Pondhawk Nature Preserve Boca Raton Florida
South Florida is the third most populated geographic area in the United States and, needless to say, there is not much “nature” in the middle of all that urban sprawl. Often, however, the local governments set aside land as nature preserves. The city of Boca Raton was kind enough to do this with the Pondhawk Natural Area at 1501 Spanish River Blvd, Boca Raton, FL.
We happened by this place by chance and really did not expect much but were pleasantry surprised by the size and layout of the area. It truly is a nature preserve and has paths made of dirt instead of pavement, allowing for a more natural walk through the preserve. The trails are marked by colors and they have maps. There is a pagoda with a boardwalk if you want to have a picnic. This is probably NOT a good place for skateboards and bikes but is awesome for hikers and walkers. Joggers…perhaps but be careful around corners.
My only worry is upkeep. A beautiful place such as this can easily be sullied by jerk offs who litter. It’s my hope that visitors do NOT litter but that city employees are vigilant with policing the litter as well.
On this day, Ethan, Papa and Mom had a very pleasant walk through the preserve without seeing another soul. We talked about camping out, zombie apocalypses and other pleasantries any family might chat about while pretending to be in the wild!
Thanks Boca Raton!
PBC TV Presents: Pondhawk Natural Area Public Use Facilities Dedication
Join Public officials from Palm Beach County, the City of Boca Raton, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the US Fish & Wildlife Service for the dedication of the public use facilities at Pondhawk Natural Area in Boca Raton.
Pondhawk Natural Area is located in Boca Raton on the east side of Military Trail between Yamato Road and Spanish River Boulevard. Parking is available at the adjacent Boca Raton Public Library on the north side of Spanish River Boulevard.
Visitors can reach the entrance to the 79 acre natural area by a multipurpose pathway along the shoreline of Blue Lake. Hiking, photography, wildlife viewing, and other passive recreation activities are allowed on the site.
For information on this and other Palm Beach County programs and services, please visit
Cute armadillo at Pondhawk Natural Area in Boca Raton
Boca Raton Yamato Scrub Natural Area Trail
On Clint Moore Road...Just west of I-95 on north side!
Pondhawk
Access to this 79-acre natural area is through the Boca Raton Spanish River Library Parking lot. A 12-foot-wide multiuse trail allows hikers and bicyclists a view of Blue Lake and the southeastern perimeter of the natural area. An eight-acre wetland restoration project inside the natural area provides habitat for osprey, black-necked stilt and white ibis. The natural area is named for a common dragonfly found throughout the woodlands.
‘Cast of Pods’ by Doug Maxwell
Long Key Nature Center & Natural Area (including Garden of Reflection) - Davie FL
In this video I take a leisurely stroll through Long Key Natural Area, which sounds like it should be in the Florida Keys but it's actually in Davie, Florida. There are some beautiful sights there as you walk through gorgeous oak hammocks and along ponds teeming with lily pads, turtles, and wading birds. There is also a place called the Garden of Reflection, which was put there by the Broward Victim's Rights Coalition and is a peaceful memorial to victims of violent crimes. On the way out, I walked through what is called an Ephemeral Wetland, meaning it's temporary when the rainy season comes, providing the perfect breeding ground for various types of frogs. Of course, it only looks like a trail in this video because it was filmed in November, but makes for a beautiful walk nonetheless. Check it out!
Second Nature by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
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Clean Soul - Calming by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
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Cypress Creek Natural area
Here's a quick overview of the water portion of Cypress Creek Natural area. To find out more please visit:
✅ WEST PALM BEACH - OKEEHEELEE NATURE CENTER - FLORIDA AMERIKA
OKEEHEELEE NATURE CENTER - NICE PLACE
Video: Frenchman's Forest Natural Area in Palm Beach Gardens
The paved hiking trail in Frenchman's Forest Natural Area in Palm Beach Gardens.
Secret Woods Nature Center
A mazy network of interpretive boardwalks and trails in Dania introduces visitors to a mangrove forest and tropical hammocks surrounding a nature center.
Florida Travel: A Glimpse of the Wild at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Take a stroll through Gumbo Limbo Nature Center's butterfly garden, where many species of wild butterflies can be seen year-round. The center, which takes its name from the surrounding gumbo limbo trees, displays a variety of native fish and other marine animals in marine aquariums.
