Deep in the middle of a now-rare longleaf pine forest in northeast Florida, a gopher tortoise looks for a place to build a home. She is surrounded by saw palmettos, wildflowers, towering and graceful …

The tortoise is a land-dwelling turtle. It is a very ancient creature with a proven anatomical system for survival. The way these animals operate in the world has been incredibly successful for over …

I have spent countless hours watching the ocean, looking out at the sea off Amelia Island. In my years, I have seen shorebirds, gannets, spinner sharks, tarpon, stingrays, bait pods, whales, giant …

The world celebrated International Manatee Day on Sept. 7 to raise awareness about the protection, conservation, and research needs of manatees and their habitats. A manatee is a large, fully …

In the late summer, strolling through the Ritz-Carlton property on Amelia Island, it is always nice to walk over the dunes to the beach. One particular boardwalk leads from the hotel lawn to the …

I think we can agree that recycling and reusing materials on this planet is a good idea. It is beneficial to get the most out of a material before it ends up in our ever-increasing landfills. …

Several land conservation efforts have recently seen success. The Highlands County Expansion includes the protection of 1,500 acres that will be added to the Florida Wildlife Corridor, which is …

The St. Marys River has been mentioned in several recent articles for the Fernandina Observer — let’s add one more! Why is the water in the St. Marys River red? That was definitely my …

This is the last article in the series on coastal water quality concerns around Amelia Island. What is the overall health of our natural waterways? Who is responsible for ensuring that our waterways …

Emily Floore, executive director and Riverkeeper for St. Marys Riverkeeper, has spent the past several years monitoring the health of local waterways ...

A septic system is an on-site wastewater treatment system used by individual property owners to process the wastewater that exits their home. It is estimated that 25% of all the homes in the United …

The final article in the Florida’s aquifers series is about giving back — facilitating the flow of rainwater into the aquifers to ensure the sustainability of our water supply for future …

To understand how the limestone aquifer that underlies all of Florida was formed, we need to look back 175 million years to the Mesozoic era and the breakup of the supercontinent called Pangea.  …

Religion aside, when I look at the perfection of an aquifer system, I believe in intelligent design. Aquifer systems can provide water purification ...

Florida has historically been gifted with water — lots and lots of water! But there is a limit to how much water is available in the form of drinking water, also called potable water. Climate …

When I think of summer, I think of blackberries. There is such satisfaction in standing in the sun, picking and eating fruit you have grown at home or found on the trails. Florida gives us both …

Last week, when I wrote Adventures in the Back Yard - A Wonderful World, I realized that it might be worth describing one of the local yard inhabitants with a little more detail. One of the smallest …

One of my favorite things about Amelia Island is the flowers. Each flowering plant has its season to shine, and if we pay attention, we will witness a colorful display. In the summer, I look forward …

Volunteers for the North Florida Land Trust worked together with the community to plant stabilizing vegetation on Little NaNa Dune at American Beach on May 15, 2026. Little NaNa Dune is owned by the …

On Thursday, May 14, a sea turtle was released at Main Beach as part of the Wild Amelia Festival. A crowd of people watched as a juvenile green turtle named London Fog was returned to the ocean. …