Exploring the American Landscape
Botany and wildlife
It’s hard to believe that we have been living full time in Miami for over a year, and had not yet visited the Everglades from our new home base. Miami has the distinction of bordering two of the most unique national parks in the country — the underwater wonderland of Biscayne National Park and the … Read more
Florida’s subtropical climate creates a unique ecosystem that is, unfortunately, ripe for invasion by plants, animals and insects from similar climates around the world. Filling South Florida with invaders from tropical areas is a time-honored tradition — many pioneers came to Florida specifically to grow tropical plants such as coconut palms and pineapples. One of … Read more
Outside of honeybees and perhaps ladybugs, most insects don’t get a lot of love, and the flying kind are particularly unwelcome. (Termites, biting flies and roaches = blech!) The major exception is butterflies, which seem to be universally beloved. Everyone loves butterflies, including us. We found a South Florida destination devoted to butterflies that features … Read more
I had the opportunity through work to spend a day volunteering at and learning about the South Florida Wildlife Center, a top notch trauma hospital for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife located on a surprisingly serene property just north of the Ft. Lauderdale airport. When Florida’s native peoples and early pioneers roamed the area, the … Read more
A tiny state park combining botany, geology and Florida history? Sounds great! Windley Key Fossil Reef Geologic State Park packs a lot into a small area. Located just north of Islamorada, the park is located on a small key that features some of the highest elevations in the Keys — which is not saying much. … Read more