February 28 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Florida Wildflower Foundation members can register for this field trip starting Friday, January 16. General registration opens Tuesday, January 27. Become a Florida Wildflower Foundation member today for early access!
Explore Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve (ABRP), one of four preserves under The Nature Conservancy Florida’s Center for Conservation Initiatives. ABRP is a nationally recognized biodiversity hotspot. Field trip highlights include rare habitats such as longleaf pine sandhills, steep slope forests, seepage streams, and the towering bluffs along the Apalachicola River. From Alum Bluff’s 135-foot overlook to restored sandhills now supporting gopher tortoises, bobwhite quail, Bachman’s sparrows and the reintroduced Eastern indigo snake, participants will experience the preserve’s diverse ecosystems and unique geology. With any luck, we may also encounter rare plant species such as the Florida Yew (Taxus floridana) and spring ephemerals like Underwood’s trillium (Trillium underwoodii) and Trout lily (Erythronium umbilicatum).
We will hike 3.75 miles along a strenuous trail with steep, potentially slippery slopes, exposed tree roots and drop offs. Please be prepared for several hours of walking. We will stop for a lunch break at Alum Bluff. Pack all food and water needed for the day; we recommend 1–2 quarts of water per person. There are no onsite options for food, water or restrooms.
Bio
Catherine Ricketts is a wildlife ecologist and prescribed fire practitioner who has served as Preserve Manager at TNC’s Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines for three years. Previously, she worked for nine years as a biologist and area manager with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where she led wildlife and plant population monitoring projects, supported habitat restoration efforts, and participated in as many prescribed fires as possible.
Registration is free for Florida Wildflower Foundation members and $10 for non-members. Email Rose Kinane to find out if your membership is current or needs to be renewed. To join as a member, visit www.FlaWildflowers.org/membership.