Some of the venerable old oaks on the ranch.
Some of the venerable old oaks on the ranch. |
The ranch terrain is varied and ranges from old river bottom with its majestic fern and moss covered oaks, to palmetto scrub, oak and pine scrub, as well as sink holes, fissures and rifts. The natural assets of this part of north Florida are astounding. For water lovers there is the river and its many springs, caves and tributaries making the area popular with boaters, tubers, canoers, kaiyakers, scuba divers and snorkelers, and of course fishermen. It is a birder's paradise, and Cedar Key is only 25 miles away in the Gulf of Mexico. Naturalists can be nearly overwhelmed with the abundance of animal, plant, aquatic, reptilian, avian and insect life here in the north Florida woods and waterways. Notable to naturalists is Paynes Prairie just south of Gainesville on Interstate 75. Florida is also cowboy and horse country, having had cattle and ranchers in the 16th century, long before Texas knew what cattle were! Equestrian events are frequent whether western or English riding is to your taste. The nearby University of Florida at Gainesville plays an important role in the support of our rural and agricultural ways. Many of our neighbors are original Florida Crackers (some say the name came from the bullwhips used for cattle drives), and this part of the state is steeped in the lore of the Seminole Nation (actually a grouping of tribes). The Seminoles are the only indians who were never conquered by the US, or by the 16th century Spaniards before them. Arrow heads can be found almost anywhere in Florida, but the waterways give up mastodon and shark teeth, as well as other prehistoric fossils. The only major Civil War battle fought in Florida was the Battle of Olustee in the nearby town of the same name. |
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