Bayou, my favorite otter, was my pal and colleague for more than a decade. “I smell like otter!” It was like 30 years ago—the memories flooded in from this long-forgotten olfactory immersion. …

By Lauri deGaris Mayhaw harvesting. Mayhaw is a variety of hawthorn tree noted for slender branches with long, straight, sharp thorns and tart fruit. In the spring the tree blossoms with beautiful, …

I knew that if I stopped by the exhibition hall for the Wild Amelia event at the Atlantic Avenue Recreation Center I would have something to write about. As it turned out, it was a fun reunion for me …

By Pat Foster-Turley It was Bucko’s birthday yet again, and yet again he didn’t want to celebrate it in any way. Birthdays, holidays - bah, humbug from old Bucko. But for nearly 50 years I’ve …

By Pat Foster-Turley It’s no surprise to my readers that whenever I travel, food is always on my mind. Well, actually, food is usually on my mind—just ask Bucko. But on our recent stay in Belize, …

By Mike Lednovich A disc golf group pitching Simmons Road Park property as the site for an 18-hole disc course got the green light at Tuesday's Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) meeting …

By Pat Foster-Turley I’ve been to Monkey River Village three times now, each time better than before, but this time was exceptionally wonderful. The village of maybe 175 people (or less) is only …

By Pat Foster-Turley Dosinia shells in a bucket collected from Little Talbot Island. Lots of people collect seashells, and if you are from the inland somewhere you might be thrilled at the seashells …

By Lauri deGaris April 19 marked the end of the 2022-2023 right whale calving season. To celebrate the arrival of these precious and rare whales, Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors threw a “Whale Baby …

By Shari Roan Along with the maritime forest, Amelia Island is best known among nature lovers for its beautiful beaches and dune system. With 13 miles of beaches, keeping our beaches free of trash is …

By Pat Foster-Turley I must confess that sometimes I respond too quickly to emails without really studying them. I am always pleased when people send me emails with nature questions and this happens …

By Lauri deGaris Blueberries are native to North America and can be found in every state. Historically, blueberries have been harvested for various uses over thousands of years. Indigenous people …

By Pat Foster-Turley April 14, 2023 Jim Allessandra harvested some fresh lettuce for me. Photo by Pat F-T. It started out as a simple visit to the Nassau Humane Society, where I was headed to …

By Lauri deGaris North Florida’s beaches are made up of three common types of sand grains: light minerals, heavy minerals and shell fragments. Quartz and feldspar eroded from the Appalachian …

By Pat Foster-Turley April 6, 2023 Bald eagles have three nests on Amelia Island. Bald eagles are everywhere these days, or so it seems. There was a time, not so long ago when bald eagles were in …

By Lauri deGaris The Okefenokee Swamp is a unique freshwater ecosystem providing nearly a half-million acres of refuge for nature and nature lovers alike. The Okefenokee Swamp gives birth to the St. …

By Pat Foster-Turley March 31, 2023 Louise is a regular fixture in our water aerobics class. When I enter the pool for my deep-water aerobics class I am greeted by all my pool buddies—some of these …

By Pat Foster-Turley March 24, 2023 I often wonder where all the wildlife in our area gets drinking water. Sadly most of the available surface water on Amelia Island is contained in retention ponds …

EDITOR’S NOTE: Many Nassau County residents don’t know that St. Marys Riverkeeper, as part of a 15-member network of Riverkeeper organizations in Florida, is responsible for monitoring waterways …

By Pat Foster-Turley March 17, 2023 Both of my garden beds. I’ve been gardening in my backyard for 20-some years here but each year I never fail to make new mistakes. I’ve learned that rabbits …