Fred the Tree

10/07/2025

🎶 It’s beginning to look a lot like Fred-mas.. 🎶
Just kidding it’s 85° and sunny, but here’s a great way to boost the Fred the Tree Scholarship amount and get ready for Christmas at the same time! 🎄

09/26/2025

Well, folks, the Old Seven Mile Bridge took home the Best Place to Take a Selfie AGAIN and I’m just over here swaying in the wind, practicing my angles for next year, like “what about meeeee?”

I mean, can there be a category for most photographed tree or something Alex Rickert/Jason Koler?!?

But, I’m proud of you, Bridge, over a 100 years of holding things up (like me), you earned it. And, i mean, I guess you are a nice place to take a selfie and you do support the heck out of me, so thank you! And a special thanks to Kristen (the selfie queen and my biggest fan) and Michelle and Holly (who helped save you) from the county, who accepted the award on your behalf.

But next year, Bridge, I’m coming for the title…

Love, Fred 🌲

08/09/2025

Don’t forget to nominate me 🤩 go ahead and vote my buddy Pigeon Key as best camp… but remember me as best place to see the sunset, I’m trying to steal it from the Old 7 - he’s held it long enough!

08/09/2025

You can never have too much Fred! Take a look at the tattoos my friends got. Anyone else have any Fred or Keys inspired ink?

08/05/2025

If you happen to see a big green pine tree walking down Duval Street looking for his lost shaker of salt be sure to wave and say hi!

Second line parade & memorial celebration for Key West's favorite son Labor Day weekend. You're invited to come hang out with just a few friends for live music, fresh seafood, time on the sea and plenty of great stories.

07/25/2025

I don’t ask for much, my friends. But I’d like to request being nominated in the The Keys Weekly Newspapers as the Best Place To Take a Selfie. The dumb Old 7 Mile Bridge wins every year…EVERY SINGLE YEAR! I think I can sweep him this year with your help. He’s only my best friend holding me up, so im allowed to call him names 😆!

Also, if you want to help my friend Jimmy Gags’s mullet win Best Celebrity…that would be cool too. He’s kind of a legend right now…

Here’s where to vote:

https://keysweekly.com/bom25/ #//

You are welcome to throw other bangers you love in the comments to nominate, just no hate. I delete hater comments. Only love here. And puns against that old bridge holding me up… 🥰

07/24/2025

Just checking in on all my friends on this hot, sunny summer day! How is everyone doing?!? 🌲

06/01/2025

Don't fret my friends. While the bouy will be temporarily a little harder to find rest assured it will be back and as good as new!!

05/29/2025

Four Marathon High School graduates were each awarded a $1,000 “Fred the Tree Scholarship” on Tuesday night 💚🌳🎓

“The purpose of this scholarship is to support local youth who have shown perseverance in the face of life’s challenges. Each applicant submitted an essay about a difficult challenge they’ve faced and how they’ve worked to overcome it, while continuing to grow and thrive in both their academic achievements and their community.”

Thanks to the strong roots of our community — and the incredible love of Fred the Tree — Bayshore Clothing was proud to fund the four scholarships through sales of their Fred the Tree collection. “As a family of Marathon High School graduates, we’re honored to help these students continue to grow and thrive just like Fred, and look forward to expanding these scholarship opportunities throughout the Keys in the future!”

05/24/2025

The summer weather is better than any movie, I could just watch it all day 😍.

🌪️ Did anyone else catch these guys popping up yesterday morning?! There were several around the bridge! Thanks Greg Tompkins for the picture! 💚

US National Weather Service Key West Florida

05/15/2025

Well, now I’ve really made it to the big time.

My story of Fred. After Hurricane Irma someone sent this book thanking me for the coverage of the storm. Kept it here in our house pretty much ever since. Filled with many memories and photos I would look at often. Always stared at the cover not knowing about Fred or the stories surrounding that photo. Until the day I was chasing Rafael last year. There he was to my right as i was driving southbound. I was so excited to recognize him from that book. Turned around and took a bunch of pics. We connected. And now more than ever when I see him looking back at me daily. Odd story maybe to some. But means a lot to me. We shared a lot of comments about Fred last year. The storm wasn't much but moments like this always leave a memory. This is one reason I love to chase. Cheers to Fred!

05/11/2025

One of my favorite times of year. Love my turtle friends! Lots of good information shared below 🐢🐢🐢

https://www.facebook.com/share/193qfcSHMp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

It’s that special time of year when some truly incredible mothers are returning to the shores of Dry Tortugas: sea turtles! 🐢 These sea turtle moms travel many miles to lay their eggs on the park’s beaches, continuing a life cycle that has existed for millions of years.

Sea turtle nests — and their paths, called "crawls" — can be identified by the distinct tracks left behind in the sand. The image shown here captures a "false crawl," where a mother turtle came ashore but, for some reason, did not lay her eggs.

It’s crucial to give turtle moms plenty of space to complete their important task:
🏖️ Remove umbrellas, chairs, and sun shades from the beach each night so she has a clear path.
🔴 Use red lights at night to avoid disturbing her.
🚫 Never interrupt a mother turtle — Marvel from a distance and let her nest peacefully.
📢 If you see a nesting turtle or hatchlings, notify park staff so we can help protect them.

When a turtle mom successfully nests, she typically lays around 100 eggs. Park biologists monitor these nests throughout the season. If all goes well, after about two months, the tiny hatchlings will emerge and make their daring journey to the sea!

For more information on the sea turtles of Dry Tortugas: https://www.nps.gov/drto/learn/nature/sea-turtles.htm

NPS Photo by Thomas Nix