What a perfect hike! At 10 AM, Sarracenia's Dr. George Weaver and David Roddenberry guided a walk on the very scenic part of the Florida Trail running along the banks of the Sopchoppy River. Even on the drive into the Apalachicola National Forest, wild azaleas (Rhododendron canescens) were flowering among a plethora of Florida native plants. Dr. Weaver taught us about the trail’s history of floods, and about its maintenance, which he had performed himself for many years. Lists of 50 likely-to-be-seen native plants had been given to every participant as a plant checklist – tupelos, lyonias, cinnamon ferns, pines, sparkleberries, and gulf sebastian-bush amongst others.
Special treats in addition to the azaleas were the blooming swamp doghobbles (Eubotrys racemosa), wild olives (Cartrema americanum), and sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria). The azalea spectacle prompted talk at break-time about another species of Rhododendron so newly identified in the high elevations of the Smoky Mountains that it isn’t published in plant literature yet.
Hiking poles proved their worth for the occasional swamp issue, but the bugs were nearly non-existent. Everyone came away with a very special experience and some new friends.
Rhododendron canescens
