Fort Foster at Hillsborough River State Park

In early March we visited Hillsborough River State Park and the historic site Fort Foster.  You can read about Hillsborough River State Park in another posting... this is about life on the Florida Frontier.  

Ranger informing us about the
fort construction,
armaments, and general life.

Fort Foster is the only standing replica of a second Seminole War fort, it is an authentic reproduction and can be visited through guided tours offered by the rangers at Hillsborough River State Park.  During the tour you learn of fort life and the difficulty of Florida survival in the 1800s, more from bugs and critters than Seminoles.  

One of the two fort towers for defense
note the rifle ports on both levels

There are period maps and log books available for viewing in addition to furnished commissary, officer quarters, and a supply house.  Several times each year there are historical re-enactments of the war and depicting a living history of life at that time.  

Fort supply house where you found
beans, salt pork, rum, uniforms,
quarter master, his helper, and their beds

It was built in 1836 under the direction of Lt. Col. William S. Foster.  The Hillsborough River cut the supply lines and this is the easiest point for safely crossing the river.  Today's bridge is as historically accurate as possible.  

Bridge across the Hillsborough River
the fort was placed here at
the easiest fordable point

The Seminole Indian Wars  were waged by the US government on the Seminoles during 1813-1838. The original encroachment into Spanish Florida was by bounty hunters and the US military looking to retrieve black slaves that had run to Florida for freedom.  Before the US gained ownership of Florida there was a perceived "Indian Problem" and Col. Andrew Jackson found support for military action.  These "wars" continued as the US government tried to eradicate the Seminole Indians. 
 

Is this a lily of hope?

It is not a pleasant part of our history but it is important to know and experience our past so we can hopefully not repeat the mistakes in the future.  

Florida's Ten Thousand Islands

How many islands are there in south Florida?  Guess no one really knows but there is an area called the Ten Thousand Islands and with the frequent creation of new mangrove islands this may not be too far off base. 

The watery expanses of the
Ten Thousand Islands

 The National Park Service describes them with the following...
The Ten Thousand Islands are a labyrinth of water and mangroves. The islands harbor an abundance of life, and the shallows serve as nursery grounds for countless marine species. Boaters should be mindful of the depth of the water, as shallows are common. Finding your way through this area of the park can be difficult, and it is strongly recommended that visitors reference NOAA Charts #11430 and 11432 to assist them.

Mangrove Islands

New islands spring from these seedlings

 Now, officially it is the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge comprising 35,000 acres and protecting wildlife and vegetation.  It is the largest forest of mangroves in North America and best viewed by boat.  Actually it may be the only way to view the area.  We have canoe camped in the area on several occasions during the winter months when the bugs are at a minimum.  

Moon over the Ten Thousand Islands

The best boating access is from Goodland or Port-of-the-Isles where you launch almost immediately into the watery forests.  

Various wading birds
catching dinner in the shallow canals
and among the mangrove roots

Be certain to take the short 1.1 mile hike into the area from the Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41), not far from Collier-Seminole State Park.  Not far down the path you will find a 2-story observation tower that is perfect for fantastic views of the area and wading birds.

Marsh rabbit
along the trail

Here you have the opportunity to walk a shell packed path through the watery world and observe wading birds, rabbits, and snakes.  Peering into the shallow water you will find small fish among the many mangrove roots.  

Morning Flowers
greet you along the path

Delicate spring blossoms

The short trail ends at a hardwood hammock that serves the various park agencies for data collection, observation, storage, and a plethora of other functions. 

Pines now grow on a hammock
that serves scientific and nature interests

This area is well worth a trip to observe the birds anytime of the day.  You will find wading birds and ducks much of the day where they fish the rich waters amid the mangrove roots and shallow brackish waters. 

 

An egret feeding mid-morning

But the best times are early morning the flocks take to wing and many depart for the day and late evening when they return to the rookery for a safe night's sleep.

A flock of Ibis returning to roost
Sunset at the Tamiami Trail walk

Rookery Bay: Educational Center and the National Estuarine Research Reserve

Most of the extreme southern tip of Florida is swampy, tidal, and mangrove islands; a habitat of no-seeums, mosquitoes, reptiles, and wading birds. 

