Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Lake Wales Ridge WEA

 Tuesday November 17th


At the time of the Pleistocene Epoch, the sea level around what is now Florida fell and rose several times as the North American Ice Sheets variously grew and melted.  At one point, some two million years ago, the Florida peninsula was almost completely submerged. This event left exposed only a series of small islands, which are the Sand Hills and Florida Scrub country found in central Florida today. Geologically, the zone is referred to as the Mid-Florida Ridge, or as the Lake Wakes Ridge. 

Florida Scrub Jay at Lake Wales Ridge WEA

The surviving, much has been lost to development,  Florida Scrub ecosystems are very unique with some flora and fauna found nowhere else. The most well known example is our only endemic bird, the Florida Scrub Jay. The Lake Wales Ridge also features endemic lizards in the Sand Skink and the Florida Scrub Lizard. And lots of endemic and some vey rare flora. 


Faey's Palafox


Yesterday I visited the Lake Wales Ridge WEA - Lake Placid Scrub Tract, which is near Lake Placid and an excellent example of Florida Scrub. Was greeted by a pair of Florida Scrub Jays at the trail head.

Florida Scrub Lizard

Florida Scrub Lizard

Some of the flora found in this ecosystem included Sand Live Oak, Florida Scrub Oak, Scrub Palmetto, Sand Heath, Scrub Hickory, Rusty Lyonia, Sand Pine, Florida Scrub Bluecurls, Highlands Scrub Hypericum, Fringed Star Grass, Fringed Jointweed and Sandhill Wireweed





Sand Live Oak

Florida Scrub Oak

Scrub Palmetto

Sand Heath


Scrub Hickory

Rusty Lyonia

Sand Pine

Highlands Scrub Hypericum

Florida Scrub Bluecurl

Fringed Star Grass

Fringed Jointweed

Sandhill Wireweed


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