Lynn Scarborough Talks About Her Love of the Landscape
Lynn Scarborough was raised in Fort Lauderdale, with Atlantic beaches, shopping malls and restaurants. But she has discovered living in Central Florida offers perks of its own: The tranquility of a morning sunrise on the ranch, the majesty of standing palms, and wildlife up close.
As wife to Lake Placid rancher Jack Scarborough, the 61-year-old enjoys the beauty and solitude of the 2700-acre Scarborough Farms, where their neighbors are cattle, birds, bears, alligators, wild hogs, and coyotes. “It’s like a preserve out here,” she says. Riding her Electric Bad Boy Buggy, a battery-operated golf-styled cart, Lynn rides the ranch photographing sunrises, any of 79 species of birds, gorgeous Florida wood and pasturelands, and whatever she may come across—from a bird, to a black bear or hog.
“I just love taking pictures of anything, especially wildlife,” Lynn explains. “I have got so many pictures of birds, it’s unbelievable.” Using her Nikkon digital camera, Lynn may take hundreds of pictures on her photo expeditions, culling through them and keeping only two dozen or so. In addition to the subjects in her own backyard, she may shoot rodeos or air shows. Afterwards, she likes editing her photos and enhancing them with computer software.
Formally retired, photography is technically a hobby for Lynn, but she has sold a few pictures and is gaining recognition for her craft. Lynn won the PIE Center Photo Contest held by University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Her photo shows palm trees and ranchland beneath vibrant blue skies. Entrants submitted photos showing agriculture or natural resources.
She previously made jewelry, selling them on consignment through the Lake Placid Feed Store, and worked for a veterinarian in Sebring. These days the Scarboroughs are taking life at a slower pace. Jack and his brother Bobby run the ranch and grow oranges, but leave day-to-day responsibilities to Bobby’s son, Robert. That leaves more time for drinking coffee and watching the cattle, boating, fishing, horse shows, and traveling. Jack takes his airboat to places like Pine Island and Boca Grande; Lynn accompanies him sometimes.
In earlier days, Lynn corralled cattle on horseback. Today she continues to assist by bottle feeding orphan calves and occasionally cooking for the ranch’s day workers, along with sister-in-law Phyllis. “They always bring me the calves. They bring them to me and I bottle feed them,” Lynn says. “I like doing that. They all have names of course. They’re like my pets.”
Typically she feeds the young calves for six to nine months, first with a bottle and then with grain. Afterwards, she usually sells the steers, but the heifers are used for breeding. “It’s hard when it comes time to sell them,” she admits. Through the years she’s cared for a lot of calves, including a three-legged calf and a blind calf she keeps in their own pasture near the ranch house.
When her daughter Heather Barley is working as a nurse, Lynn feeds and cares for the horses Heather keeps at the ranch. The family likes to gather under the trees for barbecues when the weather is cool. “It’s just a fun time to get together with friends and family and eat and sit around the campfire,” Lynn says.
Although Lynn misses the beach, shopping and restaurants at times, she still has her palm trees. Photography allows her to use her creative talents. “It’s nice not to have to worry about rushing,” she says. “I have too much fun taking pictures to work.”
CREDITS
story by CHERYL ROGERS
photography by LYNN SCARBOROUGH
