Nature

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Loggerhead turtle unable to nest due to obstructions left on beach

Sad news for turtle nesting as loggerhead unable to find place to lay her eggs South Walton Turtle Watch volunteers continue to struggle to find turtle nest success in South Walton. These photos were taken by volunteers June 17. The above photo shows where a loggerhead turtle attempted to nest but was unable due to obstructions left on the beach. No one knows for sure why she gave up, but it appears the tracks spell out the message. The photo...

It’s blueberry time in the Florida Panhandle

Where to find local sweet blueberries to pick or purchase in Walton County and the surrounding area June and July is the time of year to head out and find tasty Florida blueberries. In addition to a great topping for cereal or salads, blueberry pancakes, muffins and coffee cakes are also a popular homemade treat for berry lovers. Many locals take advantage of the local pick-your-own farms and stock up by purchasing berries by the gallon from local growers. Since...

Good morning magnolia

Magnolia bloom smile Local cinematographer Elam Stoltzfus captured this lovely magnolia bloom on an early morning walk in his backyard. The flower appears to be smiling on this dewy morning. Elam’s spectacular coastal dune lake video is one of the finalists in the upcoming Digital Graffiti outdoor projection show at Alys Beach June 6. For more information about the event click here. For more information about Elam Stoltzfus and his educational film production company, Live Oak Production Group, go to...

Black bears ransack South Walton beehives

Bears wreak havoc, force beekeeper to install electric fences Local beekeeper Earl Barrett is not happy. Local black bears have been raiding his beehives in the Pt. Washington State Forest this season, forcing him to put up electric fences to protect his hives. As he worked on putting up a fence off of CR 83 in Santa Rosa Beach on May 27, Barrett said with a bit of frustration, “this is the third location of boxes I’ve had to fence...

Rare beauties discovered in South Walton

Local encounters endangered pitcher plants along South Walton creek Local Santa Rosa Beach resident Josh Foreman happened upon some rare beauties – endangered indigenous pitcher plants, on a walk near Camp Creek Golf Course recently. Josh explains: “Yellow pitcher plants (Sarracenia Flava) first caught my eye near a small creek flowing east towards Alys Beach, after following the creek a short distance my eyes found a little patch of young white topped pitcher plants (Sarracenia leucophylla) ready to grow up....