The Watery Heart of Florida

My friend and I made another and this time slower trip down to West Palm Beach. I'm happy to say that the Atlantic Ocean continues to surge ashore in Palm Beach County. The Gulf of Mexico still flows under the magnificent Sunshine Skyway bridge into Tampa Bay.

Lake Okeechobee I'm not so sure about. In two trips, we have yet to glimpse the full expanse of the 730 square mile lake. Surrounded by a 30 foot dike after a devastating 1928 hurricane, the Lake lies hidden from view for most of its circumference.

We stopped at the Clewiston boat launch and climbed to the levee's top, expecting to see miles and miles of big water. No luck, the view was blocked by huge grassy islands dredged up by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Driving home Sunday, we passed through the town of Okeechobee on the Lake's north shore. Friends said the Lake's vastness could be enjoyed from the town fishing pier. Lake Okeechobee is a natural wonder of Florida and headwaters for the mysterious River of Grass, the Everglades. The only mystery we found was a total lack of directions or advertisements for the Lake.

After driving up and down country roads, we gave up and continued west into the flat belly of Florida. Once home, Google Maps informed me that we were only two turns away from the road to the Lake. The big watery heart of the state lies contained, waiting for our return or perhaps a Catagory 5 visitor.

Life in the Urbs

Pinellas County, with 910,260 residents packed into 280 square miles, is Florida’s most densely populated urban area. Yet, here among the locals and seasonal snow-birds lives a surprising variety of other wild fauna.

Ospreys, large fish hawks, have made a remarkable comeback in only twenty years. Now there are so many of these spectacular raptors that coastal cities have begun building nesting platforms. I hear their keening cry even now outside my window.

Development near the Everglades pushed hundreds of wood storks northward in search of unpolluted water and isolated nesting sites. Magnificent in flight, storks on land shuffle along, hunched over like old men at the mall.

Alligators have gotten the most press, for there remains something scary primeval about the aquatic reptiles. Having been on the threatened list for much of the 20th Century, gators today are mostly protected and roam Pinellas lakes and back yards.

The latest critter to take up residence here is the coyote, and there is nowhere a more resourceful animal. Western ranchers and the US government tried to eliminate them, so the opportunistic creatures simply moved east. Coyotes get along fine in urban areas, stealing pet-food and garbage from back yards. They prefer those for which the food was intended, and given a chance, will snatch unwary pets.

Kenneth Clark, late eminent historian, would look on all this as Natura naturens – nature being nature, and advise us to enjoy living with such a rich diversity all around. Oh, and don’t let Fido out from 6-8 in the morning.

Florida Artist Group

The Florida Artist Group (FLAG) was incorporated as a non-profit organization of practicing artists in 1949. Made up of artists whose work has attained national or state-wide recognition, the purpose of the group is to stimulate attainment of the highest standards of creative art within the State of Florida.

I've recently had the honor of being accepted into FLAG and look forward to participating in exhibitions and meeting a great group of artists. The next exhibition will be at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs, May 3-July 19.

Greetings From Florida

Hello,

This is the first post of my "approved for general audiences" art blog, and I must say, it's been a learning experience for this old Florida artist. I've been dragged kicking and screaming into the new technology, but finally, have managed to land on my feet.

If anyone should happen on these simple beginnings and care to return in the future, I promise they will see some remarkable art.

Thanks,
Denis