Back in the 1960s some ambitious engineers came up with the idea to cut a canal through the center of the Florida peninsula in order to decrease shipping distances and times. In 1971 Marjorie Harris Carr and other environmentalists got the partially finished project halted due to serious environmental concerns. Since then, most of the land that was involved in the project has been set aside as the conservation area known as the Marjorie Harris Carr Greenway. Part of the completed canal forms the county line between Citrus and Levy counties and was an important area to me in my high school days. The barge canal and surrounding area was a place that my friends and I often rode and took our horses (and ourselves) swimming. Since then some of the many trails have become part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. The Trail is a network of areas that are great places to go to see native birds, wildlife, and butterflies. There are over 500 trails and sites on the list, and most of them that I’ve been to so far have not been a disappointment.

The Withlacoochee Bay Trail, which is the name that’s since been given to my old riding grounds, was definitely no disappointment either. One of the many different species that I saw as I walked the trail was this beautiful queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus). It was actually one of dozens that I saw that day. There were loads of flowers blooming along the trails and the butterflies (many species) were really enjoying them. Along with the butterflies there were also a myriad of bees, wasps, and other insects also enjoying the flowers and the beautiful day. In fact, there were so many cool insects and beautiful flowers that I really didn’t get all that far along the trail that I was on. I did see a fair number of birds as well, but there is still so so much left to see, so you can bet that I’ll be back again before too long.