Was with the Springs Alliance in Jacksonville for a forum about water with the St. Johns Riverkeepers. The event was at a Wyndam Hotel along the St. Johns River. There was a huge turnout. I was placed up front where I did the illustrations of each speaker as they spoke. Here’s the set from the top left across: Whitey Markle (Florida folk musician), Natalie Lyons Secretary of the Springs Alliance), Guy Marwick (Water expert), Lisa Rinaman (Head of St Johns Riverkeeper), John Moran (Photographer) and Bob Knight (U of F professor and water expert). The drawings are then presented to each speaker as a Thank You after the event.

I joined the Thursday morning hiking group of the Florida Cracker Chapter of the Florida Trail Association for, what turned out to be, a strenuous 6 mile hike through San Felasco State Park. There are many more photos at the Swampy’s Florida site. You can see those by clicking here.

Along the way I got some sketchin’ done, too. Not as much as usual. Below are a couple of the slight scribblings I made along the way.

While hiking it’s always good to be prepared for emergencies by carrying a well stocked Pez container!

We found ourselves in an empty bed of a cypress swamp.

This should be under at least some water. Below is a lonely cypress knee.

Took a side trip and hiked the 2.1 mile Holly Hammock trail at Ross Prairie State Forest an hour ago. Oh, the differences of natural Florida and the sands of the mid-east.

It was park day last Sunday, October 2nd. It was also the 121st birthday of Groucho Marx. A trip to Homeland Heritage Park and Mosaic Peace River Park was in store. Had a great time with Terisa Glover and Sparky as we traversed the area of Homeland, Florida. More photos of the trip will show up at Swampy’s Florida.

It was from the boardwalk at Peace River Park that I drew the sketch above. Below is video of part of the sketch.

Above is a photo of the natural wonder you can take in at Peace River Park.

Here’s a church, which is part of the Homeland Heritage Park.

I later ran over to the week old opened Marshall Hampton Reserve near Lake Hancock in Lakeland. There’s a photo of that soon to appear on the Swampy’s Florida site. My non-Swampy photos didn’t turn out well. Very wild there. Posted as open to foot and equine travelers and apparently to bikers, who nearly ran me down.

I got to experience the one place I hadn’t been to that I had put in the Swampy’s Florida: Lakeland coloring book, Circle B Bar Reserve, because of my good friend Terisa Glover, who lead the way through this glorious expanse of natural Florida. And whatta a place! Seems to me to be one of the best natural areas in Central Florida. Adjectives are not plentiful enough to use. I drew only one sketch, not even complete the whole time I was there and it is above.

There are a plethora of birds. Above is a great blue heron.

Making up a great part of the trails are lined with cypress along Lake Hancock. Besides birds are many, many alligators. There is a gator in this photo. Way out in the lake and hardly visible. That is the extent of the kinds of photos I got of the gators without a high powered zoom lens. But they are there. Plenty of them.

Here’s Terisa on a typical example of a trail through the reserve.It’s dueling cameras as Terisa also takes a shot.

These fellows are there, too.

Nice, isn’t it?

He crossed the path while rodent hunting.

This large soft shell took the path of least resistance seconds after this photo by moving to the left and sliding down the bank and Plop! into the stream along the trail.

This Friday, April, 1st, is the debut of the new Swampy’s Florida: Lakeland coloring book at The General Store as part of Downtown Lakeland’s First Friday event.

The coloring book has lots to color and learn about Lakeland’s history and great places to visit. I was able to price the coloring book at $3. If you’re in the area come by and say HI! and get a free drawing between 6 to 9pm.

All of this happening at a store that I think every town should have, The General Store. You can’t miss the rocking chairs outside! Also, if you haven’t met Downtown Lakeland’s infamous Sparky at The General Store, now’s your chance! By the way, that’s Sparky in the middle on the cover.

Saturday was ‘Take a Hike, Florida’ day! I joined in at the Grand Opening of the Charles Bronson State Forest in east Orange County near Christmas, Florida. There was a great turnout for the hike and the trail is EXCELLENT! It was great to run into a number of Florida Trail Association friends. As I hiked, I sketched. Above is one where I kept walking and sketching.

Here are some photos!:

I introduced friend & fellow cartoonist, George Pieper to Florida great outdoors at the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway Landbridge trail section of the Florida Trail. Above and below are sketches down there.

Come by and visit the first Swampy’s Florida booth at Pine Castle Pioneer Days this Saturday and Sunday in south Orange County! I’ll be drawing Florida scenes, have some Swampy mini-comics & debut Swampy’s first coloring book. There’s lots more than me at the event to see, so come out and experience the Florida Cracker lifestyle with music, friends & fellowship!

Learn more by clicking here!

Saw this bit of entertainment while hiking the Cross Florida Greenway February 5th: