The Wild Heart of Florida

The Wild Heart of Florida takes viewers into the realm of wild Florida as seen through the eyes of several of the state's most noted nature writers and wildlife photographers. The film begins with scenes from the 1996 Key West Literary Seminar, where a gathering of noted American nature writers inspired Florida authors Jeff Ripple and Susan Cerulean to produce their anthology, "The Wild Heart of Florida," published by the University Press of Florida.

The film then takes the viewer on a series of adventures into wild Florida, beginning with Peter Matthiessen and his encounter with a rare whooping crane chick in central Florida. From his south Florida home, author Carl Hiaasen comments on the use of humor and sarcasm in his Florida fiction and editorials. Through words and family photos, author Janisse Ray introduces the viewer to her family homestead in the land of the longleaf pine. The exploration continues with photographers Jeff Ripple and Clyde Butcher as they slog into the Fakahatchee Strand in search of the rare ghost orchid. Along the way, these artists introduce us to the fascinating natural history of these rare natural treasures and speak movingly of the need to preserve what remains of the wild heart of Florida.

Released in 2002, a segment of this film also won a Suncoast Regional Emmy Award.