The crisp, mild days of spring are almost over but one of Florida’s best seasons is yet to come: Summer.

Summer? In Florida? Yep, call me crazy!

I know. I can already hear the moaning and groaning from Authentic Florida friends, “Florida summers are hot, muggy and….”

Okay. I admit summers are…warm. I’ll even say it – summers can be very warm. I even remember a time when I thought it was a good idea to take my toddler to Disney World in July. We melted. In fact, we almost got heat stroke.

But there are a few “native” tricks to enjoying a summer in Florida.

The most helpful one is to try and stay cool. No, I don’t mean staying in the air conditioning all summer, living in your pool 24/7, or even hiding out in the cool shopping malls. But admittedly, they are good ways to escape from the humidity.

What I really mean is getting out and discovering Florida’s lesser-known, hidden corners that open up an entirely new world while taking your mind off of the heat.

Here are some tips to help you get through it a little better:

• Try jumping into one of Florida’s refreshing 72-degree springs
• Kayak through a shady, cool mangrove tunnel
• Take an early morning walk on an out-of-the way beach while exploring for shells
• Dip into one of the thousands of Florida lakes
• Visit North Florida’s down-under caverns for a walk through a cave
• Try a classic Florida past time, tubing down a spring-fed river
• Or even hike to a shady, towering oak hammock for a picnic – you’ll be surprised at the way the temperature drops under the cover of an old oak
• And last but not least, there’s nothing like sitting, under cover, outside during a summer rainstorm

That’s what I’m talking about! 

This summer, think about how you can enjoy a cooler summer. And share your thoughts with me. If you run out of ideas just follow us as we trek, swim, visit and discover ways to chill out. I promise you’ll find both treasures and blessings in Authentic Florida, even during the summer.

In the 1950’s, as a young woman, my mom moved from Pittsburg to Florida with a Martin guitar slung over her back, a handful of paintbrushes and an invitation to work and study with a local Sarasota artist. She lived in a small room off of the artist’s studio, working as a babysitter while studying art.

She later worked as staff artist for the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus creating set designs, props for clowns, costumes for elephants and acrobats, while the circus wintered in Sarasota.

An artist in every sense, mom received many awards and accolades as one the best. Her work, often reflective of Florida, adorns the walls of airports, malls, and galleries. She taught classes at local schools, the Ringling School of Art, and the John Ringling museum and also decorated storefront windows for area establishments.

But that wasn’t all. Mom taught yoga, did facials and collected Indian jewelry. I should add that she was a world traveler and an amateur archeologist. Yep, Jane Fonda meets Margaret Mead. That's my mom.

After meeting and marrying dad, she moved to Siesta Key, a barrier island of Sarasota, separated from the mainland by a drawbridge.  The Key was then a small community of motels, families, fishermen and beachcombers. They rented beach cottages and walked the beach for sunset each evening.

Mom embraced Florida living - loving the beach, the beauty of the area - and Lipton iced tea with a wedge of lemon.

Most every day, she visited the local Siesta fish market to buy the fresh catch. At the time, fish was much cheaper than meat, and she knew how to make the most of a limited budget.

Mom is now 86. She has given me, her daughter, so much, but especially she gave me the courage to follow my dreams. She followed her pathway by moving to Florida, a woman with a dream starting out in a new and exotic place without knowing a soul. She possessed the conviction to live where she would be inspired personally and professionally. She also chose to live her life dedicated to her passion.

And she still drinks iced tea, morning, noon and night.

We’re celebrating moms. No matter where your mom grew up, tell us about your mom in the comment section below. We'd love to hear from you.

Florida’s spring is short and almost with a blink of the eye, the flowers have bloomed, the cooler temperatures have passed and we are headed for summer.

But with the short season comes some of Florida’s freshest produce, right at our fingertips. It’s likely that not far from where you are is a farmers market, a local farm or a U-Pick operation filled with a bountiful array of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Yes, Florida’s “fresh” and “fabulous” is in season and now is the time to enjoy - as it won’t last much longer.

In addition to supplying us with a bountiful crop, Florida farmers are even helping to educate consumers about how easy it is to enjoy “fresh from the farm” while enjoying a meal –both at home and on the farm.

