Loxahatchee Lesson 5
The purpose of this post is to continue to share the slides of the late Fred van Vonno. I presented charts and aerials yesterday in Loxahatchee Lesson 4. Tomorrow, or later today, I will add structures and people. Today we share my favorite, Loxahatchee Flora and Fauna as well as River Scenes. If you recognize anything interesting let us know! My mother noticed what appears to be old world climbing fern slide #7. A terrible invasive plant that costs millions of dollars for the State of Florida to manage.
Thank you to my mother for archiving these photos that were once slides in Mr van Vonno’s 1980s slide shows. Thank you to our friend, Nicki van Vonno for sharing her husband’s work.
SLIDES RELATING TO THE LOXAHATCHEE RIVER
Removed from a slide carousel used by Fred van Vonno who was a Planner (GS-11) from June 1978 until 1982 for the Department of Interior National Park Service, Regional Office in Atlanta, Ga. His work involved assessing the “recreational potential of rivers and trails.” The slides were used for presentations when van Vanno was the Study Coordinator for the Loxahatchee and Myakka Wild and Scenic River studies. It is a good idea to make sure these photographs are documented because some of the photos are more than 40 years old. I would think they would have been taken around 1980.
–Sandra Thurlow 8-20
FLORA & FAUNA
RIVER SCENES 
I had not noticed what seems to be Old World Fern in the seventh slide. I wonder if this was just the beginning of this invasive species taking over? I have heard that it escaped from one of the area’s early nurseries. I would love to know if its spread around the Loxahatchee preceded it taking over the Great Cypress Swamp.
Thank you for pointing that out. I will do some homework. An awful invasive plant!
What a great service you do Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, sharing your info in your blogs is so helpful and interesting. The pictures are always so informative.
I agree with Anonymous above about the old world fern. That one photo sure looks like it climbing up in the trees. I have heard the area north of Jupiter Farms is where it got lose.
Thanks for your always keeping us in good info.
Thank you Mike. Wow terrible that invasive got loose so close to home.
Thank you, Sandy and Jacqui, for all you do!!👍
😁