Steve and I are blessed with a friend, Cathy, who owns a home right on the Withlacoochee River in Yankeetown. She rents it out to us on occasion. We’ve just enjoyed a long weekend enjoying the small town charm of Yankeetown and the beautiful Withlachoochee River. Maribeth joined us so she could get a taste […]
Florida’s pleasant climate makes it lovely not only for humans, but other living creatures as well. From plants (think Caeser Weed, or Australian Pines, for example) to animals (think Ball Pythons or Cuban Tree Frogs), our state has become home to creatures that crowd out our native plants and animals, changing habitats in negative ways. […]
According to my calendar, April is Spring, but travel to the Everglades and you will find that it is already summer. It’s hot and there are mosquitoes! As soon as I got home from my first trip to Collier Seminole State Park, a Camping Concierge opportunity arose with a family who wanted to try something […]
Last weekend, Judy and I hiked the Yearling Trail. We were only able to do the short loop because I dawdled so long on the portion of the trail leading up to the sinkhole. We were rushing to finish the hike, and we did not find the Long Cemetery. This morning I went back, determined […]
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day campaign is a way for people to rally around the cause of wildfire safety and to turn ideas into action that can make a difference. The actions you take to prepare can make a difference in the survival of your home and neighborhood if a wildfire occurs. Here are some links to […]
The very first time we took our daughter camping, many years ago, was to Anastasia Island. We had a glorious trip, and I’ve always loved returning to that pristine beach and just watching the surf pound the shore. When I was able to reserve a campsite earlier this year, I was thrilled. I was looking […]
Hermit crabs! Crucifix shell! Horseshoe crab shells! Though it be small, Mashes Sands Beach is a spot that should not be missed. This sugar sand beach offers a small parking lot and such a nice portable toilet setup that I would put it in my house. A picturesque salt marsh, which was emptying into the […]
Along with Lake County and East Lake County Chamber of Commerce, I encourage all residents of Lake County to celebrate Gopher Tortoise Day on April 10. Gopher TOrtoise Day Gopher Tortoise Day was started by the Gopher Tortoise Council. This group formed in 1978 by southeastern biologists and others concerned with the decline of the […]
If you’re in southwest Florida and have a couple hours to spare, a visit to Museum of the Everglades should be on the top of your agenda. Judy and I stopped here during a visit to Everglades City, and I am SO glad we did. I don’t think either of us expected to be wowed […]
The entrance to Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk is not at all impressive; it’s just a nondescript shell/limestone trail along a stockade fence bordering the Miccosukee Village. But soon enough, it starts to get interesting. Watch for alligators on the banks of the canal to the right! Part of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, the […]
Just as I was completing my undergraduate degree (Psychology, University of Central Florida, thanks!), Michael Pollan released The Botany of Desire, a book about plants and how, while we think we are manipulating them, they might actually be changing human behavior. It was a book that ignited a spark for me, and I’ve never looked […]
When I checked my messages this morning, I had a message asking if Blue Springs State Park was having a firefly festival this year. With a heavy heart, I replied that I was hopeful we would have to wait no later than 2022. Just a few hours later, I saw THIS on Facebook! Listen, it […]
In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21 the International Day of Forests. Forests provide priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits. Covering over a third of the planet, forests perform vital functions, including combating climate change and contributing to the prosperity and well-being of humanity. They play a crucial role in alleviating […]
Sometimes a happy accident can become a main event, and this is what Judy and I experienced when we were trying to find Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. Google Maps gave us a route through Collier County, and had I looked closer I might have figured out what was going on, but since I didn’t, […]
