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PRESERVE TRAIL

Education about the natural landscape of Bok Tower Gardens is a core component of our mission.  The 1.5-mile Preserve Trail engages and inspires learners of all ages about one of Florida’s most endangered ecosystems and our ongoing restoration efforts. Some of this land is an original Longleaf Pine forest, while some is former citrus grove being restored to Longleaf Pine.

Back from the Brink of Extinction

Back from the Brink of Extinction

Due to habitat loss, the Florida Ziziphus (Ziziphus celata) plant became so rare it was believed to be extinct until six isolated populations were rediscovered in 1987. However, these populations weren’t producing seeds, as they were self-incompatible.

extinction

Ancient Islands

Ancient Islands

At one time, 100,000 years ago, the view from here overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. Sea levels then were 250 feet higher and the Lake Wales Ridge was an island during this warmer climatic period. There was a break in the ridge, current Lake Wailes, which allowed water to flow from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean. Those currents deposited a great deal of sand to the east. Today, that Lake Wales sand is mined and considered some of the best construction sand that can be found due to its coarse texture.

Ancient Islands

Birds of Prey in the Grasslands

Birds of Prey in the Grasslands

Many raptors such as the Northern Harrier and Common Kestrel can be seen hunting in wide open grasslands. The Harrier is a long-winged, long-tailed hawk that forages by flying slowly, low above the ground in its search for small rodents. The Kestrel, smallest of the hawks, hunts for insects or lizards by hovering 30 to 60 feet above the ground. Look to the top of trees or power lines to find raptors roosting.

Birds of Prey in the Grasslands

Long Leaf Pine

Long Leaf Pine

The Longleaf Pine forest once covered more than 60 million acres of the southeastern United States, but has been reduced by 95% from 200 years of logging. Longleaf Pine is the Southern Yellow Pine of forest history, taking 100 to 150 years to become full size and living up to 300 years. These forests have some of the richest plant species diversity of any in North America. Fire plays a major role in the development of this community and is essential to the survival of many wildlife species.

Long Leaf Pine

Endangered Plants of Florida

Endangered Plants of Florida

Florida has some unique plant species that are native to the State and found nowhere else in the world. These rare plants are remnants of once large populations that were isolated when ocean levels rose and these sand hills were islands. On the Lake Wales Ridge alone, there are 48 plant species that are considered rare. The pygmy fringe-tree Chionanthus pygmaeus) and scrub plum(Prunus geniculata) are two examples growing along this trail. Our Rare Plant Conservation Program is working to preserve these endangered plants of Florida. Many of the 48 plant species can be seen growing in the Endangered Plant Garden northwest of the Visitor Center.

Endangered Plants of Florida

One Home

One Home

The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus ) is a terrestrial turtle that inhabits Longleaf Pine ecosystems in the southeastern United States. The tortoise burrows in the ground for shelter, and these burrows can be 15 feet long with many side rooms. The tortoise is considered a keystone species because there are over 360 species of animals, from insects to mammals, which use tortoise burrows for shelter. Due to habitat destruction and hunting, Gopher Tortoise populations have declined and are currently listed as a vulnerable species. Through proper land management and the creation of preserve lands, the tortoise can survive.
 

One Home

Sinkhole

Sinkhole

This depression is a sinkhole. The underlying layer of rock in Florida is limestone. Surface water, which is slightly acidic, can seep into the ground and dissolve the limestone over time leaving caverns. When the caverns no longer have the ability to support the overlying soil, the roof collapses and a sinkhole is formed. The hundreds of round lakes in Central Florida are all ancient sinkholes that have filled with ground water. In times of drought or heavy ground water pumping, water levels drop and caverns are weakened causing sinkhole formations that have swallowed roads, houses, and anything else on the surface.

Sinkhole

Fire Defines the Landscape

Fire Defines the Landscape

Frequent fires caused by lightning strikes help maintain the natural open grass and pine lands of the ridge. Fires would burn naturally over these hills every three to five years. The Longleaf Pine is very adapted to fire and even encourages fires to spread due to its heavy needle fall. Many grasses and wildflowers respond to these growing season burns by blooming in the fall. The pines along this trail have been planted as part of a restoration project. Eventually, these lands will be burned as part of an ecological management program.

