Gar Pond: Bicycling Natural Areas in Columbia County Florida

Gar Pond, is yet another of the Florida public lands managed by one of several agencies that is open for us to explore.  It is a shallow lake surrounded by marsh land and home to many types of water birds. 


Eagle Nest in the pine

Spending a few minutes to observe the lake, trees, and flight paths can result in interesting finds. The obvious are the white birds which turn out to be ibis.  A blue heron is fishing on the edge of the pond.  There a vultures in the distance.  Suddenly the pond surface darkens with the shadow of a huge wing span.  Yes, it is a bald eagle. In a moment a second eagle appears and then they reveal the location of their nest with two hatchlings. How special!

Gar Pond from the trail

Gar pond is a natural lake

and the wilderness area is approximately 877 acres which supports hiking, bicycling, fishing, and wildlife viewing.  The property contains a man-made lake and several natural sinks which are visible from the trails. The land was purchased with funds from the Save Our Rivers program and the resulting project contains well over the six miles of advertised looping trails.



A natural sink which filled with water
can be viewed from the trail.

 The routes vary in difficulty as the wind through flat woods and scrub, up and down the sand hills, over roots and fallen saplings, and along the Suwanee River bluffs.  Much of the trail requires some deft bicycle skill; however, there are gentler routes in many places to avoid the harder sections.

Trail through the scrub and pine

Gar Pond is an excellent example of partnership between the Suwannee River Water Management District and Suwannee Bicycle Association. The area also hosts the Florida Trail which traverses the property and rises along the banks of the Suwannee River.

The Florida Trail, hiking, tends to
be a bit narrower than the bicycle trails

On this crisp December afternoon we decided to cycle this hidden but promising area.  We were not disappointed; we were treated to fun bicycling trails, ponds, woods, birds, and a beautiful view of the river. 

The lovely Florida scrub

Falling Creek Park: Columbia County Florida

OK I passed this 'brown sign' several times and was always curious about the destination park.  Yes, you know 'brown sign', designated public park sign. Finally, I dedicated time to visit the park, Falling Creek Falls Park.


The falls at the time of my visit,
It had been some time since a good rain



There had been a few rains this fall but this isn't normally the wet season so the water levels were lower.  However, during normal water levels the creek roars over a 10-foot waterfall and flows under Falling Creek Road through a deep ravine before going underground. http://www.srwmd.state.fl.us/index.aspx?NID=160

An upper tributary that barely moves
it has been dry lately

This area is under joint management between the Suwannee River Water Management District and Columbia County and located on County Road 131 just north of the 441/I10 interchange.   Falling Creek Falls was opened October 2001 after the property was purchased from the Parker & Hogan Families. The county's goal is to protect and preserve the Falls for present and future generations.  Water management is concerned with protecting our precious water supply for Florida's rapidly expanding population.




Falling Creek as it 'falls' to the lower section

Falling Creek Falls was the site of the first settlement in this area and an old store remains on the park property.  According to the informational sign, Falling Creek Falls was settled in the early 1800s by Crackers heading south from neighboring states.  The community boasted a mill, post office, general store, several homes, and a few plantations.  Columbia County's population was about 4000 of which slightly more that half were slaves who worked the plantations.  This might help explain the current demographics with the area.

 

Last standing farm structure
Probably the farm store

 There is a loop trail and a short boardwalk trail.  The boardwalk offers easy access to the falls area providing handicapped and wet weather access.  The falls are impressive, for Florida, an unexpected delight.  However, paddling the Suwanee River where you may find weeping banks has taught me to delight in the unexpected.

A beautiful 3/4 mile trail
winding through the property

The dirt trail is a delightful walk through the flatwoods, pine plantation, and scrub.  This is a short but peaceful stroll where you have time to appreciate the woods and concentrate on nature.

Yes it is Florida with palmetto scrub

Along the trail you may encounter deer, squirrel, toads, hawks, song birds, and gopher tortiose.  Woodpeckers, deer, squirrel, doves, and a hawk greeted us on this adventure. So next time you are in the area plan on spending a little time exploring this treasure.

And gopher holes

Cane Days: A stroll through time at Dudley Farm

How I treasure living history where you can experience a snapshot of another time even if it is sanitized and perhaps a skewed view.  Still better than learning from a history book.

The Barn
An essential farm structure

Each day Dudley Farm Historic State Park offers a step back into Florida farm lifestyle from 1840 to 1940.  To be exact, the park is open Wednesday through Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are reserved for maintenance when modern tools can be used on the property. 

(Sugar) Cane Grinder

Park staff and volunteers walk you through the evolution of Florida farming in this authentic working farm.   The homestead has 18 buildings used by three generations of the Dudley family.  You can tour the family farmhouse with original furnishings and the 1880s kitchen outbuilding.  Consider, no logical person would have a kitchen in their house due to the heat in summer and chance of fire. 

Cold Store

 You will also find a general store, post office, and a functional cane syrup complex. Perhaps the gest part are the staff in period clothing who provide us a glimpse of early Florida life while performing daily chores, raising crops and tending to livestock.


