After spending precious moments with family, we continued on to honor the legacy of Indigenous People nearby “St Petersburg”. The “Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center” is located along the shores of “Old Tampa Bay”.

It was wonderful to see the sun making an appearance through the clouds, since the morning felt quite chilly. At around 2:00 PM, we arrived at the 3,200-acre preserve, which is a coastal system comprised of aquatic and upland ecosystems, and hosts numerous species of flora and fauna. We looked forward to experiencing this beautiful, natural environment.

First, we decided to travel further down the road towards the pier, where boats and kayaks launched from dockside. Although it was still cool, many people came out to indulge in their favorite water activities; and some folks, like me, were just watching others and admiring the beauty of this setting.

From the pier, there were beautiful views of the sun glistening on the water and many birds gliding over our heads, probably looking to either feast or roost. Mangroves were visible around the shoreline. Plus, we had the opportunity to see these wondrous formations close up. It was amazing--so many natural plants rooting, growing, and thriving together. Awesome sight!

*Dense mangrove forest (elevated roots) on the coastline, Old Tampa Bay, St Petersburg”.*

Determined to document the presence of First Nation People in the area, we returned to hike the trails in the preserve and were captivated by the following:

On the main trail, amid beautiful pine trees and shrubs along the path, we spotted a large raccoon, who appeared to be just as star-struck by seeing us as we were about him. Then, he quickly waved at us before turning to waddle back into the brush. What a delight!
Turning right off the main trail, there were plenty of impressive looking mangrove forests; many gorgeous trees, like live oaks, pine trees, red bays, cabbage palms, and saw palmettos; and views of the bay on the left. We noted incredible root systems in the mangrove forest, lovingly climbing over, around and through, forming beautiful natural mazes along the path and new plants, with bright green leaves, just beginning to reach out for companionship.
At lookout trail, overlooking the bay, we viewed glistening water with ripples moving gently in the wind. We noted shell fragments around several mounds and pools of dark water in the dense forest. Curiously, the dark water turns yellow in certain areas, and then milky white in spots, then dark again; and more small mounds are apparent here.
Heading on to another trail, we observed land elevations and mounds along this fascinating area canopied by many old trees (including species of oaks, pines, and palms) with clingy moss swaying gently in the breeze. We were drawn to colorful leaves of bright yellow, orange, and red that adorned some trees, making bold statements in the tranquil environment.

*A myriad of shells and fragments embedded in sandy soil throughout the terrain.*

*Water gathered from runoff in small pool appears to contain calcite from limestone.*

Back at the entrance, we decided to take another trail and stopped to admire a beautiful old oak tree on the right with long expressive branches sprawling out. Continuing on, we soon observed many shell fragments on the ground among the forest of tall pine trees and other natural vegetation. Our steps hastened as another hiker proclaimed that the 45-foot tower was just ahead. It is humorous to note that “just ahead” means different things to some folks—anyway, we kept trekking along.

After a while, Jamal scoped it through the trees and upon arriving, we faced its four levels offering different vantage points between each flight of stairs. We enjoyed beautiful panoramic water views; natural shoreline mangrove forests; awesome treetop views of the flatwoods below; and much more.

In addition to the ancestral signatures witnessed earlier, we are glad to include the following memories:

Appreciating many beautiful white birds swooping down gracefully onto preferred treetops;
Hearing sounds familiar to a rookery loaded with birds, beckoning each other to gather; and
Glimpsing at several small islands naturally constructed by oyster beds and varied mangrove trees.

*Mangrove islands naturally positioned along waterways throughout the location.*

Finally, we walked to a place called “Wading Bird Buffet,” which is a wonderfully peaceful spot that overlooks an estuary containing plenty of nutrient-dense food sources for feeding all types of birds. We watched as one large white bird gracefully made selections from the water, seeming to enjoy eating alone. We wanted to linger in all of this serenity…however, daylight was slowly fading.

We are very thankful for the opportunity to pay homage to the heritage and legacy of First Nation People.

Shell mounds at "Weedon Island - St Petersburg, Florida"