Juniper Springs in the 1950s, Ocala National Forest, Marion Co., Florida.

I found  this photo on the internet recently. I believe it is available for anyone to use, but If it's not, and you're the photographer or owner,  please let me know and I'll remove it if you like.  ) My brother, my cousin and I spent a lot of time in these beautiful waters when we were young. What a fortunate place to have nearby! It's only about five miles from the Ocala National Forest cabin that Irv and Barb somehow built before I was born, or when I was so young that even I don't remember. I have a lot of early memories.. We used to come to Juniper Springs for an Easter picnic. We would color the eggs, and get some jelly beans and chocolate kisses and a big chocolate bunny usually. My mother, Barbara, would hide the eggs and candy around the picnic area. Then the kids would find them. One  Easter-- I was less than 10, I think--Milton, my uncle, a classical composer, found all the candy and ate it before the kids could find it.  We were all very angry! i believe he thought of himself as a kid, and as I recall refused to be bothered that we were so upset.   I can't remember if it was the same day we argued about "The Fountainhead."  You can read my story of that day at Blogcritics.org. It's called "The Battle of 'The Fountainhead.'"  by Ladybelle Fiske. 

Juniper Springs was, and as far as I know, is so gorgeous. The water bubbles up from a spring far away in the mountains somewhere (Virginia, I always heard, but not sure that's true).  The water is always 72 degrees and bubbles out of big caverns in the limestone bottom of the pool. The water is turquoise, on any day that there is a glimmer of blue sky.  Diving down into the springs themselves is otherworldly and wonderfully freeing.  The water runs out through a water wheel at the building that looks like a mill, and into the streams and rivulets that eventually flow, I think, to the Ocklawaha River.  There are alligators and snakes away from the groomed area with its log-cabin dressing area and bathrooms, built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the 1930s.  The men who worked on projects to beautify the nation's national parks and forests, and on other projects, were paid a dollar a day (as I recall) and were fed. They did beautiful work, the work of artisans.  

I'm so grateful for Juniper Springs, where I swam also with my own children. 72  degrees came to be a little chilly for my taste, but I would jump in now if I were there. Irving loved all the swimming places of the area and would go in if the temperature was 72 degrees.  He swam every day if he could, including the day he died, April 25, 1990.

I hope to be at Juniper Springs again. It's almost exactly the same as it was in the 1950s. Also, Alexander Springs and Silver Glen Springs, other delectable natural swimming places in the Ocala National Forest.