The Lazy Naturalist

The Whispering Trail: Divination, Augury, and Natural Allies

Steve White — Fri, 22 May 2026 17:44:43 +0000

Workshop Overview The world is constantly speaking to us, but have we forgotten how to listen?In this immersive, three-hour experiential workshop, we will step off the treadmill of daily life and onto the living earth. Walking a gentle trail, you will learn to revive the ancient, time-tested arts of augury (reading signs in nature), divination […]

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Wild Myakka through Your Lens

Steve White — Fri, 22 May 2026 17:20:05 +0000

Mastering iNaturalist as a Citizen Scientist Ever wondered about the name of that bright wildflower by the trail, or wanted to contribute to real-world wildlife conservation? Turn your smartphone into a powerful scientific tool! Join us for a hands-on, three-hour immersive workshop at Myakka River State Park, where you’ll learn how to navigate the free […]

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Deep Hole, Myakka River State Park

Steve White — Thu, 07 May 2026 23:15:11 +0000

Deep Hole is best known for its quantity of alligators, and I have seen over 200 on its shores in the past. Last Sunday was a quieter day, overcast and cool, and only a few of our reptilian friends were on the shores, between 20 and 40. But the pot continues to be beautiful and […]

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Sandhill St. John’s-Wort (Hypericum tenuifolium)

Steve White — Thu, 07 May 2026 23:12:29 +0000

Commonly known as Sandhill St. John’s-Wort or Low St. John’s-Wort, this species is a testament to the evolutionary brilliance of Florida’s upland flora. While many members of the Hypericum genus prefer the soggy margins of cypress domes or wet prairies, H. tenuifolium has carved out a niche in the most well-drained, sun-scorched soils the Sunshine […]

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Yellow Bachelor’s Button (Senega rugelii)

Steve White — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:20:48 +0000

The Yellow Bachelor’s Button (Senega rugelii), also commonly known as Rugel’s Milkwort, is a quiet but radiant protagonist in the narrative of Florida’s flatwoods. Found nowhere else on Earth, this endemic species serves as a botanical signature of the peninsula’s unique hydrological and fire-driven ecosystems. To understand Senega rugelii is to understand the delicate balance […]

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Patrick at Deep Hole

Steve White — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:10:41 +0000

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Sword Fern (Nephrolepis)

Steve White — Wed, 06 May 2026 19:51:44 +0000

The genus Nephrolepis, commonly known as the sword fern or Boston fern, is a staple of Florida’s landscape. Yet, within this single genus lies a dramatic contrast: a beloved native species providing critical habitat, and an aggressive, “tuberous” imposter that is systematically dismantling local ecosystems. Understanding the Sword Fern in Florida requires peeling back the […]

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Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)

Steve White — Wed, 06 May 2026 12:16:49 +0000

While the “Sunshine State” is often associated with coastal herons and swamp-dwelling egrets, the Eastern Meadowlark represents a different side of Florida: the vast, open interior. From the historical “Florida Dry Prairie” to modern-day sod farms, this striking icterid—a member of the blackbird family—has carved out a niche in a state rapidly losing its open […]

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Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Steve White — Fri, 01 May 2026 19:25:05 +0000

The Snowy Egret is a medium-sized heron, easily recognized by its pure white feathers and contrasting black bill and legs. Their yellow eyes and feet add a splash of color, making them one of the most visually striking birds in Florida. Measuring about 24 inches in length with a wingspan of up to 41 inches, […]

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Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)

Steve White — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:00:25 +0000

Once widely known by the evocative name “Louisiana Heron”—a moniker championed by John James Audubon himself—the Tricolored Heron is arguably the most characteristic inhabitant of Florida’s coastal and freshwater wetlands. To observe one is to witness a perfect marriage of form and function, a bird that embodies the quiet, persistent pulse of the Everglades and […]

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Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) Image

Steve White — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:57:49 +0000

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Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)

Steve White — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:32:46 +0000

Most Interesting Things About Gopher Tortoises 1. The Ultimate Wildlife Landlords Gopher tortoises are classified as a keystone species due to their incredible engineering skills. They dig deep, extensive underground burrows that provide critical shelter for more than 350 other animal species. These “communal tenants”—including eastern indigo snakes, burrowing owls, gopher frogs, mice, and hundreds […]

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Rita at the Big Pool

Steve White — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:30:16 +0000

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Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Image

Steve White — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:33:20 +0000

https://www.pictorem.com/2634342/bird-great-blue-heron/

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Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) Image

Steve White — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:12:26 +0000

https://www.pictorem.com/2633998/bird-snowy-egret/

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Fallen Pine Farm (Myakka, Florida)

Steve White — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:14:53 +0000

This is an “Old Florida” discoveries… a beautiful old farm with live oaks and seventy-five mini-horses running around like they own the place. Judy Middleton is a character from the old days who, among her credits, was a schoolteacher of Brenda Lee in Nashville. Fallen Pine Farm is one of the reasons we love Florida! […]

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Rita on Cumberland Island

Steve White — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:02:10 +0000

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Steve on Cumberland Island

Steve White — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:01:18 +0000

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Burnt Sabal Palm Image

Steve White — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:02:23 +0000

https://www.pictorem.com/2627956/botanical-burnt-sabal-palm/

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Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) Image

Steve White — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:18:55 +0000

https://www.pictorem.com/2627875/boat-tailed-grackle/

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