Feb. 16, 2016 continued: Flamingo Gardens 

When I was leaving Tree Tops Park, I knew I had to be pretty close to Flamingo Gardens, so I googled it on my phone and sure enough it was only about 4 miles away.  Had to run by there and use my free reciprocal membership again.
First to greet me was this Haliconia

 I took the path to the tram

 passed some orchids growing in a tree

 The tram wasn't back yet, so I checked out the Florida panther.  Looks like a cougar to me.

 another pretty butterfly I hadn't seen before.

 This guy didn't seem to happy to see me.

So I went and hung out by the Flamingo pond until the tram appeared.

 A male peacock was trying to impress a peahen, but I don't think she was too impressed.

 I was, though!

 one of the many ibises there.

 more of them

 and flamingos

When the tram arrived, I went to see if it was going out again.  It did, with just me on it.  I enjoyed my personal tour.  There were lots of grounds keepers out picking up branches.  Apparently the storms that went by earlier knocked a lot of limbs down.

 an Egyptian Goose

 the  original land owner's house

 a peacock strutting down the lane

 one of the many broken branches

 I believe she said these were persimmon flowers

A swan that made the pond here it's home.

 more foliage.

Then I had time to run to the aviary for a little bit.
a little Screech Owl in the cages before the aviary

 in the aviary

 nesting pelicans?

 bird bath

 king fisher

 an angry duck

 a happy duck

 a wood duck

 Bald Eagle in another cage.

and the old big cluster fig (or something like that) along the route to the exit.

11-2-Flamingo Gardens
Another reciprocal garden with MOBOT is Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Florida.  I had been there before (a couple years ago), but didn't realize how close it really is to our place.  Only about 5 miles from Sawgrass Mills, so I ran by there a few minutes on my way back home.  But back to Flamingo Gardens---I was surprised to see that it, too, was about $28 admittance fee without a pass.  I think I'll be renewing my MOBOT membership again.  I discovered there are a couple more gardens over in the Sanibel/Ft. Myers area.
Anyway---I got there about 5 minutes before the tram ride that takes you through the gardens.  So I hussled there and rode around first.
Here we are passing the Wray summer home from the 1930s.   The oaks by the house are 150-200 years old.  I didn't tour the house today, but have toured it in the past.  It's interesting to see how people lived back in those days.

 the tram took us around a lake, too.

 some of the lakes residents.

I got off the tram just in time to make it to the amphitheater to hear the animal encounter.

 Then I headed into the aviary. 

 one of the many birds

 and a pelican

 Alas, I even managed to get a few pictures of gardens.  It's also a wild life refuge.

 It also has many of the oldest trees in Florida---such as this one

 There are also----Flamingos

 a little lizards with stripes.

A swan coming to visit.

 one of the 3 river otters.

 a few more flowers.

 a wanna be flower

 There were even decorations for Halloween that were still up.

 Back to the entrance/exit.