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
If you’ve ever stood ankle-deep in the surf and suddenly felt the sea pulling you outward—stronger than expected, like a leash tugging at your feet—you might’ve just encountered a rip current. Often misnamed a “rip tide,” this fast-moving channel of water can drag swimmers away from shore in seconds. But understanding it can be the … Read more
If you’ve ever stepped onto a Florida beach only to be greeted by stinging eyes, a scratchy throat, and a coastline littered with dead fish—you’ve probably met Karenia brevis, the microscopic culprit behind our region’s most notorious natural event: red tide. But red tide isn’t just a headline or a smell. It’s a living phenomenon—complex, … Read more
If you’ve ever waded along a muddy flat at low tide and felt something solid underfoot—round, ridged, unyielding—it might have been more than a rock. Tampa Bay is home to several species of clams, and if you know where (and how) to look, you can gather a few for dinner or discovery. Let’s dig in. … Read more
Notes from the Quiet Side of Central Florida The birds always wake up first. Before the sun pushes over the trees. Before the fog lifts off the water. Before I’ve had a sip of coffee. They stir in the mangroves and cabbage palms, calling across the bay in loops and trills, declaring the day before … Read more
The first time it happened to me, I was deep in a mangrove tunnel. The air had gone still. Not quiet—still. Like even the birds were holding their breath. Then the sky cracked. If you spend enough time paddling in Florida, especially during the wet season, it’s not a matter of if a storm will … Read more
What did people do before iodine tablets and LifeStraws?If you were out in the woods without clean water—really out there—what would you reach for?And what about after you boiled it? Would you just drink it, flat and metallic? Or would you try to make it taste like something more… alive? I started wondering about this … Read more
Before bottled water.Before plumbing and purifiers.Before ice cubes clinked in tall glasses of sweet tea. There was thirst—and the land.And the native peoples of Florida knew exactly where to look. For thousands of years, the Calusa, Timucua, Tocobaga, and other tribes lived through blazing summers and long dry spells. They didn’t just survive Florida’s heat—they … Read more
They don’t move.They don’t sparkle.They aren’t beautiful—not in the obvious ways.But I can’t stop looking at them. Barnacles. Clustered like secrets on the undersides of docks. Crusted onto the backs of sea turtles. Clinging to driftwood, crab traps, and hulls like old, stubborn thoughts. I’ve scraped them off boats, stepped on them accidentally (and regretted … Read more
When most people think of grasses, they picture suburban lawns or tall prairie fields. But along Florida’s tidal flats, estuaries, riverbanks, and salt marshes, grasses take on a new role. Here, they are boundary-keepers, erosion-fighters, fish-nursery-builders, and storm-buffering heroes. These quiet plants shape the shorelines of our state—and tell us stories about the health of … Read more