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    Home » Recipes » Uncategorized

    My Hike through Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park

    October 12, 2020 by Casey

    Don’t be fooled by these beautiful pictures. This was NOT a pleasant hike for me and my boyfriend, Matt. Our July journey through Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park in Central Florida was hot, miserable, buggy, and involved more than a fair bit of ankle-deep standing water. At the end of the hike, we didn’t just walk back to our car. We RAN. We chugged water, stripped off our socks and shoes, and doused our feet in hand sanitizer in case of parasites or ticks.

    If we don’t sound like expert hikers, that’s not entirely true. I’ve hiked through many different biomes. But hiking in the Florida scrublands–in the summer–is its own beast.

    Our first lesson: don’t hike in the high sun. Our second lesson: don’t opt for a loop! Behold the famous last words of many a hiker: “I don’t want to go back the same way we came, do you?” Based on the condition of the trail further into the hike, it seemed like most people on the white blaze trail had answered that question with “yes, yes I do want to go back the way I came.” But not us. We thundered ahead.

    As we went further and further into the brush, we noticed the conspicuous white sand path fade into grasses…

    …and TALLER grasses.

    Grasses we could handle. But with the grasses came puddles. We crossed a few–bravely, I might add–either skirting to the edges of the puddle or laying down a few palm fronds. But both of us knew–just knew–that sooner or later, there would be a body of water we couldn’t cross. And there it was: a stream running smack dab in the middle of the trail.

    There was no walking through the surroundings to avoid wet feet. Yet, at that point, about two hours into the hike, we were not about to turn back around the way we came, so we waded through it. I, for one, hopped across as if through hot coals!

    Then, with soaked sneakers, we entered the last leg of our hike, and it was this part that really did me in. Bombarded by the noonday sun and buzzing horseflies, my “nature fantasy” burst before my eyes. You know the one I mean: the hippie dreamscape where the human world and the natural world intersect to live in perfect harmony. But here, in the sun-beaten pine-lands, I felt lost without a water bottle and besieged by bugs, all with their own agendas for survival.

    Still, we learned a valuable lesson among this ecosystem untamed for human needs. The struggle reminded me that the ecosystem doesn’t revolve around the comfort of a house-dwelling, air-conditioned being such as we are. I have much, much more to learn about my place within this rugged biome.

    Luckily, I was able to take some pretty cool photos of the flora and fauna.

    A painted lady butterfly shares a “Spanish needle” (Bidens Alba) flower with a bee! See it there, underneath? Painted ladies have really long migration routes–pretty cool for such a little wug. Check out this citizen research project to track painted lady migration. Also, Spanish needle, considered a common weed in Florida, is actually quite important for the nectar it supplies to its companions–both butterflies and bees.
    This is goldenrod, but which kind I’m not sure. “Pine-barren goldenrod” would be my best guess, or “anise-scented goldenrod,” perhaps. This plant loves fire, and the controlled burns that regulate this landscape help this species thrive.
    I’m not sure quite why I’m so taken with “Star Rush,” this little grass species. This “star” is actually a flower-like shape from white grass. The shape attracts pollinators to the flower, which is unique for a type of plant that is primarily pollinated by wind. The plant also spreads through rhizomes, which can cover a lot of area in a short amount of time.
    I scoured the Internet for the name of this plant, and the best I could do is “Four-petaled St. John’s Wort.” (Please let me know if you have a better ID!). This variety, native to the Southwest and even to Cuba, lacks the medicinal properties of the Mediterranean herb.
    A monarch butterfly.
    These sunny flowers are part of the coreopsis genus, many species of which are native to Florida. This one, I believe, is “Leavenworth tickseed” because of its small flowers and brown center. It loves sandy, well-drained soils.
    I’ll finish the photo collection with this small stretch of forest along our hike. Among the cabbage palms, you can see the “knees” of the bald cypress emerging from the ground, creating what looks like a scene of tiny villagers. In the silence of the forest at midday, they did seem, somehow, extra alive.

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    Hi, I'm Casey, the founder and creator of Pith and Rind! Welcome to your home for delicious recipes showcasing whole ingredients, ancient grains, rich fruits and vegetables, and so much more! You'll find recipes here that are naturally plant-based, often gluten free, mostly healthy, and always fresh.

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