Tree House Trail – A Wetland Walk
Grade level: can be made appropriate for 2nd grade to adult
45 – 1hour
Learning Objectives:
Learn some of the species of plants and animals that live in a swamp. Specifically: Bald
Cypress, Bluestem palmetto, Water Moccasin, woodpeckers and Barred Owl.
Materials:
Snake skin
Pictures of; Yellow-bellied Sap Sucker, Barred Owl and Cottonmouth (you can use the
poisonous snakes of the southeast poster or venomous snakes card)
3 palm fronds; Bluestem, Saw palmetto and Cabbage Palm. (Try to collect them from
specimens that are in the way somewhere, maybe next to Ball Rd). Dead fronds in good
condition are acceptable and maybe even preferable.
Paper signs or flagging tape, or anything to mark off stopping places.
Background:
Tree House Trail goes through a bottomland swamp that has a lot of Bald Cypress trees.
They get their name from the fact that they drop their needles in the winter (deciduous vs.
evergreen). Scientists are not in agreement about the purpose of the knees. Some think
they allow oxygen into the root system. Others believe they provide stability to the trees
which typically grow in soft muddy soil. It is probable that they do both. The knees can
grow up to 6’ tall. They grow strait up, perpendicular to the underground roots. When
these trees grow in frequently flooded areas, the lower trunk is generally enlarged and
buttressed. Some of the other species growing in swampy conditions will buttress also.
Bluestem Palmetto is a wetland plant that looks like Saw Palmetto. It can be distinguished
by the lack of spines on the stem. It also resembles a young Cabbage palm, but has a much
shorter mid rib and does not have the threadlike fibers that are present on the Cabbage
palm fronds. Bluestem Palmetto is also called Dwarf Sabal Palm because it is closely related
to Sabal Palm (Cabbage Palm). Saw Palmetto has no mid rib, Bluestem has a very short mid
rib, and Cabbage palm has a long mid rib. Cabbage palms and Bluestem Palmettos are
adapted to grow in very wet conditions Saw Palmetto is not. These three, easily confused,
native palms are only some of the palms grown in north Florida.
The Cottonmouth Water Moccasin is sometimes nearly all black, and sometimes the
background color is lighter and a banded pattern can be seen. A lot depends on how old it
is and if it has just shed its skin, (juveniles have lighter background coloring and a yellow tip
on their tail). We have collected various snake skins. It is likely that none are from
Cottonmouths. Characteristics to help identify this snake include the vertical, as apposed to
round, eye slit and a dark stripe behind the eye. The inside of the mouth is cottony white,
and it has a heavy body with a short narrow tail. The Pit Vipers have large triangular heads
which is helpful in identification. It is wise though to keep your distance from any snake,
especially if you are not sure if it is venomous.
Barred Owls are the only local owls that have brown eyes. They can be seen roosting on
tree branches during the day but they do not hunt during the day. It is possible that Great
Horned Owls also use the Park. Both owls are cavity nesters and frequently use other bird’s
nests, such as Hawk’s nests.
Other plants seen from the Tree House trail include: Spanish Moss, Wild Pine, both of
which are epiphytes, Blue-flag Iris, Arrow Arum, Ladies Tresses, Rain Lily, Lizard tail, Red
Maple, Sweet Gum, Ash.
The original Tree House Trail was constructed on this same footprint. It was built by the
Green Berets in 1978. The Tree houses were built at about the same time. Over the years,
the ropes, ladders and trap doors were replaced with stairs and regular doors. When this
was a Girl Scout camp, the girls would have to carry all their gear down this 700’ boardwalk
to reach the tree houses. Now we also have an access road.
Before class, mark the stopping places on the boardwalk.
Introduction:
Along the boardwalk we will learn a little bit about the plants and animals that live in the
swamp. Ask if anyone has walked down the Jungle Trail out to the pier on the Black Creek.
