Wickham Park, January 29, 2012

A brief visit to see if anything new or interesting was in bloom. We checked the ditch and shoulder next to the unpaved road leading into the Youth Camping Area and along the main trail north of the Senior Center.

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Bay lobelia (Lobelia feayana, Campanulaceae)
Native, Florida endemic

A few of these were scattered along the shoulder of the unpaved road into the Youth Camping Area.  Bay lobelia is currently growing in thick patches in the median of DeSoto Parkway in Satellite Beach.

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Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana, Haemodoraceae)
Native

Redroot seed head has an interesting appearance.

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Oakleaf fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius, Asteraceae)
Native

It was believed at one time that the dried plants repelled fleas.

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Black medic (Medicago lupulina, Fabaceae)
Not native

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Florida tasselflower (Emilia fosbergii, Asteraceae)
Not native

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Cutleaf evening-primrose (Oenothera laciniata, Onagraceae)
Native

This and the following entries were found along the trail on the north side of the Senior Center.

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Shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites, Ericaceae)
Native

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Oriental false hawksbeard (Youngia japonica, Astereaceae)
Not native

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Scrub jays

We were surprised by a group of four noisy scrub jays. They flew very close, probably looking for a handout, then began loud scolding. Expressing their displeasure at us having nothing for them? Or maybe a nest was nearby.

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