TNT Explore Nature

TNT Explore Nature Owner-Guides share beloved Everglades' Fakahatchee Strand through fun, immersive nature tours. Create lasting connections with the Everglades and Nature. Kayak.

Experience unique plants, rare orchids, endangered wildlife. Dry/Wet Hikes. Bicycle. Auto. Expert guides lead guests on an immersive Everglades experience.

Lake Michigan: need we say more, lol?! Actually, yes! We do have more to say about this gorgeous inland sea. Here are a ...
08/16/2024

Lake Michigan: need we say more, lol?! Actually, yes! We do have more to say about this gorgeous inland sea. Here are a few facts about Lake Michigan, we hope you find them as interesting as we do. "Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake located fully in the United States. Its name comes from the Ojibwa Indian word "mishigami," meaning large lake. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume. Lake Michigan touches Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It has more than 500 shipwrecks."

Spiranthes; aka Ladies Tresses. One of Michigan's 53 native orchid species. These specimens occur in the wild, at The Re...
08/16/2024

Spiranthes; aka Ladies Tresses. One of Michigan's 53 native orchid species. These specimens occur in the wild, at The Retreat. Looking forward to confirming exact identification; all input welcome! Central Michigan 08/15/24.

Afternoon thunderstorm passing over the western Everglades.
08/15/2024

Afternoon thunderstorm passing over the western Everglades.

Nearly two weeks ago, we adventured to Manistee to visit the Michigan Champion Sequoia at Lake Bluff Farms. (Scroll back...
08/15/2024

Nearly two weeks ago, we adventured to Manistee to visit the Michigan Champion Sequoia at Lake Bluff Farms. (Scroll back to find pics of this amazing tree!!) We thoroughly enjoyed the back roads on the way there and back, and to say we enjoyed visiting the arboretum is an understatement. The sequoias were breathtaking, but these were not the only giant trees, maples, oaks and dogwoods tower above, to name a few. We also enjoyed the views of Lake Michigan from atop the bluff, and we even got to spend time on the beach...

Here at "The Retreat," we share our space with a wide variety of wildlife. We live by the mantra, "If you plant it, they...
08/14/2024

Here at "The Retreat," we share our space with a wide variety of wildlife. We live by the mantra, "If you plant it, they will come." Our backyard is an adventure every day! Central Michigan 08/10/24

The "Common" Nighthawk, observed near Naples, Florida at dusk, June 3, 2024. "Common Nighthawks are most active from hal...
08/14/2024

The "Common" Nighthawk, observed near Naples, Florida at dusk, June 3, 2024. "Common Nighthawks are most active from half an hour before sunset until an hour after sunset, and again starting an hour before sunrise (ending about 15 minutes after the sun comes up). They fly with looping, batlike bouts of continuous flapping and sporadic glides. Common Nighthawks are usually solitary, but they form large flocks during migration and males sometimes roost together. Large migrating flocks are most conspicuous in early evening, particularly as the birds gather above billboards and other bright lights to feed on insects."

Coluber constrictor foxii, the Blue Racer, is native Michigan. This particular snake was observed while on a road trip t...
08/13/2024

Coluber constrictor foxii, the Blue Racer, is native Michigan. This particular snake was observed while on a road trip through Manistee County, Michigan. "Blue racers seem to be relatively intolerant of high levels of human activity and for most of the active season, they remain in areas of low human density. Blue racers are active foragers. The younger snakes may consume crickets and other insects, whereas adults feed primarily on rodents, songbirds and other snakes."

We believe this is the male from the owl family that resides in the neighborhood we frequent on Marco Island. He diligen...
08/13/2024

We believe this is the male from the owl family that resides in the neighborhood we frequent on Marco Island. He diligently stands guard, acting as both decoy and sentinel, ever vigilant in his duties. His commitment to protecting his family is remarkable.

