Newcomers Guide to Landscaping in the Florida Keys

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Newcomers Guide to Landscaping in the Florida Keys Managing Yard Pests Responsibly City and County Tree Pruning and Removal Newcomers Guide to Did You Know? Contacts: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques are an Landscaping in the effective defense against pests while minimizing impact Over pruning a/k/a “hurricane pruning” robs Key West Urban Forester: 305-809-3768 on the environment, your wallet, and workload. nutrients from feeding the palm! Florida Keys Currently, two citrus diseases (Citrus Canker and Best tip to prevent pests is proper planting, Marathon Planner: 305-289-4109 watering, and fertilizing. Citrus Greening) are attacking homeowner and Inspect your plants frequently to detect commercial trees. Until the diseases are under Islamorada problems early. Be familiar with how the control your citrus tree may only live a short life plant should look. That will help you see Village Biologist: 305-664-6427 problems before they are out of control. span in your yard. If not sure what the insect is, contact the The Florida Keys major vegetable growing season is Admin Planning: 305-664-6426 Extension Service to help you identify it. October through April. Monroe County Learn what are common insect pests on your plants and know there are helpful Biologist (Marathon): 305-289-2537 insects that feed on those pests that are eating your plants. Biologist (Key Largo): 305-453-8730 Welcome to the challenges and rewards Tolerate some insect damage and leaf UF/IFAS/Monroe County Extension Services of designing and maintaining a Florida disease on plants. No one can maintain an http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu is a free educational Biologist (Key Largo): 305-453-8731 Keys landscape. insect– and disease-free landscape, and a resource available to answer your plant and insect little damage will not hurt your plants. FREE Mulch questions. First, let’s get grounded with a few key But if you must start with low impact facts. techniques: remove affected plant parts, Keys Energy Services: 305-295-1010 handpick insects, apply water spray. See our website for regional plant clinic schedules Florida Keys Electric Co-op: 305-852-2431 The Florida Keys are in USDA If applying a pesticide, start with the least and the “Monroe County Extension IFAS Blog” Hardiness Zones 11a (Key Largo to toxic chemicals (insecticidal soaps and http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/monroeco Marathon) and 11b (Marathon horticultural oils). Monroe County Roads & Bridges Best to test product on small portion of the through Key West). Average annual o plant and wait three days to make sure it Stay up-to-date with the latest insects and Lower Keys: 305-797-4929 temperature is 77 F, with a range from 41oF to 95oF. Frost free!!! doesn’t burn the plant. diseases, pruning practices, and how to grow a Upper Keys: 305-852-7161 Spot-treat only where the pest is present and not over entire plant. vegetable garden at the University of Florida The Florida Keys are a chain of Apply pesticides during the cooler part of Solutions for Your Life website islands ranging in elevation from the day. Heat combined with soaps, http://www.solutionsforyourlife.com sea level to 18 feet. Plants may be horticultural oils, and other pesticides can Contact local tree services throughout the Keys subject to salt winds and salt water injure your plants. For tropical fruit tree information, go to: for free mulch deliveries. flooding due to storm surges, high Avoid using broad-spectrum insecticides. tides, and sea level rise. They are not selective, meaning they also http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/fruitscapes kill helpful insects. Our soils (Key Largo Limestone and For palm care and pruning, visit: Miami Oolite) are alkaline, with a pH Monroe County Extension Services http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu; look in left column for Palm range from 7.2 to 8.2. Production and Maintenance. Key West Office: Rainy/hurricane season extends 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 2-260 from June through November. The rest of the year is considered to be 305-292-4501 the dry season. On average, rainfall http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity is about 40 inches per year, with Aphids Mealybugs Scale Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other most rainfall occurring during the services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination Key Largo Office: