https://www.matttilghman.com Experiences Through Imagery Wed, 21 Apr 2021 13:37:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.22 https://www.matttilghman.com/photos/florida-coastal-icon-coccoloba-uvifera Wed, 19 Jul 2017 23:30:54 +0000 https://www.matttilghman.com/?post_type=product&p=3179 The iconic sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) flanks a tidal creek in Florida's Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park.

Many tourists probably think that coconut palm trees are the iconic plant of South Florida's beaches. And indeed, that's a natural conclusion if you stick to the popular manicured beaches. But in the mind of most locals, the sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) is the true iconic plant of South Florida's beaches and dunes. They are everywhere... and they should be! They are native, beautiful, and valuable as a dune stabilizer and wind break. They're edible, too! Some people enjoy turning the grapes into a jam, but there is a very large pit inside the fruit, so the task is cumbersome.

Purchase "Florida Coastal Icon - Coccoloba Uvifera" Fine Art Print:

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]]> The iconic sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) flanks a tidal creek in Florida’s Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. Many tourists probably think that coconut palm trees are the iconic plant of South Florida’s beaches. And indeed, that’s a natural conclusion if you stick to the popular manicured beaches. But in the mind of most locals, the sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) is the true iconic plant of South Florida’s beaches and dunes. They are everywhere… and they should be! They are native, beautiful, and valuable as a dune stabilizer and wind break. They’re edible, too! Some people enjoy turning the grapes into a jam, but there is a very large pit inside the fruit, so the task is cumbersome.

Purchase “Florida Coastal Icon – Coccoloba Uvifera” Fine Art Print:

The post Florida Coastal Icon – Coccoloba Uvifera appeared first on Matt Tilghman Photography.

]]> https://www.matttilghman.com/photos/seagrapes-season-thriving-coccoloba-uvifera Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:17:50 +0000 https://www.matttilghman.com/?post_type=product&p=3146 One of the healthiest Seagrape trees (Coccoloba uvifera) I've ever seen, spotted along Florida's coast in Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park.

Okay, okay... if you are familiar with Coccoloba uvifera, you know that these Seagrapes aren't actually in season. These grapes are still young - when they ripen, they become a dark purplish color. But I wanted a title which conveyed the fertility and abundance of this tree. The Seagrape tends to be a pretty robust tree here in South Florida, but even so, this is one of the healthiest and most-fruiting specimens I've ever seen. It reminded me that the indigenous people living here many millennia ago actually had a pretty easy time finding food. Not just abundant edible plants like this, but also abundant fish and crustaceans in the nearby waters. But that doesn't mean life was easy - they still had to deal with hurricanes, intense heat, and worst of all, the never-ending mosquitoes.

Purchase "Seagrapes in Season - Thriving Coccoloba uvifera" Fine Art Print:

The post Seagrapes in Season – Thriving Coccoloba Uvifera appeared first on Matt Tilghman Photography.

]]> One of the healthiest Seagrape trees (Coccoloba uvifera) I’ve ever seen, spotted along Florida’s coast in Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. Okay, okay… if you are familiar with Coccoloba uvifera, you know that these Seagrapes aren’t actually in season. These grapes are still young – when they ripen, they become a dark purplish color. But I wanted a title which conveyed the fertility and abundance of this tree. The Seagrape tends to be a pretty robust tree here in South Florida, but even so, this is one of the healthiest and most-fruiting specimens I’ve ever seen. It reminded me that the indigenous people living here many millennia ago actually had a pretty easy time finding food. Not just abundant edible plants like this, but also abundant fish and crustaceans in the nearby waters. But that doesn’t mean life was easy – they still had to deal with hurricanes, intense heat, and worst of all, the never-ending mosquitoes.

Purchase “Seagrapes in Season – Thriving Coccoloba uvifera” Fine Art Print:

The post Seagrapes in Season – Thriving Coccoloba Uvifera appeared first on Matt Tilghman Photography.

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