During May, Bradenton’s King Family Farms features a “farm to table” dinner inviting guests to try the produce grown on the property or by neighboring growers. The dinner includes a tour and history of the farm followed by a delightful sunset dinner with guitar music under the oak trees.

This is something you can do at your nearby farm or in your own backyard, or even in your own home. Anyone can create a “farm to table” dinner and all you have to do is make it fresh.

Whether on the farm or at home, it’s magical and I guarantee you’ll never enjoy a meal like a farm fresh one.

Here’s a look at the menu from Kings Farm. If this doesn’t convince you to buy local and enjoy food from our gracious, hard working farmers, nothing will!

King’s Family Farm Farm to Table Dinner Menu

Farm Ripe Fruit & Rum Punch

Bacon Blueberry & Ricotta Flatbread, Drizzled with Fresh Honey

King Family Farm

Stuffed Miniature Peppers

Lemon Grass & Roasted Corn Soup

Grilled Onions over Farm Greens Topped with a Balsamic Glaze

Grilled Salmon Brushed with Daiken Farm Herb Butter over Wilted Cale & Couscous Pearls

Shortbread Biscuits Topped with Fresh Peaches, Whipped Cream & Tangerine Sugar

Each year, I ask Authentic Florida readers to share the titles of their favorite Florida books.  Certain beloved and cherished novels are recommended time and again.

It’s no surprise that the classics are loved by so many. A Land Remembered by Patrick Smith is still the most favored. This memorable story spans 110 years of Florida history and is told through three generations of the MacIvey pioneers. The book includes early cattle drives, the growth of citrus, the development of the railroad and the plight of the Seminole Indians and the Everglades.

But there are so many more to enjoy. This month, we feature The Barefoot Mailman a romantic adventure story of an 1880’s postal carrier who transports the mail on foot from Palm Beach to Miami, walking the beach in his bare feet.

I wanted to be sure you had the list of Authentic Florida Reader “Faves”, so when you are in search of a good book, or a summer read, you’ve got a good place to start. Again, these are your favorites.

Joyce Sparrow, Authentic Florida’s Guest Book Reviewer kindly compiled the lists based on your recommendations - separated by fiction and non-fiction - listed by author, along with a short description. These two lists are by no means comprehensive, but a good start for adding more to your library.

If you don’t see your favorite, be sure to message me and let me know which ones you recommend at Robin@AuthenticFlorida.com. We’ll add them to the list. Enjoy!

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The days are longer, Mother Nature’s nursery is busy, birds are preparing for their northern migration, the citrus season is practically over, breezes are keeping temperatures low and windows are open to fresh air and clear blue skies. This month, Authentic Florida readers shared their favorite signs of spring. 

The most popular sign of all is the sweet smell of night jasmine. Add blooming amarillos, orchids, azaleas, dogwoods and roses. Trees of gold, redbuds and granddaddy graybeards burst with exquisite color. Fruit trees are blossoming. Pastel-colored wildflowers blanket open fields.

Most birds including sand hill cranes, bluebirds, chickadees, wrens and woodpeckers are actively attending to their young and frogs are croaking loudly. Horses are shedding their winter coat, baby raccoons and otter families are coming out.

Florida’s lettuce, spinach, cabbage, cucumbers, peppers, corn, cauliflower, zucchini, squash, and tomatoes are coming in daily. Florida’s strawberries are wrapping up and the blueberries are coming in.

And just for fun, baseball and spring training is here, grills are firing up, and neighbors are lingering at the mailbox to say hello.

Authentic Florida reader, Jeff Martin shares his spring mornings, “Thirty minutes before dawn I listen to the dew dropping off the leaves, see the birds drinking, bathing and coming to life. The air seems to change slowly and the earth seems to swell slightly, drawing its first breath. I smell the morning scents of pine, oak and jasmines in bloom. I listen to the early sounds of bees getting their first taste, a mullet splashing across the water. Spring is the time of year when I feel insignificant, yet one with the world around me.”

 It's that magical time of year. Enjoy.