Florida Spectacular

Send us your Florida questions!

This week "The Florida Spectacular" welcomes Paul Strauss, owner of Osprey Nature Photography. Paul's work celebrates his curiosity about and appreciation of rural Florida and its flora and fauna. He's an Advanced Florida Master Naturalist (UF-IFAS), a Certified Interpretative Guide (NAI), a PADI-certified SCUBA diver, and a board member of  the Florida -Coastal Conservation Association (Martin County Chapter.) He's also a volunteer with a myriad of Florida-centric organizations: the Florida Park Service, Native Plant Society, Florida Trail Association, and the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission's Ridge Rangers. 

Find him on Twitter or Facebook, and make sure to check out and like his business, Osprey Nature Photography, on Facebook. Search for his work on either platform with #FLhike or #ospreynaturephotography

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

In this episode "The Florida Spectacular" welcomes David Anderson, who grew up on the Jungle Prada site, a potential landing site for Panfilo de Narvaez. Take a walking tour with David the next time you're in St. Petersburg and learn more about the tours and property here.

fb.com/discoverfloridatours

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

Today, Rachel Arndt, communications manager for Tampa Bay Watch, an environmental nonprofit organization. 

Links we mentioned:

Tampa Bay Watch

Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center

Tampa Bay Watch Facebook page

How can I get a vertical oyster garden for my dock?

Sign up for alerts (including red tide alerts) from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

In this episode, the Florida Spectacular welcomes Jamie Rich, the founder and editor in chief of Flamingo, Florida’s only statewide lifestyle magazine—For Floridians. By Floridians.

Here's how to connect to Flamingo: 

https://www.flamingomag.com

social: @theflamingomag

Women of Waves and equal pay in surfing.

Have you met the lady python hunters of Florida?

Get the Fresh Squeezed newsletter from Flamingo Magazine.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Rachel Doll, who markets every book printed by the University Press of Florida. Rachel talks about current Florida books that can help you take a deep dive into the Sunshine State. Take a look at how you can read more about what makes Florida spectacular, and below find Rachel's top three books for new Floridians.

Books we mentioned: 

• "The Palmetto Book: Histories and Mysteries of the Cabbage Palm"
• "The Wilder Heart of Florida: More Writers Inspired by Florida Nature"
• Norm Van Aken's cookbook, "Norman Van Aken's Florida Kitchen"
• "Seeking the American Tropics: South Florida's Early Naturalists"
• "The Thing About Florida: Exploring a Misunderstood State"
• "Roaring Reptiles, Bountiful Citrus, and Neon Pies: An Unofficial Guide to Florida's Official Symbols"

Rachel's Top Three Books for New Floridians

1. "The History of Florida," edited by Michael Gannon

A comprehensive guide to Florida history

2. "This Day in Florida History," edited by Andrew Frank

A day-by-day guide to what happened, and when, in Florida

3.  "Field to Feast: Recipes Celebrating Florida Farmers, Chefs, and Artisans," by Pam Brandon, Katie Farmand, and Heather McPherson

A cookbook that tells the story of Florida food

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

This week "The Florida Spectacular" welcomes Chadd Scott, Conservation Chair of the Florida Native Plant Society Ixia Chapter (northeast Florida) and Andrew Furman, avid southeast Florida gardener and author of Bitten, Goldens Are Here, and Jewfish. They talk about attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife to their three respective landscapes.

If this podcast inspires you to make your own Florida landscape spectacular, start here. To learn more about native Florida plants and flowers, check out the Florida Native Plant Society and look for a nursery that sells Florida plants, shrubs, trees, and flowers.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Mark Walters, journalist, veterinarian, and author of “Florida Scrub-Jay: Field Notes on a Vanishing Bird.”

Why the scrub jay? Tune in to find out.

Want to buy the book? (Spoiler alert: You do!) Get it here.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

In this episode, the Florida Spectacular welcomes Rick Kilby, Florida author. 

Orlando-based writer and graphic designer Rick Kilby is the author of Florida’s Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts, and Health Spas, which received the silver medal for Florida nonfiction from the Florida Book Awards and the Florida Historical Society’s Stetson Kennedy Award. His first book, Finding the Fountain of Youth: Ponce de León and Florida's Magical Waters, won a Florida Book Award in the Visual Arts category. 

Rick's Old Florida Blog: http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com or oldfa.com

Twitter @OldFLA

Facebook: www.facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth

Instagram: @ricklebee

rickkilby.com

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Bruce Horovitz, author of Gamble Rogers, A Troubadour's Life. Listen to the story of this man's incredible life, his impact on Florida and his influence on songwriters and musicians like Jimmy Buffett.  

Bruce Horovitz is an award-winning author and an entrepreneur with extensive experience in the non-profit and business communities. His book, Gamble Rogers, A Troubadour's Life, won the Charlton Tebeau Award and the Bronze Medal for Non Fiction from the Florida Book Awards.

Links we mentioned:

Gamble Rogers Memorial Foundation

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area

Gamble Rogers Music Festival

Facebook page for Gamble Rogers book

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

The Florida Spectacular welcomes Dr. José García, the author of Voices from Mariel. Dr. Garcia also co-produced the award winning documentary by the same name. 

Both his book and documentary have been presented nationally and internationally in such places as Europe and Australia. 

Dr. Garcia left Cuba as apart of the Mariel boatlift when he was a teenager. 

Get the book here.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!