The WFSU Ecology Blog
  • Home
    • About
    • EcoAdventures
      • Kayak and Canoe Adventures
      • Hiking
      • Wildlife Watching
    • WFSU Public Media Home
  • Documentaries
    • EcoCitizen Show | Seasons in South Tallahassee
    • Red Wolf Family Celebrates First Year at the Tallahassee Museum
    • Roaming the Red Hills
    • Oyster Doctors
    • Testing the Ecology of Fear
    • EcoShakespeare
    • Stories from the Apalachicola
    • Classic WFSU Ecology Documentaries
  • Habitats
    • Estuaries
      • Oyster Reef
        • The Effects of Predators and Fear on Oyster Reefs
        • Apalachicola Oyster Research
        • Animal Species in a North Florida Intertidal Oyster Reef
        • Oyster Reef Ecology | On the Reef
      • Salt Marsh
        • In the Grass- Salt Marsh Biodiversity Study
        • Plants and Animals of a North Florida Salt Marsh
        • Salt Marsh Ecology | In the Grass
      • Seagrass Bed
        • Predatory Snails, and Prey, of the Bay Mouth Bar Seagrass Beds
      • In the Grass, On the Reef Glossary
    • Waterways Big and Small
      • Apalachicola Basin
        • Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines | Virtual Field Trip
        • The Age of Nature Screening & Discussion | The Future of the Apalachicola
        • Apalachicola RiverTrek | Kayaking, Camping, & Hiking the River Basin
        • Apalachicola River and Bay
      • Aucilla/ Wacissa Watershed
    • Longleaf Pine & Fire Ecology
  • Backyard Habitat
    • Backyard Blog
      • The Backyard Bug Blog 2018
      • Backyard Blog January 2019
      • Backyard Blog February 2019
      • Backyard Blog March 2019
      • Backyard Blog May 2019
      • Backyard Blog April 2019
      • Backyard Blog June 2019
      • Backyard Blog July 2019
      • Backyard Blog August 2019
      • Backyard Blog September 2019
      • Backyard Blog October through December 2019
      • Backyard Blog January 2020
      • Backyard Blog February and March 2020
      • Backyard Blog April 2020
      • Backyard Blog May 2020
      • Backyard Blog June 2020
      • July and August 2020 Backyard Blog
      • Backyard Blog September/ October 2020
      • Backyard Blog November/ December 2020
      • Backyard Ecology Blog | 2021
    • Backyard Flora and Fauna
      • Bees of North Florida and South Georgia
      • Woody Vines of North Florida
    • Florida Friendly Seasonal Planting Guide
    • Pollinator and Gardening Posts
    • Gardening Web Resources
Kayak and Canoe Adventures
Chipola River Paddling Trail | The Ovens and...
Kayaking Bald Point | Adventure on a Living...
Wacissa Springs Adventure | Kayaking a Wild Florida...
A Geologist’s View of the Apalachicola River |...
Upper Chipola River Kayak Adventure | Ghosts &...
Tate’s Hell & the Apalachicola River Delta |...
Kayak Scouting Mission on the Ochlockonee Water Trail
Merritt’s Mill Pond | Kayaking and Spring Caves
Kayaking the Apalachicola River with my Four-Year-Old Son
Canoeing the Aucilla: A Red Hills River Steeped...

