Updated January 2026
Hello! I’m Misti Little and I’ve been writing this blog in some format since 2002. Blogging has changed a lot since then and my blog has evolved over time as well. I’ve always written a little bit about everything, so you’ll find writings from my garden, hiking, to posts about my family here. If you are a long time reader, I’ve recently archived some older posts and will be reconfiguring some posts in the coming months so make this a more focused blog and website.
I write from just outside of Houston, Texas and was born in Texas, but we spent 2002-2010 living in various parts of Florida. Florida still holds my heart in many ways!
I’m currently under contract with the University of Georgia Press to write a hiking guidebook for the greater Big Thicket region. I’m hoping it will be out for purchase by 2027.
My family and I spend a lot of time outdoors hiking, camping, gardening, and just enjoying nature. That’s basically the premise of this blog and my writing. I also write more targeted environmental essays at On Texas Nature.
Interviews
- The Trail Show Interview about the Florida Trail
- Florida Hikes! Wild Women Interview
- A Trail Life Appalachian Trail Hike Interview
- Organic Gardening in the Southern Garden on The Beginner’s Garden Podcast
- Environmental Podcasting, Gardening, and the Florida Trail on A Sustainable Mind Podcast
- SodShow Episode 390: Misti Little & The Garden Path Podcast
- Hike Podcast: Hiking The Florida Trail with Misti Little (Orange Blaze podcast)
- Cultivating Place: The Garden Path Podcast Interview
A few more tidbits you should know:
- We thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2010.
- Then we thru-hiked the Florida Trail in 2011
- We became parents to Forest in September 2014. He keeps us on our toes!
- How my blog got its name.
- I produce two podcasts: The Garden Path Podcast & Orange Blaze: A Florida Trail Podcast. You can find them on all major podcatching services.
- Ghost Orchids are an interest of ours, and we documented over 600 previously unknown plants in 2007.
- You can reach me via email at oceanicwilderness at gmail dot com. Or leave me a message down below and I’ll respond to you via email.
4 Comments
Dr. Martin Nyffeler
Hello,
I am an arachnologist from Basel, Switzerland, specializing in feeding ecology of spiders. I would like to discuss with you about your photos depicting a Dolomedes spider devouring a fish. Would you please contact me: martin.nyffeler@unibas.ch
I do not want your photo. I just want to know more about what you have witnessed. Thanks!
Regards, Martin
Amber
Your photos are incredible — wildlife photography is my fantasy job! I’m definitely putting you in my reader!
Button
Hey there – I hiked the AT in 2012 and am considering a 2-3 week section of the Florida Trail in Feb/March next year – any sections that you could recommend as being the best and worth using that time to complete?
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks.
Chris Arceneaux
Misti, Hi. I’m on the board to the Trinity River Refuge Friends Organization, we are hosting our National Lands Alliance Walk for the Wild Challenge Oct. 12th. As I promote the event on social media I came across your 2020 photos and blog writing “Trapped by Water at Great Egret’s Ridge Day Use Area | Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge” May I use the photo of the man walking the trail with the child? I will of course give you credit. I too, love all things Florida, I kayak there a great deal. Chris