Spring in north Florida begins when bright pink blossoms appear on the Redbud trees hidden among the oak and pine trees which flourish here. Then the azalea bushes start showing off their large flowers of pink, white, or red, slowly at first, then more flowers appear until the bushes are in full bloom later in the month. One day robins appear, but they are just passing through on their way home to more northern parts. The weather warms up and nudges out the last days of dreary rain and cold.
One warm day last week was perfectly glorious. Pure white clouds sailed across a sea of brilliant blue, carried along by a breeze that kept the day from getting too hot. (The hot days will be coming soon, in May when summer pushes spring aside.) This glorious spring day last week nudged me outdoors. My more adventuresome daughter had a day off from work, and she was ready to explore, so my son and I went along for the ride.
Our adventure would lead us to Silver Glen Springs and to an old sinkhole where a few lonely dogwood trees bloomed on this glorious spring day.
One warm day last week was perfectly glorious. Pure white clouds sailed across a sea of brilliant blue, carried along by a breeze that kept the day from getting too hot. (The hot days will be coming soon, in May when summer pushes spring aside.) This glorious spring day last week nudged me outdoors. My more adventuresome daughter had a day off from work, and she was ready to explore, so my son and I went along for the ride.
Our adventure would lead us to Silver Glen Springs and to an old sinkhole where a few lonely dogwood trees bloomed on this glorious spring day.
A unique geological characteristic of the state of Florida is the Florida aquifer. Underneath the state lies a huge artesian aquifer, where groundwater flows between layers of impermeable rocks or clay. In areas of very high pressure, the groundwater breaks through this layer to the surface of the earth as a freshwater spring. There are over 700 springs in Florida.
"Floridan Aquifer USGS". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Silver Glen Springs is located in Ocala National Forest just off Highway 19 in Marion County. It is one of the primary springs which feed the St Johns River, the longest river in Florida. After its underground journey through the aquifer, over 65 million gallons of water a day flow from two caverns opening from the sandy bottom of the spring. Spanish moss draped trees and fan like palmetto palms are reflected back in the mirror of clear aqua blue spring waters.
After enjoying the beauty of Silver Glen Springs, we walked the nearby Yearling Trail through the desert like sand pine scrub, a unique plant community characterized by patches of white sand where hardy plants and evergreen shrubs grow, to the pine flatwoods, ecosystems which are maintained by fire.
The trail was named after the book, The Yearling, by Florida author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings who spent time with the last family to occupy this area over 75 years ago. In 1876 Reuben Long first built his homestead in a shady hammock of oak and pine surrounded by the arid Big Scrub. Over the years, a dozen or so settlers came and went. By 1933 only Calvin Long and his family were left. Known as "Pat's Island," this shady spot was the setting for many of the events depicted in the novel, from family stories told by Calvin Long.
The trail was named after the book, The Yearling, by Florida author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings who spent time with the last family to occupy this area over 75 years ago. In 1876 Reuben Long first built his homestead in a shady hammock of oak and pine surrounded by the arid Big Scrub. Over the years, a dozen or so settlers came and went. By 1933 only Calvin Long and his family were left. Known as "Pat's Island," this shady spot was the setting for many of the events depicted in the novel, from family stories told by Calvin Long.
We were the only ones on the trail and the quiet was broken only by our footsteps and laughter. A pesky bug buzzed around our heads for a few minutes at one point. We were glad when it finally left us alone. The sound of a bird's call caught my attention as two medium sized birds flew in some trees nearby. I saw a flash of blue wings and realized that the bird was a type of jay that I'd not seen before. We stopped to watch as one stuck its head into a hole in a tree before flying to another tree. I wonder if there was a nest and mother bird was looking for grubs in that hole.
The pair of birds seemed to be keeping an eye on us as we tried to get a closer look at them. One bobbed its head up and down while making an unusual rattling sound. Perhaps it was a warning call. Later I learned that this distinctive bird was the rare and endangered Florida Scrub Jay, which only lives in the oak scrub habitat of Florida. Seeing these beautiful scrub jays was another highlight of our day as we walked along the Yearling Trail.
The pair of birds seemed to be keeping an eye on us as we tried to get a closer look at them. One bobbed its head up and down while making an unusual rattling sound. Perhaps it was a warning call. Later I learned that this distinctive bird was the rare and endangered Florida Scrub Jay, which only lives in the oak scrub habitat of Florida. Seeing these beautiful scrub jays was another highlight of our day as we walked along the Yearling Trail.
The Florida Scrub Jay - to listen to its sound, click on the photo
We saw no other birds except the scrub jays at that particular point along the trail. Underfoot, the white sand trail contained a myriad pieces of sun bleached seashells, evidence of an earlier age when Florida was completely underwater. I picked up an almost perfect white shell and marveled to see evidence of the sea in this sandy sea of the Big Scrub. As we approached Pat's Island, we were shaded by a forest of pine and oak trees.
This is similar to what I see in my own backyard.
The Long Family cemetery is located on a short path just off a junction in the trail. We stopped for a moment to pay our respects to this hardy family of settlers. One young wife had died at the age of 24, perhaps in childbirth. One young daughter had died in a forest fire. Her brother had died while playing around fire. Danger was part of the daily lives of these families living in the scrub.The weathered stone markers where surrounded by a neat wooden fence in the silent pine forest. Each listed the names, birthdays and deaths of those who lived in that area so long ago. link for more info
Turning back to the trail junction, we headed towards another point of interest on the Yearling Trail - the sinkhole.
Above the Florida aquifer, a surficial aquifer system forms numerous caverns under a layer of permeable rock composed of limestone, clay, shells, and sand. In areas where this layer of rock dissolves to the point of collapse, a sinkhole forms.
The sides of this old sinkhole were too steep for me to navigate. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to climb up again if I ventured down. The remains of a rope seen could be seen hanging from the large curved tree on the left. It must have been great fun to swing from. My daughter and son were disappointed that the rope had been cut and was too high to reach anymore. I was pleasantly surprised to see two dogwood trees in bloom. These spring blooming trees aren't as common in Florida as they are elsewhere.
It was cool and breezy at the sinkhole. After enjoying this beautiful spot for awhile, it was time to head back the way we had come. As we left the shaded forest behind, blue skies beckoned us back to the trailhead. This time we noticed deer prints in part of the sandy path, pointing the way. The same pair of scrub jays called their goodbyes after us and our quiet walk along the Yearling Trail on this glorious spring day soon ended.
Thanks for stopping by!
~Debbie
~Debbie
