Life before lawns, South Florida.

There might be a bird in this photo, but I did not see it.

We walked the Hawk’s Bluff Trail in the quiet southeastern corner of Savannas Preserve State Park, Jensen Beach, yesterday late morning. It was hot and still.

The trail comes down to a cool view over the wetlands, now in their full summer wetness. A Little Blue Heron flew by.

Fragrant water lilies, Nymphaea odorata, aka American white water lilies were blooming.

Red dragonfly perched nearby. Maybe an autumn meadowhawk?

I’ve seen a lot of dragonflies lately, eating mosquitoes and gnats I hope!

Savannas Preserve State Park provides a representative sample of a basin marsh that extended throughout Southern Florida  prior to the rapid suburban sprawl.

Lilies and lily pads.

Partridge pea and a palmetto.

Partridge pea wildflowers appear in summer and fall in most places but year-round in South Florida.

Red-winged Blackbird at the wetland’s edge.

The trails are mainly (hot) white sand, but not too soft. You just have to watch out for snakes.

Savannas Preserve protects southeast Florida’s largest freshwater marsh.

Little Blue Heron wading at water’s edge.