Lovers Key

Lovers Key (Carl E Johnson) State Park  
25 February 2020

Today we spent the morning at Lovers Key State Park. This protected state park encompasses 4 barrier islands, Long, Inner, and Lovers Key and Black Island. Many of the islands have a history behind their namings that related to the people who established or frequented the island. Carl E Johnsons’ name lives on as the joint naming of the park for his contributions to the founding and protection of it. But that protection only extends locally, as this area is connected to the Caloosahatchee River which feels the direct effects of freshwater release from Lake Okeechobee during the summer months. This unnatural connection of waterways has drastically altered the biological ecosystems along our coastlines. 

A picture of a beautiful spider web woven between the branches of the mangrove trees just off the boardwalk. And a reminder to slow down and notice the little things around you.

Evidence of human presence. When I see things like this it makes me always want to bring grabbers to the beach just in case trash is out of reach. Like this balloon for instance. Thankfully it was stuck in the branches of the tree, but it was so far up and out of reach that over time it’ll break free and may end up in the ocean sadly :( 

People don’t realize the importance of sand dunes or grasslands on the perimeter of beaches. I’m sure many don’t even like the look of them. But they play such an important role in controlling the erosion of the beach, providing protection for nesting birds, and they are nice to look at! I’ve also seen beach sunflower in these areas before and these are all native plants that if they were not present providing their ecosystem services, we would be spending unnecessary amounts of money to try to fill in their roles. 

I wish I could have the bold statement to say I have been fighting for the ocean my whole life, but it’s just been the past 5 years primarily. However, I can say that I will be fighting for the ocean for the remainder of my life, but know that it will be a different ocean than from when I started. It’s a sad reality to grasp, but it’s one I have to always keep in perspective. 

Ah mangroves… Florida’s coastal protector and nursery. I don’t think we’ve fully grasped how truly important mangroves are. We have made huge headway in the preservation and protection of them in recent years, which we are already seeing the benefits from! But some areas still remove them when developing new homes or condos, and they may not know how important they are, they probably just think of them like any other plant. But I wouldn’t want to live in a Florida that didn’t have mangroves. 

Collections like these really put into perspective just how much diversity there is in the world! This just shows on a small scale the types of organisms that can be found on the beach and in the water, anywhere from clams and scallops, to snails and sea urchins (which aren’t shells, but that’s a minor detail haha).

Just a picture of a sea grape tree I took as we were heading out. They have become my favorite plant in Florida. Their leaves can grow to be the size of a small child’s head, the feeling of them is very smooth and round, and can vary in colors from yellow, orange, red, and green. They also produce fruits that are a food source to foraging animals like raccoons and are also edible for humans and often made into a jam.