Narrative
Starting from the parking lot we
began the trail in an upland environment. Trees observed were persimmon (most
suffering from a disease which curls and browns the leaves), oak, dogfennel,
and beautyberry bush. Muscadine grape vines were proliferate. Animals observed
upon entering and leaving the park’s Pine Flatwoods included a large (~1’x8”)
gopher tortoise and a red shoulder hawk. The Pine Flatwoods included various
grasses and wildflowers, slash and longleaf pine and saw palmetto. Once we
entered the trail and proceeded into the preserve, we very quickly transitioned
to wetlands. The soil became saturated within a dozen feet of the trail
entrance and dry upland plants such as saw palmetto, sumac, bidens flower, rag
weed, wax myrtle, and wheely grass gave way to transition plants like cinnamon
fern, sawgrass, button bush, and Red Maple.
