Sauntering in the Sawgrass

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Hi Blog!

Our campground in Pembroke Pines, Florida is close enough for us to drive over to the east side of Everglades. Just north of Weston is a 27 mile trail system known as the Everglades Conservation Levee Greenway. There are several trailheads that access the levees, but the one closest to us was at the Sawgrass Recreation Park. In addition to the trailhead, the park has a public boat launch and a private airboat tour company.

Sawgrass Recreation Park was previously a fishing camp. Over the next 30 years it transformed from a fishing camp into a one boat airboat attraction in the 1970’s that has become one of South Florida’s top destinations for visitors, with dozens of airboats. Had we known the trailhead would be swarming with airboat tourists, we might have picked a different trailhead. However, once we crossed the gate into the Everglades, we had the place to ourselves.

Well, almost to ourselves. We noticed this gator swimming along the far bank of the canal.

This gator was sunning on our side of the canal.

We startled a blue heron, but he hid in the sawgrass before we could get a photo. Did you know that sawgrass is not a “true” grass, but actually a member of the sedge family, characterized by sharp teeth along the edges of each blade. It can grow up to 9 feet tall which makes a perfect spot for a tall wading bird to hide. 

This osprey was kind enough to circle above us a few times so we could get a photo.

The Everglades begin near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee. Water leaving the lake in the wet season forms a slow-moving river 60 miles wide and over 100 miles long, flowing southward across a limestone shelf to the Florida Bay. The River of Grass provides plenty of opportunity for fishing several types of Bass, as well as Bowfin, Garfish, Crappie, Bluegill, and Sunfish.

Several times during our hike, our quiet solitude was interrupted by the roar of an airboat. If you're curious how loud the airboats were, check out this video. However, you should probably lower the volume before you click!

Once the airboat passed, our quiet returned. We even had a chance to chat with this fisherman. The few bikers we saw passed quickly. No time to chat when you have miles and miles of trail ahead of you.

Sixteen different species of wading birds live in the Everglades. All have long legs for wading into the water to catch their food. The white Ibis is the most common wading bird found in the park. Unlike wading birds that prefer to eat fish, the ibis dines mostly on crayfish. This attractive white bird has a long, slender, curved beak that it uses to probe the mud in search of food. Ancient Egyptians believed the ibis to be the reincarnation of their God, Thoth, the God of Wisdom and Learning.

Unfortunately, the ibis are very good at hiding in the sawgrass as they forage the pannes.

After two and half miles in the Florida sun, we were ready for some shade... any shade. We found the tallest bush at the edge of the canal, did a thorough check for alligators and pythons, and settled in for our picnic lunch.

One advantage of an out-and-back hike is the ability to slow down and notice things you didn't see on the way out - like the little yellow flower pictured below. There are over 750 different types of wildflowers in the Everglades. There is something blooming all year long.

As the day heated up, our pace slowed. The various flycatchers and songbirds fluttered around the edge of the levee. This female grackle stopped to watch us pass. The others birds were too busy to stay long enough for a photo.

Across the canal was an island of palm trees. These small islands of trees grow on land raised between 1 foot to 3 feet above the water and are called tropical hardwood hammocks. They may range from one to ten acres in area, and appear in freshwater sloughs and sawgrass prairies. Hammocks are slightly elevated on limestone plateaus risen several inches above the surrounding peat. 

Did you ever get that feeling you're being watched?

The hardest part of the hike was avoiding the temptations at the end. The Sweet Tooth Cafe offers fresh made lemonade, healthy fruit smoothies, donut bites, funnel “snakes” and ice cream sundaes!  A taco truck also offered less sweet delights.

We have another week here in south Florida. We hope to get out and about again. Stay tuned.