Fire Defines the Landscape

Citrus Country

Citrus Country

The well-drained soils and mild climate of Central Florida make for some of the best citrus agricultural lands in the world. In fact, more citrus is grown here in Polk County than in any other county in the United States. The rolling hills offer good air drainage on cold nights, as cold air sinks and warm air rises. Oranges become sweeter and need cool (but not cold) temperatures to color. Temperatures in the mid-30s are ideal for making the sweetest juice. The main citrus grown here is the Valencia Orange, used for the fresh-squeezed juice market.

Citrus Country

Swing and Picnic Area

Swing and Picnic Area

Swing and Picnic Area

Parking

Parking

Parking
Download the Preserve Trail Map

It has been paved with pebble rock from phosphate mines, rich in fossils from Central Florida’s “Bone Valley,” which lends an additional regional interest. Along the trail is a parking area and picnic shelter at number 9.

Support for the Preserve Trail project was provided by CSX Corporation, Mosaic Corporation, Polk County Board of County Commissioners, State of Florida, Florida Wildflower Advisory Council and the Florida Wildflower Foundation, Green Horizon Land Trust, and the Vaughn-Jordan Foundation.

PINE RIDGE TRAIL

The Pine Ridge Nature Trail at Bok Tower Gardens is a longleaf pine/turkey oak habitat. The 3/4-mile walking trail takes you through this unique habitat that once covered millions of acres of the Southeastern United States. The longleaf pine forest is now in danger of disappearing. Fortunately, we have been able to preserve a portion of this habitat for visitors to experience and learn from. The trail begins near Window by the Pond and ends at the Visitor Center and parking lot area.

WHAT MAKES THIS HABITAT SO UNIQUE?

Located on one of the highest points in peninsular Florida, Bok Tower Gardens is situated on what is called the Lake Wales Ridge, 298 feet above sea level. In ancient times when ocean levels were higher, the Lake Wales Ridge was above water and formed a chain of islands. Many plants and animals unique to the Ridge evolved on these ancient islands – isolated from other parts of the world – which is why many rare plant and animal species can be found here and nowhere else in the world.

AN ECOSYSTEM DEPENDENT ON FIRE

Pine Ridge is an upland savanna-like ecosystem typified by an overstory of longleaf pine and a dense ground cover of perennial grasses, primarily wiregrass. The plants and animals have adapted to and depend on periodic fires to exist.

In earlier times, lightning-induced fires could burn thousands of acres before being stopped by natural barriers such as lakes, streams or swamps. Today, there are barriers such as roads, cities and agricultural lands that prevent naturally occurring fires from spreading widely. Without fire, the pinelands are invaded by evergreen oaks that eventually shade out and kill the sun-loving sandhill plants.

We have developed a burn program to maintain the habitat. By timing the fire and knowing the variables (humidity, wind, ground moisture and vegetation), we formulate a burn prescription to help predict how the fire will behave. Prescribed fires simulate the natural cycles that prevailed before man.

HABITAT PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

The Pine Ridge Preserve is home to six listed plant species, including Warea amplexifolia, and to endangered species such as the Indigo Snake and Gopher Tortoise. Habitat management projects include:

  • The Fire and Management Plan for Bok Tower Gardens’ Natural Areas (Babb, Carpenter, and Price, 1989)
  • A Vegetation Management Plan for the Pine Ridge Preserve (Zander, 1998)
  • Annual counts of endangered Warea amplexifolia and Polygala lewtonii
  • Annual collection of seed, propagation, and reintroduction of native sandhill plants
  • Annual use of prescribed fire
  • Control of invasive species

WILD GARDEN

Visitors will discover four diverse native Florida ecologies as they walk through eight acres of native plantings including a pine savanna, oak hammock, wetland prairie and bog. Over 175 different native plant species were used to re-create these habitats mirroring the biodiversity and beauty of Florida’s Pine Ridge. The Wild Garden also features a spectacular boardwalk that overlooks the Wildlife Pond.