Category: Charlie Doggett

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“A longing fulfilled . . .”

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” ~Proverbs 13:12

Cortez Amarillo Trees blooming, Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails,
Arenal Volcano National Park, Alajuela, Costa Rica

My blog/website administrative page has a bucket for “Drafts” and occasionally I put something in there that I think I might work into a blog post later (like yesterday’s). Back in 2022 I placed the above quote from Proverbs that I picked from one of my Daily Bible Readings to comment on later and here I am, about 3 years later, commenting on it (with photos!). 🙂

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In Awe of Leaves

I continue to photograph leaves that give me a moment of awe. Here’s five shots from 3 plants in December that awed me . . .

One of my Fern Gardens
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December Flower Shots

Almost every day of every month (when at home) I walk through my garden with camera in hand looking for birds, butterflies or other wildlife. When none are seen, I usually snap a photo of a flower or an interesting leaf. And recently I have been presenting some of those photos at the end of the month or in the next month. So here are last month’s flower shots not already shown. I do occasionally have a post on one of my flowers, like the Desert Rose for my Christmas Card in December! And I won’t repeat those images. 🙂 Below this introductory photo is a gallery of 7 flower shots from December.

Potted Petunias
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Idiarthron Genus

I know, it looks like a grasshopper and it may be, but the AI on iNaturalist would only go so for as the genus in identification, so I will wait for a bug expert to identify which grasshopper this is! 🙂 Here’s two shots, the top view with my cell phone and the side view with my telephoto lens on a Canon camera. And I do expect it to be identified eventually.

Idiarthron Genus Insect, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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African Trees?

I like looking up the big hills on two sides of my little house on the side of a small hill. The other day I snapped photos through my zoom lens of two trees that I liked the looks of: First is an African Tulip Tree which I know the identity of, but the second one and my feature photo is labeled by Google LENS as a Ficus Thonningii Tree which is native to Africa, though the iNaturalist AI would not specify a species, it just said that is is probably one of the Ficus Trees or one of the Squirrel Trees. (First I’ve heard of squirrel trees!). 🙂 But anyway, I like both trees and I’m sharing these two by photos. And if both are from Africa, it is not that unusual here for people to plant trees and shrubs/flowers from other tropical continents.

African Tulip Tree, Residential Roca Verde, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Gray-headed Chachalaca

This large bird usually moves around my trees in groups or families and always “chattering.” 🙂 Here in a Nance Tree. See more photos in my gallery: Gray-headed Chachalaca.

Gray-headed Chachalaca, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Punta Leona Trip Gallery . . .

. . . is finished and ready for visits! Just click the gallery image or go to this web address: https://charliedoggett.smugmug.com/TRIPS/2025-12-23-27-Punta-Leona

CLICK IMAGE to go to the gallery.
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Likes & Dislikes – Punta Leona

Maybe my biggest “LIKE” is the many species of birds you can see at Punta Leona like these Scarlet Macaws.

LIKES

  • Huge transitional forest as a private protected reserve with a large number of plant & animal species. I photographed 21 species of birds on my first visit in 2019, but with a lower energy level this trip and not as good a birding guide, I got only 11 species of birds, though I did also photograph 11 species of butterflies (more than last time), plus 8 species of other animals! They have correctly named it a “Nature Resort.” 🙂
  • Great Beaches & Underwater Activities that include the safest and best two beaches for children in coves and absolutely no undertow and very tiny waves. For divers (wish I was one), the first Central American Underwater Museum and first “Restored Coral Reef” that add to the uniqueness of this resort. And of course many other water sports plus a huge array of landside activities and sports for the hyperactive.
  • Punta Leona Hotel (Selvamar) has excellent rooms snuggled in among the tall trees with birds and monkeys, internet in your room, full breakfast, and all at what I consider a fair or good price.
My room in Selvamar section of Hotel Punta Leona, Costa Rica.

Read on for my dislikes and a gallery of more hotel photos.

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Beach Pleasant Views

That title is because tomorrow I will show some “Crowded Views” (Not pleasant to me) of the beach as sort of a contrast and then the following day I will report on all my “Likes and Dislikes” of Punta Leona and why. And I know that one of these pix shows some of the crowds, but I included it here for the lush forest that Punta Leona has right up to the beach and the new maybe 15-20 story beachside hotel that is under construction on Mantas Beach as a part of Punta Leona Beach Club & Nature Resort.

Now some Mantas Beach views that I like . . .

When you walk from the current hotel, swimming pools, restaurants, and recreation areas, this is your first view of Mantas Beach, Punta Leona. Kind of nice I think.
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Pompeius Skipper

This little brown skipper with a historic-sounding name was at Punta Leona Nature Resort as he sometimes is in my garden. See my gallery Pompeius Skipper – Pompeius pompeius for more photos of this “brown is beautiful” little butterfly. 🙂

Pompeius Skipper, Punta Leona Nature Resort, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

My 2025 Punta Leona GALLERY is now finished!