Florida’s coastal villages offer a unique way of life where mangroves and tropical plants aren’t just scenery—they’re essential to daily existence. These waterfront communities have developed special relationships with their natural surroundings, incorporating native flora into everything from food to shelter.
The rhythm of life in these villages flows with the tides and seasons of the surrounding plant life, creating distinctive communities where nature and culture are beautifully intertwined.
1. Chokoloskee: Mangrove Maze Masters
Local fishing guides navigate through labyrinthine mangrove tunnels with a skill passed down through generations. Their wooden boats slide silently under arching red mangrove roots during daily fishing expeditions.
Residents harvest wild sea grapes growing along property lines, turning the tart fruits into coveted jellies sold at the island’s small market. Everyone has their secret recipe.
Home gardens burst with key limes and coconut palms, providing essential ingredients for the village’s famous key lime pies served at family gatherings along the shore.
2. Matlacha: The Painted Mangrove Haven
Brightly colored cottages peek out from between clusters of black mangroves in this artistic fishing community. Local painters capture the relationship between the vibrant buildings and their lush surroundings on canvases displayed in roadside galleries.
Families build outdoor kitchens under the shade of sea grape trees. The broad leaves provide natural cooling for afternoon cookouts featuring freshly caught fish.
Children learn to identify edible plants during community nature walks, gathering Spanish needle flowers for tea and sea purslane for salads.
3. Goodland: Mulberry Mangrove Fishermen’s Paradise
Crab traps stacked beside docks are built from trimmed mangrove branches, a sustainable practice dating back a century. The salt-cured wood resists rot in the harsh marine environment, outlasting commercial alternatives.
Yards feature carefully tended mulberry trees that attract migrating birds, bringing birdwatchers who support local restaurants during otherwise slow seasons.
Mailboxes stand amid clusters of wild coffee plants, their red berries marking property boundaries better than any fence could in this close-knit community where everyone knows which plants belong to whom.
4. Cedar Key: Oyster Farmers Among Sea Oats
Oyster farmers time their harvests according to the flowering cycles of surrounding marsh plants. When sea oats turn golden, they know water conditions are optimal for the sweetest oysters.
School children maintain butterfly gardens filled with native milkweed and passionflower vines as part of their science curriculum. The gardens serve as living classrooms for learning about coastal ecosystems.
Hurricane preparation includes harvesting coconuts before storms arrive. Nothing goes to waste—the water inside provides emergency hydration while the meat is dried for later use.
5. Cortez: Sabal Palm Fishing Traditions
Fourth-generation fishing families still construct net-mending shelters from sabal palm fronds. These open-air workspaces stay remarkably cool even during scorching summer afternoons, allowing for comfortable net repairs.
The community hall features a living roof of native succulents and bromeliads. This ingenious design naturally insulates the building while filtering rainwater collected for the community garden.
Backyard bananas provide natural calendar markers—when the fruit ripens, mullet season is approaching, signaling fishermen to prepare their equipment for the annual run.
6. Flamingo: Buttonwood Frontier at Everglades Edge
Park rangers lead moonlight walks through buttonwood forests, teaching visitors how these hardy trees form the transition zone between mangroves and inland habitats. Their silvery leaves shimmer like natural lanterns in the moonlight.
Resident artists create natural dyes from mangrove leaves and local berries. The resulting earth-toned fabrics reflect the subtle palette of the surrounding wilderness.
Morning routines include scanning the shoreline for newly fallen coconuts, considered community property. Anyone can collect them, but tradition dictates sharing the bounty with elderly neighbors first.
7. Rosemary Beach: Dune Restoration Pioneers
Beachfront homeowners participate in monthly sea oat planting sessions, stabilizing dunes that protect their homes during storms. Children earn community service credits for school by joining these vital restoration efforts.
Neighborhood landscaping features exclusively native plants—coontie palms, railroad vine, and beach elder—creating wildlife corridors through the village. Residents spot more butterflies and birds than in nearby towns with conventional landscaping.
Rainfall harvesting systems collect water for irrigating community herb gardens. The fresh basil, rosemary, and mint find their way into dishes served at weekly neighborhood potlucks.
8. Steinhatchee: River Marsh Scallop Hunters
Handcrafted wooden scalloping ladders, made from local cypress, allow harvesters to spot the shellfish among swaying seagrass beds. These traditional tools are still crafted by a 92-year-old resident who refuses to sell his designs commercially.
Yards overflow with sour orange trees, descendants of plants brought by Spanish explorers centuries ago. The fragrant fruit flavors the village’s signature scallop marinade, a closely guarded recipe.
Children learn to navigate by recognizing distinct patterns in marsh grass formations. This traditional knowledge proves more reliable than GPS in the complex river delta.
9. Horseshoe Beach: Cabbage Palm Crabbers’ Enclave
Crabbers construct traps under the shade of towering cabbage palms that line the village’s single main street. The trees’ natural cooling effect creates comfortable outdoor workspaces even in midsummer heat.
Front porches showcase handcrafted furniture made from black mangrove wood, known for its remarkable density and water resistance. Each piece tells a story of the maker’s relationship with the surrounding forest.
Weekly community meals feature hearts of palm harvested sustainably from the abundant cabbage palms. The tradition maintains a careful balance—only one heart per family per year to ensure the resource remains plentiful.
10. Everglades City: Airplant Adorned Outpost
Homes display collections of wild airplants salvaged after storms, creating living decorations that require no soil or maintenance. Some families have collections dating back generations, with specimens reaching massive proportions.
Schoolchildren learn mathematics by calculating tidal changes based on mangrove root exposure. This practical application connects academic learning to their environment in meaningful ways.
Gumbo limbo trees, with their distinctive red peeling bark, mark property boundaries instead of fences. Known as “tourist trees” because they’re red and peeling like sunburned visitors, they’re considered community landmarks.