In front of the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Bubbles got refurbished today. Three workers from Bud Sasada Painting were out in the hot sun, sanding and painting Bubbles from her faded facade.

“She’s just been out of the water too long,” Mike Steve joked with me as he rolled some manatee grey paint on her large backside.

Joe Dube, President of the Friends of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, explained that the Friends felt that Bubbles could really use a little sprucing up, so they hired the painting contractor. “We have used bolts to hold her hats on for different holiday outfits, so we felt it was time to get the holes in her head filled,” he shared with me.

Stop by the park and have your picture with Bubbles daily. I know I have.