Florida is over-run with vines 
that are often tamed for human use. 


 Each December the park holds a festival to celebrate the farm traditions know as Cane Days.  This is a fun event with special exhibits, craft vendors, food vendors, community awareness, and music.  You guessed it, Bill and I came as musicians from the 1880s.


Dudley family re-enactor


 It was cold Sunday morning when we left White Springs for an hour drive down to Newberry.  Arriving it was still cool but we found a warm front porch at the visitor center to provide period music from the 1880s.  Eventually the air warmed and we figured it was time to head to the farm proper.  This is a short quarter mile walk through the woods as you travel back in time. 



Ms Dottie
Fiber artist and historian



The head ranger asked us to play at the farm house and the back porch, though shady and cool, was the best location.  On the back porch sat Ms Dottie knitting and speaking with the pilgrims, she invited us to sit a spell and play her a few tunes.  Well, two hours flew by as people stopped to chat, ask questions, and listen to the tunes.  Finally, as the sun began to sink and the air chilled again it was time to pack our instruments and depart for home.  My wish is the visitors to the park enjoyed the day half as much as I.

Timeline Tour through Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Ever wonder what is hidden on service roads and in the back woods of a state park?




I am always curious to know the behind the scenes story. One morning in early December while reading the Suwanee Democrat I happened on an announcement for a Timeline Tour through Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Not only did it catch my attention but it necessitated a call to reserve a spot on the tour.



Ranger Sam leading the tour



Saturday morning arrived... cold, quite cold, about 32 degrees. Brrrr. But we suited up and headed out by 8 AM for the 45 minute drive to the park. There are two entrances to the park and the directions were unclear as to which entrance was correct for the tour. You guessed it, we arrived to find a van, one car, and no one around... but it was cold so perhaps they were in the Education Center. Knocking on doors we located a ranger who confirmed we were at the wrong entrance; however, she was taking the van to the correct entrance and “Did we want to ride along?” This was perfect.



Ichtucknee River





Meeting up with the main group Ranger Sam Cole, our interpretive guide, gave a trip overview before we boarded three vans and headed into the woods. The overview included a discussion of area geology and human involvement from 12000 BC to present. Our first stop was the original entrance to the park and a history lesson about how the property had been used for phosphate mining in addition to a local swimming hole. This was a chilly stop so the ranger suggested we limit our walking through the woods but look for signs of phosphate mining: holes, tram beds, reclaimed forest. Back in the vans we traveled through dense woods as we traversed the old tram beds used to haul Phosphate ore from the area to the processing plant.



Notice the three blue objects above...
Tallhassee, Ichetucknee, St. Augustine






Now, at the last stop Ranger Sam informed us the next stop was the Mission de San Martin de Timucua. So we had time to roll back the time clock before arriving at the site of a major mission on the Camino Real, the Kings Road, from St. Augustine to Tallahassee and points west. The mission sat on a knoll above the river not where treasure hunters and historians had explored for many years. Logic indicated the mission had been closer to the river and springs; this assumption was derived from the presence of pottery and artifacts found at the water edge. Not true, the native people probably washed dishes in the spring and thus the presence of historical artifacts.



Mission Spring



In the 1980s archeologists studied the site to determine the actual mission grounds and outlined the perimeter of the church, priest home, lodge house, and Indian village. There was one priest in residence and over the life of the mission, 8-10 years, two different pastors served in the community. Now the community was abandoned and burned around 1580 when there was a native uprising against Spanish control. Fascinating.



Possible Mission Building



On down the road to the original town of Ichetucknee. As with the previous site, not much remains; however, you can find the mill race once the site is explained by the ranger. Now, with a bit of imagination you can see a town with a post office on the rise, a dry goods store, a few businesses, and maybe a house or two. Isn't imagination wonderful?

Ichetucknee Mill Race

 Once again we board the vans for the last leg of this trip, the Education Center, where we will view exhibits, watch a short film, and recap the our morning excursion. We exit the building to realize that finally the air has warmed a bit; it isn't warm but 50 degrees is infinitely preferable to the 32 degrees from earlier in the day. The participants who started at the head springs gate board the vans for a return to their vehicles while Bill and I head to our truck. Let me advise that the next time you read about the Timeline Tour at Ichtucknee Springs State Park... GO!


Site for the Town of Ichetucknee

Ichetucknee Springs

It was a rather cool Saturday in White Springs and we had no special plans.  Why not take the time to explore?

Blue Hole Spring
near the head spring of the Ichetucknee

It had been years since either of us had visited Ichetucknee Springs State Park, a park known for tubing down the crystal clear 72° river.  But today with not a tubing day, with a projected high of 65° you'd not find me in the water!  It was a hiking day.

Ichetucknee Springs swimming hole
the head spring

There are three main trails in the park:  Blue Hole Trail, Trestle Point Trail, and Pine Ridge Trail. The first two are about a half-mile and tend to follow the river, Pine Ridge is a two mile trail through the woods.  You can also walk the tram road which is ideal in the winter as the tram is not operational.

