FIELD TRIP – Old Miakka Preserve

Join Florida Wildflower Foundation and field trip leader Jeffrey Weber for a hike through Old Miakka Preserve to see oak scrub, pine flatwoods, riparian oak/palm/hardwood forest, depression marshes and a seasonal blackwater creek. Some of the area was formerly used for cattle grazing before acquisition by Sarasota County, so we will see some disturbed areas of former improved pasture and a large cattle pond on-site as well. The original 132 acres was acquired in 2006 with several additional acquisitions through 2022. The site now encompasses 488 acres. We will be on the lookout for Prairie iris (Iris savannarum), Adam’s needle (Yucca filamentosa), Shortleaf rosegentian (Sabatia brevifolia), Coastalplain St. John’s wort (Hypericum brachyphyllum), Florida scrub roseling (Callisia ornata), and Florida false sunflower (Phoebanthus grandiflorus), among other species. Wildlife in the area includes Gopher tortoises, White-tailed deer, Wild turkeys, Southern fox squirrels, Swallow-tailed kites, Crested caracara and Red-headed woodpeckers, among others.

The field trip will last approximately 2 hours and will cover about 2 miles of mostly flat terrain. Trail surfaces range from mowed grass trails to soft sand in places. Some areas may be muddy, depending on recent rainfall.

Jeff Weber recently retired after a 39-year career in natural resources management. He started his career as a state park ranger with the Florida Park Service back in 1985 and worked at Gamble Plantation State Historic Site, Caladesi Island State Park and Wekiwa Springs State Park. In 1989, Jeff was promoted to a district biologist position with the Florida Park Service and moved from the Orlando area to Sarasota to accept the position at the Oscar Scherer State Park District Office. Eventually, he accepted an environmental specialist position with the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department and worked there for 31 years until his recent retirement in August 2024. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys traveling, photography, gardening, hiking and a continued love of Florida’s beautiful wild places and the wonderful variety of native plants and animals that call them home.

Registration is free for Florida Wildflower Foundation members and $10 for nonmembers.