Visit the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility to learn about the center's sea turtle patients. Indoor displays feature wildlife indigenous to South Florida and a series of stained glass windows depicting the coastal island as it may have appeared in the 1500s. And it's not just for show. Florida Atlantic University has an onsite marine biology laboratory with a gallery for viewing research projects conducted by university scientists, too.
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Elisa & Felix's Ceremony & Reception Planning Video
Today, August 25th, I booked the date & place for daughter Elisa's Wedding ceremony & reception in Dec. of 2012. The video is of the tour we received at the Boca Raton, Florida location. Hidden away from the general public behind the Boca Raton Public Library is a beautiful outdoor layout for all types of celebrations. If the weather is inclimate, they are able to host the event indoors as well. This video is slightly edited to keep it under 5 minutes!
Chapel Trail Nature Preserve
A gloomy day above Chapel Trail Nature Preserve
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
In addition to preserving 120 acres of Florida scrub, maritime hammock, and mangrove swamp ecosystems, this site lies adjacent to the historic 1860 Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, the George Washington Tindall Pioneer House and the Town of Jupiter Lighthouse Park. Owned by the US Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management, this site was designated as an Outstanding Natural Area that protects unique scenic, scientific, educational, and recreational values making it the natural area that has it all!
Cylinder One’ by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license ( Source:
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Stunning Florida Vacation Getaway | The Preserves
Located within a gated community. This quiet, beach-themed condo is 3 miles away from the beach. Close to restaurants, shopping and golfing. Bonita Springs/North Naples is one of Southwest Florida’s best vacation spots!
The Rose Lee Show - Episode 5 - disABILITIES in the Workplace
Political leaders, U.S. Congressman Allen West, Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel and County Commissioner Steve Abrams attended the local Workforce Development event entitled: disABILITIES Building an Inclusive Workforce through Leadership on Friday, April 13, 2012 at Palm Beach State College, Boca Raton Campus.
The Archer Disability Foundation partnered with the Small Business Development Center and Procurement Technical Assistance Center Program to host a Workforce Development event to educate small businesses to best practices in employing persons with disabilities at Palm Beach State College Boca Raton Campus. The event merged the best practices and recruiting tips of large corporations and government agencies success stories, to share with small business owners to grow their businesses by employing the talents and contributions of a job seeker with a disability. The Rose Lee Show taped the event to share this experience with its viewers from Jacksonville to the Florida Keys.
Life in a Small Florida Nature Preserve revised
Three years in a small nature preserve in Florida
Florida Wildlife Part II - Alligators, Spoonbill, Turtles, Tropical Fish, Barracudas & more
(Re-uploaded vid due to recent Roseate Spoonbill video...after spending a year on the hunt for one of these it was worth it to re-do this vid just for that. :D I realize though that I spelled roseate wrong in the caption in the video, but I'm leaving it as is because I don't want to have to re-do it yet one more time.....)
More compilations of the various wildlife to be found in south Florida. Same as with Part I the goal is to only feature critters that one finds naturally while out and about, versus footage from inside any man-made zoo/aquarium facilities. Be sure to check out Part I for additional critters that don't appear in this vid: including dolphins, Reddish Egrets, Ghost Crab, Nine Armed Sea Star, Pelicans, Yellow Crowned Night Herons, Seagulls, Golden Orb Weaver, Southeastern Lubber Grasshoppers and more. Between the two vids it's a nice sampling.
Earlier this year I bought a GoPro Hero 4 Silver to use while snorkeling, and put it to use at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Looe Key (10 miles offshore of Big Pine Key), as well as Red Reef Park here in Boca Raton, which really helped to expand the variety.
Still trying to get some vids of Manatees and sea turtles on the beach. I did once spot a breaching Manatee while sitting at a picnic table next to the Intracoastal Waterway...but wasn't quick enough to get my camera out in time before it went back under. And sea turtles you need to catch at night during breeding season when they come up onto the beach to lay their eggs, so that's tricky. Finally landed the coveted Roseate Spoonbill encounter here in Boca after trying to find one for at least a year. Had never seen one in person in my entire time being in Florida, so it had become akin to a mythological creature. :D But one day at Pondhawk Natural Area there it was...just one lone Spoonbill wading in the water. Fortuitously ran into the same bird on another day, at sunset, same spot, and got even better vid. So, mission accomplished. :)
(Song at the end of the video is Comet Halley by Stellardrone....)
Pileated woodpecker in the Six Mile Cypress Slough
Six Mile Cypress Slough in Ft Myers, FL
Wow