Cypress in winter foleage
on the Ichetucknee

Now don't think you can avoid the river and springs areas entirely... well you could but why miss these precious treasures?  So our first walk along the tram road from the mid-launch tube launch area along the river to the take-out area at Dampiers Landing.  

Cave along the river

Yes, there were people on the river, mostly in canoes and kayaks, and several brave northerners in tubes.  Well, I assumed they were from the north as the air temperature, winter sun, and water temperature strikes fear into the heart of most Floridians... we simply wait until summer before tubing the Ichetucknee.

Fall foliage at the head spring

Walking the Blue Hole Trail allows beautiful views of both Blue Hole Spring and Ichetucknee Spring, the head spring of the river.  It is a short walk over varied terrain so I recommend wearing sturdy shoes and perhaps waterproof would be wise.

An old Drag Line and
tree stump which seems to have grown
through the antique bale

On to the Tressle Point Trail, which winds along the river and through the woods.   Along the way you may find relics from the phosphate mining era.  Yes, the park was formerly owned by the Loncala Phosphate Corporation which sold the property in 1970 to the State of Florida for $1,850,000.  In my opinion, the citizens of Florida were the winners in this deal.

Sink hole

The park has a long history, from the original native American settlers to the present day life as a state park.  Along the way it served as mission for Spanish (Catholic) missionaries in the 1600's, farming communities after the Civil War, logging and turpentine in the early 1900's, followed by phosphate mining in the mid-1900s.  Yes, the residents of Florida are indeed fortunate.

The beautiful Ichetucknee River
home to many people and activities
for hundreds (thousands?) of years

White Springs, FL: Discovering nature in nature...

Have you ever though about what nature is trying to tell you? 

A fall afternoon
at Stephen Foster FCC State Park

Well, you might find a few answers if you are open to the experiences.  Sometimes, it is simply taking the time to look beneath your feet.

Signs of winter approaching
Pine cones, acorns, and discarded leaves

Ever feel like you can't see the snake for the bush?

This handsome fellow was
hiding in full sight

As Jackie and I watched the snake we marveled at the dexterity as it wound around the bush.  There was a caterpillar near by but the snake appeared to wind in another direction.  Then quickly it recoiled, reached out, and swallowed the caterpillar.  One can only surmise this was it's hunting technique because it seemed to work.

Snake after eating the caterpillar
Which didn't see the snake either!

But not everything is hidden in plain view and here at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, some critters are easy to spot.

A beautiful grasshopper on the wall

While others do try for a disguise, or maybe it just comes naturally.

Kitty Anna on an early morning walk

Keeping your head in the clouds is not always bad as sometimes visions appear...

The moon rising over the tower
this is always a special sight

And sometimes you need to play Sherlock Holmes, like the case of the Missing Laundry.  I carted the clothes to the washing machine but arrived to discover I was missing half of the original load.  Turns out, I had left a dirty clothes trail as it fell from my basket as it followed me on my hand cart.

The rare missing laundry

But it is all good fun and prompts you to stay open and alert

Looking for clues in nature!

White Springs, FL: The growth cycle of a Holiday Pole Tree

This is our second year working on the holiday light show at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park.  And, it is difficult to say what is the most fun: building pole trees, decorating the grounds, greeting guests, or simply enjoying the light show called the Festival of Lights.  Anyway you look at it, this volunteer gig is a win-win situation.

Festival of Lights Promo Picture

One of the fun decorations is building the pole trees.  Well, this year we built about ten trees from 6' to 27' in height.  The operation is basically the same regardless of the size... except with trees over 10' it is best to have a high lift or bucket truck.

Pole trees are not much different from other bare root stock plants.  You plant the bare root bulb, water it, wait, and after a short time it sprouts leaves which result in dense foliage and perhaps fruit.  Same with pole trees.

First you "plant" the tree

So, the first step is to decide on the appropriate location which involves considering the space and electrical capacity available, tree height, and other near by decorations.  Next you gather the tools into a truck before heading to the build site.  The tools include: rope, stakes, pole, level, shovel, post hole digger, lights, extension cords, power cords, ladder or high lift.  

Here Bill works on the 27' tree

At the site you dig the hole and plant the bare root stock.  Then tamp it down as you fill in the hole while verifying the tree is straight, use the level for this job.  Next step is to pound stakes into the earth at somewhat equidistant locations from the base in a circle. 

Mark the perimeter and install stakes

Now were are making progress.  You connect the power cord to the electrical outlet, drag it to the base of the tree, and then add an extension chord or three-way plug.  Now you re-check the light strands to insure they work as you connect about four into a long strand.  Be certain to secure the connected ends with a loop or knot so they will not slip loose.  After you assemble a couple of strands it is time to build the tree.   

After several days the tree sprouts

Wrap one end of the light strand around a stake, feet the line to the top where you wrap the light strand around the pole and pass it down the opposite site to another stake.  Then wind the light strand to the next stake and repeat the process.  After a bit you have a completed pole tree and the bare root has sprouted leaves.  Wait until evening, turn on the lights and you will find an amazing display as the tree blooms.

And eventually it blooms

There you have it, the growth cycle of a pole tree.