Despite how they were created. They are lovely. The falls are surrounded by lush gardens of lady palms (top right; Rhapis excelsa) and other exotic, tropical plants under a native canopy of live oak and sabal palms.
Follow Phillip
on instagram
on facebook
on twitter
on YouTube
Lady Palms
These palms appear in other parts of Florida but I hate to report that they are in no way native. They are also known as "Broadleaf Lady Palms," "Bamboo Palms, " or "The Lady Palm" but whatever you call them they likely originate in Taiwan and China though there are no known populations of this species surviving in the wild. Their low light and humidity tolerances make them a favorite in malls and offices. Their cold tolerance (to 15° F; -9° C) made them immensely popular for planting in Central Florida during early colonization by Europeans because of our then periodic freezing episodes (before climate change) in winter.
Because the plant reproduces by way of rhizomes, forming multi-stemmed clumps that reach enormous widths, they are often seen in places like Rainbow Springs where they were planted decades prior for ornamental purposes.
One of Florida’s largest springs, the headsprings of the Rainbow River originates in this beautiful 1,472- acre park. Rich in natural beauty and cultural history, it is also a popular spot for swimmers, kayakers, tubers and campers.
The largest of the waterfalls at Rainbow Springs is Rainbow Falls, above and below. The gardens and waterfalls are cultural assets that remain from the days when the headsprings were a private attraction. They have been renovated and replanted while preserving their historical significance. In early spring the entire headsprings area bursts into pinks, purples and whites with its famous azalea blooms. Nature trails meander into the park’s natural areas.
Above, Phillip with Rainbow Falls
The area surrounding Rainbow Springs has been inhabited by human cultures for at least 10,000 years. People we now call the Timucua lived here at the time of European contact. The city of Ocala is named after a nearby Timucuan village and chief called Ocale.
Pioneers first settled this area around the headsprings in 1839. By 1883, about 75 people lived in this agricultural community, which had a railroad station, sawmill, hotel, stores and a post office.
The Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve encompasses the entire length of the Rainbow River. The river begins at Rainbow Springs and empties into the Withlacoochee River, 5.7 miles to the south. Rainbow Springs is Florida's 4th largest spring with 72° F (22° C) waters year-round. The waters are home to 23 species of 15 genera and 7 families of fishes.
The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program perhaps goes furthest in its protections of the Rainbow River by recognizing and encouraging the conservation of sites like Rainbow Springs that contain outstanding biological and geological resources, regardless of landownership type. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership. NNLs are owned by a variety of land stewards, and participation in the program is voluntary.
National Natural Landmarks are selected for their outstanding condition, illustrative value, rarity, diversity, and value to science and education. Sites are designated by the Secretary of the Interior, with landowner concurrence, and to-date, nearly 600 landmarks have received the NNL designation.
Rainbow Springs is a wonderful mixture of Central Florida’s natural and cultural heritage. It is a popular destination to swim, snorkel, tube, canoe, picnic or stroll the gardens. The day-use headsprings area, tube launch area and the campground differ in the activities they allow, so be sure to ask in advance.
Seminole Falls
Seminole Falls is more of a gradually cascading waterfall (below).
Below, the top of the hill and the final holding pond for Rainbow Falls water.
The Rainbow and Withlacoochee Rivers support abundant wildlife, including otters, alligators, many species of turtles and every variety of water bird—waders, divers and dabblers. Osprey, hawks and swallowtail kites soar along the river corridor while smaller birds and animals hide in the lush vegetation. Many animal species, including the endangered gopher tortoise, Florida pine snake, indigo snake, Sherman’s fox squirrel and the Florida mouse inhabit the uplands surrounding the springs and rivers.
We trekked the entire length of the Rainbow River down into the Withlacoochee Swamp on the east side of the river at Blue Run of Dunnellon Park located at 19680 E Pennsylvania Avenue (CR-484), Dunnellon, FL 34431
We found the flow to be very swift on a recent afternoon and there to be an abundance of snakes, turtles and other wildlife in the Blue Run Park.