"The typical breeding season for the Florida burrowing owl is February 15 to July 10, though owls can breed earlier or later. Nesting occurs in burrows in the ground that they dig. These burrows will be maintained and used again the following year (Haug et al. 1993). Females lay up to eight eggs within a one-week period, and they will incubate the eggs for up to 28 days. Once the white-feathered juveniles are born, it takes two weeks before they are ready and able to appear out of the burrow. Juveniles will begin learning how to fly at four weeks, but will not be able to fly well until they are six weeks old. Juveniles will stay with the parents until they are able to self-sustain at 12 weeks old. Burrowing owls are different than other owls as they are active during the day time (diurnal) rather than at night (nocturnal) during breeding season. During the non-breeding season, they become more nocturnal."

Though the "Butterfly Bush" is not native to Michigan, it is a very beneficial ornamental plant to have in the garden. N...
08/13/2024

Though the "Butterfly Bush" is not native to Michigan, it is a very beneficial ornamental plant to have in the garden. Not only is it visually appealing, but it also emits a delightful fragrance that attracts hummingbirds, and dozens of species of pollinators. It is essential nectar source in late summer for those, like the Monarch and hummingbirds, who migrate south. Pictured here, enjoying nectar from the Butterfly Bushes, are a Red Admiral butterfly (diurnal), and the Clearwing Sphinx moth (nocturnal; aka "hummingbird" moth).

🦋

Front yard wild orchids in central Michigan! (Great Plains?) Spiranthes on the left, (Broadleaf?) Helleborine on right. ...
08/10/2024

Front yard wild orchids in central Michigan! (Great Plains?) Spiranthes on the left, (Broadleaf?) Helleborine on right. Both non-native, if we've correctly identified. What do you think?

The Giant Sequoia is a close relative of the Eastern Red Cedar and Northern White Cedar, both native to Michigan. Though...
08/10/2024

The Giant Sequoia is a close relative of the Eastern Red Cedar and Northern White Cedar, both native to Michigan. Though sequoias are immensely larger than cedars, the bark, leaf structure, and overall symmetry of the trees are very similar. Here at Lake Bluff Farms, there are so many other enormous trees that these (relatively) young sequoias don't yet look too out of place in this arboretum.

It started with a visit to our "drinking fountain" and then this Red-shouldered hawk discovered the source pond and deci...
08/09/2024

It started with a visit to our "drinking fountain" and then this Red-shouldered hawk discovered the source pond and decided it was time for a refreshing dip! Everglades City 06/03/24

Visiting the arboretum at Lake Bluff Farms and witnessing the Michigan Champion Giant Sequoia tree was fantastic. Though...
08/09/2024

Visiting the arboretum at Lake Bluff Farms and witnessing the Michigan Champion Giant Sequoia tree was fantastic. Though the sequoias are not native, they seem to be thriving on Michigan's west coast; three of them, to be exact! Actually, there are about ten younger clones that have been recently added to the arboretum, as well. Many native species thriving, as well. More to come!

Many of you know our friend, and former biologist of the Fakahatchee Strand, Mike Owen, and we wanted to share this rece...
08/08/2024

Many of you know our friend, and former biologist of the Fakahatchee Strand, Mike Owen, and we wanted to share this recent post and health update, from his niece. https://gofund.me/b712e920



Photo credit: Jay Staton

Our yard is home to the host plant for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly. Though we see their lifecycle in nearly continuous...
08/08/2024

Our yard is home to the host plant for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly. Though we see their lifecycle in nearly continuous motion, the process never ceases to amaze, a successful emergence is always miraculous! Everglades City 05/31/24

Central Michigan sunset, taken only a few minutes apart. Saturday evening was warm and humid, creating quite the haze on...
08/07/2024

Central Michigan sunset, taken only a few minutes apart. Saturday evening was warm and humid, creating quite the haze on the horizon. Which do you prefer:
A) without turbines or
B) with turbines?

Enjoyed a Big Cypress National Preserve Sunset Auto-Safari in early June, and got to observe three wonderful native snak...
08/07/2024

Enjoyed a Big Cypress National Preserve Sunset Auto-Safari in early June, and got to observe three wonderful native snakes, two Water Moccasins and an Eastern Rat snake. If you ever want THE BEST defense against rats and mice, you want a native snake in your neighborhood! Sure, traps and poisons work, but you have to hope the pest finds the goods. The snake is out looking for the pest and stops it before it can get that close to your home! Bonus, you don't have to worry about accidentally trapping or poisoning the wrong critters!! (Note: The Water Moccasin is a venomous snake and should be given plenty of clearance by humans and pets. If you find one of these guys on your property, consider calling for a professional trapper who will humanely trap and relocate.)

