Chokoloskee, FL (Western Edge of Everglades)

We visited the Fakahatchee Strand Reserve State Park which encompasses 85,000 acres.  This is the second palm tree that I have seen like this in Florida.  I'm guessing it's a fan palm.

Fan Palm

 Inside the pond near the parking lot was a seven foot alligator.  She was protecting at least six baby alligators about a foot long. The babies are lying on the reeds.

Baby Gators in the Reeds

We strolled the Big Cypress Bend boardwalk in the wilderness seeing flora and fauna in this ecosystem. The boardwalk ends at a swam pond where you can observe plants and wildlife.More native species of native orchid species grow in this 75,000 acres than in any other place on the continent.

Strangler Fig Tree Reaches 50-60 Feet

The strangler fig seed is dropped in the top of a host tree. When the seed sprouts, it sends down roots that entwine the host tree. When the roots reach the ground,the tree changes from an air plant to a ground plant.

Pond at the End of the Boardwalk at Fakahatchee Reserve

Fakahatchee Reserve: Part 2 -- We took one more whack at the Fakahtchee State Park by driving on the 11 mile Janes Scenic Drive. Although we spotted egrets, herons, and five alligators alongside our car, the "road" was unfortunately pot hole to pot hole driving and we turned back after only seven miles.

Welcome to the Real Florida

Spotted This One Just Outside Car Window

Egret in Fakahatchee Reserve

The Rookery Bay Reserve encompasses 110,000 acres of native habitat including mangrove forest, uplands and protected waters.

One of 3 Estuarine Research Reserve in FL

Sharks have lots of teeth

While we were there we listened to a volunteer talk about sharks in the Big Cypress Swamp ecosystem.  There are 35 types of sharks in this part of Florida.  Here at the reserve they study 11 types of sharks.

Alligator was Just Pulling His Leg

This Reserve serves as an outdoor classroom and lab for students and scientists from around the world.

On our way back from all of our eco-tours, we saw the endangered Wood Stork along the side of the highway basking in the afternoon sun in the swamp.

Wood Storks

The Smallwood Store and Trading Post is a historic old Indian trading post and museum a mile from The Outdoor Resorts of America.  It has been here since 1906 along the western edge of the Everglades deep in the heart of the 10,000 Islands.  The Smallwood Store and Trading Post was a place to trade hides furs and farm produce, handle mail and sell goods to settlers.

Smallwood Trading Post

It is now a museum that tells the history of southwest Florida.  We spent a few minutes gathering shells on a small beach.  Chokoloskee is a shell mound, possibly a prehistoric Indian fishing village,

comprised of refuse and discarded oyster shells.