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  A branch of the Coldwater Creek flows through the Matthews property.
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  The Mathews built an A-frame shelter on the creek for their children's outdoor activities.
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  The shelter is a popular spot for swimming and camping.
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  The deck overlooks the creek. The site is a favorite place for Dusty Mathews and his friends to congregate.
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  Florida's surface water systems offer some of the states most attractive recreational enticements. Here dozens of bathers enjoy a swim in the Blackwater River.
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  The white sand washes down from the Appalachian Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico.
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  The headquarters of the sand and gravel business is located off Highway 4 in the town of Century.
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  Trucks are checked-in near the office.
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  The series of lakes wind around hills. Each lake is approximately 15 acres.
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  Anthony's older brother gives him a push on the swing.
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  This playground area features traditional slides and swings.
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  Anthony Alberda enjoys a ride.
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  The play area overlooks Bayou Texar.
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  The old-fashioned stainless steel side is very popular at the playground.
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  This is a set of small playground equipment adjacent to the large slide and swings.
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  There are playground configurations for toddlers.
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  The small boat house can be seen in the center of the photograph. Dead Man's Island is a narrow strip of land separating Escambia Bay from the channel.
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  Dual directional driving range is the largest on the Emerald Coast.
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  The practice area also includes a chipping green, a practice bunker, and a large undulating putting green.
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  The old Naval Live Oaks Reservation was established in 1828 for the cultivation of live oak trees used for constructing 19th century wooden sailing ships. The area has been preserved for over 150 years.
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  Large pieces of driftwood dot the shore of the cove.
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  The cove is part of Escambia Bay at the National Seashore.
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  The cove is part of Naval Live Oaks Preservation at the National Seashore.
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  Long-leaf pine trees grow along the beach on the bay.
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  A diversity of gulls, terns and various shorebirds can be found year-round feeding at the shore.
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  The initial step in restoration of deflated sand dunes is to use structures that can accumulate sand. Dune building fences can be erected in order to trap sand and reconstruct new dunes.
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  Beach elder (Iva imbricata) has sparse, woody, upright stems and fleshy narrow bright green leaves. Small lavender flowers occur in late summer. Beach elder accumulates sand rapidly and produces low rounded dunes.
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  The sound side of the barrier islands is sheltered from the battering of storms.
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  The road to the fortifications bisects the narrow barrier island.
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  The dune formations are more massive than those in the center of the island. This area is isolated from many of the public beach sites.
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  The yellow flowering plants in the foreground are Woody Goldenrod (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa) of the Sunflower Family. (source: Searcy, Darryl. Botanist)
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  The yellow flowering plants in the foreground are Woody Goldenrod (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa) of the Sunflower Family. (source: Searcy, Darryl. Botanist)
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  The yellow flowering plants in the foreground are Woody Goldenrod (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa) of the Sunflower Family. (source: Searcy, Darryl. Botanist)
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  The yellow flowering plants in the foreground are Woody Goldenrod (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa) of the Sunflower Family. (source: Searcy, Darryl. Botanist)
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  The yellow flowering plants in the foreground are Woody Goldenrod (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa) of the Sunflower Family. (source: Searcy, Darryl. Botanist)
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  The small lake is approximately seven acres in size. It borders Escambia Bay.
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  The lake is bordered by sand dunes and marsh grass. It is located about 2 miles from the main gate of Fort Pickens on the north side of the road.
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  Battery Langdon is directly across Fort Pickens Road from the shelter and walkway leading to the gulf.
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  The boardwalk leads from Johnson Beach Road to the Gulf.
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  There is little wave action on the sound side.
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  A short boardwalk leads from the road to the water.
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  There is a boardwalk on the Gulf side of the turn-around leading to the beach.
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  For nature lovers, the park is a good place to begin an exploration of the barrier island ecosystem.
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  Watermelons grow best on a sandy loam soil.
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  The Coldwater River flows at an average depth of two feet over a soft, sandy bottom through the Blackwater State Forest.
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  The driveway and bridge across the wetland area is visible in this eastern view from the second floor balcony of the house.
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  From the second level deck, an northeasterly view reveals a shoreline with white crystal beaches. This area is known for sugar sand dune formations that have been called the whitest beaches in the world.
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  This is a southerly view of the sound shot from the third level deck.
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  The east view of Santa Rosa Sound can be seen from the third story deck outside the living area.
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  The pier extends into Santa Rosa Sound.
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  The pier extending from the home is set on an angle from the shoreline.
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  The square is the central park for the North Hill Preservation District.
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  This sand box has a complicated shovel mechanism to test the children's skills. Tom Roush assists son, John Michael.
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  There is a wide expanse of beach between the waterfront and the home.
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  Every room has the advantage of a large expanse of windows or skylights on both floors.
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  Dunes on the side and front are held in place by the extensive root system of sea oats.
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  A boardwalk leads from the backporch to the beach.
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  The view is facilitated by glass balcony railings. The fence on the beach is a dune building line trap the blowing sand.
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  The house was rebuilt in 1995. Stainless steel trim and hardware were added to the exterior finishing.
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  The second floor deck wraps around the house and is an extension of the interior living space.
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  A hot tub is sunken into the deck off the master bedroom.
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  The staircase bisects the deck leading to the downstairs living area.
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  There is an enclosed patio area on the east side the house.
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  The home faces north on Ariola Drive.
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  The glass brick tower is the dominant feature of the facade. It functions as the enclosure for the circular staircase.
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  Stucco is the exterior finish of the home.
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  A circular staircase connects the guest quarters to the second floor residence.
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  The risers are wood that match the upstairs flooring material.
