Fountain of Youth in Florida

The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted across the world for thousands of years, appearing in writings by Herodotus, the Alexander romance, and the stories of Prester John.  The legend became particularly prominent in the 16th century, when it became attached to the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, first Governor of Puerto Rico. Ponce de León was searching for the Fountain of Youth when he traveled to what is now Florida in 1513. Since then, the fountain has been frequently associated with Florida In St. Augustine. This ancient water fountain is located at Princess Preserve outside of St. Augustine.

"If Covered Bridges Could Talk"

"What stories could these bridges tell
If they could only talk?
They'd tell us of the ones who rode
And those who had to walk,
The rich, the poor....those in-between
Who used their planks to cross,
The soldiers, farmers, businessmen
In buggies, sleighs, by "hoss",
Like sentinels these bridges stand
In spite of flood and fire,
Their rugged, stalwart strength remains
Our future to inspire."

 

Untitled, Author unknown

Wetland Grass

 

Some of the different types of grass in the marsh.  There is so much of it but no bugs bothered me! Many different shades of green and brown.

Butterfly Warrior Wings

 

There is nothing unique about the appearance of this small butterfly except she was battled scarred and alone deep in the marsh.  Her wings were torn from wear and tear among the bushes and you knew she will soon be on her last flight. She has bravely survived the harsh elements of Hurricane Sandy's winds and rain and now the heat beating down on her delicate wings. A brave little butterfly hanging on. Only I could feel sorry for an insect!

Swamp Palm Tree

 

I really like how the Palm Tree curved its trunk to reach the sunrays from the swamp. How did the spanish explorers walk through this muddy, swampy ground to setup a colony?

Spanish Moss Covered Ground

Spanish moss covered the ground throughout the woods on Hominy Branch Trail.  It really looked like dirty cotton balls everywhere.  It has such an unusual appearance. I like the way the morning sun created shadows of the trees falling across the moss.

Sand, Mud Holes and Swamp

Took a 3.5 mile hike down Hominy Branch Trail at Princess Place Preserve. I walked on bridges that crossed over a swamp until reaching a long trail of white sand.  Sand is more difficult to walk on then walking on  a normal mountain trail.  Your shoes sink into the sand and you have to make extra effort to pulled your feet out of the sinking footprints. The sun starting beating down on my head and the white sand reflected the heat. It was a whammy of double heat! After the sand, then it was wet marshland and the trail became muddy.  Mud is also a challenge to pull your shoes out of of sinking mud holes.  Of  course the horses left their evidence in the mud and you had to be careful where you stepped in the mud! The mud really weighs down your feet and legs. The trail was a challenge in the hot Florida climate.

'Eleonora' - A River of Silence

“From the dim regions beyond the mountains at the upper end of our encircled domain, there crept out a narrow and deep river, brighter than all save the eyes of Eleonora; and, winding stealthily about in mazy courses, it passed away, at length, through a shadowy gorge, among hills still dimmer than those whence it had issued. We called it the "River of Silence"; for there seemed to be a hushing influence in its flow. No murmur arose from its bed, and so gently it wandered along, that the pearly pebbles upon which we loved to gaze, far down within its bosom, stirred not at all, but lay in a motionless content, each in its own old station, shining on gloriously forever.”
― Edgar Allan Poe, Eleonora

A "Huckaberry Finn" River

"We catched fish and talked, and we took a swim now and then to keep off sleepiness. It was kind of solemn, drifting down the big, still river, laying on our backs looking up at the stars, and we didn't ever feel like talking loud, and it warn't often that we laughed—only a little kind of a low chuckle. We had mighty good weather as a general thing, and nothing ever happened to us at all—that night, nor the next, nor the next."
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Huck and Jim, Chapter 12.

Reflections of "Red River Valley"

 

 

 

Red River Valley

From this valley they say you are going.

We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,

For they say you are taking the sunshine

That has brightened our pathway a while.

So come sit by my side if you love me.

Do not hasten to bid me adieu.

Just remember the Red River Valley,

And the one that has loved you so true.

Red River Valley is a folk song and cowboy music standard of controversial origins that has gone by different names—e.g., "Cowboy Love Song", "Bright Sherman Valley", "Bright Laurel Valley", "In the Bright Mohawk Valley", and "Bright Little Valley"—depending on where it has been sung.

'All Day I Hear the Noise of Waters" by James Joyce

All Day I hear the Noise of Waters

All day I hear the noise of waters
Making moan,
Sad as the sea-bird is when, going
Forth alone,
He hears the winds cry to the water's
Monotone.

The grey winds, the cold winds are blowing
Where I go.
I hear the noise of many waters
Far below.
All day, all night, I hear them flowing
To and fro.

James Joyce (2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941 / Dublin / Ireland)

Pogo:"We have met the enemy and he is us"

The animal characters Walt Kelly created for his classic newspaper comic strip Pogo were known for their seemingly simplistic, but slyly perceptive comments about the state of the world and politics.

None is more remembered than Pogo the ‘possum’s quote in the poster Kelly designed to help promote environmental awareness and publicize the first annual observance of Earth Day, held on April 22, 1970:
“WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US.”
In the poster, under the quote, Pogo is seen holding a litter pick-up stick and a burlap bag.
He appears to be getting ready to start cleaning up the garbage humans have strewn over Okefenokee Swamp, the part of the planet where he lives.
Kelly used the line again in the Pogo strip published on the second Earth Day in 1971.
The words poignantly highlight a key concept of environmental stewardship: we all share part of the responsibility for the trashing of planet Earth, so we should all do our share to help clean it up.