March 21-23, 2013

http://www.jacksonvillearboretum.org/

Click on Events/Activities for more information or go to www.abrushwithnature.org.

Let Nature Challenge You

It’s just around the corner!
Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is once again hosting A Brush with Nature, a plein air painting event in partnership with the Arlington Council of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Click on Events/Activities for more information or go to www.abrushwithnature.org.

What’s New?

Boardwalk on Loop Trail

The new boardwalk from the Lake Loop to the National Champion Loblolly Bay is nearing completion. Railings are required for safety and the boardwalk won’t be opened for use until they are completed and installed.

The new trail map should be finished later this month. New trails were added to the map (Aralia, Aralia Overlook, Rosemary Connector) as well as the “Old Driveway” (from the Service Road to the Live Oak Trail) and points of interest. The Trail Map panel on the entry sign will also be updated. A new sign section was recently added to the entry sign to display Arboretum rules. We remind visitors that fishing is not allowed, bicycles must be left in the parking area, dogs must be on leashes that do not exceed 8′ (and no dogs on the Rosemary Scrub Vista), and alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Rules will also be in the trail maps and are currently on this website on the trails page.

Gate will lock

On March 10, we return to Daylight Savings Time. The evening closing time will be extended to 7 p.m.. At present, the gates are opened and closed by volunteers; however, we are partnering with UN to convert our entrance gates to automatic gates that will open and close electronically at set times. Currently, visitors who fail to exit by closing and find their cars locked in are required to contact JSO at the non-emergency number of 904-630-0500 for assistance. When the new system is operational, there may be a service fee for opening the gates if visitors fail to exit by closing. The automatic gates should be operational by the end of April, if not sooner.

What’s blooming around the Lake Loop?

Deciduous native Florida pinxter azaleas (Rhododendron canescens) are blooming on the Live Oak, Aralia, and Rosemary Ridge trails. In fall 2011, native azaleas were planted on the east end of the Lake Loop. While still small, some are in bud and should bloom this year. This planting included R. canescens, R. austrinium (Florida Flame azalea), R. viscosum (Swamp azalea), as well as a few heat tolerant native hybrids. At maturity, these plants should look beautiful paired with dogwoods (Cornus florida) and redbuds (Ceris canadensis) which are already in bloom around the lake. Later this month, the native Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus), several types of blueberries (Vaccinium spp) including Sparkleberry, Deerberry, Highbush, Darrows, Shiny, and Rabbiteye, and Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) should be blooming. The late freeze zapped the native Firebush (Hamelia patens) and Firespike (Odontonema strictum) but both should recover quickly. These plants are favorites of butterflies and hummingbirds. Last year, there were 6 or 7 different types of butterflies feeding on these plants as well as hummingbirds. Annual and perennials which typically bloom this month are Louisiana Iris (Iris spp) , Blanketflower (Gaillardia spp), Drummond Phlox (Phlox drummondii), Cranes Bill (Geranium carolinianum), and several types of sages (Salvia spp). Spring is always full of surprises (and the warm December-January followed by a cold February is really confusing the flowering plants) so be on the lookout for new plants in flower.

Recycle Your Leaves

If you are raking oak leaves, please bring your bagged leaves to the Arboretum.  Just leave  them at the front entrance by the drop off (near the water fountain) and we will spread them in  the gardens. This is an easy way to both recycle your leaves AND help the Arboretum.

Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens

The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is a 120-acre urban woodland full of trails for you to explore and enjoy.

Volunteer Highlight

Miranda Wilson, a recent PhD graduate in Ecology from Georgia Tech, has volunteered to help us manage ongoing environmental research and associated service projects. She is currently working with Dr. Kelly Smith’s University of North Florida Environmental Science class on their required service projects. Two student groups from this UNF class will be working at the Arboretum during the upcoming National Invasive Species Awareness Week (March 2-8). One group will be leading the Air Potato Round Up and the other will be removing Peruvian Water Primrose from the lower ravine area.

Dr. Wilson is also looking for a few good university students to do research projects this summer. She is actively courting interest at local universities but if you know of any university student wanting a great summer project please get in touch with us at info@jacksonvillearboretum.org. Over University of Maryland spring break, Dr. Wilson will be supervising a student project collecting gall wasps on white oaks at several northeast Florida locations including the Arboretum. Please join us in giving Dr. Wilson a big big thank you.

A Field Day for the Birds

Dr. Natasha Vanderhoff’s Jacksonville University Ornithology class had a banner field trip to the Arboretum early Thursday morning February 21. We’ve seen all of these birds before but never on a single foray.

At Lake Ray the class saw Red-shouldered Hawk, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, and Pied-billed Grebe. Along the Lake Loop Trail were common year round residents including Eastern Phoebe, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmice, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, and a winter visitor Ruby-crowned Kinglet. They saw all of our resident woodpeckers and relatives (Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker).

As the class continued their walk around the lake, a flock of American robins flew over… a harbinger of migratory warblers soon to come. The warblers the class spotted, including Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black and White Warbler, were likely all year-round and winter residents. The best thing going on at the lake early that morning was a Bald Eagle trying to steal a fish from an Osprey. The osprey kept his breakfast.

The class then continued around the Rosemary Ridge Trail and added a few more species to their checklist. They definitely heard a White-eyed Vireo in the thickets of the xeric hammock and a Red-winged Blackbird at the second marsh overlook. They thought they spotted a Hermit Thrush but since it didn’t call they couldn’t verify the sighting – its difficult to see birds darting about in those thickets.

Grab your binoculars and find out who calls your Arboretum home. Let us know what you see. Post your comments and photos on our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/JacksonvilleArboretumGardens

From the trailhead next to the parking lot, a stabilized walkway encircles a beautiful two-acre lake. This trail gently descends about 25 feet from to the foot of the lake and then returns up a gentle slope on the opposite side to the trailhead. Interpretive signs and over 100 labeled plants enhance the loop.

In addition, over two miles of rustic hiking trails wind quietly through a series of distinct ecological habitats.

Along the trails, benches invite you either to pause and enjoy the view or to get in a good stretch during a vigorous walk.

The Arboretum is developed and managed by the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens, Inc., a non-profit entity that leases the land from the City. Except for special events, there is no admission fee.