I was out at the preserve yesterday and stopped at one of the burn pile sites to see how it had recovered since 2008.
It is now 13 years later. The soil is still mostly unvegetated. The vegetation that is present is exotic or ruderal species. Natal grass, Brazilian pepper. Dog fennel.
This is part of legacy of past management decisions.
Let us hope everyone does better next time.
One of the few lupines to survive the misguided fire lane discing last year has begun to bloom.
This is, I think, the first time a plant of this species has grown to maturity and bloomed in three years.
The fact that it has bloomed calls for a modified management plan for the area around the northern lupine planting area.
When the lupine nears the end of its flowering period, it ejects seeds into the surrounding landscape. That means the disturbed soil around the plant should not be disturbed by a tractor crew because it will prevent new plants from sprouting.
This is a big deal for an endangered species growing at only a handful of locations on the planet.
This discussion needs to occur soon. There are alternative routes around the planting area if you keep your eyes open. Besides, it might help to get rid of the Cape Honeysuckle along the outer fire lane.
The winter rains have exposed more half-buried trash near the preserve's entrance and one of the Scrub Lupine planting sites.
I spent a few hours the other day digging and hauling out debris. Most of it seemed to have involved a buried mattress and assorted household debris.
The non-metal debris filled a large trash bag.
I also removed more pieces of concrete that I will move to the entrance along with the other similar debris.
Once the weather clears, I'll get back to resume work.
I confirmed the earlier report from a neighbor that there was at least on feral hog in the area.
I found tracks in the fire lane of the south tract earlier this week and a place where the hog may have settled in to rest.
I have not seen any sign of major damage. There may not be much here that the animal finds edible since no palmetto berries are available now.
I will have to continue monitoring the area.
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A few Scrub Lupines have begun to poke their light green pubescent leaves above the white sand here on the Winter Haven Ridge.
There were only a few visible today, which is the time of year when they begin to emerge.
The fire lane near the planting areas were recently disced. This time the more mature lupines were protected by a marked enclosure. One appears to be mature enough to bloom this year if it survives until spring. I don't know how the mechanical work will affect the seed bank in the fire lane. It will be something to watch.
There is little color in mid-winter here other than scrub holly fruit and Carolina jessamine.
One of the neighbors told me about a recent wild hog sighting. I did a walk through and didn't see any evidence so far of rooting. This would be the first hog sighting in several years.
The cool, sunny day did produce three Black Racers warming themselves. Some didn't seem inclined to flee as long as I maintained a respectful. distance.
It is a mystery why so much concrete debris was dumped here, but gradually it is being unearthed as part of the management work to clear land for other work here.
In addition to the concrete, I've uncovered a buried cache of household garbage. Most of it is broken glass, though there is also a mixture of shoes, old plastic bags, metal and green board debris and clothing.
I'm just beginning to mine this windrow, so there may be more discoveries to come.
With cooler weather coming, more work will occur as time permits.
