So long to A.S. Herlong
It’s an end of an era in Leesburg. Soon a new buyer will be demolishing the A.S. Herlong building, which has stood along the rail road tracks and across from the … Continue reading
Ferris Groves on my day off…
Yesterday I visited Ferris Groves in Floral City. This popular grove stand has been a popular stop for tourists and locals to get their citrus and other Florida made goodies … Continue reading
Green Springs
Last weekend a friend and I took a drive and discovered Green Springs. Located on the north shore of Lake Monroe, the springs has a long history. Even though we … Continue reading
Trippin’ on Wildflowers!
Fall is my favorite time of year in Florida because so many wildflowers are blooming their little hearts out! This year I joined the Tarflower Chapter of the Florida Native … Continue reading
Canaveral Seashore Plein Air Paint Out
This year I was honored to be invited to participate in the Canaveral Seashore Plein Air Paint Out. The paint-out was to be a whole week (October 1st thru the … Continue reading
Oh Ozello
One of my favorite places in Florida is the road to Ozello. It’s a long twisty two lane road where the speed limits rarely get up to 30mph. Around each … Continue reading
Practice Painting
Last weekend I decided to go to a local park and see what wildflowers were blooming in this extra hot summer season. I found quite a few flowers putting on a … Continue reading
Withlacoochee Wortharevisit!
Just in case you didn’t get the title – Withlacoochee is definitely Worth a Re-visit! We spent a day this past holiday weekend out exploring some more of the Withlacoochee … Continue reading
Discovering the Forgotten Coast
Last weekend a friend and I went up to Apalachicola. We were there in the middle of two great events and we were lucky enough to see a little bit of … Continue reading
Way down yonder on the Withlacoochee
Well, that’s not exactly how the song goes, but it does have a good ring to it! This past weekend I discovered a new park near Dade City on the … Continue reading
Detour to see the show…
Instead of taking the interstate this weekend, take a little detour down some country roads and enjoy beautiful Florida wildflowers this weekend! I took these photographs around the Gainesville area last … Continue reading
Wind in my Sails
This weekend I decided to paint the view of Lake Eustis from the city boat ramp. I wanted to paint this view before, but the wind was blowing across the … Continue reading
You’re invited!
There is still time to visit Mt. Dora and see all the paintings from my Florida State Park Plein Air Tour… After 14 months of painting the Florida State Parks, all … Continue reading
The Eustis Train Depot
A couple of weeks ago I was driving down a road in Eustis taking a short cut from the Lakeside drive to Bay St. I’ve never taken this shortcut before, so seeing … Continue reading
Fisheating Creek
This past weekend Rick and I ventured down to south central Florida for a couple of days. Rick fished with a few buddies in Lake Istokpoga and I hung out with his … Continue reading
Like riding a bike!
I’ve been so busy these past two months preparing for the Florida State Park Plein Air Tour. Framing and readying a display for 140 paintings took some work! Now that … Continue reading
Trying something different – Portraits!
The Florida State Park Plein Air Tour opening show is coming up quickly! The show opening at the Mt. Dora Center for the Arts is on March 11th, so I … Continue reading
Plein Air Magazine – Outdoor Painter
I am excited to share an article in Plein Air Magazines online version OutdoorPainter.com about my Florida State Park Plein Air Tour! Click the link to see the whole story: link
Playing Tourist in Key West!