Like all lagomorphs, this Marsh Rabbit has a very expressive face and eyes. They're very interesting bunnies, and there ...
08/06/2024

Like all lagomorphs, this Marsh Rabbit has a very expressive face and eyes. They're very interesting bunnies, and there is much to share, but for now, we share our concern for their catastrophic decline in the Everglades region of south Florida, especially Everglades National Park, where they are basically extinct. The cause? Invasive Burmese pythons. Rabbits are a keystone species, meaning removing them from their habitat can completely and dramatically alter an entire ecosystem. Then factor in the addition of the invasive python and its continued effects on the ecosystem. Though they may seem abundant in some areas, overall, they are in steep decline. If you're lucky enough to observe a marsh bunny, in south Florida, savor the moment!

"I always feel like somebody's watching me..."Burrowing Owl peeping through the living room window of this Marco Island ...
08/05/2024

"I always feel like somebody's watching me..."

Burrowing Owl peeping through the living room window of this Marco Island home, while we visit, back in early June 2024.

Giving y'all the tiniest taste of what we experienced on Saturday 08/03/24. It was well worth the road trip, and we high...
08/05/2024

Giving y'all the tiniest taste of what we experienced on Saturday 08/03/24. It was well worth the road trip, and we highly recommend you include this stop on your M-22 Fall Color Tour Adventure! (This is the M-110/Lakeshore Dr portion between Portage Lake and Manistee.)

Prayers for all in Debbie's path. Stay safe, dear ones. 🙏💙
08/04/2024

Prayers for all in Debbie's path. Stay safe, dear ones. 🙏💙

Just a little over two months until the beginning of another wonderful season of adventures exploring the Everglades wit...
08/01/2024

Just a little over two months until the beginning of another wonderful season of adventures exploring the Everglades with all y'all! 🤩 Maybe it's the incredible wildlife that lures you to southwest Florida. Maybe it's the rare, native orchids. Or maybe it's those gorgeous sunsets. 😍 Whatever the lure, we've got the tour! Join us! Reserve now and save! 😎 www.tntexplorenature.com

Swamp things! We enjoyed a lovely summer afternoon in Deadman Swamp, Farwell MI.
08/01/2024

Swamp things! We enjoyed a lovely summer afternoon in Deadman Swamp, Farwell MI.

If we just carried the camera around the yard, taking pictures of butterflies, we'd never get any work done! Here's a ve...
07/31/2024

If we just carried the camera around the yard, taking pictures of butterflies, we'd never get any work done! Here's a very small sample of who's been visiting. We regularly observe the strikingly beautiful White Admiral (left) sipping nectar in the gardens, especially and appropriately from the Butterfly bushes. We observe many skippers, including this one, who was skipping around in the woods, and seemed to be attracted to the lichens growing on the tree. Not sure what species skipper; help! Central Michigan 7/29/24

🦋

So much fun watching mom feed her nestlings! Central Michigan mesic prairie 07/28/24
07/30/2024

So much fun watching mom feed her nestlings! Central Michigan mesic prairie 07/28/24

A beautiful, solitary Limpkin hunts for Apple snails in the drying waters of Big Cypress National Preserve 06/01/24 ...
07/30/2024

A beautiful, solitary Limpkin hunts for Apple snails in the drying waters of Big Cypress National Preserve 06/01/24

In a central Michigan hardwood forest, we discovered Monotropa uniflora, ghost pipe, "Often mistaken for a fungus, Monot...
07/30/2024

In a central Michigan hardwood forest, we discovered Monotropa uniflora, ghost pipe, "Often mistaken for a fungus, Monotropa uniflora is sometimes called the “ghost plant” in honor of its near-total lack of pigmentation. The flowers of Monotropa uniflora are usually white but may occasionally be pink or even darker - salmon and red have been reported."

