near Hosford. YFLORIDA'S WILDFLOWERS
Celebrating Wildflowers---National Wildflower week is in May, and is an annual event. It is a joint effort between the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. It promotes the importance of conservation and management of native plants and plant habitats and emphasizes the beauty, recreation, biological, medical, and economic values of wildflowers. A WILD HOT LINE is available from April - July. Call 1-800-354-4595.
Over 15,000 different species of native plants are recognized from the US and Canada. Our state is particularly rich in plant species. Appreciating wildflowers involves exploring our public lands, Many guidebooks, walks, etc. have been created to aid in public appreciation. Please look for them, enjoy them, take your pictures, but please, do not pick the wildflowers.
If you are interested in learning more about native flora, the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, along with our National Park Service offer many volunteer opportunities. Next time you're at a refuge, or a park, ask the ranger for more information. And, think about planting wildflers in your own yard. And, you can check their websites for lots of information. Locally, the Native Plant Society has interesting meetinsg, and conducts Wild Foraging Hikes. Pick up a copy of the VISIT FLORIDA brochure, entitled Native Wildflowers in Florida's Eastern Panhandle. It is a comprehensive guide, and includes beautiful pictures of all the wildflowers in this area.
The Florida Wildflower Foundation defines "Florida native wildflower" as any flowering herbaceous species, or woody species with ornamental flowers, which grew wild within the state's natural ecosystems in the 1560s when our first botanical records were created. Back in the 60s garden and civic clubs began to beautify their local and nearby interstate highways. And, when the Florida Department of Transportation planted crimson clover in the sod on US Highway 27, just south of town, folks really started to pay attention, and requested similar plantings in their areas.
Our section of the Panhandle, with its large amount of public land, makes this an easy place to view wildflowers in their natural ecosystems. Most of this land is routinely managed by prescribed fire, which promotes the growth of native wildflowers and grasses. Many wildflowers thrive in the moist, slightly acidic fine-sand soils in our area. Definitely drive State Road 65 in the Apalachicola National Florest. It is the best place in Florida to view native wildflowers. Don't pick the wildflowers. Picking them reduces a species ability to sustain itself, and picking the flowers of endangered or threatened species is illegal. Take photos, and if you're happy with some you've taken, share your photo on the Florida Wildflower Foundation's What's Blooming page. Visit www.FlaWildflower.org/bloomreport.php This will give you instructions about sharing your photos.
Heading out of town, west on I-10, will bring you to some areas where wildflowers are abundant. Take Hwy 267 south towards Bear Creek Educational Forest. Wildflowers are plentiful all along the road, and if you haven't managed to visit Bear Creek, do so. It is particularly appealing in the early spring, when the wild azaleas are in bloom, and it is the place that has the talking trees. Continue on to Hwy 20, head west and you'll encounter Hwy 65 near Hosford. Head south, and enjoy the beauty. When you reach Sumatra, pick up Hwy 379, which changes into Hwy 12, and head north. You're still in the Apalachicola National Forest, but you're now following part of the Apalachicola River. You'll wander near Bristol, so keep heading north, and you'll emerge on I-10. You'll have covered a lot of forest and rural areas, and, hopefully were able to view some pretty specimens.
Another good drive is along Hwy 267, through the Apalachicola National Forest. You can reach it from Hwy 20, or by heading south on Hwy 373 and turning west. Wakulla Beach Road, off Hwy 98, is another pretty area. Miccosukee Greenway, here in town, along with Maclay Gardens State Park, and the Elinor Klapp-Phipps Parks are also showy with the flowers. There are other areas, but these are the most visited.
FLOR500 is a participatory art, nature and history project based out of Florida International University's College of Architecture and the Arts. It is encouraging communities across the state to plant native wildflower gardens. This project is being done in conjunction with Viva Florida 500. They identifited 59 different native wildflowers within our area. Artists from around the state are being asked to choose a flower in their region to portray through art--photography, painting, sculpting, woodcarving, or mixed media. Also, schools, libraries, and community groups are being asked to plant native wildflowers in public places. Once the gardens are planted, they ask that the garden be dedicated to historical figures from Florida's 500 years of history. It is considered a birthday present for Florida. It's a way to return some of the natural beauty from the 1500s to our area. Native wildflowers can be secured from local nurseries. Native Nurseries has an extensive collection, and will give you directions and help on planting either the plants, or the seeds. For more information visit www.FLOR500.com
