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Header Image: White Ibis Honest. She literally pushed me out the front door. “Go! Shoot some birds. Take your time!” I went. Reluctantly. The shooting was good. Time is a precious commodity of which there is never enough. Our local city park is located on a medium-size lake and has plenty of picnic tables, a boat ramp and several paved walking paths. It can be very crowded with people on weekends. Weekdays… Read More
Header Image: Lake In Fog “It’s so quiet.” That from the pretty lady with the good hearing. We were enjoying breakfast at one of our regular lakeside spots having spent the hour after “sunrise” searching for early birds pursuing worms. Gini was right (as usual). It was very quiet. Morning fog is somewhat an extension of night. The sun’s rays are blocked from illuminating the landscape as much as they would on… Read More
Lake Apopka was essentially a dead lake in the 1960’s. Damage from pesticides and large-scale fertilizer runoff from muck farms was thought to be irreparable. To visit this area today is enough to make you believe in miracles. If we did not know the lake’s history, we would assume we were enjoying one of Florida’s premier birding locations and prime water recreation destinations. So much has been done to reclaim Lake Apopka… Read More
Header Image: American Alligator In the early 20th century, Florida became a magnet for anyone who wanted to escape the snow of the far north, the bustle of a big city or even the long arm of the law. Warm weather, beaches, sparkling lakes filled with fish, pine forests, no crowds. Why, you could pick an orange right off a tree for breakfast! The fourth largest lake in the state, Lake Apopka,… Read More
Header Image: American Alligator Pre-dawn gray slowly transformed into stunningly bright blue skies and a glance to the east risked temporary blindness as the sun announced its arrival. Every field was adorned with sparkling jewels of dew held in place by gossamer webs spun during the night. A few scrub oak and sand pine trees were scattered here and there among the weedy fields. As we turned onto the forest road, saw… Read More
Our Natural Places 