Manatee Island
As my last post for the year, it has been a beautiful year for observing nature and tracking conservation efforts here in Florida. Yesterday’s trek to Manatee Island Park located in the Halifax River (a part of the extensive Intracostal Waterway) proved to be quite spectacular.
Ancient yew trees, contrasted by the red-berried ornamental Brazilian pepper trees, a fairly recent (mid-1800’s) invasive plant import, together with near-freezing temperatures was a grand view in the brilliant sunlight of the waning afternoon. The bright red berries and brilliant green foliage in the forefront are frequently used as Christmas decorations in the warmer regions of the Americas with fruits that usually mature by December.
Btw, the Brazilian pepper tree is a shrub or small tree that reaches over 30 feet in height, typically with a short trunk hidden in a thicket of branches producing a dense canopy that shades out all other plants and provides a very poor habitat for native species. Some trees can live over 30 years and is one of the most aggressive and wide-spread of the invasive non-indigenous exotic pest plants in the State of Florida – infesting over 700,000 acres.
This species invades aquatic as well as terrestrial habitats, greatly reducing the quality of native biotic communities in the state. As a Prohibited Aquatic Plant the law prohibits sale and or movement of this species.
Have a happy, healthy, and joyous New Year 2010!
