Reflections on the "Real Florida"
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| Family and friends at the "jumping" tree at Fisheating Creek in Glades County. Photo by Helen Woodmansee, ca 1975. |
FNPS members recently received my letter describing childhood adventures in South Florida's outdoors – memorable experiences made possible thanks to preserved lands and my parents' initiative. I dug up some photos of these family trips to share with you. The quality of these photos is not the greatest - they were scanned from prints - but many readers probably have photos like these (maybe even older!) and can relate to a time without cell phones, the Internet or cable television.
At this time of year, we are grateful for our families, and also organizations like FNPS, which works every day, through grassroots volunteer members, to preserve, conserve and restore the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. As I said in my letter, my childhood experiences led me to being part of FNPS, because I believed in the mission before I even knew there was an FNPS.
You know FNPS, our mission and the many great things we do, described on this blog. I hope you share my gratitude and will consider donating now to the Florida Native Plant Society's Annual Fund Drive. We appreciate any contribution of any size, and donations are fully tax deductible.
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| Woodmansee clan just outside our Dodge Camper, which we took all over Florida. I'm the little guy on the left in the green shirt and swimsuit. Site locale is somewhere in the Florida Keys (Bahia Honda State Park?). Photo by Ralph Woodmansee (father), circa 1976 |
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| Sister Helen, Brother Marc, and a partial of my mother "Jo". The inside of the camper was a nice respite from rainy days, many good times were had, and many board and card games were played (and much teasing). Photo by Ralph Woodmansee, circa 1976. |
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| My mother, who seemed to have a fashion all of her own. Photo by Ralph Woodmansee, circa 1976 |
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| Me, at 8 years old, fishing in the Florida Bay, America Outdoors Campground, Key Largo. I remember witnessing in the water, not far from there, a large hermit crab using a beer can for its shell while we were netting Florida Pink Shrimp some winter night. Photo by ???, circa 1979. |
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| Me on my 10th Birthday at America Outdoors Campground. Yes, that is a Mr. Bill shirt. Photo by??, 1981. |
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| Squirrel in the subtropical trees of Key Largo. An early attempt to connect with nature with limited technology. Photo by Steve Woodmansee, 1981. |
Thank you,
Steve Woodmansee, President
Florida Native Plant Society
Click to donate: https://www.fnps.org/secure/annualdonation.php
Click to read Steve's original letter: http://www.fnps.org/committees/fnps/pdfs/fnpsannfundletterfinalpress.pdf
Comments
November 30, 2011 Tarflower Chapter Member
Let's all remember to include our children and theirs in our ventures into the woods; mother nature will do the rest. Amy Hines Loneleaf Chp
That's way cool that you also visited America Outdoors. It was a great place and time for being a kid. We only fished from the shore, but hiking up the rocky coastline, and snorkeling nearby was great fun. I recall first seeing the white morphs of the Great Blue Heron (legs and beak are yellow as opposed to the Great Egret, which are grey), and the huge diversity of hammock trees around the campground (we learned to stay away from the poisonwood). Our favorite place to camp was the one beachside on the SW part of the campground. I am happy that much of the Florida Keys is protected, however many places aren't visited as much, while others are darn right crowded. Thanks for your comment! Steve W.
I like your idea. We'll have to talk, and I'll mention it to both my folks ;) As it really was a team effort.
Steve
Karin Taylor