The WFSU Ecology Blog

  • Home
    • About
    • EcoAdventures
      • Kayak and Canoe Adventures
      • Hiking
      • Wildlife Watching
    • WFSU Public Media Home
  • Documentaries
    • EcoCitizen Show | Seasons in South Tallahassee
    • Red Wolf Family Celebrates First Year at the Tallahassee Museum
    • Roaming the Red Hills
    • Oyster Doctors
    • Testing the Ecology of Fear
    • EcoShakespeare
    • Stories from the Apalachicola
    • Classic WFSU Ecology Documentaries
  • Habitats
    • Estuaries
      • Oyster Reef
        • The Effects of Predators and Fear on Oyster Reefs
        • Apalachicola Oyster Research
        • Animal Species in a North Florida Intertidal Oyster Reef
        • Oyster Reef Ecology | On the Reef
      • Salt Marsh
        • In the Grass- Salt Marsh Biodiversity Study
        • Plants and Animals of a North Florida Salt Marsh
        • Salt Marsh Ecology | In the Grass
      • Seagrass Bed
        • Predatory Snails, and Prey, of the Bay Mouth Bar Seagrass Beds
      • In the Grass, On the Reef Glossary
    • Waterways Big and Small
      • Apalachicola Basin
        • Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines | Virtual Field Trip
        • The Age of Nature Screening & Discussion | The Future of the Apalachicola
        • Apalachicola RiverTrek | Kayaking, Camping, & Hiking the River Basin
        • Apalachicola River and Bay
      • Aucilla/ Wacissa Watershed
    • Longleaf Pine & Fire Ecology
  • Backyard Habitat
    • Backyard Blog
      • The Backyard Bug Blog 2018
      • Backyard Blog January 2019
      • Backyard Blog February 2019
      • Backyard Blog March 2019
      • Backyard Blog May 2019
      • Backyard Blog April 2019
      • Backyard Blog June 2019
      • Backyard Blog July 2019
      • Backyard Blog August 2019
      • Backyard Blog September 2019
      • Backyard Blog October through December 2019
      • Backyard Blog January 2020
      • Backyard Blog February and March 2020
      • Backyard Blog April 2020
      • Backyard Blog May 2020
      • Backyard Blog June 2020
      • July and August 2020 Backyard Blog
      • Backyard Blog September/ October 2020
      • Backyard Blog November/ December 2020
      • Backyard Ecology Blog | 2021
    • Backyard Flora and Fauna
      • Bees of North Florida and South Georgia
      • Woody Vines of North Florida
    • Florida Friendly Seasonal Planting Guide
    • Pollinator and Gardening Posts
    • Gardening Web Resources
Apalachicola River and BayLongleaf Pine & Fire EcologyPlants- From Wildflowers to Longleaf Pine

The Age of Nature on WFSU, and on the Apalachicola

by Rob Diaz de Villegas September 15, 2020
by Rob Diaz de Villegas September 15, 2020 0 comment
Click to subscribe to the WFSU Ecology Blog

Water levels in the Panama Canal and deforestation in the Chagres River watershed. The migration of salmon and the health of trees and orcas in Washington State. Previewing the PBS special series Age of Nature, I’m finding stories that feel familiar. There might not be orcas in Apalachicola Bay, or salmon in the Apalachicola River, but there is an interplay between the river and bay here, and the ecosystems around them. Rivers are much more than the water that flows through them; that’s true in Florida, Washington, or Panama.

Last week I went out to the Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve with The Nature Conservancy and the Florida Native Plant Society. We were talking about plants; this is an area renowned for its plant diversity. It wasn’t surprising to learn about the ways in which animals benefit from native longleaf pine, grasses, shrubs, and wildflowers. But, also, we learned, if plants on bluffs high above the river have everything they need to thrive, they send ripples throughout the river system. They help move fresh water into the river and put sand on the beach at St. George Island. We’ll visit that part of the watershed next week with our third partner on this project, Apalachicola Riverkeeper.

The Age of Nature is about the human relationship to nature, and fixing our past mistakes. Through a grant from PBS, we’re exploring that relationship along the Apalachicola River basin. There may not be a region in our area with a tighter human connection to nature. A crippled oyster fishery and a timber industry wrecked by Hurricane Michael have illustrated this. Restored longleaf habitat alone won’t fix these problems. But it is one important component of this watershed.

Brian Pelc (The Nature Conservancy in Florida) holds up a wiregrass seed.  Wiregrass is one of our area's most ecologically important plants, and it requires fire to seed.
Brian Pelc (The Nature Conservancy in Florida) holds up a wiregrass seed. Wiregrass is one of our area’s most ecologically important plants, and it requires fire to seed.

