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Imagine Our Florida, Inc.

Our purpose is to bring people together in a shared vision to preserve and protect Florida's wildlife, habitat, and ecosystems. We accomplish this via science-based education and the development of appreciation and respect for the natural world and our place within it.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.8 hours ago
Saturday Saunter
Blue Spring State Park

Crystal clear water at a year-round temperature of 72* makes Blue Spring State Park the perfect destination for both visitors and those who make their homes there. Each day, the spring pours 100 million gallons of water into the St. Johns River.

Blue Spring State Park was established in 1972. Two years earlier, only 14 wintering manatees were tracked in the spring run. In 1971, Jacques Cousteau filmed a documentary about manatees titled 'The Forgotten Mermaids.' This film is thought to have helped convince the state to purchase the land. Ongoing conservation efforts including prescribed fire have restored Blue Spring State Park to its original splendor.

Up to 485 manatees now spend their winters in the warm spring waters. Endemic Florida Scrub-Jays, bald eagles, fish, turtles, alligators, and a bounty of other animals live there year-round. As part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, 142 species including merlins, Mississippi kites, Blackburnian warblers, and chestnut-sided warblers have been spotted within the park.

Blue Spring State Park offers plenty of opportunities for everyone to get outside. Spend the day hiking or biking. Stroll along the boardwalk through the lush hammock to Blue Spring. Barbeque and picnic near the water. Take a hike along the 4.5-mile Pine Island Trail and look for wading birds, ospreys, kingfishers, Bachman's sparrows, hairy woodpeckers, scrub jays, and other animals who live within the different ecosystems. Free ranger-guided bird walks are offered in April and October.

Swimming, snorkeling, diving, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding resume when the weather warms and the manatees leave their winter home. Bring your own or rent a canoe or kayak. A guided Kayak Experience is available. Take a guided St. Johns Riverboat Cruise or a Guided Wilderness Escape Segway.

Look for middens, commonly known as shell mounds, and other archaeological sites within the park. Visit the Thursby house, built by European settler Louis Thursby in 1872, where steamboat passengers spent the night during their river trips. Today, the historic house is a place to enjoy interpretive exhibits, museum pieces, and, from mid-November until the end of February, the manatee interpretive program.

If a day trip is not long enough, bring your RV, pitch a tent, or rent a cabin to be sure you have time to experience all the park has to offer.

Get there early since the park reaches capacity quickly. For reservations, rentals, and more information, click here: https://www.floridastateparks.org/pa…/blue-spring-state-park

Photo Credit: Dan Kon, Erin James

#ImagineOurFlorida #IOF #ConnectRespectCoexist #GetOutside #Nature #Florida
#Wildlife #Explore #Discover #Educate #Empower #MakeaDifference
#environmentalstewardship #SaturdaySaunter #BlueSpringsStatePark
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.20 hours ago
Foto Friday: Please post the pictures you captured of Florida's wildlife, wildflowers, and wild spaces this week in the comments. We can't wait to see them!
-Lichens-

🌿 These fascinating organisms are a unique symbiotic partnership between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. There are three different types, all seen in this image. 🍃

Crustose Lichens: These lichens form a tightly adhering crust-like layer on the substrate such as rocks or bark. They are often found in harsh environments like deserts and high-altitude regions.

Foliose Lichens: Foliose lichens have leaf-like structures and are typically loosely attached to the substrate. They can be found on trees, branches, and soil and are often more sensitive to environmental changes.

Fruticose Lichens: Fruticose lichens have a branching or bushy structure and may be upright or hanging from substrates. They are often found in various habitats, including forests, tundras, and coastal areas.

🔍 Lichens can be found almost everywhere, from the Arctic tundra to tropical rainforests and even on bare rock surfaces! Their ability to thrive in diverse environments makes them excellent indicators of air quality and environmental health. 🌎

💡 Fun fact: Lichens are pioneers in ecological succession, breaking down rocks and paving the way for soil formation, which allows other plants to grow. 🌱

Next time you're out exploring nature, take a closer look at these unsung heroes of the ecosystem! 🕵️‍♂️ #LichenLove #NatureFacts #Biodiversity 🌿🔍
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.4 days ago
Tuesday Trivia
What is a group of Squirrels called?

A. Dray
B. Scurry
C. Litter
D. Murder

Please post your answer in the comments.
Answer revealed tonight at 6:00 pm
Be the first to know.

Photo Credit: Dan Kon

#ImagineOurFlorida #IOF #TuesdayTrivia #FloridaStatePark
#GetOutside #Explore #Discover #ConnectRespectCoexist