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In Which Yellow Flies Try to Ruin Our Day

In 2019, Steve and I had a glorious plan for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner Picnic.  We were going to start the day with a hike at Crystal River Preserve and follow that with our picnic at Crystal River Archeological State Park. But then there was that pesky triple bypass and our Thanksgiving plans changed to a quiet day at home – and if you think you need a boost of Thanksgiving spirit, let me tell you, having a loved one undergo triple bypass will make you grateful for every second you can share with them.

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Swarm Capture in Mount Plymouth

I’ve been really fortunate to have captured several bee swarms lately. Swarming is normal bee behavior, and if the bees can be collected they can be moved into a hive box and used to expand a beekeeper’s bee yard. Here’s a two-minute video of my latest capture, a super-easy job because the bees had thoughtfully moved into a birdhouse, so I was able to take them down from the tree while they were in the box and then move them while I was on the ground, rather than the ladder.

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Planting Native Plants at Silver Glen Springs

Springheads are beautiful places that appear almost timeless. I am always awed by the thought of an apparently infinite supply of living water pouring forth from the earth. . .but even when the spring is emerging from a rocky cave, the immediate area is a fragile ecosystem. When faced with a beautiful pool of icy cold turquoise water on a blistering Florida summer afternoon, it is only natural to want to run to the shoreline and throw yourself into that water (until your body registers that cold, cold temperature!), but after generations of feet trampling on the plants and soil, there is a price that is paid by the spring.

Silver Glen Springs was experiencing problems with an eroding shoreline, and part of the solution is a system of rustic fencing to eliminate foot traffic and a series of planted berms to restore more natural conditions, preventing stormwater from pushing soil and sand into the spring.

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Buck Island Pond Trail at Goethe State Forest

What a lovely hike Buck Island Pond Trail offers. We are just beginning to learn about State Forests, and Goethe State Forest is a spot we definitely want to explore. On our first visit, we went to a trail recommended by my friend Sharol because she was able to find a small stand of pitcher plants, and I didn’t want Steve to have to wait another year to see them.

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