Amazing Wildlife and Beautiful Wildflowers in The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve near Fort Myers, Florida
docscape
04/29/2024
The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a 3,500 acre preserve, 11 miles long and 1/3 of a mile wide. The slough (pronounced sloo) is a wetland habitat with shallow slow flowing freshwater, and is primarily marsh. It is home to alligators, snakes, many species of birds, and even otters. There is a 1.2 mile boardwalk through the slough which features several viewing platforms and educational displays. There is also an interpretive center on site, which has educational exhibits. They also have guided tours available as well.
Shawna and I met one of my cousins who lives near Fort Myers for a walk through the preserve. It is a beautiful place and filled with wildlife and wildflowers.
Location pin relative to Fort Myers, FL.Located at 7751 Penzance Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33966.Sign at the front entrance.Entrance to the Interpretive Center is off the parking lot. You are also expected to pay at a station to the left of the kiosk on the left pictured here. It’s only $2 per hour and they do accept debit cards. Don’t forget because it’s a hefty fine.The boardwalk entrance is also off the parking area. The volunteers are there to help answer any questions.A map of the trail. Note there is a short connecter in the middle of the big loop where you can cut the trip short if you like.The slough changes with the seasons.Bald Cypress tree grove. This area of Florida once had vast old growth groves of these trees, however most were cut down for logging and to make way for housing and farming :(.Make sure to be as silent as possible and keep a keen eye out for wildlife and interesting plants.More tips for having a successful outing.There are many interpretive education signs along the way.This is the largest of the open water areas. We saw an eagle flying above and some egrets nesting in the trees to the left.A pair of nesting Great Egrets.Cormorants. These birds are avid underwater swimmers.Blue Mist flower.Some butterflies you may see here.The various environmental zones found across the slough.Water on pine needles.There were many Bromeliads in the trees above. Many were flowering. These plants don’t have roots and instead get their nutrients from their surroundings and store water in the cups around their center. They do have something similar to roots which are for holding onto their host trees.The boardwalk is well maintained.Sometimes you have to look real close to see the flowers, like this Broadleaf Arrowhead.Another Broadleaf Arrowhead.Broadleaf Arrowhead flower.There are some others hidden in the grass ahead.Pickerelweed.This is called a Buttonbush.It’s a perfect ball with spikes.Many of the animals are nighttime hunters.Another Bromeliad.Look how the tree is growing around the railing.Helen Keller.Some of the drier areas have different plants.Can you see the turtle about to eat that Water Lily flower bud?Water Lilies will be blooming soon.Beautiful Bromeliad bloom. Check out those cool pine cones behind it.An alligator crossing the pond.He wasn’t interested in us.There are many snakes as well. This is a harmless Banded Water Snake.He was hunting for breakfast.There are plenty of these geckos all over Florida.This Bromeliad flower has gone to seed. The seeds will catch in the wind and land on another tree and take hold to grow there.Surprisingly, I only saw a few fungi.Marsh Fleabane. Quite different from the Fleabane we have in Ohio.An Alligator’s Neighborhood.Most of the tall trees here are Bald Cypress.There is a Hawk’s nest.If left with no maintenance, the swamp would consume the boardwalk.Dragonfly.There is an observation blind which hides the viewers from the animals. It talks about the various creatures that live here.Some of the birds. Shawna is showing my cousin something out there.Some of the plants found here.A view through the blind.These are snail eggs. They will hatch and the baby snails will fall into the water.More Arrowhead flowers.The Dragonflies seem to love these.At the center of the parking area there is a small rock garden with some local plants in it found in the surrounding drier habitats.Scarlet Sage.Some butterflies you might see here.Black Jack.Blue Mist.Fuchsia, a type of Honeysuckle.