While in the keys for the Florida State Park Plein Air Tour, we couldn’t help ourselves from staying an extra day and touring Key West. We did all the touristy … Continue reading
Park #140 – Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Florida’s most southerly State Park is the 140th and last painting of my Florida State Park Plein Air Painting Tour. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is located on the western side … Continue reading
Park #139 – Bahia Honda State Park
We left our cottage in Islamorada early, so when we pulled into Bahia Honda State Park the morning light was just perfect! It was a beautiful clear sunny day, but … Continue reading
Park #138 – Tomoka State Park
It was a perfect morning to visit Tomoka State Park (near Ormond Beach), clear, cool and sunny! Rick and I explored the park before I set off to paint. First we … Continue reading
Park #137 – Blue Springs State Park
I visited Blue Springs State Park in Orange City on Christmas Eve day. When I arrived early in the morning, there weren’t many people there at all and I had … Continue reading
Park #136 – Bulow Creek State Park
Bulow Creek State Park is located in a particularly scenic section of Florida just north of Ormond Beach. Just off the famous “Ormond Loop” scenic drive this park is worth … Continue reading
Park #135 – Long Key State Park
After visiting Curry Hammock State Park, we drove a little north toward Islamorada and visited Long Key State Park. We arrived right at low tide and the grass flats were … Continue reading
Park #134 – Curry Hammock State Park
On our second day in the keys we traveled from Islamorada south to Curry Hammock State Park. The wind was howling and gusting to 30mph from a “cold” front that … Continue reading
Side Trip – Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key State Parks
As part of my Florida State Park Plein Air Tour I am visiting and painting at all of Florida’s state parks that are accessible by car. Indian Key Historic State … Continue reading
Park #133 -Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
This interesting park is just north of Islamorada in the middle keys. It preserves the old limestone fossil quarry that was used to build Flagler’s Overseas Railroad. Once the railroad … Continue reading
Park #132 -Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
Just north of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is Dagny Johnson Key Largo Botanical State Park. It seems to be a popular park and we saw a lot of people … Continue reading
Park #131 – John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
We decided to take a week during Thanksgiving to visit the State Parks in the Florida Keys and finish out my Florida State Park Plein Air Tour. Just 10 more paintings to … Continue reading
Park #130 – George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park
George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park is the original bridge crossing Nassau Sound build in 1948. When the new bridge was opened in 1999, the old bridge was saved … Continue reading
Park #129 – Fort George Island Cultural State Park
As you drive just outside of Jacksonville, this park is one of the first in a string of scenic State Parks. The quiet road through the park has some great … Continue reading
Park #128 – Hillsborough River State Park
Want to see some river rapids in Florida? A good place to see a wild river is at Hillsborough River State Park between Zepherhills and Tampa. The river is known … Continue reading
Park #127 – Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park
Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park just north of Jacksonville is just a small little square of land on a hill overlooking the Amelia River. There isn’t much here now, but … Continue reading
Park #126 – Lake Louisa State Park
I just posted park #126 to my blog! Click here to see more…
#floridascenics
Park #125 – Faver-Dykes State Park
The entrance road to Faver-Dykes State Park near St. Augustine is easy to find if you know to exit off I-95 and look behind the bright orange signs of the pecan … Continue reading
Park #124 – Stump Pass State Park
When we got to Stump Pass State Park it was still a bit dark and overcast, but that changed quickly! The parking area is pretty small, but we were there … Continue reading
Park #123 -Don Pedro Island State Park
Since Don Pedro Island State Park is mostly an island off shore and only accessible by private boat, it wasn’t on my original list of parks to visit. My tour … Continue reading
Side Trip – Boca Grande
If you are traveling to Gasparilla Island State Park, you have no choice but to drive through downtown Boca Grande. Usually we avoid traveling through towns. Who needs to deal … Continue reading
Park #122 – Gasparilla Island State park
Gasparilla Island State Park is located on the island of Boca Grande. We’ve always heard of the Boca Grande Lighthouse – but the park actually features two lighthouses! As you … Continue reading
Park #121 – Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park covers many acres and has several entrance points. We chose to visit this park at the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center. For some reason it was … Continue reading
Park #120 – Wekiwa Springs State Park
Wekiwa Springs State Park is fairly close to home and I know that to get inside the park on a hot steamy Saturday, it is best to arrive early! Even … Continue reading
Park #119 – Werner Boyce Salt Springs State Park
Just off the busy 6 lane Highway 19 near New Port Richey is a wonderful natural park. Once you pull off the highway you immediately leave behind the shopping mall … Continue reading
Park #118 – Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Weeki Wachee Springs has been a tourist attraction since 1947 when Newton Perry bought the land around the spring and transformed beautiful young ladies into mystical mermaids of the springs. … Continue reading
Park #117 – Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site
The road leading to Madira Bickel Mound is what makes this park memorable. I’ve driven by this area off of I-275 just south of the Skyway Bridge many times, but … Continue reading
Park #116 – Lovers Key State Park
It was a typical hot sunny summer day while we were at Lovers Key State Park near Fort Myers. First we explored the bay area where they rent kayaks and … Continue reading
Park #115 – San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park
My first trip to San Marcos de Apalache was right at 5 in the afternoon. It was a glorious clear sunny evening and I was hoping to paint the golden … Continue reading
Florida Scenics Blog- The art of Sharon Osterholt 