Every year, white pelicans migrate to Florida’s warmer climes, leaving behind the chilly northern lakes of Canada and the Midwest. Here, they find sanctuary in our coastal estuaries, lakes, and rivers. Watching them soar in tight formation or feed in synchronized choreography is like witnessing a living ballet—a performance perfected over millennia. Today, let’s take […]
Flora & Fauna
- Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)
- Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
- Alligator or Fire Flag (Thalia geniculata)
- American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
- American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
- American Coot (Fulica americana)
- American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
- American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus)
- American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
- American white ibis (Eudocimus albus)
- American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
- Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)
- Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata)
- Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia)
- Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
- Ballmoss (Tillandsia recurvata)
- Barred Owl (Strix varia)
- Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix)
- Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
- Black Racer (Coluber constrictor)
- Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)
- Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
- Black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
- Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)
- Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
- Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia)
- Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)
- Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
- Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia)
- Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto)
- Caesar Weed (Urena lobata)
- Cane Toad (Rhinella marina)
- Cardinal Airplant (Tillandsia fasciculata)
- Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
- Cattle (Bos taurus)
- Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
- Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica)
- Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
- Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis)
- Corn Snake or Rat Snake (Pantherophis guttatus)
- Cucumberleaf Sunflower (Helianthus debilis)
- Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium)
- Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea guttata)
- Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
- Feral Pig (Sus scrofa)
- Fetterbush (Lyonia lucida)
- Firefly (Lampyridae)
- Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)
- Florida Butterfly Orchid (Encyclia tampensis)
- Florida Cooter (Pseudemys concinna floridana)
- Florida Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex badius)
- Florida panther (P. c. couguar)
- Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)
- Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox)
- Giant Katydid (Stilpnochlora couloniana)
- Giant Leather Fern (Acrostichum danaeifolium)
- Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio cresphontes)
- Golden Polypody Fern (Phlebodium aureum)
- Goldenrod (Solidago)
- Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
- Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
- Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
- Great Egret (Ardea alba)
- Great Southern White Butterfly (Ascia monuste)
- Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
- Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
- Greenbrier (Smilax)
- Gulf Coast Tick (Amblyomma maculatum)
- Gulf Fritillary Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae)
- Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi)
- Julia Butterfly (Dryas iulia)
- Katydid (Tettigoniidae)
- Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
- Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia)
- Lightning Whelk (Sinistrofulgur perversum)
- Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)
- Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)
- Love Bug (Plecia nearctica)
- Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
- Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)
- Mangrove Tree Crab (Aratus pisonii)
- Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)
- Mexican Prickly Poppy (Argemone mexicana)
- Narrow-leaved Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium)
- Needham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami)
- Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
- Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)
- Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
- Nuttall’s thistle (Cirsium nuttallii)
- Oak Toad (Anaxyrus quercicus)
- Orange Milkwort (Polygala lutea)
- Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
- Painted bunting (Passerina ciris)
- Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)
- Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata)
- Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
- Pine Lily (Lilium catesbaei)
- Pond Cypress (Taxodium ascendens)
- Pop Ash (Fraxinus caroliniana)
- Prickly Pear (Opuntia)
- Primrose Willow (Ludwigia)
- Purple Thistle (Asteraceae (Compositae))
- Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
- Railroad Vine (Ipomoea pes-caprae)
- Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
- Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta)
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Red Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
- Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
- Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens)
- Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides)
- River Otter (Lontra canadensis)
- Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius)
- Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)
- Rough Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)
- Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
- Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)
- Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
- Savanna Iris (Iris savannarum)
- Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
- Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera)
- Sea Oats (Uniola paniculata)
- Sensitive Pea (Chamaecrista)
- Shoestring Fern (Vittaria)
- Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)
- Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
- Southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus)
- Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
- Southern Needleleaf (Tillandsia setacea)
- Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
- Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides)
- Spiny-backed Orb-Weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)
- Star Jasmine (Jasminum multiflorum)
- Starrush Whitetop (Rhynchospora colorata)
- Streaked Rattlepod (Crotalaria pallida)
- Sundew (Drosera)
- Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
- Swamp Hibiscus/Rosemallow (Hibiscus grandiflorus)
- Sword Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
- Tickseed (Coreopsis)
- Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis)
- Virginia Iris (Iris virginica)
- Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
- Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
- West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus)
- White Mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa)
- White Peacock Butterfly (Anartia jatrophae)
- White Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
- Wild Coffee (Psychotria)
- Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
- Willet (Tringa semipalmata)
- Wood Storks (Mycteria americana)
- Zebra Longwing Butterfly (Heliconius charithonia)
- Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly (Protographium marcellus)
Star Jasmine (Jasminum multiflorum)
Introduction Star Jasmine (Jasminum multiflorum), known for its star-shaped flowers and intoxicating fragrance, holds a special place in gardens and hearts worldwide. This evergreen vine, native to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, has become a beloved ornamental plant in many parts of the world, including Florida. Its delicate beauty and heady scent have made […]
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Common in Florida and all up and down the US east coast, the red maple (or swamp maple) will remind northern transplants of their precious fall colors. If you miss maple trees while you’re in Florida — here’s your answer! Florida’s Red Maple: A Naturalist’s Delight Introduction Greetings, nature enthusiasts! Today, we embark on an […]
Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
This plant is very common in the dry prairie, and its crushed leaves have a distinct pleasant aroma. As a naturalist, the privilege of wandering through Florida’s diverse landscapes reveals endless wonders, each with its own story to tell. Among the many remarkable plants that grace this region, the Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) stands […]
Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium)
Very common around Sarasota, particularly in disturbed areas like roadsides and trails. Take a small piece — crush and sniff — for a unique aroma, somewhat like dill.
Florida panther (P. c. couguar)
Greetings, fellow nature aficionados! Buckle up, because we’re about to embark on an adventure through the wild heart of Florida to get acquainted with one of its most fascinating inhabitants: the Florida Panther. This magnificent big cat is the ultimate blend of stealth, beauty, and raw power, and it’s got a story that’s as thrilling […]
Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis)
Goldenrod (Solidago)
In the right season, you’ll see goldenrod crying out yellow all over the place, and it certainly helps that there are well over a hundred species around. I see goldenrod in Florida and in New England, and everywhere between, I can’t pretend to say which species I’m looking at it any given time — but […]
Rough Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)
These look like tiny bamboo tree trunks, and I’ve seen them infrequently, but up and down the US east coast, as well as in Florida. Like ferns, they reproduce with spores instead of seeds.
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Red foxes live throughout North America (including Florida!) and I continue to be thrilled every time I see one. In addition to being amazing creatures in their own right, they have a great history with humans in myth and story.
Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis)
This sleek, powerful fish is a favorite among anglers and an integral part of Florida’s vibrant marine ecosystems. From its striking appearance and fascinating behavior to its role in both ecology and culture, the Common Snook is a true icon of Florida’s coastal waters. Let’s dive into the life, habits, and significance of this remarkable […]