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By Gina Thompson

Florida living is beautiful. We have bright blue beaches, towering evergreens, and magnificent wildlife. Unfortunately, that also means mosquitoes are ever-present. Each time you venture outside, you’ll likely come home with a bug bite or two.

Mosquito bites can get itchy, but if you scratch too much, you could cause an infection. And some mosquitoes carry diseases, such as malaria. Still, don’t let your fear of these bloodsuckers keep you from adventuring.

That said, be aware that mosquito season in Florida is nearly year-round.

Here are a few tips for preventing mosquito bites when visiting one … Read More

The post Tips for Preventing Mosquito Bites During Forest Visits appeared first on Friends of Florida State Forests.

By Teri Silver

“Go native” isn’t just a buzz phrase for horticulturists; it’s the natural way to protect and strengthen your Florida landscape. With these seven benefits of planting and caring for native trees and shrubbery in your lawn, you’ll be nurturing your own special piece of planet Earth for many years to come.

What exactly does it mean to go native? The U.S. Forest Service defines native plants as naturally indigenous vegetation that has evolved in a particular habitat, ecosystem, and region. In Florida for example, Orlando’s native trees include the flowering dogwood, southern magnolia, Carolina buckthorn, and oak. … Read More

The post 7 Benefits of Planting & Caring for Native Trees in Your Yard appeared first on Friends of Florida State Forests.

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Stumped trying to find ways to keep your kids busy this summer? Log off the internet and surround yourself with flowers, plants, and trees in one of Florida’s 39 State Forests. You don’t have to be a nature buff to enjoy the forests with your kids. There are plenty of opportunities here to keep them busy.

The Florida National Scenic Trail spans about 1,500 miles along the southern tip of Florida to the panhandle – from Big Cypress National Preserve to the Gulf Islands National Seashore. No matter what area of the Sunshine State you call … Read More

The post The Best Ways to Enjoy Florida’s Forests with Kids appeared first on Friends of Florida State Forests.

One option is to spend time with whatever camera gear you have and get thoroughly familiar it, be it a point & shoot, phone app or full-fledged dslr.

This is a good time to clean your equipment: For dslr cameras, take advantage of this time to give your gear a thorough cleaning, update firmware if needed and charge up batteries.

The post Camera Tips appeared first on Friends of Florida State Forests.

Who else has decided last minute to go camping? Get away and just have fun? It’s human to yearn nature, adventure and self-reliance.

What stops us? A lot of times, it is the inner voice telling you that all the good spots are probably taken already. Sometimes, it is the frustration of searching for an available site. Don’t let these fears stop us any longer!

FloridaStateForests.ReserveAmerica.com just made it easy for us to find an available campsite with just a click!

The post Quick Click for Camping This Weekend! appeared first on Friends of Florida State Forests.

The post A Win for Safety appeared first on Friends of Florida State Forests.

Also, double-check that the buzzard soaring overhead isn’t actually an eagle or Red-tailed hawk.

The post Things To Do in State Forests This Time Of Year appeared first on Friends of Florida State Forests.

The post Mutual Respect of Recreationists appeared first on Friends of Florida State Forests.

Many people avoid the outdoors once the warm months hit, but there is much to see and do during the warmer months; wildflowers are in bloom, pollinators are plentiful, birds are nesting and wildlife is out and about, enjoying nibbling the new plant growth.

The post Tips for taking photos appeared first on Friends of Florida State Forests.

"Another great hike."

"Wet trail but saw a Florida panther."

I read a lot of these. You see, part of my work is to process Trailwalker comment cards for the Florida Forest Service Recreation Unit, so I come across the condensed adventures of intrepid trail walkers every day. And each time, my curiosity is piqued more than before. I have so many questions, like “What’s all the hiking hullabaloo?” or “What is really out there?” or “Why am I using the word ‘hullabaloo’?” I finally decided to find the answers to these questions on a hike for myself.

The post My First Forest Hike (Because That is a Fitting If Unimaginative Title) appeared first on Friends of Florida State Forests.