If they have not, suggest that they should if they have time before leaving. This swamp trail
is different from the Jungle Trail because it runs through the interior of the swamp while the
Jungle Trail runs along the edge of the Black Creek
Before entering the boardwalk, stop by a palmetto to show and discuss how to identify.
Bluestem, Saw Palmetto and Cabbage Palm. Show the differences on the three fronds and
see if the students can correctly identify plants along the trail. Explain that observing the
small details will help them identify plants. There is a Saw Palmetto to the left of the
beginning of the boardwalk and Blue Stem Palmettos throughout the trail. The large
labeled Cabbage (Sabal) Palm can be pointed out along the return walk.
Let the students know that we will be stopping several times and that if they get ahead they
are to stop at the marked locations.
Stopping spot:
Activity for student groups: In one of the wide areas, tell the students to sit with their
knees up and their feet tucked in as far as they can. Ask one of the adults to stand within
the group and brace her/himself by spreading their legs. The adult is the Bald cypress and
the students are the knees. The knees are all connected to the tree via underground roots.
The knees are above ground parts of the root system. Push gently on the “tree” to show
that the base of the tree is buttressed because it is very wide. Both the knees and wide
base will keep the trees from blowing over during storms. Point out the Bald Cypress trees.
Show the dramatic fluted buttresses on nearby trees. Point out the numerous knees and
discuss their possible functions. Bald Cypress is a deciduous conifer. It makes cones, but
drops its leaves in winter. Bald Cypress trees can live more than 500 yrs. and are extremely
resistant to decay. That is one reason why the wood is sought after for exterior uses like
fences, shingles and mulch. They are common along southern streams and swamps, but it is
hard for their seeds to travel overland to colonize isolated wet areas. (The now extinct
Carolina Parakeet used to spread the seeds.)
Stopping spot: There are many blown down trees (tip up trees) along the Jungle Trail. Not
as many blow down here because the forest trees protect each other from strong winds and
we are far from the rough wave action that occurs during storms. But sometimes they do
come down. When they get hung up on other trees, the growth adapts to this new
orientation by growing vertically on one side of the trunk. You will find examples of this
along both trails.
Stopping spot: Many standing dead trees have holes in them made by woodpeckers. Why
do woodpeckers do that? To expose the ants and beetles and other insects found in rotting
wood. They make much larger holes for nesting. Several species of woodpeckers inhabit
our park. Although the Pileated, Red-bellied, Red-headed, and Downey woodpeckers are
more common, a woodpecker called the Yellow Bellied Sapsucker made horizontal rows of
holes in several of the trees. They then return to eat the sweet sap and any insects that
were attracted by the oozing sap. If the tree produces well, they will keep drilling fresh
holes in it. If not, they move to a different tree. You may hear woodpeckers calling or
drumming on trees to get to the insects that are their primary food.
Take the trail to the right at the end of the boardwalk or walk up to the road through the
Tree house site. If the blueberries are in bloom or fruit, point them out. Point out anything
else of interest, especially how the habitat has changed from bottomland swamp to
temperate hardwoods with just a little elevation. Stop at the outdoor classroom and
discuss Cottonmouth Water Moccasins and Barred Owls.
There are lots of snakes that live in wet areas like this swamp. One that is usually found in
a swamp habitat is the Water Moccasin. Sometimes people call any water snake a
moccasin. Six species of venomous snakes live in north Florida. The poisonous water snake
found locally, is the Cottonmouth Water Moccasin. Explain how a snake sheds its skin
inside out. Let the students gently touch the snake skin you have brought with you.
Barred Owls (17”L, 44”W) are heard frequently, and sometimes even seen in this part of the
park. Their call is described as “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all”. Barred Owls will
call during the day. Owls are well camouflaged birds with large heads and eyes that face
forward. They have small, hooked bills and sharp hooked claws. Owls hunt at night and
have very good eyesight and excellent hearing. They also have soft feathers that enable
them to fly silently.
Show the pictures you brought with you.
Walk back via the road. Remember to point out the Cabbage (Sabal) Palm.