The temperatures started out brisk, with a sharp wind, but as the day proceeded the sun appeared and warmed everything. Sunday was damp, with some heavy rain. Keeping that in mind, I chose a place where I could keep my feet dry, so I went back to Lehigh Rail Trail. I did some photography but was mainly attempting to study some of the different tree species along the route.

What I thought was Acer rubrum has proven to be Liquidambar, which doesn’t get quite as bright in the autumn as its northern cousins. There is also Red Maple present in Graham Swamp, but I think Liquidambar is more prevalent in some areas. Red Maple has a straggly growth habit when its feet are in water. Another common name is Swamp Maple.

Festoons of silvery Spanish moss cover the oaks and maples along the path. In fact, any tree or shrub can develop moss if located in a shady to semi-shady position.

The route is simple, just follow the tarmac. I walked from Old King’s Road to the boardwalk near Colbert Road. I stopped at the boardwalk as it was still damp and slippery. When I first started my walk I was the only one present; then several bikers began to show up. The Lehigh Trail offers excellent exercise for bikers and connects to the vast array of Palm Coast walking/biking trails and paths.

After I completed the walk, I treated myself to dinner. Since I am eating only one main meal these days, I occasionally treat myself while out on a walk. I did walk at least four miles so burned up a few calories.

I hope everyone made it through the holidays. I actually had a good time, better than I have experienced for several years, sharing Thanksgiving with some of my housemates and then going out on a long walk with one of them. I’m becoming a social animal, LOL, well, not really. I enjoy my own company.

One more tree species I firmly identified today was the Eastern Red Cedar… which is actually a Juniper. The above photo doesn’t do the plant justice. This particular specimen is young but already over 20 feet tall and over 10 feet wide. It is growing in partial sun in the winter due to the low angle of the sun, but nearly full sun during the summer. Juniperus virginiana is the species name.

The Eastern White Cedar is an Arborvitae. I didn’t see one of those today although it is rumored to grow in these parts. It would be a relation of the Thuja plicata, which is known as Western Red Cedar. Common names for flora are confusing.

I took a year of horticulture several decades ago in another lifetime (it seems). Plants have always been a passion of mine.

Anyway, I hope you’re not bored… Hopefully I will visit another destination later in the week if the weather holds. It will be cool tomorrow, with overnight temps reaching down into the 40’s… which is cold for Florida!

In joy,

Eliza

Camera: Nikon Coolpix L830

Location: Flagler County

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