Sunday, February 27, 2011

Deep Creek Preserve

Deep Creek Preserve is a 2000 acre Slash Pine Flatwood  belonging to the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
It's main purpose is to protect the watershed along the Peace River,
and it is also open to the public as a multiuse recreational area.
It has 9 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, river access, and campsites.

Located adjacent to our development, this wonderful preserve is a great spot for an afternoon hike.
We have the best of both worlds here....a well-kept suburban, deed restricted neighborhood next to a 2000 acre preserve and a beautiful river flowing gently into Charlotte Harbor.


 
Flatwoods Paw Paw (Asimina reticulata)



Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicirollis)


Southern Dewberry (Rubus trivialis)


Wild HoneyBee (Apis mellifera)

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)



We found a reminder that this Flatwood had once been cattle country...there is even an old working pen tucked way back in the preserve.



Wild Bachelor's Button or Candyroot (Polygala nana)



Sachem Skipper (Atalopedes campestris)


Common Tickweed (Coreopsis spp)


 Slash Pine Seedling (Pinus elliotti)




Primrose Willow (Ludwigia peruviana)



The highlight of the hike was seeing and photographing this beautiful butterfly.
Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)
Another lovely afternoon here in Southwest Florida!

2 comments:

  1. Wonderful series of photos. I can't wait until we have this kind of weather again! I'm sick of winter.

    ReplyDelete