Native Plant Rescue & Other Wild Things

The idea of environmentally sensitive land preservation fascinates me.  When I heard that our County was purchasing 60 acres of mature (Old Florida) oak hammock next to an area to be clear cut for development, it became my goal to visit it and watch it adjust to urban encroachment. 

My first opportunity was a Sunday morning in mid-October 2011.  I joined 4 local women on a mission to rescue native Florida plants before the County mowers came in from the Parks and Recreation Dept.  

Sherri Ankers is continually flagging and documenting the most important endangered plants along the main path through the Preserve. We   moved plants back from the path and into the woods.  We each took some of the more common native plants to transplant into our own gardens or natural areas.  It was awesome to spend the morning hours in the company of like- minded people.  What a wealth of knowledge these woman hold!  

Our shared love of the natural world was most obvious when we disturbed a young diamond back rattlesnake trying to get out of our way.  We stopped to admire his beautiful velvet color patterns and to take advantage of his willingness to participate in a photo op.  No panic, no terror or fear, and after a brief respectful interlude, we all went on about our business.

This honey-tree was a curious site.  At first I thought it might be a fungus on the outside of the tree, but a closer look shows this palm riddled with holes and activity.  It must be full of honey, because the residents are now building comb on the outside of the palm.

I was enamored with the shoestring fern growing symbiotically with the palms, the flowering elephant’s foot and the abundance of coffee plants in this wild place.  I look forward to another outing in the Mariposa Cane Slough Preserve.  Hope you will join us!!