Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Part 3

During our first visit to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, we also took a walk on the boardwalk trail. The boardwalk is there to allow visitors to explore a mangrove tank, or a forest of mangrove trees, without damaging the fragile area. Mangroves grow only in tropical and sub-tropical climates, but they are able to grow in southern Florida in the land areas between the ocean/gulf and the intra-coastal waterway. E was allowed to collect one seed from the black mangrove for dissection and studying. What makes mangroves so interesting is the tangle of roots protruding from the water. Those roots form a habitat known as the ocean’s nursery. Under those roots live many young animals that thrive here as they mature, such as shellfish and crustaceans. These areas are also popular nesting areas for pelicans and other native birds. We saw hundreds of fiddler crabs in the area.

Along the trail is an observation tower. It reaches 40’ above sea level, so we could see panoramic views for miles around. Since there was so much damage from a hurricane five years ago, many of the trees are still recovering, so we were above the tree line.

On our second visit, we explored another trail. This one included a butterfly garden. It had just rained and was incredibly muggy, so there weren’t a whole lot of butterflies out. We did see the zebra longwing, which is the state butterfly of Florida.

I think this next one is a Julia Longwing.  Please feel free to share the correct name if I have mislabeled it. 

We also saw this incredible spider, the banana spider. She was huge! I’d guess she was around 5” in diameter. Her mate was only about 1.5”, which is a good thing since she is going to eat him after she lays her egg sack. There were quite a few of those spiders around. I guess it’s a good thing I’m not afraid of spiders!

There were some beautiful flowers in the butterfly garden.

This particular flower was attractive to ants. I took advantage of the opportunity to shoot a close-up photo of the little ant. This is not one of the fire ants that pestered us while we were out and about.

At the back of that second trail was a Chiki Hut where classes are held adjacent to a small opening into the Intracoastal Waterway. We spent a little time down there at the water’s edge. E found a piece of palm bark partially buried in the sand and decided to study it for a bit. She scraped out the sand with a mangrove pod.

Nope...not done just yet.