More Canals than Venice, Italy

More Canals than Venice, Italy

Believe it or not, Phillippi Creek has over 100 miles of canals, which is more than the city of Venice, Italy. To uncover why there are so many of these man-made channels, we have to go back more than 100 years. Phillippi Creek watershed (in red) with its canals (in...
Historic Residents of Celery Fields

Historic Residents of Celery Fields

At the northeast end of the Phillippi Creek watershed lies the Celery Fields. Originally built to mitigate downstream flooding, the Celery Fields is now a renown birding and recreation destination. During the excavation of the ponds in the 1990s, several fossils were...
Local Wonders of Phillippi Creek

Local Wonders of Phillippi Creek

There is no other creek in Sarasota County quite like Phillippi. Not only is it Sarasota’s largest freshwater creek, but it’s also a bit of a local secret when it comes to wildlife, fishing, and recreational activities. Like a lot of places in Florida, it does...
Historic Phillippi Creek

Historic Phillippi Creek

Edson Keith home at Phillippi Estate Park, Photo Credit: Sarasota County Historical Resources Did you know? The first evidence of humans at Phillippi Creek dates back about 6,000 years. In 1988, archeologists discovered stone flakes, shell tools, fish bones, and...
Red Shoulder Hawks Rescued at Red Bug Slough

Red Shoulder Hawks Rescued at Red Bug Slough

Three fledgling red shoulder hawks were released back into Red Bug Slough Preserve on May 23rd after a month-long stay in the Wildlife Center of Venice rehab facility. Although none of the fledglings were visibly distressed at the time of rescue, they were brought in...