with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orienta- rainy season. tion, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more 102050 Overseas Highway, Room 244 Whiteflies information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service. Water Efficiently Right Plant, Right Place Fertilize Appropriately Using your landscape trimmings onsite reduces the In addition to wasting money, time, and water, too amount of curbside trash going to Broward County Achieving a healthy, low-maintenance home Fresh water is a limited resource in the much fertilizer can weaken a plant, promote disease, landfill and incinerator. Florida Keys. invite pests, and harm nearshore waters. landscape starts with putting the right plant in the right place. Remember, if you can’t use the correct Mulch fertilizer, you’re better off not fertilizing A layer of mulch helps Match plants with site at all! maintain soil moisture, improves soil conditions, conditions based on Fertilize only as needed by using correct controls weeds, reduces USDA zone, water and nutrients. runoff, protects plants light requirements, soil conditions, salt and Palms and turf have different nutritional from weed whacker and wind tolerance, and other factors. needs. In our alkaline soils, common turf mower damage, and adds beauty to the landscape. deficiencies are nitrogen and iron, while palms Mulch is made of plant materials including your When selecting a tree for your yard, size need potassium, magnesium, manganese, and own yard trimmings and collected rinsed sea grass. matters! Be aware of the mature size of Our potable water is pumped to the Keys from boron. Cypress and pea rock are not recommended. the mainland through a 130-mile long When applying mulch, keep it away from trunks at plants and make site-appropriate Do NOT use turf fertilizers within 50 feet of a transmission line by the Florida Keys Aqueduct a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Mulch under the entire palm! But DO use an “improved palm special” selections. Avoid planting trees that will Authority (FKAA). Monroe County water plant canopy and replenish as needed. restrictions are in place. To learn more, visit the 8-2-12 landscape fertilizer on turf and all grow over 20 feet tall under the power Free mulch numbers are listed under city and South Florida Water Management District ornamental plants in mixed landscapes. lines. Contact your local Keys utility for website http://www.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/ county contacts. Acid-loving plants grown in alkaline soils will information. portal/xweb%20-%20release%203%20water% 20conservation/florida%20friendly% show micronutrient deficiencies. Compost Plants well-suited to the site need less 20landscaping Do not use “Weed and Feed” as these Yard trimmings, kitchen scraps, and sea grasses Additional water can be collected through irrigation and fertilizer, and are more herbicides and fertilizers can injure some trees can be collected. rainbarrels and cisterns. resistant to pest infestation. and shrubs. Supplies nutrients and reduces the need for Overwatering landscape can cause disease, Direct fertilizer to the plants not the nearshore fertilizer. Consider planting natives as they are pollution, and pest problems and is an waters. Improves soil structure, loosens compacted soils, unnecessary expense in time and money. adapted to our climate and high pH soils. Don’t fertilize within 10 feet of a body of water increases water holding capacity, and lowers pH. Use the “Natives for Your Neighborhood” Waterwise advice: or before a heavy rain. Use slow release fertilizers. Most fertilizers website http://regionalconservation.org/ Choose drought tolerant native plants need to be watered-in with a 1/4 inch of water Attracting Wildlife beta/nfyn/default.asp Water only as needed to move fertilizer just below the soil surface to Make your yard a sanctuary for birds, butterflies, Hand water when possible plant roots. pollinators, and other creatures. Eliminate invasive exotic plants. Depending Use a diversity of plants in varying heights, flower Water in the morning (4 a.m. to 8 a.m.) Sweep up spills. upon where you live in the Keys, you may Follow label directions or IFAS fact sheet types, and fruits. Group plants by water needs need a permit. recommendations. Supply food, water, and shelter. Use mulch to conserve moisture Limit insecticides. Organic fertilizers, such as manure or compost, are Keep the kitty indoors. an excellent source of nutrients. By building a compost pile, you can use local resources such as kitchen scraps, yard waste, and sea grasses. .
