Twin Rivers State Forest: Blue Springs Unit

Time for a drive around the area.  It has been rather wet here as of late which turns hiking into wading;

Suwannee River Trail
BEFORE the latest rains

however, after a loop from White Springs to Jasper to Live Oak we happened across the Blue Springs Unit of Twin Rivers State Forest.  Now the forest encompasses 14 non-contiguous parcels which the state began to acquire in 1981 through a program called CARL.

Dry road through the forest

This area is dry as evidenced by the vegetation, mostly pines, oaks, and scrub.  So we set off through the gate on an anticipated 5 mile hike.  Following the roads, recall this is a forest, we found walking easy and interesting.  

Lovely white lanterns
on this shrub

There was evidence of recent prescribed burns. 
Prescribed fire is one of the most versatile and cost effective tools land managers use. Prescribed fire is used to reduce hazardous fuel buildups, thus providing increased protection to people, their homes and the forest. Other uses include disease control in young pines, improving habitat for wildlife, range management, preservation of endangered plant and animal species and the maintenance of fire dependent ecosystems.http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Wildfire/Prescribed-Fire
A smoldering log revealed the last burn was only a few days old; however, the new growth in another area indicated the burn was several months old.

New Growth

The hike was between rain showers so the new greenery sparkled amid...

Ferns

... the gray sky and tall pines.  

Tall planted pine forest

Along the way we saw multiple wrens, sparrows, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, a Kite, and a few Fox Squirrels.  The Fox Squirrels were quite a treat as you do not always see them.  Perhaps the most surprising finds were  the egg sitting on a fence post at the trail head and a bird house lying in the middle of the forest. Now just what were they doing there?