Is this myth about "Florida shade" true?

[Robert Sobczak]

Can you guess what
myth about the "shade"
in the Florida swamps
is really true?

a. Shaded areas are ironically the hottest,
i.e causing water to sometimes boil

b. Shaded areas are the most dangerous,
even more treacherous than a dark alley in the city

c. Shaded areas are havens for nuisance bugs,
most notably swarms of mosquitoes.

d. Shaded areas are most likely place you'll find a Florida native,
whereas tourists tend to unwittingly stand unprotected under sun.

Find the answer in Go Hydrology! 

[Kim Gass]

c. is true for the North too. Only a hapless tourist would choose to camp in no seeum laden woods.

[Swamp Hunter]

Mosquitos tend to be heavy in some oak hammocks but I still seek out the shade in summer or fall.   I much prefer the shade of a Cypress Slough or Dome over hot nasty Pineheads in Summer.

 

I say D. The oil pad Pinecrest campground has midday and afternoon shade on only one side but for some reason the tourists tend to camp in the open under the hot sun.  There are times when an oak tree is your best friend.

[Robert Sobczak]

You know your a native if you can differentiate among the types of shades!  (Oak vs. cypress vs. pine)

[Kim Gass]

Two are deciduous.  Shade all the time? Hmmm

I dunno.. Floridians were on the beach in March complaining of the cool. I was in the shade at the same campsite complaing of the heat. And getting deservedly bit.

Is it summer yet?  We had snow yesterday near here!

[Robert Sobczak]

I lose track of the seasons all the time in Florida.  Then when as you describe you have northerners down thinking cold is warm (and warm is hot vice versa) it gets very confusing fast.

[Swamp Hunter]

I guess the summer is here. I was born in Pittsburgh so I have nothing against northerners. I noticed the tourist campers do not seem to seek out shade in the winter maybe not realizing it can be cool one day and hot the next or cool in the morning and hot in the afternoon. In the winter, its only hot in the direct sun.

 

Thinking about it, I seek out the shade in all seasons even in winter. .Many of our oaks are not decidious.  But I can imagine there are shady places in the mangroves that are unbearable. 

 

[Swamp Hunter]

oops I forgot to mention it helps to get elevated.  I cant wait to get up a tree and away from the ground level mosquitos. I look for huge fallen cypress trees to climb. I also have a tree climber called the "Tree Lounge" and I am able to sleep high up in a tree where the breeze is nice and mosquitos are minimal. 

[Robert Sobczak]

That's hilarious, but it makes sense, too.  

[Swamp Hunter]

When I get up in a tree, Im supposed to be hunting but I admit I get so relaxed and comfortable enjoying the scenery that I almost always fall asleep now. I am often awakened by animals under my tree. I guess it is kinda funny lol. Sometimes they sniff the ground, the lower branches and the rope I have hanging down that I use to retreive items.. 

I remember one occasion a deer bedded down directly beneath my tree. I dont know how long we were sleeping together. I guess I wasnt snoring and I was only 8 feet off the ground.  When I awoke, I tried to stand to stretch my legs and I startled the sleeping deer. Im not much of a hunter lately lol. I allowed the confused buck to find another place to sleep afterall this was my tree and I was here first..

[Robert Sobczak]

That's a case where you see more by just by standing still.