Sand hill pine trail at Silver River State Park, Ocala

A fact of life – the first one down the trail sees the wildlife, which promptly vanish now that humans have arrived. People who come along later are left saying “What? Did someone see something? What?”

One early morning we saw something quite wonderful – three white-tailed deer came out of the woods about 50 feet ahead of us.

Here’s what happened next: All three bounded into the air at the same time, legs bent, their white tails flashing straight up. With that leap in unison they looked just like Lipizzaner Stallions. Running for a few steps, they crossed the trail and leaped up into the air again all at the same time. I’m thinking they had secret walkie-talkies tucked somewhere and a director giving dance directions.

My dogs sat down to watch the show. The three deer leaped again in unison and disappeared into the trees. I felt like clapping.

It was a “you had to have been there” moment. You only get those moments by venturing into the trees, walking trails in the woods, hanging out in wildlife habitat.

A walk in Silver River State Park can be found in Chapter 26 “Two Rivers Run Through It” in my guide book “50 Great Walks in Florida.”

gnarled trees at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

There are plenty of opportunities to go where the trees are. Florida has 35 state forests , 151 state parks, 11 national parks, 28 national wildlife refuges and three national forests ( Ocala, Apalachicola and Osceola). Add to this city and county parks, Greenways, plus the Florida Trail and the possibilities get really interesting.

Right now forests are in winter mode. Leafy trees are pretty bare, their naked branches opening up sky vistas not seen before. Some late fall color shows in the leaves fallen to the ground.

Pine cones are scattered everywhere. Pine trees show off green needles against a cloudless blue winter sky. A breeze kicks up. Late fall leaves spiral down to the ground. We walk on a carpet of pine needles and leaves.

Ah, big plus coming up – the cooler weather means no deer flies and no mosquitoes. No bugs? That is a reason to lace up your walking shoes and get going.

One warning – national forests and conservation areas allow hunting in certain areas in winter months, always check their Web sites or phone before you go. I do not advise walking in any area open to hunting.

The dogs and I walk all seasons of the year. It never fails to surprise me that you can get just a short way down a forest trail and the thickness of trees blocks out the city sounds of traffic. So quiet at first then the forest sounds take over.

I’ve come to appreciate that forests are a huge part of this simple statement – everything is connected.

At Silver River State Park, for example, all of the park, and the land on which we walk, is a water recharge area for the Silver River. In Ocala National Forest the “jewels of the Ocala” – Alexander Springs, Juniper Springs, Salt Springs and Silver Glen Springs are vital natural resources protected by being part of a national forest.

Canoes at Horseshoe Lake, Marion County

Forests are diverse ecosystems with diverse recreational activities. Walk, bike, use the OHV trail system, go where there are horse trails, take a canoe to the water’s edge and start paddling, swim, camp, scuba dive, snorkel, picnic, bring your paint box and paint a stately oak tree, fish, sit quietly and commune with nature. Pick one or more.

Whew! What a great way to start 2012.

Florida Favorites
In my Florida travels I meet fantastic people who are travel writers, residents, newcomers, guides and entrepreneurs, all are digging into the Florida places they love and finding treasures worth keeping. Here is Joan Landis, a Florida Audubon member who is just starting out her writing career. Her bio is below with an e-mail address to comment on her contribution to this month’s forest theme:

About Joan:

Joan Landis grew up in Texas spending summers fishing in South Padre Island, exploring the seashore and imagining the adventures the sea and world would bring her. Her career in sales brought much travel and new trails to explore. Fishing, Scuba Diving, Hiking and now Birding, Joan has spent her life enjoying nature and learning from it. Joan has experienced a wide variety of wilderness habitats from living in the Florida Keys to the Inside passage of Alaska. While living in Juneau, Alaska she joined the sisterhood of “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” learning skills that led to wonderful adventures and people that will be forever friends. Camping has been one of her passions and over the years, she has taken multi-day trips in the Alaskan back country where there are more bears than people and paddling trips through the 10,000 islands in the Everglades. Along the way discovering, experiencing and meeting some of the most interesting people and places one can only imagine. Joan’s passion for the wilderness and conservation has been a thread throughout her life and now she’s sharing some of her wonderful and life-changing experiences. You can reach Joan at: JCLandis@hotmail.com

A Symphony in the Woods

Tourists swarm like mosquitoes come January in the Everglades. Craving relief, I decided to try the Pineland Trail. As soon as I ducked through the big gate, I knew I’d found my sanctuary.

