The theme is ROOTS!
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Roots Paddling,
Roots Photography,
and the Roots on my head*!
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(Most of the images also serve as links to matching stories for further reading and entertainment!)
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“Roots paddling – the seedling and the stick”
A mangrove seedling on top of a Greenland stick paddle on a sandy beach in Florida Bay.
CLICK for story: Miami to Flamingo across Florida Bay via Short Key
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In sub-tropical South Florida we live surrounded by roots. These are the roots of the extensive coastal mangrove forests of the Everglades, the Ten Thousand Islands of Southwest Florida, and (what’s left) of the eastern South Florida coastline. The mangroves provide habitat for many species and form the basis of ecosystems and the many hundreds of small islands and hammocks that dot the Everglades and the coast.
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The beauty of emergence!
A mangrove seedling opens up and sprouts off Key Biscayne.
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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Paddling in South Florida is Roots Paddling!
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“Birth of an island”
A sandbar in the process of becoming an island thanks in part to a clutch of mangrove seedlings!
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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Black mangrove shoots (pneumatophores) at low tide on a beach in Florida Bay.
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“Tidal zone anchor: Above & below”
Kayakfari ART photography
Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!
CLICK for story!
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Mangroves roots underwater.
Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!
CLICK for story!
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Mangroves are often called the “walking trees” for good reason!
Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!
CLICK for story!
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“Roots Canoeing #1”
Kayakfari ART photography
CLICK for story: Craighead Pond Canoe Trail
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“Kayaker at Graveyard Creek”
Ten Thousand Islands & Gulf Aerial VR Panoramas
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Mangrove and shoal at Rabbit Key in the Ten Thousand Islands.
CLICK for story: Camping Hell in the 10000 islands
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“Anchoring to a Higher ground!”
Just like mangrove roots, natural dreadlocks keep on growing out.
They are the living Roots on my head! BLESS!
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Pneumatophores in the golden sunlight, Everglades National Park.
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Dreadlocks are my natural hair style and it’s a beautiful thing!
Absent combs or blades, this is the natural state of my hair. The locks will keep growing and growing. This is about six years’ worth! 🙂
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“Paddling through mangrove hoops!”
Kayakfari ART photography
CLICK for story: Craighead Pond Canoe Trail
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“Big sky paddling in the Everglades”
Kayakfari ART photography
CLICK for story: Craighead Pond Canoe Trail
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“Twisted Roots on Camp LuLu beach”
Kayakfari ART photography
CLICK for story: Ten Thousand Islands camping at Camp LuLu
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“Bay scrag #1”
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“The Flats Monster”
ART of the Bay – Florida Bay Landscapes
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“The Grasshopper”
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“Roots with oysters in the ten thousand islands”
Kayakfari ART photography
CLICK for story: Ten Thousand Islands camping at Camp LuLu
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“Felix the khat”
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“Roots sunset”
Kayakfari ART photography
Higher ground in the Lower Keys and Faith in Numbers!
CLICK for story!
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“Square root moonrise”
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“The Root of it All”
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“Roots, Flats & Birds of Florida Bay”
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“Roots type Feeling”
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“Crazy Fingers!”
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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Roots strong – anchoring to a Higher ground!
Not everyone has the hair for it, but if you do, I highly recommend growing out dreads. They take their time – it’s a study in faith and patience!
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Mangrove tunnel at Coot Bay in the Everglades.
CLICK for story: Go West to East Cape – an interior route via “Spoonbill Pass” and Raulerson Prairie
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Mangrove jungles can be nearly impossible to get through and thus make great natural barriers for humans.
Kayakfari ART photography
CLICK for story: Crossing paths of Gladesmen, Gator hunters, Outlaws & Moonshiners of the Everglades!
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The nearly impenetrable mangroves thereby make excellent hiding places!
CLICK for story: ART at Liquor Still Bay – hidden history in the Everglades
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Dried up husk of a Red mangrove on the Taylor Slough.
CLICK for story: ART of Halloween kayaking – a Darkness in the Everglades!
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“The Nightmare”
Every times you think you’re out, they pull you back in!
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“21st Century Roots”
On Biscayne Bay, among the roots of Miami Beach!
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“Roots life”
CLICK for story: Barron Creek to Ferguson River Loop – Mangroves, Airboats and Mud.
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The Roots on my head! Jah Pastafari!
CLICK for story: Winter Wonderland paddling – kayak photography at Cochiti Lake on the Rio Grande in New Mexico
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Learn how to become a Pastafarian!
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“Lion’s mane roots on the Turner River”
Kayakfari ART photography – CLICK for more!
