After three days in Universal Orlando, we were taking the scenic route through Florida Panther reserve, Big Cypress, and the Everglades on our way to Key West. We got up and out early from Orlando, and found ourselves in Big Cypress late morning, July 2022.
This is as good a spot to mention as any: I'm a big plant nerd-- I love gardening and growing flowers and orchids and cacti and especially bromeliads (also called "air plants" -- an epiphytic plant that grows on other plants and trees without parasitic damage to the host.) Big Cypress is home to some absolutely amazing plants; among them, many species of tillandsia, including some rare/endangered species. There are sixteen native bromeliads here, including the huge Cardinal airplant.
As we pulled into the visitor center parking lot, we noted the dark squall line of thunderstorms a few miles from our location, interrupted frequently by flashes of lightning and booming claps of thunder. This was going to be a quick restroom stop and an even faster tour of the facility.
After hitting the head, we walked out onto the boardwalk along the ditch, quickly spotting a couple of gators, lots of fish, a few turtles and some wading birds. The trees in the area are covered with those ubiquitous mounds of Spanish moss (also an airplant, by the way), along with several other awesome bromeliads.
Because we were traveling on July 4, the center was closed... and in cue, a bolt of lightning streaked from cloud to ground about a quarter mile from our location, and roared in our ears. As the skies opened up, we ran the two hundred yards to the truck in vain, arriving thoroughly soaked. Just a SoCal family digging in Florida weather.
As we drove through the incredible weather, we noted all of the different bromeliads growing on trees, power lines, road signs-- anywhere they could anchor. The dense cypress forests, with their feet wet in the swamps were also postcard-beautiful no matter where you looked.
Too bad this place wasn't open when we visited, but definitely worth visiting again on our next long family road trip. read more