I was overtaken by the silence of the woods. An old logging road jutted through the forest, barely visible under a thick carpet of pine needles. The brown needles muted my footfalls and provided a dramatic contrast to the riot of green under story and the tops of the slash pines above. Through the open canopy, I could see the sky gathering clouds.

A few steps in, I entered the world of the forest and the outside world disappeared. Seemingly silent at first, I soon became aware of my surroundings and began to hear the woodland sounds. A giant striped dragonfly skimmed right in front of me, its wings softly fluttering as it worked the tall grasses. The sound of its wings was rhythmic. A crunch and rustle got my attention next and I followed the sound to a small squirrel darting across the forest floor. As it raced away, the skittering sound faded and created a backdrop to the cadence of the dragonfly wings.

Each step further into the forest, I heard more of the melody the forest played for me. The raspy sound of leaves moving across a limestone formation introduced another layer to the riff. Studying its ancient fissures, I wondered what might live there now when so long ago this rock was caressed by the Atlantic. Mesmerized, I stepped further into the enchanted forest.

I saw a standing dead tree and the forest symphony grew louder as it played back the cacophony of a ravaging lightning fire that ripped its bark and threw it in chunks to the ground, gnarling its crown. The rattle of wind through a stand of pines that were leaning but not toppled lent percussion to the verse describing Hurricane Wilma’s blustery visit.

The sounds that the forest gave up were its signature opus. The symphony I heard that day had been evolving over eons, with all the changes in the forest both subtle and grand tuning and refining its chorus. No two-day’s songs are ever the same. So the next time you’re looking for a retreat, go out and listen to the sounds of the forest. It will play for you its newest notes.

UPCOMING IN JANUARY

Jan. 13-15 – Eighth annual Southwest Florida Nature Festival
Jan. 13-15 – 35th annual Art Deco Weekend, Miami. Read about taking an Art Deco walk in North Miami Beach in Chapter 44 “The Delight of Deco” in my book “50 Great Walks in Florida” available on my Web site.
Jan. 14 - Edison Day of Discovery 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Florida Gulf Coast University, free, Fort Myers
Jan. 28 – Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Tampa

Coming in SMM in February – Travel with Fido

Did you know? My new book “Florida Gardens Gone Wild” is available on my Web site with an option to contribute $2 towards one of two non-profits – Audubon of Florida and the Ocala Public Library. Go for it!

That’s how it was fishing on the Ocklawaha River last week. Twenty assorted brim ended up in the boat cooler and later sizzled in my cast iron skillet as stir fry dinner. My cats were delighted to share in the bounty. The dogs woofed down their portion and looked for more.

Capt. Tom holds a redbreast sunfish caught in the Ockalawaha River

Are we having fun yet? Oh yes.

Let the good times roll. Four hours cruising down the Ocklawaha River with Captain Tom of Captain Tom’s Custom Charters, had me floating along, admiring the scenery (no houses, just wild Florida), and becoming so de-stressed I felt like Gumby, all limp like putty, no joints, just totally relaxed.

Fishing on the Ocklawaha River

For me going fishing is a great excuse to get out of Dodge for a while. Actually catching fish is an added bonus.

Mother wood duck and her ducklings on Ocklawaha River

It is a novel concept. Getting away is so often packaged with salt water. Visitors are always inundated with beach brochures. Surely tourists go home think Florida is the coast, the beach and that’s it. That is fine. It means more play time on the fresh inland waters for those who live year round.

Getting ready to kayak on the Rainbow River

Here are the facts: Florida has some 7700 lakes with more than 10 acres. We have 27 first magnitude springs more than any other place in the world. Add to this some 11,000 miles of rivers and streams.