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“Roots paddling forgotten trails of the Everglades”
CLICK for story: Crossing paths of Gladesmen, Gator hunters, Outlaws & Moonshiners of the Everglades!
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The late afternoon sun bathed these mangroves in a soft and beautiful light!
CLICK for story: Oyster Bay chickee camping platform
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“Mangrove maze & mud”
Kayakfari ART photography
CLICK for story: Barron Creek to Ferguson River Loop – Mangroves, Airboats and Mud
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Paddling around the twists and bends in Charley Creek mangrove tunnel.
CLICK for story: Camping Hell in the Ten Thousand Islands
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A forest of Black Mangroves spanning many generations covers the ground and interior of many Florida Bay islands.
CLICK for story: Little Rabbit Key – a camping jewel in Central Florida Bay
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At the extreme limits of Florida kayaking – tossing boats over mangroves on the “Widowmaker” trail.
CLICK for story: An invitation to paddling forgotten trails of the Everglades!
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Ibis-eye aerial view of a mangrove re-seedling project at Oleta River State Park in North Miami.
CLICK for interactive panorama!
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Morning dew on a mangrove leaf at Little Rabbit Key.
CLICK for story: Across Florida Bay – Flamingo to Long Key Roundtrip Adventure
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As mangrove leaves fall in the water and rot under the roots, they leach tannins and turn the water a distinctive tea color.
This “Everglades tea” is a familiar sight in the brackish waters of the Everglades.
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Mangrove leaves rotting underwater in the Everglades.
CLICK for story: Crossing paths of Gladesmen, Gator hunters, Outlaws & Moonshiners of the Everglades!
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“Pull you back in!”
Mangroves guarding the entrance to Liquor Still Bay.
CLICK for story: Moonshine in the 10 000 Islands
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Universal Roots – a free state of Mind! 🙂
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“Entering a mangrove canopy cathedral”
Kayakfari ART photography
She’s a whole lotta Kayak – A tribute to Rosie and all the plus sized kayaks out there!
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“The roots on my head”!
Kayaking on the Rio Grande in New Mexico.
CLICK for story!
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BLESS UP!
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(* Technically my roots are no longer attached to my head!)
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“Oh Noooooooooooo! I been scalped ?”
My 3 foot roots are actually no longer on my head. I keep them safely hanging on the wall for now! 😉
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I miss my dreadlocks THIS much, but now the roots are IN my head!
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There are some unfortunate misconceptions about dreadlocks in general. Probably the most common misconception is that dreadlocks are inherently dirty and smelly. This is only true if they’re not washed! Normal personal hygiene means keeping locks clean and naturally smelling nice. It’s important to dry then out thoroughly when wet, something that can actually take up to a couple of hours or more. “Pruning” the locks is sometimes necessary as they can “branch” out to join with nearby dreads. Other than that, it’s a mostly maintenance-free hairstyle. There is no need for combs or conditioners, just a decent shampoo!
Dreadlocks are very organic, just like the mangrove roots.
It is a very natural and free state of being!
I heartily recommend dreadlocks to anyone who can grow them.
Particularly the slow-motion experience of “locking up”! Enjoy!
“The More you Know – Anchoring to a Higher ground!”
Often you will see the four types of mangroves side by side as pictured below. This is something called zonation, as each species takes it’s place according to tidal conditions, elevation and soil salinity factors. You can see the importance of the red and black mangroves in anchoring to the higher ground around them. Over time they can seem to move around, hence their nickname – the “walking tree”. This occurs around the shallow periphery of the islands. The taller Black and White mangroves growing in the higher interiors can keep their distinct “profile” shape for decades!
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Four types of mangroves found in South Florida.
Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_mangroves
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You may also like:
Roots Art from Decorated Reality
“Extreme Birdwatching”
Kayakfari ART photography
CLICK to see the whole series!
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Select images available as high quality archival prints for sale directly to you in various sizes for all your collecting, decorating and viewing pleasures and needs!
Licensing is also available for print and/or digital editorial uses.
E-mail me for a price list or for a quote
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Roots – BLESS!
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© 2016 – 2021 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com . All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved!
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DISCLAIMER:
The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
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I hereby disclaim any sponsorship, endorsement, nor association with any product or service described herein. The photographs, depictions, products, and ideas presented on this site are for informational purposes only. Your results may vary, and I do not imply nor guarantee the effectiveness, suitability, design or operation to adhere to any standard. I assume no legal responsibility for the implementation of anything herein presented! Use any and all information at your own risk! By using any and all information from this website, you accept the final liability for any use or possible associated misuse!
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With that said..
Blessings friends!
🙂
Kayakfari
kayakfari ( kayak .. far .. i ) 