Welcome to Nona’s Natural Wonders, a column designed to take you to some parts of the greater Lake Nona community that have been left untouched by developers and highlight some of the best places for each of us to rediscover our personal connection with the great and wonderful world around us.
Here in Lake Nona, right in our own backyards, is an exceptional natural reserve, right off Narcoossee Road and down into Moss Park. The Moss Park Reserve is an exceptional example of Nona’s natural landscape at work, with beautiful intricate forestry as well as diverse animal and plant life. If I’m honest, Moss Park Reserve is probably my favorite place in Lake Nona to visit. It is the place I had my first date, the area where I fell in love with Florida’s own unique forestry and its inhabitants, as well as the spot I came to in order to reflect and get away from it all when times were tough.
To enter the park, you have to pay a small fee (usually under $5 if you are just trying to spend the day there). This fee helps to preserve the park and protect the animals and plants that inhabit the area by funding projects and cleanup efforts inside of the reserve.
Once you park, you have the option of going to a variety of different trails and spots or walking down to the dock and sitting by Lake Mary Jane. The trails will take you through the different winding forest paths, past trees and often a variety of animal life. On some of my visits, I’ve been able to spot a plethora of squirrels, the occasional deer or snake, and plenty of birds and insects.
Make sure to keep your eyes open for each of these animals. If you have a camera, a long-range lens will be your best friend on these trails because the ability to capture an image of an animal at a distance will help both you and the animal to keep from getting spooked. I’ve always found that it’s best to let both the plants and animals interact with you in whatever way they choose to do so. You’re a guest in their habitat, not the other way around, and a certain amount of mutual respect will help both parties keep from getting too close for comfort to the other.
The view from the dock near Lake Mary Jane is just as wonderful as the trails but in a whole different and entirely spectacular way. Water has a powerful, soothing effect on the body (and it has actually been studied by doctors across the United States!) and, while seated at the edge of the dock, you can take in the gentle movement of Lake Mary Jane all from a comfortable spot in the sunlight. If you look down into the water, you can often spot waterbugs, a collection of small fish or tadpoles, frogs, and sometimes, further out into the lake, Florida’s favorite reptile, the alligator, can be found lurking through the water.
Moss Park also has a variety of camping facilities where you can stay for a period of time on the park grounds. This allows you the opportunity to get some of the best views of the stars in the entirety of Lake Nona. Being so close to the airport, we’re often bombarded with light pollution from Orlando International Airport, and that can frequently prevent most of us from being able to see the stars with the naked eye. In the park, the problem of light pollution is completely eliminated from the equation, and the only lights are the stars and the moon glowing directly above the reserve. In the summer season, which closes at the end of August, look for constellations like Hercules, Lyra, and, of course, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper).
Moss Park is just another beautiful example of Lake Nona’s natural environment coming to life right before our eyes. If you haven’t yet had the chance to check out this beautiful reserve, consider putting it on your priority list. Visit in the morning or evening time frame to beat the heat and make sure to bring bug spray and sunscreen. Take a little time to step away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. After all, it is in fact right in your backyard.