Mosquito Model
Rookery Bay Educational Center

 It is a difficult place for human survival without window screens and bug repellent.  As such it became the home of many Seminole Indians as the US government tried to eradicate them during the Seminole Indian Wars, 1813-1838.  It took a strong people to survive in this environment.  

Cistern at the Rookery Bay Education Center

Imagine relying on this for fresh water!
You had no choice until the mid-1900s

As a result of mostly uninhabitable land the state of Florida and the US government own/manage vast tracks of acreage.  The Seminole Indians of Florida has vast holdings through reservations and land acquisition.  However, 'progress' is on the move as people move from cold climates to the buggy, hot, swampy south.  

Wading birds amid
the Mangrove Islands
 and mixed growth hammocks
amid the streams, bays, and canals

One managed sectoin is the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve comprising over 112,000 acres just west of the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. It is impossible to traverse southwest Florida and not pass through these areas.  If you are interested you can download the map (PDF) from here.

Mangrove Seeds
which drop to the water
float, sprout, and finally take root

Visiting the Educational Center explains the purpose of Rookery Bay and other National Estuarine Research Reserves. With interactive displays for both children and adults, films, nature trails, guided walks, canoe/kayak rentals, events, programs, and an information booth.  (note the mosquito above)

Invasive Acacia Tree
Quite harmful to our state
Banned in many areas of Florida

  We enjoyed walking the nature trails which were dry, a treat in swamp land, where many small flowers decorated the paths.  The trail wanders through early settler homesteads if you consider 1900-1920 early settlers.

Small flowers that brighten the
nature trails

Flowers that brighten the
nature trails

  A trip to the Rookery Bay Educational Center is worthwhile as it explains the work of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System and identifies their locations throughout Florida.  If nothing else, you will enjoy the exhibits, views, aquariums, and nature trail.

Pine cone on a pigeon plum tree?
Seems to have landed in a branch.

Spring Flowers at Collier-Seminole State Park

While the rest of the country is covered in snow or blanketed with cold air, the swamps of Florida are sprouting spring flowers.  

Swamp hike
where I captured most of these beauties.

A few of the lovely spring flowers you may find at Collier-Seminole State Park while hiking through the meadows and swamps. 

Tiny Orchid in the swamp area
Think I lost my car keys taking this photo!

Black-eyed Susie
with White Bushy Aster

 Sounds lovely and it is but you had best view them before the mosquitoes hatch and the infamous Florida bugs become active... which means January-March, the snow bird season.

Cone Flower

Resurrection Fern on an oak stump

 Enjoy these small beauties that often are no bigger than a quarter or half-dollar.

Lovely small yellow blossom
Yellow Meadow Beauty 

Tiny white violet

 A few of the larger flowers..

Horrible Thistle
with bees

Horrible Thistle (white)
without bees

Button Bush

Milkweed

 To identify the flowers I used the book, National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida which is a good overview to Florida nature and fits in a large pocket.  It usually has a photo and description of the common birds, mammals, reptiles, flowers, trees, fish, butterflies, and other miscellaneous information.

Delicate Orchid
could not identify

Another un-named beauty

Swampy Times: Collier-Seminole State Park

 Florida has been a bit wet this winter and so the ground everywhere is soggier than usual including Southwest Florida. 

Yes, this is Marg the Swamp Hiker

We left the Miami area and headed west to Collier-Seminole State Park, a bit east of the Ft. Myers area. The park is home to "The Bay City" Walking Dredge, several trails, and several canoe trails through mangrove islands to the Gulf of Mexico.