Sexing a Florida Cooter
How to Tell the Sex of A Cooter Turtle
If your turtle is not shy (unlike this one) you can look at its front claws. Long claws usually indicate a the turtle is a male. The other easy way to sex a cooter turtle is to look at the plastron (belly) but be careful not to drop the turtle or to scare it too much when doing this. Turtle aren't designed to be flipped over. Notice how the plastron above is concave. This indicates that this shy turtle is likely a male. The concave plastron helps the turtle keep his balance when mounting a female.
Water turtles should always have access to land. Never put them in a bucket or a pool that they cannot easily climb out of. Females will lay eggs even if they have never been with a male and they need dry ground to do it.
When you pick up your turtle it might urinate on you. This is one of the turtle's defense mechanisms. Resist the urge to drop the turtle. You don't want to damage its protective shell.
We've Read and Watched:
As part of a promotion for the release of the fifth season DVD of "Game of Thrones," HBO is staging elaborate promotional events in major cities across the USA.
Photo by @lynseyaddario | words by @neilshea13
Aboard the Godetia, a Belgian ship patrolling the Mediterranean, meals for rescued migrants are simple—bread and water, rice and porridge, here and there a piece of candy. It’s not exciting, but it is food, and none of the migrants has come aboard carrying his own, which means they lost it, ate it, or never had any when they pushed out from the Libyan coast. For the Belgians, it’s bewildering. Who would cross this sea without food, without water? It suggests stupidity, or worse a kind of cleverness. We learn it is probably the latter. Human trafficking has evolved to this point: migrants are taught to expect rescue, and encouraged to look pathetic, so that European ships will be obliged to save them. Maritime law demands that sailors aid vessels in distress, and migrants, knowing this, will sometimes dump overboard water, food, and even the little engines that propel their rafts at first sight of a larger boat. Here is the state of play as warm weather returns to the Mediterranean and more travelers begin the crossing. It’s infuriating for some of the Belgians, who joke that their ship should be named Euro Taxi. They wonder how long it can go on. Still, most of the crew is sympathetic. One evening I climb to the bridge and watch with a sailor while migrants receive dinner. He and I live in the West, neither of us has ever known hunger. How can we ever describe that first awareness of it, the signal sent up from the belly which warns of emptiness, the emptiness which becomes a question, the question that begins to gnaw? The sailor stubs out his cigarette. If it were me, if it were my family's future, I’d be on a boat, too, he says.
—
This is the fourth in a six-part Instagram series on African migration toward Europe. Last June, @neilshea13 and @lynseyaddario sailed with the Belgian navy as it patrolled the Mediterranean, rescuing travelers who’d begun the dangerous middle crossing. Join us as we share stories from the journey.
First, we have to say, what the f--k? What is going on with Black Sails? First they take away all the love interest-sex scenes with pirates. We know it is supposed to be real drama. . . but who wants to watch all that gritty battle plotting and planning? Really? But worse, they kill the favorite character (in episode XXVII Captain Charles Vane is killed, aka Zach McGowan, so we'll have to look for him on THE 100 on the CW, Thursdays at 9:00, but we won't be seeing any of those boundary-breaking sex scenes that he's so famous for on Shameless and Black Sails on the CW). Finally, you've got Tom Hopper, the biggest arms in Hollywood, and he never takes off his shirt. Talk about a waste of raw talent. Shouldn't pirates need to cool off sometime?
Ok, we admit you got our attention @tom.hopperhops with the world's biggest biceps, but c'mon, not one shirtless scene in all of Season 3? What's up with that? What happened to the love interest (aka gratuitous nudity, Zach McGowan, etc.) part of Black Sails?
And. . .Luke Arnold. Peg leg? Really? You've lost us here somewhere. Ever hear of "natural assets?"
And kids, don't try this at home. In 2016 America Gopher tortoises are a protected, endangered species and you'll be in big trouble if you try to work out this way.
Tom Hopper, put that tortoise down now, and we'll try to forgive you.
Relax. He's a good guy. Read the article.