It's true: I DO have a lot of problems with Florida. It's hot, it's humid, the drivers are stupid, it's hot, there are bugs here that are bigger than canned hams, the traffic is awful, it's hot, there's more pollen than the average pair of lungs can handle...

However, since I have been looking at this place through a camera lens this year, I've been reminded of how damn pretty it can be here. Especially in the spring. Colors like you wouldn't believe. Warning: big images ahead.

This is wisteria, and the stuff grows wild, though this particular clump is in my Mum's neighborhood. Purple! More common in north Florida.

Here, our intrepid shutterbug plays with depth of field. Ooooh, ahhhh.

I have been wanting to photograph this rather run-down piece of Florida history for some time. Actually, I think they are still open for business, though with the advent of the Interstate system, most tourists don't visit places like this on 301 anymore.

More interesting in black and white.

I think the intense color of these azaleas is too much even for modern color film. They're this bright fuschia that almost hurts your eyes. These plants are also more common in the northern part of the state.