A view of the low pine flat woods of Jonathan Dickinson State Park seen from the top of an ancient sand dune on the Hobe Mountain Trail on Monday, July 4, 2022. The dune is the highest natural point of Florida south of Lake Okeechobee, rising 86 feet above sea level.

A Jonathan Dickinson State Park visitor descends the Hobe Mountain Tower on Monday, July 4, 2022. The tower that sits atop an ancient 86 foot sand dune gives visitors a view of the park, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Intracoastal Waterway.

A dragonfly spotting on the Green Trail at Jonathan Dickinson State Park is a good thing, as dragonflies can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in a day.

A Pileated Woodpecker hangs from a palm tree on the Green Trail at Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Monday, July 4, 2022. This species was once rare, but numbers are gradually increasing.

A patch of wildflowers dot the Green Trail at Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Monday, July 4, 2022.

It’s no wonder that life under a hot, Florida sun comes to a lazy, alligator crawl in the heat of the summer. Let’s face it — as temperatures soar and humidity rises, getting outdoors in the middle of the day this time of year can feel downright brutal.

But the summer season also boasts bluebird skies and lush, rain-fueled greenery that makes for some of the most beautiful days of the year. Our multimedia producer, Leah Voss, showed us just how rewarding a late afternoon hike at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County can be, sharing scenic images of expansive foliage, fields of wildflowers, and buzzing animal life that is all well adapted to the slower, warmer days.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a hat and a water bottle, and let the heat be a reminder to move slowly, breathe deeply, and take it all in.