But, you say, you don’t have a pontoon boat or kayak. Join the crowd. Neither do I. Does that mean you stay home? Nope. Four hours of fishing with Capt. Tom cost $20 per person. He provides rod and reels, bait, and even cleans the fish. Compared to $87 for a day pass to Disney, going fishing is a cheap thrill. Or rent a kayak or canoe for your float time.

Canoes & kayaks for rent at KP Hole in Dunnellon

We were fishing away when Captain Nick Bozman of Slick Charters came alongside, telling some bass fishing stories. Captain Nick (slickcharters@aol.com) does both salt and fresh water fishing.

Did I mention fishing is optional? I took pictures, just looked at scenery and got out the sketchbook too, all this in between dealing with fish that have a thing for worms.

So many rivers and streams, so many different ways to go. Lars Andersen has Adventure Outpost in High Springs, right in the heart of North Florida’s “Spring Country”.

Get on his “wanta go” list (free) and read about upcoming kayak and canoeing trips, including water trips at Crystal River to see manatees in season.

Tubing down the Rainbow River

Come summer, float down a river in a tube. Bring friends and neighbors. Wherever you are in Florida there is going to be some fresh water near you and at the very least, go sit on a bank and watch the water flow by. Leave the cell phone at home. Count this as valuable down time. We all need it.

Take a look at the Florida Outdoor Writers Association (yes, I am a member). Many of their members are also guides and see who is in your area.

Spring has decided to stay around for a while and even when summer simmers being out on the water is a cooling change.
The fish are calling. Or is it the river itself, flowing along, calling you? No matter, time to answer the call.

Kayaks from Marion County Parks & Recreation at Rainbow River

UPCOMING

You are invited to the Florida Museum of Women Artists in DeLand on Friday, May 13 from 5-7
Lucy Beebe Tobias, author of “50 Great Walks in Florida” will give a talk on “Seeing Florida with Fresh Eyes.” Presentation begins at 5:30 p.m. Starting at 5 p.m. there are hors de’oeuves by Chili’s Restaurant. Come early and see the new exhibit “Through the Collector’s Eye”. There will be copies of “50 Great Walks” available for signing in the Museum shop. The address is 100 N. Woodland Blvd., Suite 1, DeLand, FL, phone (386) 873-2976.

©2011 Lucy Beebe Tobias

Ah, the choices we’ll have to make, choosing festivals, not to mention a scramble by groups like Save the Manatee to find enough volunteers for both events.

Ready or not, here they are: Saturday January 22 and 23, Saturday and Sunday from 10-3 p.m. is the Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival at Valentine Park on West French Avenue off Highway 17-92. This is a fundraiser for the Orange City community including Friends of Blue Spring State Park, scholarships and non-profit groups.

Admission: $8 adult ($10 if you bring your dog), $2 children ages 4-10, under the age of three admitted free. Lots of family friendly things including arts and crafts, presentations by Central Florida Zoo, SPCA Adopt-A-Pet, sand sculpting, food and entertainment.

Sharp-eyed readers, that would be you, have noticed the manatee festival is not held where the manatees are – namely Blue Spring State Park. But they’ve got that covered with a free shuttle bus to Blue Spring State Park to see the manatees.

Note gray log shapes near water's edge - all are manatees at Blue Spring State Park

On a recent visit we took to the state park over 200 manatees, including a number of baby manatees, lounged in water tinted emerald green and dappled with shadow shapes from trees leaning over the water’s edge.

The other festival is January 22-23, Saturday and Sunday, from 9-5 on Saturday and 9-4 on Sunday, when downtown Crystal River has its 24th annual Florida Manatee Festival. A donation of $3 per person is requested, children 12 and under admitted free.

The two-cay event includes an art show, a beer and wine garden with a live band, a manatee education area with continuous movies, children’s activities on the creative playground behind City Hall and boat rides (additional cost) in Kings Bay to see manatees.

