Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Let's Get Botanical!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Audubon Everglades gets botanical this year and kicks off a new series of hikes focused on exploring Florida’s habitats and the variety of native plants and wildlife that flourish in them.

Check out the Scrub, Coastal Hammocks and Flatwoods to see exciting wildflower meadows, orchids and other interesting rare plants. Learn about the interactions plants have not only with each other, but with birds, pollinators and butterflies. Along with endangered habitats, we’ll see rare and imperiled plants in different native plant communities and how they flourish in restored natural areas.

Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a curious nature enthusiast, these hikes will offer fresh perspectives on the natural world, helping you connect more deeply with the habitats and native plants that make South Florida exceptional, unique and special.

Bring your camera, your curiosity and hiking boots, and get ready to expect the unexpected.

Winter Wildflowers, Grasses and Pollinators

Join CJ & Friends to wander the trails of this restored Pine Flatwoods natural area loaded with rare and unusual winter wildflowers and grasses. With a variety of habitats and terrains, North Jupiter Flatwoods Natural Area (NJF) ranges from aquatic marshes to canal berms buzzing with pollinator and butterfly activity to mesic prairie areas – all interesting and all offering different plant communities and pollinators.

Rare and endangered Tillandsias (airplants) fill the trees and small meadows with colorful mixtures of wildflowers and grasses are scattered around the site. Birds of prey and woodpeckers, along with an owl or two keep it interesting. Bring your camera and get ready to capture some of the beauty of this incredible natural area.

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This hike is for the experienced, beginner and the curious who want to see Wild Florida packed into 160 acres of sandy trails that meander throughout the different habitats. Expect natural, sandy trails, maybe some damp areas so wear closed toe shoes, bring sun protection (hat, glasses etc.) and water. Expect fun, all are welcome to come explore and get botanical in this amazing area.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• A guided walk of to explore the native plants and wildflowers that are unique to this ecosystem.
• Fascinating habitat and plant facts and field insight from naturalists
• An opportunity to see the connection of native plants, pollinators and birds.
• Observe different habitats and the plant communities.
• A plant check list and an iNaturalist project to remember the trails you walked and the plants you saw, and the fun you had exploring this area.

LOGISTICS:

• Main Entrance: Parking is located in the northwest corner of Jupiter Community Park3377 Church Street, Jupiter
• Meeting Spot: At end of parking lot at trail head.
• Restrooms: There are restrooms and water fountains available near the trailhead.

Good to Know:

• Registration is required. No walk-ins.
• Be on time so we can make the most of our time in the field.
• Rain or shine.
• Trail conditions can vary; sandy, portions of the trail may be wet.
• Photos may be taken for social media. Let us know if you'd rather not be included.
• Please cancel if you can’t make it—someone else may be waiting.

WHAT TO BRING:

• Wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dirty/wet.
• Closed toe shoes you don’t mind getting muddy or wet.
• Bring sun protection (hats, glasses etc.) and bug spray.
• Bring water and a water bottle.

This is a wonderful chance to spend time outdoors, learn from top naturalists while connecting with fellow nature enthusiasts.

Your Guides for this hike:

CJ McCartney, Audubon Everglades Advisory Board Member, Environmental Steward

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About Your Guide:

CJ McCartney, Environmental Steward

After moving to South Florida from Chicago in the late nineties, CJ McCartney underwent a shift in interests. Unfettered from her company, and now living in a subtropical climate, she began cycling and hiking natural habitats and started noticing the wildlife that lived in and depended upon them for survival.

Along with a changing philosophy from “Somebody ought to do something about that, to one day realizing that she could do something,” she started learning how to be a knowledgeable and effective Environmental Steward. Along with training to become a Master Gardener, she started taking a variety of botanical and horticulture classes and seminars to supplement her formal education from Harvard University in public policy and urban management.

Currently, she is the Master Gardner in Residence at Ann Norton Sculpture Garden and serves on Audubon Everglades Advisory Board and several state and local Boards and committees. She leads a Conservation Conversation and Art & Nature Series focusing on reconciliation ecology.

Two decades later, that budding interest takes many forms – photographing nature, speaking to community groups as well as designing/installing pollinator and wildflower gardens are just some of the ways it shows up today.

She approaches community service with an underlying belief that – together - we can mitigate the loss of natural habitats by creating a patch or a plot of wildlife friendly spaces to offer our homeless wildlife and native plants a safe and welcoming haven that establishes wildlife corridors while restoring biodiversity.

Contact information: CJ McCartney, [email protected]

Instagram: @Botanizingbirdingbutterflies

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