A flock of Roseate spoonbills was joined by a Great Egret and a pair of Great Blue Herons. Receding water at the end of ...
07/29/2024

A flock of Roseate spoonbills was joined by a Great Egret and a pair of Great Blue Herons. Receding water at the end of the dry season causes birds to congregate. Early June at Ten-thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

This gorgeous owl was observed hunting for its evening meal in a dry, early June Fakahatchee Strand."Until the twentieth...
07/27/2024

This gorgeous owl was observed hunting for its evening meal in a dry, early June Fakahatchee Strand.

"Until the twentieth century, Barred Owls were residents of old, undisturbed forests in eastern North America. They were probably restricted from moving into northwestern boreal forests because of frequent forest fires. But fire suppression—along with tree planting in the Great Plains—allowed them to spread northward and westward during the past century. They eventually expanded south along the West Coast as far as California, where they began competing with Spotted Owls. Barred Owls have displaced these slightly smaller and less aggressive owls and have been hybridizing with them, further threatening the already compromised Spotted Owl population. Barred Owls are forest birds and tend to occur in mature forests, because they need large, dead trees for nest sites. These requirements make them sensitive to logging expansion. For this reason, the Barred Owl is often used as an indicator species for managing old forests."

Dow Gardens and Ribbit the Exhibit was simply delightful; we loved every moment of it. From the frog art to the old grow...
07/26/2024

Dow Gardens and Ribbit the Exhibit was simply delightful; we loved every moment of it. From the frog art to the old growth trees, the water features to the rose garden; everywhere we ventured we discovered something mesmerizing.

Address

Everglades City, FL

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 7pm
Tuesday 7am - 7pm
Wednesday 7am - 7pm
Thursday 7am - 7pm
Friday 7am - 7pm
Saturday 7am - 7pm
Sunday 7am - 7pm

Telephone

+19895601783

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when TNT Explore Nature posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to TNT Explore Nature:

Videos

Pheasants race cars? Ring-necked pheasant races our truck down a country road in central Michigan. #tntexplorenature #letssloughagain #minkwhisperers #ringneckedpheasant #ringneckedpheasants #pheasants #centralmichigan #midmichigan

Pig Frog Army! (and one big gator splash!) Fakahatchee Strand @TNTExploreNature

www.tntexplorenature.com Slogging through the slough searching for the Strand Swamp's most secret treasures! TNT Explore Nature. Everglades Immersive Nature Tours.

TNT Explore Nature. Everglades Immersive Eco Tours. Dry Hike & Wet Walk Combo Tour. Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. 01.14.24 #tntexplorenature #letssloughagain #minkwhisperers #guidedtours #guidedhikes #swamp #swamped #swamplife #SpringBreak #springbreak #springbreak2024 #floridaspringbreak #springbreakflorida #everglades #evergladescity

Mystery "Light Bulbs"
Mystery "Light Bulbs"

Central Michigan. 8/24/22 Raccoon checking out the chicken coop. What the heck are those four vertical "light bulbs" that move across the screen???? We really wanna know what you think, let us know in the comments below. :D

"To survive, people must know that they are part of the natural world and live in harmony with it." -Native American Proverb Happy Earth Day from TNT Explore Nature! Guided Everglades Nature Tours www.tntexplorenature.com

What are people saying about our guided tours? "My Guided Fakahatchee Legend Hike/customized/private tour with TNT Explore Nature was the high point of my trip to south Florida. I would never have felt comfortable taking a hike through the Everglades on my own, but TNT Explore Nature made me feel confident and secure wandering through the wetlands and forests there." Thanks, Kathy! We're so happy you enjoyed your tour! Let TNT Explore Nature expert guides lead you on an immersive Everglades experience. Book your tour today! www.tntexplorenature.com

Sneak peak of Halfway Creek!

Let's go to the coast! Full moon-tarpon feeding frenzy.

UNBELIEVABLE first day back at The Fak!!

Service for a minute.... Teaser for ya!

Shortcuts

Share

Category