Be a Part of the Discussion | The Age of Nature on WFSU

Join us for a series of television, radio, and Ecology Blog stories answering the questions at the heart of Age of Nature as they pertain to the Apalachicola River and Forgotten Coast. And then, on October 20, at 7 pm ET, join us for a screening and discussion. We’ll preview upcoming episodes of Age of Nature, and an all-star panel will talk about the future of this remarkable bio-region. The recording is now up- click the button to watch! Thanks to all of our panelists and attendees.

Age of Nature Screening & Discussion

Before that, we’re taking a virtual field trip to the Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines for middle and high school students. Edit October 7, 2020- Thanks to everyone who attended our field trip! Below is a recording, and additional resources for teachers.

Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Virtual Field Trip

We’ve covered the Apalachicola River basin for ten years. You can browse our previous stories here.

Lilly Anderson-Messec (Florida Native Plant Society) finds two rare plants growing side by side.  The flowers on the right belong to Florida calamint, which only grows in a handful of counties in north Florida and south Georgia.  On the left is Apalachicola rosemary, which is endemic to Liberty County, Florida.
Lilly Anderson-Messec (Florida Native Plant Society) finds two rare plants growing side by side. The flowers on the right belong to Florida calamint, which only grows in a handful of counties in north Florida and south Georgia. On the left is Apalachicola rosemary, which is endemic to Liberty County, Florida.

Curious about the images in the banner above? Scroll down for a description of each image.

About the Age of Nature

At this crucial turning point in our planet’s history, The Age of Nature brings together inspirational contributors, rare archive material and stunning imagery from around the world, to give us a deeper understanding of Nature and our place within it.

The series asks specific questions and answers them with three major stories that provide crucial insights into the dawn of The Age of Nature.

What have our past mistakes taught us about nature?

How is our understanding of nature changing the way we live?

As the challenges we face mount, where are we heading next?

The Chagres River Panama is the lifeblood of the world's greatest trade corridor - the Panama Canal. But this water only continues to flow thanks to the discovery of the secret role of the forest which is now a National Park.

EPISODE 1 – AWAKENING Wednesday, October 14 at 10 pm ET

Our awareness of Nature is growing. As we discover its role in our modern world and realize its true value, action is being taken to protect and restore it. This story is told by inspiring contributors who reveal the awakening of a new era.


Dr. Deborah Giles and her team studying orcas in the Salish Sea, Washington State

EPISODE 2 – UNDERSTANDING Wednesday, October 21 at 10 pm ET

A new understanding of the way Nature works is helping us find some surprising ways of fixing it. As our understanding deepens, we realize that everything is connected, and by helping to restore Nature we all benefit, humans and animals alike.


Madison Edwards swims above a coral reef near Belize.

EPISODE 3 – CHANGING Wednesday, October 28 at 10 pm ET

Our world is governed by the rules of Nature, and we are seeing it unleash its power. As global warming accelerates, it’s clear that restoring Nature is our only defense against an uncertain future. Are we ready to change our destiny?

Images in the banner

To create the banner above, I selected six images from across the Apalachicola watershed. From left to right, here is a description of each:

  • Gulf fritillary butterfly on the rare, Florida panhandle endemic Gholson’s blazingstar (Liatris gholsonii). On our shoot last week, Lilly Anderson-Messec spotted this on the rim of a steephead ravine.
  • A kayak trip through Graham’s Creek, in Tate’s Hell State Forest. Tupelo swamps such as these are an important source of nutrients for the Apalachicola Bay estuary.
  • Seeding wiregrass in a sandhill restoration site in Torreya State Park.
  • A closeup of the sand on a Saint Vincent Island beach. The island, and the other barrier islands surrounding Apalachicola Bay, were created by sand carried down the Apalachicola River. Before the construction of the Jim Woodruff Dam, that sand came from as far away as the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The river now scours sand from the river bottom for miles below the dam, and carries sand washed into the river from fire dependent sandhill ecosystems.
  • An Apalachicola oysterman pulls in a meager harvest. The Apalachicola oyster fishery is closing for five years to allow its diminished stock to replenish.
  • The eggs of an Apalachicola dusky salamander, found at the edge of a steephead stream. This animal is endemic to the Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines region.

