Six Mile Slough

While I was across the state I stopped in for my first visit to Six Mile Slough. This 2500 acre wetland is a natural drainage way for a 33 square-mile watershed near Fort Myers, Florida. Six Mile Slough is run by Lee County Parks and there is a small $1 fee per hour for parking. The 1.2 mile boardwalk provides you an intimate look at a gorgeous Cypress Swamp.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of walking amongst the Cypress Trees. The ones at Six Mile Slough were covered in lichens and air plants. And due to some recent rains there was actually some water in the swamp, which has been dry lately due to the drought in Florida.

Those bright white flower balls belong to the Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). This is one of my favorite shrubs because of its characteristic flower arrangement and the fact that it can live in water up to 4 feet deep. I first heard about this shrub as an intern in South Carolina. It was growing in a water management area where Wood Ducks were thriving. The seeds are supposedly a good source of food for many waterfowl but the bush itself provides nesting area for many other birds.

It's amazing to me how trees can grow in such odd fashions. This one had a weird bulging appearance probably caused early in its life. On our walk in the woods it was a eye-catcher just like another tree that had a thriving bee colony in its upper canopy hole.

On our walk we hardly heard a sound. The forest was eerily quiet but the sights made up for what was lacking bird-wise. At one of the ponds we did find a mother alligator and a whole group of her babies. They were keeping close by to her but staying just out of sight in the adjacent plants.

Our big bird of the day was found near the end of the walk, one solitary Carolina Wren. Surprisingly it wasn't a bird that we saw at Fort De Soto or during the aftermath of trying to reach 70 birds. I don't see many wrens at Green Cay and they are always a pleasure. Plus, the Carolina Wren is the state bird of my home state of South Carolina. It always reminds me of home.