We were back in one of my favorite habitats – the Longleaf Pine wet savanna, and the simplicity and informality of this sign at the trailhead appealed to me. It was going to be a good outing.
Garcon Point Water Management Area is a three thousand acre preserve, consisting of three separate tracts, that feature wet prairies, salt marshes, oak hammocks, and Longleaf Pine Wiregrass communities. These natural areas protect the water quality and ecosystems of Escambia, East, and Blackwater bays.
Last April, on our spring visit to the Florida Panhandle, we hiked the Loop Trail on the Garcon Tract at the point of the peninsula. I was eager to return to experience the connected Spur Trail.
The wet savanna of Northwest Florida is one of the most ecologically rich habitats in North America, with great plant and animal diversity. From the minute we entered the trail I knew we were in a healthy ecosystem due to the number of young Longleaf Pines that were thriving. Young specimens can take a couple of decades to get to these four to eight foot heights, but once their root system is established they grow rapidly, up to 2 to 3 feet per year, until they reach their mature heights of 80 to 120 feet.
Longleaf Pine forest was the predominant forest type in the coastal south in precolonial times, covering some 9 million acres from Eastern Texas to Virginia. Over time that acreage was reduced to just 3% of its original range. Historically, natural fires occurred in these savannas every 3 to 5 years and were an important force in maintenance of pine forest. The practice of fire suppression that began in the late 1800s allowed for overgrowth of shrubs and deciduous trees in the understory, which prevented the germination of Longleaf Pine seeds. The remaining forests were void of young specimens. With the relatively recent use of prescribed burns, the forest understory is kept clear and the young trees can again flourish.
The Spur Trail wove its way through the widely spaced and mixed aged trees characteristic of a healthy Longleaf Pine forest.
At times the path was littered with the 8 – 10 inch pine cones characteristic of the Longleaf Pine.
With some of the younger Longleaf Pine specimens we were able to study them up close and were surprised by the textures that we noted. I am trying to find out what is the role of the feathery appendages of the terminal buds at the tip of branches. I had never noted them before.
The remaining papery sheath of dropped needle fascicles resulted in a coarseness to the bark of the branches.
As we strolled across the landscape we took inventory of the understory, noting a wide variety of shrubs and grasses. The most common shrubs noted:
Youpon Holly, with their bright red berries, are a primary food source for many of the birds.
Inkberry Hollies, likewise, were laden with fruit that will provide winter nourishment for wildlife.
The Panhandle is home to several species of Blueberry. They thrive in the moist, acidic soil typical of wet savannas. During our December visit their leaves had turned a vibrant red. The blueberries themselves would have been ripe in late May and June.
The Saw Palmetto is one of the iconic shrub species of many habitats in the Florida Panhandle. Native Americans used Palmetto extensively – the berries for food and medicine, the leaves for roof thatching and baskets, and the roots for medicine.
Amongst the grasses of the understory we often saw an assortment of small oaks – Water Oaks, Blackjack Oaks, and Southern Red Oaks. Interesting, because no mature oaks were seen. I suspect that they were evidence of the caching of acorns that Bluejays do in the fall for winter feeding. Like squirrels, the Bluejays do not recover them all, leading to a new oak tree. Unlike squirrels, Bluejays will bring acorns from as far as a mile away. Bluejays are considered the more effective planter, generally placing their acorns more widespread and in more choice soil. Of course these small trees will probably succumb to the next prescribed burn, as fire historically kept oaks from outcompeting the pines.
Also noted were several wildflowers which are always fun to see in December when you are from the Midwest.
Scaleleaf Aster flowers from late fall into early winter. Like many asters the petals range from nearly white to lavender. While the leaves at the base of the plant are normal aster shape, those on the stem are small and held close to the stem, giving the appearance of scales, which leads to the common name.
The dried flower of Milkwort, which has the texture of a straw flower, was thought to increase milk production. It was given to both women and cows.
A couple wildflower seedheads were also deemed fascinating…