Click to subscribe to the WFSU Ecology Blog

Facebook Comments
Age of NatureApalachicola Bluffs and RavinesWFSU News
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
Rob Diaz de Villegas

Rob Diaz de Villegas is a senior producer for WFSU-TV, covering outdoors and ecology. After years of producing the music program OutLoud, Rob found himself in a salt marsh with a camera, and found a new professional calling as well. That project, the National Science Foundation funded "In the Grass, On the Reef," spawned the award winning WFSU Ecology Blog. Now in its tenth year, the Ecology Blog recently wrapped its most ambitious endeavor, the EcoCitizen Project. Rob is married with two young sons, who make a pretty fantastic adventure squad.

previous post
Susan Cerulean’s New Book: I Have Been Assigned the Single Bird
next post
Fire, Sand, and Water in the Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines

Related Posts

Mistletoe | A Parasite for the Holidays (But...

December 19, 2019

Wewahitchka: Dead Lakes Kayaking and Tupelo Adventure

May 29, 2014

Paddling for Oysters

September 4, 2012

The Henslow’s Sparrow and the Ancient Longleaf Forest...

January 28, 2015

Black Mangroves: Strangers in a St. Joe Bay...

August 8, 2013

L. Kirk Edwards WEA in Tallahassee | an...

March 6, 2019

107 Miles to Go*

October 8, 2012

RiverTrek 2012 Part 2 | Apalachicola River Delta

November 19, 2012

RiverTrek Day 5: Homestretch

October 14, 2012

Video: Bradwell Bay Wilderness Hike- Night and Day

June 5, 2014

Search

Subscribe

Subscribe to receive more outdoor adventures, and an in depth look at our local forests and waterways by Email.

If you do not receive a verification e-mail, check your spam folder.

Category

Florida milkvetch

Florida milkvetch (Astragalus obcordatus) in the Munson Sandhills

When I test out a new camera, I usually head to a random spot in the Munson Sandhills and take a series of videos and photos. This small flower caught my eye, as almost nothing was in bloom. I identified it as Florida milkvetch (Astragalus obcordatus) in iNaturalist, and it was confirmed.
I then saw a photo of this plant in a Facebook group for native plant enthusiasts. It turns out this is kind of a rare plant, and one botanist went so far as to classify it as imperiled. It pays to keep your eyes down by your feet when walking in the sandhills.

WFSU-FM Environmental Stories

  • Lawmakers Look To Fund Environmental Projects Despite Budget Shortfalls
  • Florida Forest Service Warns Panhandle Communities Of Wildland Fire Threat
  • Controversial Wastewater Project In Wakulla Gets Public Hearing
  • FWC Considers Banning Commercial Sale Of Tegus, Green Iguanas
  • Bill To Create Florida Sea-Level Rise Task Force Passes First Committee

2021 Backyard Blog update- migratory birds and invasive plants

Cedar waxwings eating glossy privet berries.

Cedar waxwings eating glossy privet berries.

Twitter

Tweets by wfsuIGOR

iNaturalist

iNaturalist became a part of the WFSU Ecology Blog during the EcoCitizen Project in 2019.  Since then, we’ve used it to help identify the many plants and animals we see on our shoots.  And on the Backyard Blog, we show how it can be used to identify weeds and garden insects, to help figure out what’s beneficial or a possible pest.  Below is the iNaturalist profile belonging to WFSU Ecology producer Rob Diaz de Villegas.

iNaturalist.org

Thumb
View robdv’s observations »

Most Recent

  • Hiking the Aucilla Sinks | Geology of the Floridan Aquifer Uncovered
  • New WFSU Ecology Intern To Help Out at Lake Elberta
  • Florida and Georgia Head to the Supreme Court — Again — In Fight Over Water
  • The Case for Weeds, Our Unsung Florida Native Plants
  • Shorebirds in the Misty Morning | Surveying the St. Marks Refuge

Archives

September 2020
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
« Aug   Oct »

WFSU Ecology YouTube

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
  • Youtube

@2017 - PenciDesign. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by PenciDesign

test title

this is the info in my test popup.