Nature

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Wildfire at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

A large brush fire is raging at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. As of 3:55 p.m.  South Walton Fire District, the State Park and the Division of Forestry are working on containing the fire. The fire is approximately 100 acres, and according to SWFD Deputy Chief, Sean Hughes, should be contained soon. At approximately 1:45pm today the SWFD received a call of a tree on fire in the vicinity of the Hwy. 98 and CR 30A intersection. It is believed...

A positive attitude and some 550 cord never hurts

Two locals take survivalist course venture In my hands I had a scrawny piece of wire and a few feet of parachute cord.  I lifted my head to gain insight or inspiration from my travel partner in crime, and noticed the same expression on her face as on mine, the unmistakable what the hell are we supposed to do with this look. Kendall and I had found ourselves on the edge of the St. Johns River Water Management area, adjacent...

A paddle down Boiling Creek and the Yellow River

A cool way to spend a few hours on the water Boiling Creek is a beautiful, pristine paddle, full of cypress trees, water lilies and a variety of pitcher plants along its banks. The water is crystal clear, and you will see colorful underwater grasses rippling below, as you meander through the slow moving twists and turns. The creek is approximately 25 feet wide for most of the journey. Common sights are turtles, ospreys, hawks and other birds, such as...

Singing a song for food

Feed me, I’m hungry! These hungry mockingbird chicks look hungry as Jacquee Markel of Dune Allen snapped this photo. Jacquee said every time she or her husband Kenny went near the nest, the babies would stick their beaks out looking for food....

Morrison Springs renovation complete

Popular park reopens PONCE DE LEON – A newly renovated Morrison Springs is now open to the public. The 161-acre park is well known in the area, and popular with divers and nature enthusiasts across the south. The project started in 2007 and includes a new separate boat launch area and parking. This separate launching area provides a safer environment for divers and boaters. There is approximately 575 linear ft. of boardwalks meandering through the ancient cypress trees, and span...

Celebrate Earth Day by taking a closer look

NOAA and NASA provide visual perspectives on our environment NOAA Environmental Visual Laboratory gives an visual perspective on the earth’s global temperature changes, dead zones and the impact humans have had on our environment. http://www.nnvl.noaa.gov/ Learn how to make a change in our environment for the better by taking action http://www.earthday.net/ NASA provides interesting images of the earth: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/earthday/...

Beautiful shades of blue lupine in South Walton

The sand dunes along the beaches in the area are dolloped in blue lupine. The gulf coast lupine (Lupinus westianus) is threatened and endemic to Florida. Their habitats are sand hills, scrubs and coastal dunes. Some say that this rare perennial shrub is only found in a few counties with Walton fortunate enough to be one. Early explorers to the panhandle did see Blue Mountain covered in Lupine and gave it the affectionate name that we now call it, even...