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  The kitchen is located on the west side of the second floor. It features a catering kitchen and wine cooler.
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  The appliances were imported from France.
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  The hut can be opened to utilize the offshore breeze.
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  The pavillion is a gathering place at the center of Casino Beach.
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  Santa and his helpers enjoy refreshments.
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  The beach road bisects Santa Rosa Island.
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  The dunes form undulating ridges along the north side of the beach road. This area is across the road from Parking Lot 10 at the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
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  Sparse vegetation holds the dunes in place.
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  Some of dune formations on the north side of the beach road rise to a height of about 30 feet.
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  The Gulf can be seen on the far right of the photograph.
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  Beach grasses have long roots that form a subsurface net, keeping the dunes from disintegrating.
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  Beach elder accumulates sand rapidly and produces low rounded dunes.
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  Beach elder (Iva imbricata) has sparse, woody, upright stems and fleshy narrow bright green leaves. Small lavender flowers occur in late summer.
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  This is the west gate of the park. The shelter and bathhouse area is to the far left of the parking lot.
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  The volleyball courts face the Gulf.
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  Surfers gather at Casino Beach in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Hanna.
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  Breaking waves run up on wide, sandy beaches against a backdrop of large sand dunes topped with a smattering of sea oats.
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  Atop and just behind the dunes lies an intriguing habitat that supports a limited but interesting array of plants and animals.
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  Deep white sand is so fine that the beach below you squeaks when you walk. Its seaward edges borders deep green and blue water.
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  The bandshell is in the center of the boardwalk shopping area. Bamboo Willie's can be seen in the center of the photo at the far end of the walkway.
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  The shallow water on the soundside is ideal for young children and water sports.
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  The beachfront behind the bandshell is the main gathering place for swimmers on the soundsie of the Gulf.
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  The road bisects Santa Rosa Island.
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  The large dunes are located on the soundside or northside of the island.
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  The sparse vegetation has extensive root systems that hold the dunes in place.
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  Emerald water on the right of the photograph is on the gulf side of the island.
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  The seed heads mature in August.
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  The plants grow to 6 feet high and they function to trap wind-blown sands that eventually mound to begin dune formation.
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  This photo features Sugar The Wonder Dog. Dogs are not allowed on the beach so it was a surprise to see a golden retriver playing in the sand.
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  Sea oats have a deep stem that may reach several feet below the surface of the dune. As the dune continues to grow, this stem send out vigorous branching rhizomes at or just below ground level. As a result a sea oat may reach to the very base of the dune that supports it with a laybrinth of rootlike structures.
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  White sand makes for emerald green water.
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  This aerial shows the road that goes the length of Santa Rosa Island. All beach areas can be reached by road, but the road can't be seen from the water.
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  The white sand actually traveled from the Appalachian mountains from local rivers. The dunes are tops with a smattering of sea oats.
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  Some of the large dunes are likely the remains of ancient beach ridges that formed during a higher stand of the sea.
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  Summer is best for saltwater and beach ativities; fall, winter, and spring are best for birds.
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  The shoreline along the coast is uniform throughout the gulf side of the island.
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  Grand Lagoon can be seen from the boardwalk. The Gulf coast of northwest Florida is blessed with large stretches of protected saltmarsh which are important marine-life nursery areas and heralded for their biological productivity.
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  The bar appears small from roadside but is actually a complex of connected locations, including tents and exterior shelters.
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  The walkway extends from the house to the beachfront gazebo.
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  Barrier beaches are one of the world's most restless landforms. As can be seen above the tress are growing on shifting sand which looks like snow.
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  The sand pine forest is located on the sound side of the key on older dunes.
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  Ridges of old dunes form hills and valleys through the forest.
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  In contrast to the species of pine shown below, the sand pine is much shorter. Its form can be twisted with lower branches growing close to the ground.
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  The overstory in some locations is composed of an older growth of short-leafed pine tree.
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  Twisted shapes of dead scrub pines litter the forest floor.
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  The forest supports a variety of plants and trees in a typical open coastal wood.
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  Florida rosemary is a sand-loving evergreen shrub.
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  Saw palmettos form a dense groundcover in part of this forest community.
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  A variety of lichen and moss are the most common ground cover.
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  Pieces of pine scrub trees decay slowly because of the high content of sap.
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  The shapes of the dead pine trees form a natural barrier in the undergrowth of Florida rosemary.
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  The trunks of the sand pine trees twist and turn into bizarre shapes.
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  The colors of Florida rosemary compliments the green lichens and mosses.
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  Lichens and mosses grown on the scrub pine trucks.
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  The lichens are like puff balls was they absorb water. Under dry conditions, the same lichens flatten and become dry and brittle.
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  Pine branches forms litter the forest floor.
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  Some of the sand pines have pinwheel shapes.
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  Lichen grow in shaded areas of the sand scrub forest.
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  The condo units face north on the sound side of the key. The water here is shallow enough to walk in almost to the end of the dock.
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  This dock has eight slips, and is unused most of the year.
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  The home is in Santa Rosa County on Blackwater Bay.
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  A ridge of the bluffs separates CSX train tracks from the beach.
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  The red clay bluffs fade into the pink sandy beach. The colored sand is a stark contrast to the glimming white quartz sand along the Gulf of Mexico on nearby Pensacola Beach.
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  The road was damaged by Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis, but has been repaired repeatedly. The county views the road as a safety issue since they can use it to get to the two bridges off the island and so will repair it as often as need be.
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  These were taken just before the road was finished and then damaged again by Dennis.
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  The sand pine scrub is a xeric, or exceedingly, dry, sandy community with a sparse understory of shrubby, evergreen oaks and an overstory of the sand pine.