It was another blue bird day so I set out on a little outing. I visited one of my local favs, River to Sea Preserve. There were more people at the preserve than I’ve encountered before. We’re in the middle of snowbird season, with people visiting from northern climes to warm up or even other parts of Florida.

The weathered branches are all that remain of sand oaks that were flooded out during Hurricane Matthew. The preserve is only a short distance from Marineland, an area that was completely under water with the storm surge. The oaks didn’t survive, but the tough salt resistant saw palmetto did.

The moment you step into the hushed shade of the oak hammock, it feels like you’ve entered an enchanted land. The growth bordering the wide sandy path is thick, tangled, filled with tall slender saplings, angular hollies, spiky Sabal palms and saw palmetto, wild coffee, assorted grasses and ferns, all in an explosion of green life. Dried leaves crunch underfoot. Even with the nearby highway and the swish of boats passing on the river, the hammock feels like a haven of peace.

Massive oaks dominate the canopy, some of them missing branches lost in storms, evidence of their great age. Ferns and vines cling onto the huge limbs that reach across the path, an open air roof to the hammock.

A couple of side trails take the walker down to the Matanzas River where you can sit and watch power boats zip by on the wide channel.

This is a very Florida photo… Sabal palms in the foreground framing the blue waters and blue sky as another power boat cruises by on the calm Intracoastal Waterway.

The great oaks of the hammock are home to community, ranging from ferns and vines, to mosses and lichens, with tiny lizards and squirrels scurrying around through the flora.

After finishing up the walk at River to Sea, I headed onto Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Again, there was a ton of people present, something I guess I’ll have to get used to for the remainder of the winter and into spring. I had to drive a bit farther even to find a parking place. Having sturdy hiking boots on, I didn’t mind the walk. The temperature was pleasant, just a tiny chill in the air when standing in the shade, but I had short sleeves on.

It’s taken me a while to locate Kwan Yin’s statue that is tucked into a shady corner of the formal garden above one of the ponds. The bodhisattva has always been a favorite of mine.

The ponds were green and slimy with algae, but still a nice contrast with the bulky subtropical vegetation of the formal garden. There is Bird of Paradise here that is about nine feet tall, as well as stands of bamboo, gigantic Schefflera, and assorted other shrubs.

The azaleas and camellias were beginning to bloom, showing their shy blossoms. The camellias were looking a little tired from the soaking they received last weekend. It rained hard for two straight days, which is unusual unless we’re experiencing a hurricane.

I had a short conversation with a nice couple from Massachusetts who were visiting the area. We saw each other in both parks. There were people everywhere, so I didn’t linger.

I headed to the grocery store to replenish my non-cook supplies in case something happens in the next couple of days.

Last night I woke up and stayed awake for a while. This always happens when we have a solar flare, which is becoming quite common these days. We’ll get through this period, but sometimes it can be challenging. The internet was still up, but reports were coming in stating wide-spread cell phone outages across the nation, possibly due to the solar flare… possibly not.

I hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected. Hold tight. Hope springs eternal.

Eliza

COMMENTS ON

From Truth Pups:

The deep state beta tests are happening and preparing for 24 blackouts
.
We have been helping you and ⚠️ warning you to prepare for the False Flag EVENTS inside job Cyber-Attacks

AT&T customers hit by widespread cellular outages in U.S.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/t-verizon-t-mobile-customers-hit-widespread-cellular-outages-us-rcna139938

Notes to Readers:

The solar flares are real, but the Deep State is using them as an excuse to see if they can interfere with internet and cell coverage… and the power gird. Have a plan and a way to communicate with your loved ones if everything goes dark. It won’t last long… but will certainly be an inconvenience, especially for those in need of assistance.

We’re heading into a real bumpy stretch of this movie thing…