Recommended publications
  • Repurposing the East Coast Railway: Florida Keys Extension a Design Study in Sustainable Practices a Terminal Thesis Project by Jacqueline Bayliss
    REPURPOSING THE EAST COAST RAILWAY: FLORIDA KEYS EXTENSION A DESIGN STUDY IN SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES A terminal thesis project by Jacqueline Bayliss College of Design Construction and Planning University of Florida Spring 2016 University of Florida Spring 2016 Terminal Thesis Project College of Design Construction & Planning Department of Landscape Architecture A special thanks to Marie Portela Joan Portela Michael Volk Robert Holmes Jen Day Shaw Kay Williams REPURPOSING THE EAST COAST RAILWAY: FLORIDA KEYS EXTENSION A DESIGN STUDY IN SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES A terminal thesis project by Jacqueline Bayliss College of Design Construction and Planning University of Florida Spring 2016 Table of Contents Project Abstract ................................. 6 Introduction ........................................ 7 Problem Statement ............................. 9 History of the East Coast Railway ...... 10 Research Methods .............................. 12 Site Selection ............................... 14 Site Inventory ............................... 16 Site Analysis.................................. 19 Case Study Projects ..................... 26 Limitations ................................... 28 Design Goals and Objectives .................... 29 Design Proposal ............................ 30 Design Conclusions ...................... 40 Appendices ......................................... 43 Works Cited ........................................ 48 Figure 1. The decommissioned East Coast Railroad, shown on the left, runs alongside the Overseas
    [Show full text]
  • Long-Range Interpretive Plan, Dry Tortugas National Park
    LONG-RANGE INTERPRETIVE PLAN Dry Tortugas National Park 2003 Cover Photograph: Aerial view of Fort Jefferson on Garden Key (fore- ground) and Bush Key (background). COMPREHENSIVE INTERPRETIVE PLAN Dry Tortugas National Park 2003 LONG-RANGE INTERPRETIVE PLAN Dry Tortugas National Park 2003 Prepared by: Department of Interpretive Planning Harpers Ferry Design Center and the Interpretive Staff of Dry Tortugas National Park and Everglades National Park INTRODUCTION About 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, lies a string of seven islands called the Dry Tortugas. These sand and coral reef islands, or keys, along with 100 square miles of shallow waters and shoals that surround them, make up Dry Tortugas National Park. Here, clear views of water and sky extend to the horizon, broken only by an occasional island. Below and above the horizon line are natural and historical treasures that continue to beckon and amaze those visitors who venture here. Warm, clear, shallow, and well-lit waters around these tropical islands provide ideal conditions for coral reefs. Tiny, primitive animals called polyps live in colonies under these waters and form skeletons from cal- cium carbonate which, over centuries, create coral reefs. These reef ecosystems support a wealth of marine life such as sea anemones, sea fans, lobsters, and many other animal and plant species. Throughout these fragile habitats, colorful fishes swim, feed, court, and thrive. Sea turtles−−once so numerous they inspired Spanish explorer Ponce de León to name these islands “Las Tortugas” in 1513−−still live in these waters. Loggerhead and Green sea turtles crawl onto sand beaches here to lay hundreds of eggs.
    [Show full text]
  • Sample Itinerary: Dry Tortugas – One Week*
    Sample Itinerary: Dry Tortugas – One Week* Day 1 – Depart out of Marathon in the evening and sail to the Dry Tortugas. (107 NM) It will take anywhere from 12 to 16 hours to make this passage. You should try to arrive in day light hours so that your approach is easier. Day 2 – Arrive at the island group known as the Dry Tortugas. This is the most isolated and least visited national park in the United States. You should plan to spend two nights here but if the weather deteriorates be flexible enough to cut it short and head back to Key West. There are no services out on these islands so you should plan to be self sufficient while in this remote area. Day 3 – Go ashore on Garden Key and tour Fort Jefferson National Monument. This was originally built in the mid 1800’s as a military fort to be used by Union forces during the Civil War. The fort was converted to a prison whose most famous inmate was Dr. Mudd of Lincoln’s time. Day 4 – Snorkel the reefs surrounding the islands. Go ashore on Loggerhead Key and/or Hospital Key for a cookout, just be sure to clean up well and leave as little of a footprint as possible. Bush Key offers great bird watching from your yacht. Bush Key is a bird sanctuary and landing is prohibited. Day 5 – Depart the Dry Tortugas early in the morning and sail to the uninhabited island group of the Marquesas. (44 NM) Be careful of Rebecca Shoal on the way and arrive before dark.
    [Show full text]
  • Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical
    HISTORY AND NATURE Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park The park was established in 1982 with land acquired County Road 905, Mile Marker 106 by Florida’s Conservation and Recreational Lands Key Largo, FL 33037 program. Now 2,421 acres on the northern third 305-451-1202 of the island of Key Largo, the park was named for Dagny Johnson, a local environmental activist, FloridaStateParks.org/DagnyJohnson approximately one year before her death in 2003. Throughout the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, Johnson led the PARK GUIDELINES Upper Keys Citizens Association, the Izaak Walton • Hours are 8:00 a.m. until sunset, 365 days League and other environmental organizations that a year. fought to stop the development that was planned • An entrance fee is $2.50. for much of north Key Largo. • Collection, destruction or disturbance of plants, DAGNY JOHNSON animals or park property is prohibited. Preservation of onshore communities was not the • Motorized vehicles are prohibited inside the KEY LARGO only purpose for protecting north Key Largo. These park. Park in designated areas. environmental activists also wanted to protect the • Visitors are required to stay on paved roadways HAMMOCK coral reefs offshore from the adverse impacts of and designated trails to minimize natural land development. resource damage. BOTANICAL • Access beyond the marked trail requires a North Key Largo is best known for its botanical backcountry permit. Contact the park office STATE PARK attributes. The diversity of trees per acre is as high for details. as it is anywhere in the United States. More than • Pets are permitted on the nature trail.
