Lake Wales Ridge runs in a narrow strip north to south down the center of Florida, roughly centered over Polk County. The slightly higher elevation relative to to the rest of Florida kept these rolling hills dry when much of the rest of Florida was under water, allowing for a unique, isolated ecosystems to evolve.

As with most of Florida, the soil is pure sand. Without the Gulf nearby, it gets hotter than along the coast. We aimed to arrive shortly after dawn, and watched the sun rise about the the time we got into orange grove country.

Although I’m finding mention of it now, I did not have warning beforehand of the honor system fee to enter the Walk in the Water State Forest. That wasn’t really a problem (I try to always bring some ones with me) except that the collection pipe was at a completely separate trail head a mile or two to the north. Not terribly convenient.

A recent fire had burned down the vegetation near the trailhead.

It had rained the night before, leaving the sand clean to read the fresh footprints. There were many deer hoof prints, some probable raccoon prints, and then we saw bambi out ahead on the trail.

Spicebush swallowtail, we surmise. And then we got tired of the horse flies and turned around.

Hickory Lake Park was more desert like.

Hallictid bee on scrub morning glory

Scrub lizards

By the time we stopped at Crooked Lake Park, it was getting quite warm, although it was only around 11 am.

In a field of flowering prickly pear