Beneath the surface of Tampa Bay, a quiet miracle unfolds every year: some of the ocean’s most formidable predators begin their lives in the shallow, sheltered waters just off our coast. These estuarine “nurseries” are vital safe havens for young sharks—especially hammerheads and bull sharks—offering them a rare shot at survival in the wild. From … Read more
The Edgy Truth About Tampa Bay’s Toughest Shark Most visitors to Tampa Bay expect manatees, dolphins, maybe the occasional stingray. But few realize that one of the most aggressive sharks in the world is not only lurking beneath the surface—but was likely born here. Born in the Bay: Nature’s Nursery Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) are … Read more
A curious look at one of nature’s most bizarre—and brilliant—predators Not all sharks are built the same. And in the warm, shallow waters of Tampa Bay, few creatures turn heads quite like the hammerhead. With a silhouette that looks more like a tool than a terror, the hammerhead’s strange design isn’t just for show. It’s … Read more
A tiny world of wonder, built together—one shell, one leaf, one story at a time When I was little, I believed in fairies. Not the glitter-and-wing kind from cartoons, but something quieter. Earthier. A rustle in the ferns. A flash of light on a leaf. A pebble rearranged overnight. That quiet sense that something unseen … Read more
For foragers, herbalists, kids, and anyone learning to notice Some mornings, I walk outside with a mug of tea and my notebook. Not to write a story—at least not right away—but to notice. What’s blooming along the fence line? Where are the bees working this week? Did the same red-shouldered hawk return to the oak … Read more
Some days, I stare at my inbox like it’s a portal to both hope and heartbreak. I click it open, knowing full well what’s likely waiting: “Thank you for your submission… but.” A polite pass. A no that still stings, no matter how gently it’s worded. If you’re a writer, you know this part. The … Read more
Tucked deep in the longleaf pine forests of Walton County, Morrison Springs feels like Florida’s secret handshake—a crystalline bowl of turquoise water where cypress knees rise like sculptures and freshwater flows from the earth itself. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget what month it is. Fed by an underground aquifer, this spring … Read more
Florida’s beaches are famous for soft sand, warm water, and seashells—but for the patient and sharp-eyed, there’s another kind of treasure hiding in plain sight: shark teeth. Worn smooth by time and tide, these tiny fossils tell the story of ancient seas and prehistoric predators. Some are no bigger than a fingernail; others, large and … Read more
Beneath the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico, about 10 miles south of Alabama’s coast near the Florida border, lies something almost impossible: a forest. Not fossilized. Not imagined. But real. An ancient, perfectly preserved bald cypress forest, buried under sand and seawater for more than 60,000 years, was discovered by chance after Hurricane … Read more
Beneath the quiet fields of Williston, Florida, there’s a hidden place that breathes. On cold mornings, it exhales a ghostly mist, a curling steam that rises from the mouth of the Earth like a secret being whispered. Locals once called it the Devil’s Den—not because of anything sinister, but because of the way that steam … Read more