Mangrove Chapter January Field Trips - News Blog

Walks start at 9am, and end by 11am unless otherwise posted

Tues Jan 4 - Myakka State Forest, 2000 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223. 
Entrance fee $2 per person, credit card only.

Walk leader Bill Dunson will escort us on Gordon Smith Trail, a short and scenic 1.5-mile loop trail on easy terrain. We will examine the ecology of pine flatwoods, and a pristine fresh-water pond. This is an early season walk to see what flowers are out and to learn some of the classic flatwoods and wetland plants. Enter at the So River Rd entrance and meet at the parking area about 1 mile into the park.

Sat Jan 8 - Lemon Bay Environmental Park, 570 Bay Park Blvd, Englewood, FL 34223 

Plan to meet walk leader Kate Borduas at the Nature Center. This beautiful 210-acre park boasts 1.7 miles of shoreline on the Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve. For this visit we will explore the northern reaches of the park consisting of pine and scrubby flatwoods, together with a slough and a mangrove fringe. Recently burned areas will provide us a window into the way habitats repopulate after fires, including ferns, flowers, shrubs, and trees. The walk will be a leisurely two hours with a rest stop halfway.

Tues Jan 18 - Tippecanoe Environmental Park, 2400 El Jobean Rd, Port Charlotte, FL 33948

Meet walk leader Jean Leavitt at the Park endtrance behind the old Stone Crab statium parking lot. We will walk approximately 2.0 miles along loop trail to identify various plants of pine flatwoods, salt marsh along board walk, "Mount Tippi" , and a small fresh water wetland creek.

Wed Jan 19 - Sunset Stroll at the State College of Florida, 8000 S Tamiami Trail, Venice 34293. 4:00pm - 5:00pm.

After entering the campus from Tamiami Trl, make a left turn at the stop sign to go around Lake Jervey. In the first parking lot on the right, look for Linda & Dave and our group near the lakeside sidewalk.We'll stroll around a beautiful lake with lush (mostly native) aquatic plants and other treats including a demonstration food garden. Watch for birds of all sizes.