    [Show full text]
  • Sea Level Rise Impacts in the Florida Keys
    Past and future impacts of sea level rise on terrestrial ecosystems of the Florida Keys Sugarloaf Key, Spring 2006 Mike Ross Florida International University Department of Earth & Environment/Southeast Environmental Research Center Tidal wetlands Fresh water- dependent ecosystems (restricted to the lower Keys, due to its peculiar geology) Tropical hardwood hammocks White-crowned pigeon returning to its Florida Bay nest after feeding in an Upper Keys hammock Elevation: Low --------------------------------------------------------------------------High GW Salinity: l-------Saline-----l-----Brackish--------l----Fresh----l----Brackish----l Species/Site: l—5---5-----5-----13-----15------14---16---29----35---29---24---23---23-l Keys habitat mosaic Within-island habitat mosaic is relatively simple, determined by elevation and salinity. Lower Keys islands have fresher ground water, lower elevations, and a drier climate. Keys ecosystems differ spatially in vulnerability to sea level rise; risk depends greatly on rate of SLR high e.g., Upper Keys hammocks vulnerable e.g., protected shorelines vulnerable e.g., Lower Keys hammocks vulnerable Pine forests & freshwater wetlands Hardwood low hammocks e.g., exposed shorelines vulnerable Mangroves & coastal wetlands 1 ft per 1-2 m per Probability of ecosystem (%) ecosystem loss of Probability century century Rate of sea level rise Pine Forests – doubly vulnerable due to dependence on both fire and fresh groundwater Evidence of environmental change on Sugarloaf Key– pine snags in Ross et al. buttonwood woodland 1994 Recession of Sugarloaf pine forest (toward the interior of the island, toward higher elevations) Projected habitat change with sea level rise on Sugarloaf Key Ross et al. 2009 Hurricane Wilma, October 24th, 2005 Storm Surge in the lower Keys Wilma-related mortality: Sugarloaf Key, 70-100%; Big Pine Key Big Pine Key, 10-90%; Sugarloaf Key - North Sugarloaf Key - South concentrated at elevations < 1m Ross et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Key West Attractions Association Committed to Excellence We Are Truly One the World’S Most Popular Vacation Destinations
    Welcome to KEY WEST Key West Attractions Association Committed to Excellence We are truly one the world’s most popular vacation destinations. Key West vacations offer a unique The Key West Attractions Association makes Key West combination of fun and sun, land and sea, as well as vacations great. In a commitment to excellence in family excitement day and night. entertainment, the members of the Key West Attractions Come and take a stroll through historic Old Town and must meet and maintain quality standards of cleanliness, see hundreds of examples of 19th century architecture. safety, truth in advertising, hospitality and proper complaint Sail just seven miles offshore and experience North resolution. What’s your attraction to Key West? The island America’s only living coral reef. Tour the homes of lifestyle, laid-back and relaxed? Ocean views, swaying Hemingway and Harry Truman. Enjoy deep-sea and flats palms, the flavors of the sea? The excitement of watersports sports fishing, boating, diving, snorkeling and jet skiing. by day and wild life by night? The step back in time to a Join the sunset party on a pier or the water. Visit some of swashbuckling era of pirates and treasure-laden shipwrecks? the most unique museums in the U.S. And, experience Or is it the local color? The oranges and purples of our famous our heritage in art galleries, shops, hotels and restaurants sunsets, the green of banana leaves, palm designed to suit every style and taste. fronds and sea turtles, the blue According to legend, once Key West sand gets in and turquoise of the water your shoes, you’ll return again and again.
