The Trailblazer

   An Eastern Bluebird in winter plumage, eating the bright red berries of a Weeping Holly tree. Image by Ken Thomas. When picturing the native greenery of Florida, you’re mind may gravitate towards the exotic marsh rattlesnake master, the omnipresent palmetto, or the increasingly elusive Tampa Verbina. Rarely, do we consider the modest "dwarf" Yaupon holly, which lines our neighborhood sidewalks. This humble shrub is not only native to Florida, but it's also a naturally caffeinated plant with a rich history tied to traditional tea preparation. Hedge of Yaupon Holly by Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Yaupon holly exhibits a wide diversity in its growth habits and leaf characteristics, with varieties ranging from small trees to dense shrubs. One particularly unique type is the weeping Yaupon holly (Pendula), a variety that grows into an umbrella-shaped spectacle, adorned with vibrant red berries. The historical significance of the Yaupon holly stretches back thousands of years...

   As you ascend the mound path, slender red dragonflies buzz around tall stalks of muhly grass; the shell path underfoot is peppered with bright red and yellow blossoms of Gaillardia and Dune sunflowers, and you tread carefully to avoid crushing them. Upon reaching the summit, you see cabbage palms, winding ponds, and mangroves stretching out into the distance. Only the Tampa skyline, punctuating the horizon, serves as a reminder that you haven't traveled back through time. However, you are, in fact, standing in the heart of what was once a barren mining operation and fallow agricultural land, painstakingly transformed over decades into the  Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve through a collaborative restoration project. Downtown Tampa is visible on the horizon.   Situated in the sleepy southern town of Ruskin, Hillsborough County, Cockroach Bay has borne witness to some of the most significant cultural conflicts in American history and serves a vital existential purpose...

Florida is known for its unique geological history, which has made it a prime location for discovering and studying fossils. A fossil is the preserved remains or the impression of animals and plants that lived a very long time ago.  Fossils are not exactly the remains of the animal or plant itself- they are rocks! Bones, shells, feathers, and leaves can all become fossils. As a peninsula state surrounded by water, Florida has mostly been underwater for millions of years, resulting in the preservation of various marine creatures that existed during different geologic epochs. The state’s most famous fossils include dugongs, dire wolves, mammoths, horses, and giant land tortoises that date back to the Pleistocene period, which ended about 10,000 years ago. Most fossils are formed when a plant or animal dies and is rapidly buried in mud and silt. The soft parts of the plants and animals break down leaving the hard bones or shells behind. Over time, small particles called sediment b...