Lily Springs is a second magnitude spring in the Poe Springshed with a twisty spring run that is about 100′ long, and 10′ wide. It is on private property therefore accessible only by water. Posted on the trees along the run are inspirational messages of land stewardship, to not litter, and honor the land and water. These messages were left behind by the self appointed protector of the spring; Naked Ed. Ed sported around in a loin cloth, welcoming visitors to the spring. He was drawn the beauty of the area and resolved to become it’s keeper, frequenting the spring from the 80’s to 2015. Decades before Ed’s stay, Lily was the spring that offered refuge to the area’s Black population during segregation.
James Steele offers some wonderful photos of Lily in his Florida Paddle Notes blog: Santa Fe River- Hwy 41 to Rum, April 19, 2025, from https://www.floridapaddlenotes.com/category/florida-rivers/santa-fe-river/
The Springsfever blog by Follman and Buchanan also has excellent photographs of Lily and Ed’s thatched hut.
Below is video footage of the spring run.
Springs of Florida (FGS : Bulletin 66), USGS, 2004.
Follman, J., and Buchanan, R. (n.d.). Springs Fever: A Field and Recreation Guide to Florida Springs. April 19, 2025 from http://thespringsfever.com/spr/Lily.html
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