    [Show full text]
  • Florida Keys Destination Guide
    s y e .k a l f . The Florida Keys & Key West: 0 80 . come as you are 1 m o .c s y ke - la f fla-keys.com 1.800.fla.keys THE FLORIDA KEYS Most people know the Florida Keys and Key West as a great getaway. One of the most unique places on earth. Calm. Serene. Laid back. Just the right setting to recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your spirits. But a getaway to the Florida Keys and Key West is much more than peace and quiet. And not just because of the legendary fishing and the world’s most spectacular dive sites. The Keys mean history. Art. Theater. Museums. Shopping. Fine dining. Entertainment. And much more. All told, 120 miles of perfect balance between natural beauty and extra-ordinary excitement. Between relaxation and activities. Between the quaint and the classic. And you’ll find our accommodations just as diverse as our pleasures. From some of the best camping spots in the country to luxurious hotels. From charming bed-and-breakfasts to rustic, family-owned lodgings. In other words, we’ve got something for everyone. In the next few pages you’ll get to know what your Florida Keys vacation can and will be like. What you’d expect. And what will surprise you. Our fame and our secrets. We figured we owed it to you. After all, we wouldn’t want you to get here and wish you had booked just a few more days. For the latest on health & safety protocols in The Florida Keys, please visit our website.
    [Show full text]
  • Big Coppitt Johnsonville Subdivision Road Mitigation Project
    Monroe County Big Coppitt Key Johnsonville Subdivision Road Mitigation Project GIP Project Description Page 1 of 7 Monroe County Big Coppitt Key Johnsonville Subdivision Road Mitigation Project Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation Program General Infrastructure Program Big Coppitt Key - Johnsonville Subdivision Road Mitigation Project PROJECT DESCRIPTION Purpose and Description: Monroe County is the Southernmost County in the Continental United States. It is comprised of the Florida Keys, which are a string of over 800 low-lying islands stretching 130 miles in length and connected by only one road in and out, the Overseas Highway (US1). This grant application requests $8,514,819 in Community Development Block Grant- Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) grant funding to improve roadways in the Johnsonville subdivision located on Big Coppitt Key by designing and constructing an engineered storm water collection, treatment and disposal system. Figure 1 details the location of the project. This project will protect access to 86 residential homes that are subject to frequent and persistent flooding due to storms, tides, and that are at risk for future sea level rise impacts. The Big Coppitt Johnsonville subdivision drainage improvement project site is an approximately 18-acre area in a residential neighborhood that is located on the north side of Big Coppitt Key at mile marker 10 in the lower keys. The roads on the western side of the subdivision are at low elevation and frequently flood during rain events. The tidally influenced groundwater is high and the area does not drain naturally. Public Works crews are frequently dispatched to the area to pump storm water out of this low area to prevent water from flooding on adjacent properties.
    [Show full text]
  • City of Layton, Florida Comprehensive Plan
    City of Layton, Florida Comprehensive Plan Adopted 11-16-1990 Ordinance No. 90-11-03 Amended: 03-12-2009 Ordinance No. 2009-03-01 Ordinance No. 2018-04-01 The City of Layton, Florida 68260 Overseas Highway Layton, Florida 33001 305-664-4667 www.cityoflayton.com History of Comprehensive Plan Amendments Adopted 11-16-1990 Ordinance No. 90-11-03 Amended 06-14-1996 Ordinance No. 96-06-01 Amended 12-18-2003 Ordinance No. 03-09-01 Amended 08-05-2005 Ordinance No. 05-03-01 Amended 02-07-2008 Ordinance No. 08-02-01 Amended 12-04-2008 Ordinance No. 08-08-01 Amended 03-12-2009 Ordinance No. 09-03-01 Amended Ordinance No. 16-03-01 Revised: City of Layton, Florida Comprehensive Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 CHAPTER 163.3161 - 163.3215, FLORIDA STATUTES ............................................... 1 1.1.1 Chapter 380.0552, Florida Statutes .............................................................. 2 1.2 CHAPTER 9J-5, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE .................................................... 3 1.2.1 Format Requirements ................................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Data and Analysis Requirements ................................................................. 4 1.2.3 Level of Service Standard Requirements ..................................................... 4 1.2.4 Internal Consistency Requirements ............................................................. 5 1.2.5 Plan
    [Show full text]