Nearby manatee sanctuaries include Three Sisters Springs at Kings Bay in Crystal River   and other manatee sanctuaries set aside in Kings Bay plus Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

Why have manatee festivals in January? Because winter months are when manatees come into warmer waters like Kings Bay and Blue Springs and you can see them gathered in groups.

Manatee statue at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Be sure to check out the Save the Manatee Club booth at either festival or visit their Web site or call them at 1-800-432-5646. This non- profit group has been champions for manatees since 1981 when the group was started by singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett and former U.S. Senator Bob Graham (when he was governor of Florida).

We could take life lessons from these gentle giants who wish harm to no one. Their curiosity leads them to come right up to us, trusting souls that they are.

Manatees are Florida’s official state marine mammals and they are endangered. They’ve been around for millions of years. Gentleness has worked in their favor until now. Human activity – like running boats at full speed and colliding with manatees – could be the death of them.

They don’t need us. We need them. Everything is connected and West Indian manatees, gentle gray blimps in our waterways, are living proof of that. The Save the Manatee Club web site has many resources for students, teachers and everyday folks including a great program called Adopt-A-Manatee.

Feeding a manatee at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Never seen a manatee? Well, welcome to 2011. New year, time to learn new things. Go to a manatee festival or visit a state park with manatees or take a kayak tour in Crystal River to see manatees. Take your children and grandchildren.

By the way the kayak ecotour is a good way to see manatees with a hands off approach (no swimming with them which is stressful to the manatees). The Save the Manatee club is doing kayak tours. Another good choice for a kayak tour of manatees is going with Lars Andersen of Adventure Outpost.

Lucy Beebe Tobias of Ocala writes, blogs and videos Authentic Florida.

GET DOWN AND DIRTY WITH FLORIDA GARDENING

Like to get down and dirty in the garden? So do I, and I look forward to getting “Florida Gardening” loaded with everything you wanted to know about gardening in this tropical paradise. And yes, sometimes I write for them. An article coming out soon on putting rain barrels in your yard.

Lake Placid sets the bar high. When you visit you will see why. This small town in Central Florida turned quite a few old walls on brick buildings into living history murals. And people come from all points of the compass to see the murals, spend time and money visiting local shops and doing lunch.

What a concept. Art, culture, commerce, history, nature. Put them all together and sleepy downtowns can wake up, be reborn, even head for a renaissance.

Campbell, executive director of the Columbia County Tourism Development Council, worked his plan. In 2006 he piled officials into vans and headed south to Lake Placid. They loved it. A plan was developed and the plan worked.

Two years go by. The first mural is done and it is fabulous. On Thursday, March 27, 2008 a three-dimensional mural celebrating Ichetucknee Springs was completed with a few final strokes. Artist Keith Goodson stepped up and signed his name to the 86-feet-long mural painted on the side of the Kuykendall Building in downtown Lake City. Goodson worked on the mural for 48 days.

Look at these photos. This mural is drop dead awesome. The springs are so enticing, so crystal clear, you want to dive right in. It gets even better. Columbia County resident and retired County Commissioner James Montgomery donated the $18,000 cost, out of his own money, to have it painted.

Lake City Reporter Publisher Michael Leonard promises to spearhead the effort to raise funds in partnership with the City of Lake City for the next mural. This one will celebrate Lake City’s 150th anniversary coming up next year. In all, five years from now, they’d like some 20 murals downtown. Yep, they have a plan.

Lake City is on a roll and I admire their commitment. I love murals. They are big, bold and brassy. Artists got to play in a huge way on a humongous canvas. Murals celebrate natural and historical Florida. This outdoor art is accessible to all ages. Just walk downtown, no museum admission fee required.

To read more about murals in other Florida places – Palatka, Lake Placid and DeLand, see my mural story on the Visit Florida Web site.

And the next time you headed north on I 75 make a detour to Lake City. Go to Marion Avenue and Northwest Hamilton Street and check out the springs mural. It is a big WOW. Come home inspired. Develop partnerships. Get going. Paint the walls where you live . . .and people who could be your newest best friends will come to your town.