A little bit of Old Florida, grain and all.
Fall is slowly coming to Florida, and the leaves are changing just a tiny little bit. Soft morning light illuminates the scene and makes them stand out.
Thin rhizomes are leading out of the darkness of the water and anchor the first thin leaves. This is the humble beginning of a water nymph, a beautiful plant with showy flowers that delights every viewer.
Two old cypress trees covered in Spanish moss standing in shallow Lake Istokpoga provides rest and habitat for a multitude of beings. The wide canopy forms a protective umbrella, and several birds have nests inside.
The tree on the right is over 100 years of age and one of the largest remaining bald cypress trees in Florida.
Foggy Florida
Some of these rare winter mornings when fog rises from the lakes and enshrouds everything in mystery.
Florida, whether coastal or inland, is water. It's rivers, creeks, and famously, it's swamps. Yes, we have cattle, and cowboys and rodeos, and birds, but the essence of Florida is water. Fresh or stagnant, salty or murky, it is our lifeline.
Fisheating Creek is a tributary to Lake Okechobee and one of its largest natural sources. The name is roughly translated from the Seminole "the creek where fish are eaten".
A quiet and slightly hazy morning on a golf course in Florida; the still water reflecting the palm trees and bushes. No one is awake yet.
Scenes from the Everglades
Pink Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) can stop traffic when in bloom. It is one of the most beautiful native grasses and grows just as easily in inhospitable areas as in well-tended gardens.
Primarily at home in the southern U.S. and Mexico, it is a good choice for low-water landscapes and tolerant to high salinity.