  • Keys Sanctuary 25 Years of Marine Preservation National Parks Turn 100 Offbeat Keys Names Florida Keys Sunsets
    Keys TravelerThe Magazine Keys Sanctuary 25 Years of Marine Preservation National Parks Turn 100 Offbeat Keys Names Florida Keys Sunsets fla-keys.com Decompresssing at Bahia Honda State Park near Big Pine Key in the Lower Florida Keys. ANDY NEWMAN MARIA NEWMAN Keys Traveler 12 The Magazine Editor Andy Newman Managing Editor 8 4 Carol Shaughnessy ROB O’NEAL ROB Copy Editor Buck Banks Writers Julie Botteri We do! Briana Ciraulo Chloe Lykes TIM GROLLIMUND “Keys Traveler” is published by the Monroe County Tourist Development Contents Council, the official visitor marketing agency for the Florida Keys & Key West. 4 Sanctuary Protects Keys Marine Resources Director 8 Outdoor Art Enriches the Florida Keys Harold Wheeler 9 Epic Keys: Kiteboarding and Wakeboarding Director of Sales Stacey Mitchell 10 That Florida Keys Sunset! Florida Keys & Key West 12 Keys National Parks Join Centennial Celebration Visitor Information www.fla-keys.com 14 Florida Bay is a Must-Do Angling Experience www.fla-keys.co.uk 16 Race Over Water During Key Largo Bridge Run www.fla-keys.de www.fla-keys.it 17 What’s in a Name? In Marathon, Plenty! www.fla-keys.ie 18 Visit Indian and Lignumvitae Keys Splash or Relax at Keys Beaches www.fla-keys.fr New Arts District Enlivens Key West ach of the Florida Keys’ regions, from Key Largo Bahia Honda State Park, located in the Lower Keys www.fla-keys.nl www.fla-keys.be Stroll Back in Time at Crane Point to Key West, features sandy beaches for relaxing, between MMs 36 and 37. The beaches of Bahia Honda Toll-Free in the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • The Florida Keys 10 Days
    THE FLORIDA KEYS 10 DAYS Home to presidents and poets who sought inspiration from the beautiful, fragile eco-system that surrounded them, the Florida Keys are truly unique. The drive, with the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, is certainly breathtaking and will take you across 43 bridges from Key Largo to Key West. The famous ‘Seven Mile Bridge’ at Mile Marker 47 is more than 35,000 feet in length. DAY 1 –2 DAY 3 –4 DAY 7 –8 Miami Miami – Key West Duck Key – Islamorada Fly into Miami and enjoy 2 nights in South (155 miles) (30 miles) Beach before starting your journey down to Depart Miami and start your journey Islamorada has a reputation for the best the Florida Keys. south along the Florida Keys Overseas sport fishing in Florida. Explore wrecks and Offering a lively and funky atmosphere Scenic Highway US-1, across the Seven Mile coral gardens, or enjoy the nature trails in combined with a latin vibe, Miami attracts Bridge and travelling the length of the Keys Long Key State Park. to Key West, right at the very end on Mile visitors from all over the world. Famous Stay Marker 0. From here you will start your drive South Beach has some stunning sandy 4# Cheeca Lodge and Spa beaches, trendy designer shops and back up the Florida Keys towards Miami . glamorous boutique hotels. In the evening, Spend two nights in Key West where you ensure you experience the great nightlife will find relaxing beaches, a great choice of DAY 9 – 10 South Beach has to offer.
    [Show full text]
  • BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK Bahia Honda Key Is Home to One of Florida’S 36850 Overseas Highway Southernmost State Parks
    HISTORY BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK Bahia Honda Key is home to one of Florida’s 36850 Overseas Highway southernmost state parks. The channel Big Pine Key, FL 33043 between the old and new Bahia Honda bridges 305-872-2353 is one of the deepest natural channels in the Florida Keys. The subtropical climate has created a natural environment found nowhere else in the continental U.S. Many plants and PARK GUIDELINES animals in the park are rare and unusual, Please remember these tips and guidelines, and including marine plant and animal species of enjoy your visit: Caribbean origin. • Hours are 8 a.m. until sunset, 365 days a year. BAHIA HONDA The park has one of the largest remaining • An entrance fee is required. stands of the threatened silver palms. • The collection, destruction or disturbance of STATE PARK Specimens of the silver palm and the yellow plants, animals or park property is prohibited. satinwood, found in the park, have been • Pets are permitted in designated areas only. certified as national champion trees. The rare, Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than small-flowered lily thorn may also be found in six feet and well-behaved at all times. the park. • Fishing, boating, swimming and fires are The geological formation of Bahia Honda is Key allowed in designated areas only. A Florida Largo limestone. It is derived from a pre-historic fishing license may be required. Use diver- coral reef similar to the present-day living reefs down flags. off the Keys. Because of a drop-in sea level • Fireworks and hunting are prohibited.
    [Show full text]