Nature

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The seaweed along the shoreline is teeming with life

Beach wrack full of curiosities When walking the beach this summer, pause and ponder the virtues of stranded seaweed. Those scattered clumps along the high-tide line actually have a name – beach wrack – and are a pivotal part of the beach ecosystem. “Many might think sand makes a beach, but it’s the wrack that truly brings a beach to life,” said Blair Witherington, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologist who studies beach life. “It sponsors some...

Hummingbirds visit Northwest Florida during fall months

Fill up your feeders and enjoy a hummer show! Between now and early spring, rare hummingbird species from out West turn up in Florida on their way to their winter homes in the tropics. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are year-round residents throughout Florida, but many from up North also pass through here on their annual migration to Central America. Floridians who put up hummingbird feeders or grow red or orange tubular flowers may get a glimpse of one of at least nine...

Roadside springs of northwest Florida

Northwest Florida boasts a large inventory of beautiful springs. With close to 40 in the Walton, Holmes, Washington and Bay counties, many are only accessible by paddling or by boat. There are a few available you can enjoy a family picnic and offer restroom facilities more suited for little ones. Here is a list of some great options in the Panhandle. Ponce de Leon Springs State Park in Holmes County Just outside the Walton County line is one of the...

Kayak, SUP rental season opens at Camp Helen State Park

Camp Helen State Park offers kayak rentals, adding to the already wide range of park activities. Sponsored by the Friends of Camp Helen, kayak and SUP rentals on Lake Powell have begun for the season. The Friends of Camp Helen State Park is a not-for-profit Citizens Support Organization dedicated to preserving, maintaining and improving the park through volunteer projects, community events and fundraising. Their most recent projects include The Americana Concert series, Movies and More, first Saturday history tours, International...

Conradina covers South Walton

Beautiful lavender flowering shrub graces our  sandhill forests in spring Ever wonder what those beautiful blooming lavender plants are along our byways in South Walton? False rosemary (Conradina canescens) is actually part of the mint (Lamiacae) family. If you rub the needle-like leaves between your fingers, it has a wonderful rosemary-like scent. To explore these beautiful plants, head out to our area trails. Learn more by clicking here....