I was in Sarasota, FL recently to photograph sunsets and storms. I didn’t capture many sunsets or storms, but I did discover the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

My wife and I drove the Tin Can Camper to the Sunny South RV park in Sarasota.  (This picture was taken last year at the Blue Water Key RV park in Key West.) Here is the link to the Key West blog entry

After checking in at Sunny South, we headed over to the Marina Plaza near downtown Sarasota and had dinner.

Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL

Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL

We spent the next morning and most of the afternoon at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, FL. The scenery was absolutely stunning!!

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

We had business in Tampa the following day and after its completion we drove south of St Petersburg to the Fort De Soto Park. As the afternoon progressed, I saw a storm forming to the east.  Google maps and my “Storm” app showed I might get a lightning shot after all.

We had previously lunched at the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and I thought their dock would offer the ideal location to photograph the coming storm.  So, we loaded the Jeep and began the hour and fifteen minute drive to Longboat Key.

We arrived in time, but I didn’t have the correct camera settings to capture any lightning.  Click here for more details

View from the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant after the storm.

We finished at the Mar Vista and drove down to Lido Key Beach for a few sunset shots.

Sunset at Lido Key Beach.

We left Sarasota the next morning.  I didn’t get the lightning shot I wanted, but overall it was a very enjoyable and fruitful trip.