Fall Happenings In Florida

It is finally feeling like autumn here in Florida!  Last night the temperatures dropped into the 40s and today it is in the mid 70s.  So nice to feel a break in the brutal temperatures of summer.  Migrating birds are starting to be seen again.   Prior to this past week we saw an occasional lone white egret.  Now the ibis are here as well as the spoonbills and a few wood storks.

Our daughter Melissa was anxious for her children, Nathan and Clarissa, to experience the fun of pumpkin patch, going on hay rides and drinking apple cider.  There are a few farms which do offer that experience here in Florida (although I would venture a guess that the pumpkins are trucked in from the north).  Saturday we drove to Sweetfields Farm in Brooksville Florida- about an hour north of Tampa.  Clarissa found the pumpkin she wanted immediately after wandering into the area.

 

We had a wonderful afternoon at the farm.  There were plenty of activities, including a playground for the little ones.  And animals to see as well as pet, also ponies to ride. Adults could pick a variety of squash which are still in the fields.  A field of sunflowers provided a beautiful backdrop for such a fine sunny but cool day.

Now that the weather is cooler we are making the rounds of parks and playgrounds with the little ones.  Eagle Lake Park use to be a citrus farm, it has a playground with equipment that looks like what one may find on such a farm- like storage sheds, orange crates and even a tractor.  It was also fun walking on one of  the boardwalks where we saw egrets, one alligator, and about a dozen turtles.

The turtles and alligator came up to us in the water near the boardwalk.  My guess is that people have been feeding them, which is very harmful to wildlife.  After our trip to Eagle Lake we needed to stop for supper and the Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurant was our choice.

 

  It is a chain eating establishment located in parts of the southeast which has the most delicious pizza crust.  They are also family friendly, an important detail when taking little ones out to eat.
This weekend I am traveling to Kissimmee Fl. to meet up with my sisters.  You never know what excitement we may find next in the fair state of Florida!