March 12, 2019 - REPORT FROM THE ROAD - WEEKI WACHEE: Before the sun, I headed out to meet up with a couple of dear friends... to check out the wilds of Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area north of Tarpon Springs. Amanda Lychee Adams wanted to show Bobaba and I a place that she knows but one that we had not been to before. We explored the southern half of the large preserve in our vehicles, stopping along the way often to look for rare plants. Amanda showed us a large deep sink known as Eagle's Nest Sink. Leisurepro describes this sink as having "chambers as large as gymnasiums and crystal-clear water. Only for highly experienced cave divers and the technically sound, the descent into Eagle’s nest is similar to that of a chimney and hundreds of feet below it opens up into a large cavern called “the Main Ballroom”, beyond which are longer tunnels and crannies that go even deeper. While cave diving isn’t for everyone, a number of divers have perished attempting to explore this site in particular." That said, the next time I'm bringing my bathing suit anyway! I don't scuba dive though, just gently swim and snorkel about. Thanks you two, for a really nice afternoon. Some of the plants encountered included Virginia Willow (Itea virginica), Candyroot (Polygala nana), Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), Blueflower Butterwort (Pinguicula caerulea), Early Blue Violet (Viola palmata), Orange Milkwort (Polygala lutea), Dwarf Sundew (Drosera brevifolia), Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), Boykin's Milkwort (Polygala boykinii), and Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix).
PHOTO: Bobaba snaps a shot of Skyblue Lupine in full flower while Amanda Adams studies the wild things.