Homosassa, Florida

by Val
(Homosassa, FL, USA)

I live on the "nature coast" area of central-west Florida. Not the area of long white beaches and tall hotels and many tourists but the area where the first explorers hacked their way inland from the Gulf in search of gold and other treasures and dealing with local Indians and wildlife.

The translation for my town is "place where many peppers grow" and I am sure there was not much gold here, or mermaids, or the "fountain of youth". But there were coyotes, alligators, snakes, black bears, beautiful tropical birds and beautiful tropical flowers and they all remain to this day, the explorers long gone.

We have three seasons. In the summer the water in the Gulf is shallow and warm and abundant with all kinds of sea life. Porpoises and sea turtles frolic and play among the fishing boats. In the Fall there is wonderful color in the vegetation - with beautiful red, yellow, orange, gold - the leaves fall from many trees and we experience yet another season.

It is mostly warm, humid and tropical here and I appreciate the beauty of the area.