Black titi (Cliftonia monophylla) is also known as the buckwheat tree.

Spring is officially in the air in Walton County!

The Black titi (Cliftonia monophylla) is also known as the buckwheat tree. Found common in our wetland areas, it is an evergreen shrub or small tree to 30 ft; smooth bark, gray to grayish-brown; simple alternate leaves, evergreen, short-stalked to sessile; flowers white to pinkish in short racemes, clustered; winged fruits.

Posted under Nature

Enjoy an award winning documentary and learn about keystone species

‘The Queen of Trees’ will be the featured documentary at the public forum sponsored by the South Walton Community Council on Wednesday, March 24, 2010.  The forum is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Seaside Repertory Theater located on the circle in Seaside. 

’The Queen of Trees’ explores the intimate relationship between a giant fig tree and a tiny fig wasp and the multitude of other species that are supported by this complex web of life. The film, two years in the making, has won numerous awards including a Peabody, the Grand Prize and the Public Choice Award at Telluride and the top prize for Best Documentary on Science or the Natural World at the Grierson British Documentary Awards. 

Following the 60 minute film will be a short discussion about the film and its relevance to our own keystone species, the scrub and longleaf communities.

 The presentation is free. Everyone is invited to attend.
This program is one of the monthly series of forums presented by SWCC to educate and entertain the community.

Posted under Nature

Photo courtesy Sonia-Dorise Miller Sessum

Young blue-eyed deer spotted in Walton County

Sonia-Dorise Miller Sessum of Santa Rosa Beach snapped this photo recently of a blue-eyed deer.

“Last year there were three fawns born and about 4 weeks ago, I noticed that this boy had the most beautiful eyes….it really is striking,” said Sonia. Sonia continued to say that there are seven deer that live in her family’s neighborhood… “or rather we live in theirs,” Sonia quipped.

Posted under Nature

Florida Trail Association – Choctawhatchee and Western Gate Chapters

Activities March/April 2010

Courtesy http://choctaw.floridatrail.org

Activity Participants Please note: Contact the activity leader well in advance for more information and/or to reserve your place (Space is limited.) Unless instructed otherwise by the activity leader, each participant should bring: day pack, plenty of water (recommended minimum, 2 quarts), sun protection (hat, glasses, screen), insect repellent, lunch and or snacks, adequate clothing for the forecast, and comfortable, sturdy close toed shoes with socks. Long pants, work gloves, and extra water are recommended for work hikes. Activity leaders may deny participation to anyone who is inadequately prepared.

The Western Gate Chapter (western area) and Choctawhatchee Chapter (eastern area) span a longitude difference greater than 80 miles. All activities are open to the public unless noted otherwise. Read More…

Posted under Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Seven Runs creek provides shaded canopy most of the paddle. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Small scenic creek near Bruce a quiet journey of natural beauty

Seven Runs creek, located off of State Road 81, just north of Bruce, in northeast Walton County is a scenic paddle through hardwood wetlands and cypress swamps.

A short, 2-3 mile paddle, this fairly swift moving creek provides a few twists and turns before it flows into the swampy cypress tree filled forest of extraordinary beauty. Twisted cypress roots bellow out of the bottom of the forest floor, and with a little imagination, the shady canopy and trees provide a backdrop to a fairy tale.

Eventually empting into the Choctawhatchee River, you can take out before you reach the river at a county boat launch off of Dead River Road. This location makes for an easy shuttle with two vehicles. The boat launch offers a picnic area and portable restroom facility. Read More…

Posted under Nature, paddle/surf/boat

Plant seedlings, tour exhibit hall, take a guided hike and view a film

The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center at Nokuse Plantation will be hosting a “Creating a Garden with Children” open house event on Sat. Mar. 27, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  The exhibit hall will be open, guided hikes will be available, scheduled films will be featured and Master Gardeners will be on hand to assist children in planting seedlings in the center’s new vegetable garden.  Public is welcome.

Come see first hand the facility and staff in action and get a glimpse of what the center offers the students in your county.

For more information, please visit the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center website at www.eowilsoncenter.org or call (850)835-1824.

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Cooper's hawk. Photo courtesy Jamie Conley.

Beautiful adult Cooper’s hawk
spotted near Lake Powell

Among the bird world’s most skillful flyers, Cooper’s Hawks are common woodland hawks that tear through cluttered tree canopies in high speed pursuit of other birds. You’re most likely to see one prowling above a forest edge or field using just a few stiff wingbeats followed by a glide. With their smaller lookalike, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawks make for famously tricky identifications. Both species are sometimes unwanted guests at bird feeders, looking for an easy meal (but not one of sunflower seeds). Information courtesy Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Posted under Nature

This outdoor interpretive will focus on tracking animals and finding out how many are in an area any what type with avid tracker Mike Townsend. Meet at the Day-Use parking lot off Hwy 30A and be sure to wear sunscreen and boots.  Be ready to hike at least 2 miles. $6.00 entry admission into the park

Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A.

Call (850) 267-8330 for more details. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 mi. south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A.  ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Photo courtesy of Steve Matherly.

Florida’s birding trail symbol is often spotted gliding around Walton County

FWC report

The swallow-tailed kite is a snack-food junkie if ever there was one. It spends most of the day aloft, eating on the run – catching bugs and eating them in one swoop, then circling and diving to devour another.

Elanoides forficatus is also an energy miser. The kite uses thermal uplifts and winds to spend the day gliding, merely flipping one side of its forked tail to change direction. From its nest in the top of tall pines and cypress trees, it spies arboreal vertebrates – reptiles, amphibians and sometimes a fledgling from another nest – and can seize that prey mid-flight. Read More…

Posted under Birding, Nature

Photo courtesy FWC.

Learn how to coexist with the Florida black bear

The EO Wilson Biophilia Center is hosting an informational “Living with Florida Bears” workshop to the public on March 6 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island. Two sessions will be held, the first begins at 9:45 a.m., the second at 2 p.m. Each lasts approximately two hours.

Speakers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Defenders of Wildlife will share Florida black bear research and discuss how best to coexist with these creatures.  There will also be a special report for Eglin bears. Come to the workshop and enjoy the premier of the film “Living with Bears” and get simple tips that should make you comfortable with Florida bears.

“There has never been a documented attack by a Florida black bear,” MC Davis, conservationist, said. “Never. Not once in Florida’s history. My hope is that the workshop will show people the importance of protecting the Florida black bear and its habitat.”

Everyone is welcome and children will receive a special souvenir.

Posted under Nature