Florida Spectacular

Send us your Florida questions!Chelsea Folmar, Director of Land Protection, with Conservation Florida, joins the podcast to talk about monarch butterflies. Links We MentionedAtala butterfliesFlorida Spectacular episode about milkweed for monarchsSource for native milkweedMore about the coontie palmFlorida Mycological SocietyChelsea's Top Five Places To See Butterflies in FloridaAmelia Island (fall/winter for monarchs)Jonathan Dickinson State Park (summertime/winter)St. George Island State Park (any time of year)Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park (summertime)Lyonia (February-April for tarflower) Support the showQuestion or comment? Email us at [email protected] to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!Sandra Friend and Chris Stevens, authors of Hiker's Guide to the Sunshine State, join the podcast to talk about their favorite Florida hikes, the best places to hike in Florida, and a nasty little tick wreaking havoc on hikers.Links We MentionedFlorida HikesGreen Mountain near ApopkaFlorida Madcaps PodcastAlpha-galSandra's Substack post about Alpha-gal How to protect your hiking clothes with permetherin Chris and Sandra's Best HikesBest place to hike with small children: Orlando WetlandsBest place to hike for people who like to hike out west: Steephead ravines like those found at Goldhead Branch State Park and Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines PreserveBest beach hike: St. Joseph Peninsula State ParkBest place to hike to view rarely seen wildlife: Lyonia Preserve for scrub jaysBest place to hike if you're training to hike the AT for best elevation gain: Jennings State Forest or Teneroc (also hike: Alafaya River State Park) Support the showQuestion or comment? Email us at [email protected] to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!Jason Garcia joins the podcast to talk about the real cost of Amendment Three passing.Links We MentionedSeeking Rents Support the showQuestion or comment? Email us at [email protected] to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!Mark Barrow joins the podcast to talk about his new book, Gator!, available now. Links We MentionedUrban Legend of the Mini-LightsMark's Substack: Wild HistoryAlligator and Alligator AlcatrazMark's Places To Gator-Watch SafelyMyakka River State Park (drive to the bridge)Payne's Prairie State Preserve State Park Support the showQuestion or comment? Email us at [email protected] to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!Inspired by the cooler weather — well, cooler for Florida! — Rick and Cathy talk about Florida's passionate college football scene. Links We MentionedServant of the Bones by Anne RiceCoalition of Immokalee WorkersFearsome Creatures of FloridaUniversity of Tampa football (historic)Rick and Cathy's Top Five Favorite Florida Sports ThingsTom Petty played at UF games between 3rd and 4th quarterFSU's partnership with the Seminole Tribe of FloridaUCF Space WeekReitz UnionUSF Tampa architectureHonorary least-favorite Florida college sports thing: New College's Mighty BanyansSupport the showQuestion or comment? Email us at [email protected] to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!Steve Barlow, a former US Fish and Wildlife Services wildlife biologist pilot and co-host Palm and Pine podcast, joins the podcast to talk about one of the least-known Florida critters.Links We MentionedNative Tongue by Carl HiaasenFlorida salt marsh voleFlorida bonneted batPodcast about fossils near SuwanneeSteve-Approved Bat HouseWant a bat house Steve built? Reach out to him at [email protected] or buy one here.Support the Palm and Pine on Patreon.Top Places To See Bats and Bat Houses in FloridaMicanopy Post Office and ballfieldsWater Works Park in TampaNewberry Road, west of Jonesville, at West End Animal HospitalUniversity of Florida bat housesImage courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceSupport the showQuestion or comment? Email us at [email protected] to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!Ryan Worthington grew up in Florida's State Parks and loves Florida's wild spaces. And he's the subject of an FWC investigation — but no one will tell him why.Links We MentionedCraig Pittman's reporting on the secret investigation Ryan Worthington on InstagramRyan's Top Five Things To Do in and Near Green Cove SpringsOcala National Forest — Salt Springs, Alexander Springs, Juniper Springs, Silver Glen Springs and othersSpring Park in Green Cove SpringsPayne's Prairie Preserve State Park — Rim Ramble Saturdays at 10 a.m. in cooler monthsBig Talbot Island State ParkSafe Harbor Seafood (Take the ferry)Odd Todd's Tacos in Salt SpringsSupport the showQuestion or comment? Email us at [email protected] to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!Jen Bannan, author of Tamiami Trail: Miami Stories, joins the podcast to talk about her book, Miami, and the Taimiami Trail.Links We MentionedJen Bannan's websiteMonroe StationBuy Tamiami Trail: Miami StoriesSupport the podcast!Five Things To Do in Miami that are Less "Miami"Everglades National ParkThe Pit BBQVizcayaLa CarretaCalle OchoCoral Gables Miracle MileThe BiltmoreCrandon Park Support the showQuestion or comment? Email us at [email protected] to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!Rick and Cathy talk about what it costs to live in paradise, whether they'd do it all over again, and what Florida's "brand" is.Links We MentionedScott Maxwell's column in the Orlando Sentinel (note: this link is behind a paywall)Nine Nations of North America Support the showQuestion or comment? Email us at [email protected] to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!Doctor Tom Hoctor joins the podcast to talk about the Florida Wildlife Corridor's origins, how money flows to conservation lands, and how people can learn more. Then they talk Florida birds and birding.Links We MentionedFlorida Wildlife CorridorFlorida Ecological Greenways NetworkFlorida ForeverCenter for Landscape and Conservation PlanningHub for the maps at Center for Landscape and Conservation PlanningWild Waters at The Harn Tom's Top Five Birds to See in FloridaFlorida scrub jayPainted buntingsSwallow-tailed kitesLimpkinTom's Nemesis Bird: Mangrove cuckooSupport the showQuestion or comment? Email us at [email protected] to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!