Just stumbled across this on the University Press of Florida website. It comes out in June. I was doing some of the hikes last spring with Rob and we enjoyed the getaways up to the Panhandle during pitcher plant blooming season. Johnny’s excited that we’re in the final proof stage. I can’t wait to see the final book!

I took three of the cover photos. Top left is Wright Lake Trail in Apalachicola National Forest, excellent pitcher plant area; top right is a shot from the top of the midden at Mosquito Lagoon in Canaveral National Seashore; and bottom right is my hiking buddy ShortCut on the West Lake boardwalk in Everglades National Park.

I’m guessing the bottom left is along Hopkins Prairie in the Ocala National Forest along the Florida Trail, and one of Johnny’s buddies as a model.

Thanks to photographer Donnelle Oxley, who I met on my SATW journey to Chile, I’ve discovered Smugmug.com: a classy photo gallery site with plenty of punch for photographers of every stripe. While my equipment is pro-am, I think my composition is pretty darn good and I’ve certainly sold a lot of images, so how could I pass up this opportunity? Besides allowing me to take those massive files off my own web space, my new galleries on SmugMug enable me to offer you prints small and large, downloads for personal and professional use, and some fun products like jigsaw puzzles and mugs. Check it out!

Out with the old, in with the new, and here we are! I’m furiously typing up notes for my latest book, juggling web work for a number of folks, and tumbling into the busy season at the office. Time for a relaxing afternoon and photo session at one of my old favorites, Silver Springs. I started visiting here when I was very small and have seen the changes over the decades.

Fun news: We saw monkeys today! First time in years. Bad news: the algae is worse than ever. It’s a good thing the Avatar land purchase went through, but we need to do something more now to halt the nitrates pouring into the aquifer … what a difference from just a decade ago.