Some Ichetucknee Memories

While I am in transit from one house to another and getting internet connections restored, I have scheduled today and tomorrow's blog-posts to post on their own.  I thought it would be nice to see some old photos of some of my favorite places and experiences from the parks that I have worked at before we head into everything new.  Here are some of my favorite photos from Ichetucknee Springs State Park.  I have quite a few photos of the Ichetucknee Headspring.  It is my favorite place in the world to swim.  I have seen so many beautiful moments in and around this spring.


I love when Cardinal Flower blooms right next to the water around the spring.  The red is so vibrant against the blues and greens around it.


Red Ludwigia is another bright red plant near the spring, but this one grows underwater.  I really enjoy snorkeling in the Headspring and watching the fish swim in and out of all the underwater plants.


Some of my favorite spots in the park are a little lesser known.  There are many different springs that flow into the Ichetucknee River within the park.  The spring at Mill Pond really appears to boil as the water bubbles to the surface.  I can assure you though, it is just as cold as other Florida Springs.


The Cedar Head Spring is a very quiet oasis deep in the woods.  I have only seen it twice.  It was just as beautiful both times.


The Devil's Eye Spring is a stunning place.  An Oak branch stretches out over the water further than it seems possible.  The branch is directly over the mouth of the spring and the bluest part of the spring.  I realized when I was looking through my photos that I have a picture of almost every one of my immediate family members near this tree and not a single photo of just the tree and the spring.  Its funny that the view that I try to share most often is one that I have never photographed.  This is one of my sisters at Devil's Eye.


There is more than water at Ichetucknee.  I helped to burn hundreds and hundreds of acres at Ichetucknee throughout 4 1/2 years.  Each one was a different experience, it was all exciting.


I am sorry that I won't be here for one more season of wildflowers on the road sides.  The long country roads that I drive down become covered in dense blankets of color in the spring.  Every once in a while, there will be a whole pasture covered as well.  These tiny wildflowers are called Coreopsis and they are the Florida State Wildflower.  They grow plentifully and densely in a sea of yellow.