April 2025 Wildflower Walk
Schedule
Sat, 05 Apr, 2025 at 08:00 am
UTC-04:00Location
Long Pine Key Everglades National Park | Homestead, FL
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With the confusion on the status of federal employees, now is the best time to enjoy the national parks, while they are still here. This time we will be hiking the Long Pine Key area in Everglades National Park, with a special guide. Roger L. Hammer is a naturalist, botanist, photographer, author, and speaker in Florida. He has written several guides to wildflowers and leads wildflower walks. Hammer has long been involved in conservation efforts in the Miami area. He discussed the importance of fire in Miami area's pine rockland in a BBC Mundo piece featuring his photos. The Miami Herald referred to him as "a leading authority on South Florida wildflowers that helped oversee the restoration of more than 100 acres of pineland when he worked as a county naturalist." as well as a Miami-Dade park manager, a photographer, and a Tropical Audubon Society board member.
It’s best to get an early start, so we will be gathering at 8 am sharp at the entrance to the Everglades National Park, to head over to our starting point.
Long Pine Key Trail
This flower-power hike, a two-mile loop, should take one and 1/2 hours. The hike passes through three plant communities: Pine Rocklands, Everglades Prairie and Tropical Hardwood Hammock. The Pine Rocklands features South Florida slash pine Pinus elliottii var. densa, the Everglades Prairie is dominated by Muhlygrass Muhlenbergia capillaris and Sawgrass Cladium jamaicense and the Tropical Hardwood Hammock is a mix of Crabwood, Inkwood, Lancewood, Wax Myrtle and West Indian Lilac.
Here is the link to sign up:
https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00000iSvtKIAS&mapLinkHref=https://maps.google.com/maps&daddr=Everglades%20Hike%20at%20Long%20Pine%[email protected],-80.583603
Entry into the park
We will meet at Ernest F. Coe Visitor’s Center 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, FL 33034 parking lot at 8 a.m. sharp; restrooms are available at the visitor’s center. You’ll need a day pass, annual or life time pass to drive past the Visitor’s Center. The cost to enter the park is $35 per vehicle, with a National Park pass, entry is free. Individuals 62 or over can purchase a lifetime pass for $80. We encourage you to carpool to Gate 4 trailhead especially with those who have annual or life time park passes.
Wear long pants and sneakers (no open toe shoes) are recommended. This hike is suitable for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Participants are responsible for their own food and water.
Limited participation
You must register for the walk via Sierra Club Miami Group. Attendance is limited to 20 participants. The walk is free.
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Where is it happening?
Long Pine Key Everglades National Park, Everglades Long Pine Key Comfort Station, Homestead, FL 33034, United States,Florida City, FloridaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
