowing-owl-portrait-looking-back.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260624-4-burrowing-owl-portrait-looking-back-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260624-4-burrowing-owl-portrait-looking-back-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260624-4-burrowing-owl-portrait-looking-back-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260624-4-burrowing-owl-portrait-looking-back-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260624-4-burrowing-owl-portrait-looking-back-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260624-4-burrowing-owl-portrait-looking-back-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-6 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Summer is usually not the best time for wildlife photography in Florida. The hot and humid weather is a pretty good deterrent to getting out. Summer is our rainy season which means dodging thunderstorms and the added moisture wakes up the bugs, especially mosquitoes! Despite the many reasons to stay inside, there are some unique&hellip;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/09\/fort-myers-area\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-109718 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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/16\/spring-update\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Spring Update<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-7 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-16T07:27:20-04:00\">May 16, 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\/260416-4-snowy-egret-shakes-small-fish.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260416-4-snowy-egret-shakes-small-fish.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260416-4-snowy-egret-shakes-small-fish-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260416-4-snowy-egret-shakes-small-fish-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260416-4-snowy-egret-shakes-small-fish-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260416-4-snowy-egret-shakes-small-fish-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260416-4-snowy-egret-shakes-small-fish-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260416-4-snowy-egret-shakes-small-fish-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260416-4-snowy-egret-shakes-small-fish-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-8 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Back on March 22, I wrote about the spring bird migration approaching. From everything I&#8217;ve seen, heard and read, the season for the colorful tanagers, orioles, and warblers has been rather disappointing for our region. It would seem that several factors contributed to a lackluster migration. Much of our coastal habitats were destroyed during the&hellip;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/16\/spring-update\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-109676 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-florida tag-events\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/sun-n-fun-fly-in\/florida\/\" target=\"_self\" >Sun \u2018n Fun Fly-In<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:0.5\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-9 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-24T08:49:27-04:00\">April 24, 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\/260417-5-air-force-thunderbirds-diamond-pass-to-left.jpg?ver\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260417-5-air-force-thunderbirds-diamond-pass-to-left.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260417-5-air-force-thunderbirds-diamond-pass-to-left-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260417-5-air-force-thunderbirds-diamond-pass-to-left-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260417-5-air-force-thunderbirds-diamond-pass-to-left-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260417-5-air-force-thunderbirds-diamond-pass-to-left-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260417-5-air-force-thunderbirds-diamond-pass-to-left-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260417-5-air-force-thunderbirds-diamond-pass-to-left-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/260417-5-air-force-thunderbirds-diamond-pass-to-left-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-10 wp-block-post-excerpt has-text-color has-accent-5-color\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">This past weekend I attended the 52nd annual Sun \u2018n Fun Fly-In at Lindner International Airport in Lakeland. Every year I circle the dates on my calendar and this year it all came together. Sun \u2018n Fun is one of the largest aviation gatherings in North America, drawing massive crowds and a wide range of&hellip;<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-text\"><a class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/sun-n-fun-fly-in\/florida\/\"> continue reading<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><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-11 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-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-12 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&hellip;<\/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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><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-13 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-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-14 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&hellip;<\/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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><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-15 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-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-16 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&hellip;<\/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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><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-17 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-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-18 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&hellip;<\/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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><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-19 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-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=\"\" 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-20 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&hellip;<\/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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><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-21 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-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=\"\" 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-22 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&hellip;<\/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:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:0px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;line-height:1\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-medium-font-size\"><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-23 wp-block-post-date has-text-color has-accent-5-color has-small-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=\"\" 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, https:\/\/flgcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/250225-4-burrowing-owl-crouching-by-den-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-24 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&hellip;<\/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><\/ul>\n\n<nav style=\"line-height:10\" class=\"aligncenter wp-block-query-pagination has-small-font-size is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-query-pagination-is-layout-9a83c4d4 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 11\" class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"?query-13-page=11\">11<\/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":{"footnotes":""},"folder":[1696],"class_list":["post-109026","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"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":14,"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109026\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":109793,"href":"https:\/\/flgcc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109026\/revisions\/109793"}],"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}]}}