Florida Native Plant Society Members:

We will visit Heartwood Preserve, a nature preserve and conservation cemetery located in Trinity. This property is part of the former Starkey Ranch, and borders the 18,000 acre Starkey Wilderness Preserve. We will explore the longleaf pine flatwoods habitat and also find a healthy cypress wetland running through the preserve. The flatwoods contain both longleaf and slash pines. We will look at how to tell them apart, discuss their differences and similarities, and also find the many other plant species that are commonly found in this highly diverse ecosystem. We will also note the beautiful results of our prescribed fire program, as we walk through the area burned last year (July 2018) and this summer (June 2019). The entire area we will explore is about 20 acres, so it is not a long hike but rather a pleasant walk. At this time of year (late November) we can expect to see many wildflowers in bloom, and have gorgeous weather. There is a comfortable new Welcome Center with restrooms, space to gather, and a water fountain to refill your water bottles. Please bring your own bottle (we eschew disposable water bottles), bug spray, sun protection.

Address: 4100 Starkey Boulevard, Trinity FL 34655.

Easy directions: Take SR 54 to Starkey Blvd, go up 1.5 miles north of SR 54 on the right side of the road and you will see the entrance. When you see the 3-board wood fence along some woods, begin to look for the entrance.

If coming from the north, turn onto Starkey Blvd off of Decubellis Rd. Go about 4 miles and it will be on the left. You will likely need to go past the entrance (our entrance sign faces the south, making the entrance hard to catch from the north), make a U-turn at the next street, and come back up to turn right into the entrance.

Are you a Member?: FNPS Website