Before turning back the clocks this weekend, Dennis and I wanted to see the sunrise. Since Dennis is not one to rise early, getting him to agree to venture to the Celery Fields in Sarasota was more than unusual.
We arrived before sunrise. After summitting 85 feet to the third highest point in the county, we waited only momentarily for the sun’s greeting. As the orange globe rose quickly through the horizon’s wispy clouds, the birds started chirping. Nice way to start the day.
Unlike other local hiking spots, Celery Fields has ascents and descents and nice views of the water management from the top of Observation Hill. Hiking here is great practice for the more rigorous northern hikes.
This site, according to the info board, was once a lake used by mammoths and mastodons. Over time the lake became a large sawgrass wetland system. In the 1880s, it was drained for agriculture, especially celery. Remember FANCEE Celery? This is where it was grown.
In 1994 the county purchased the property to make drainage for times of heavy rain. The “hill” comes from soil that was excavated for demucking. Lime was added to deacidify the soil and return the farm into wetlands and a wildlife habitat attracting more than 200 species of birds. We saw 5 or 6 of the more common Florida wading birds: cormorant, anhinga, egret, ibis, and roseate spoonbill.
This dazzling plant makes a delicious jam and an excellent mosquito repellant. For recipes, click here and then scroll down. I’m thinking of planting it in our yard.
It is interesting to note that the drainage ditch behind our home is part of this treatment area. Each day, I check the water level and wildlife. It saddens me to see so much plastic junk and recyclable bottles make its way into the basin.