Boardwalk on the Nature Trail

Historically the park is important as the Seminoles resisted and retreated to the area after the Third Seminole War. Soldiers searching for the Indians mapped the area, one map from 1857 illustrates the Blackwater River and an area labeled “palm grove.”  (https://www.floridastateparks.org/park-history/Collier-Seminole)

A lovely 6.5 mile hiking trail
better without all the water

Thanks to the Florida Trail Association
the trail is walk-able... with good boots
Imagine the Seminole's trek through the swamps

The park was originally created by Barron Gift Collier to preserve the royal palm trees after finding them in the 1920s.  Collier was an advertising tycoon and pioneer developer, who purchased nearly a million acres in southwest Florida. To preserve the palms he donated to the Collier County and in 1947 it went to the State of Florida.  Barron Collier was a major investor in developing the Collier County section of the Tampa-to-Miami highway, the Tamiami Trail. (https://www.floridastateparks.org/park-history/Collier-Seminole)

Dredge on "The Bay City"
Walking Dredge

 "The Bay City" Walking Dredge is an amazing machine which was used to complete at least 10 miles of the Tamiami Trail, the first road to connect Miami and Ft. Myers. 

Engine for "The Bay City"
Walking Dredge

Amazing engineering on "The Bay City"
Walking Dredge

Canoeing is the way to see the Blackwater River which passes through mangrove tunnels, mangrove islands, stands of hardwood hammocks and ends at the Gulf of Mexico.  Blackwater River ranges from brackish streams to saltwater and allows access to Mud Bay which is impassable on low tide.

Mangrove Islands dot the horizon

Fortunately, we had the time to paddle the main fork of the Blackwater River one day and make the trip to Mud Bay on another day.  The river contains the typical wading birds, hawks, osprey, and fish.  Along the way you may encounter a few alligators or crocodiles as we did.  

Wading birds awaiting dinner

The trip to  Mud Bay was special as you need to time the trip with the incoming tide.  Luckily the tide was in our favor and we arrived at the north end of the bay to watch the water rush in and cover the mud banks transforming the muck into a lovely ankle deep bay.  During the hour or so it took to cover the mud we were able to park the canoe on a mud bar and wander along the bars observing the birds, fish, and crabs.  It is a wonderful paddle and worth the extra planning.

Everglades Bluegrass Festival: The Good, The Rain, and The Ugly

When we lived in south Florida we randomly attended the South Florida Bluegrass Association's Sunday festivals.  However, Bill was a dedicated member for many years long before meeting me and has lasting friendships from his experiences.  

Tom capturing the Jammers on stage
during the afternoon rain storm

It just happened that the annual Everglades Bluegrass Festival was the weekend after Virginia Key Grassroots, Feb 27-March 1.  We figured, let's wrap up our Miami experience with a day/night at the festival to visit friends and relax. 

Our home on that overcast morning

It was an overcast day but we weren't going to let the rain stop us so we headed to Greynolds Park for the day and stay the night.  We arrived and set-up the house for the evening and then began visiting friends and meeting new folks. 

Yes, it did rain buckets all afternoon
making a damp evening

 About 11 AM we strolled to the main stage for the first act and the rain arrived... I opted to retreat to the trailer and play my banjo (old-time style).  The rain continued but we ventured out when the Old-Time Jammers began to play on stage.

Old-Time Jammers
We played with them for almost 10 years
Great to see them perform!

Finally in the evening the rain let up for the big name groups and we were fortunate to see our friend Serge perform with the hard core Bluegrass bands.  Serge is a talented Bluegrass and Clawhammer banjo player who studied with Mark Johnson to learn Clawgrass.  Look for him to take Clawgrass to the next level.

Serge Bjokin
Clawgrass demonstration

The evening performances were professional, varied, and memorable.  We returned to our home (trailer) in good spirits only to find someone broke into the trailer through a window and stole our banjos and a guitar.  Now they could have taken the smaller, less expensive instruments but didn't.  They took our prized and frequently played instruments!  

Banjo and Guitar
Old Friends now missing

I have plastered the Internet with notices and can only hope they will be found.  As expected the Miami-Dade Police Department has bigger fish to fry so our case is slowly chugging through the channels mired in the mounds of paperwork.  

But still this is important to us... so here is what we lost (plus accessories)

Guitar: Huss & Dalton, CM Custom SN 721

Banjo: Cedar Mountain, A model, SN 217

Banjo: Cedar Mountain, L1 model, SN 282

If you encounter them... please contact me.

Now, Sunday morning we awoke with heavy hearts but hope, sunshine, and friendship.  Looking at life on the bright side, we enjoyed the time with friends and can now shop for new instruments.

Luz, Marvin, Bill
Marvin and Bill, friends for over 30 years