Nature of Things: October is the month for native plants and greenways

Fall has arrived, and two statewide observances recognize the season’s effect on our enjoyment of the natural environment.

October is Florida Native Plant Month.

It is also Florida Greenways and Trails Month.

As I mentioned in a recent column, Florida has an amazing variety of native plants, including many stunning wildflowers.

Native plants are part of the state’s natural heritage, and the condition of the collection of native plants on any parcel can provide ample evidence of how well managed the property is.

When they’re planted in the right place and in the right part of the state, they can also be a useful addition to home landscapes in an attempt to restore some of what we’ve lost.

They can provide food and shelter for a variety of native wildlife, especially pollinators ranging from hummingbirds to flower beetles.  

I can always count on seeing mockingbirds in my yard when beautyberry fruit ripens beginning in the fall.

Finding native plants for sale can sometimes be a challenge, though a growing number of retail nurseries are offering some native wildflowers for sale.

There is a group called the Florida Association of Native Nurseries whose member businesses offer a wider variety of plant choices.

Another advantage of using properly selected native plants in your landscape is that once they become established, they need little extra care.

But if you really want to see a lot of native plants, you have to visit a variety of natural areas.

That’s where the Florida Greenways and Trails observance comes in.

There are all kinds of trails to visit here in Polk County. They range from paved urban corridors to winding paths through state parks and various local public and private nature preserves.

The trails vary in length and difficulty. It’s probably a good idea to learn about the terrain through which you will be traveling before you set out so you have an enjoyable experience.

Although many trails are reserved for hikers, there are others that are also meant to accommodate bicyclists and equestrians.

The local trail system is expanding all the time.

The next addition will be completion of the final leg of the Panther Point Trail around the eastern and southern shore of Lake Hancock that will connect to the Fort Fraser Trail along U.S. 98 between Bartow and Lakeland.

Another expansion in the works will connect the trail system at Tenoroc Public Use Area with the TECO-Auburndale Trail that leads to the Gen. James A. Van Fleet State Trail, which follows a former railroad grade through the heart of the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern.

A summary of some of the county’s major trails can be found at visitcentralflorida.org/types/nature-hiking,  but you’ll find others as you explore Polk County’s other parks and preserves.

Of course, there are plenty of trails elsewhere in Florida that are worth a day trip.

And if you are really dedicated hiker, there’s the Florida Trail, which runs 1,300 miles from the Everglades to the Panhandle.

You can find out more about this trail network at www.fs.usda.gov/fnst.

Additionally, the Florida Department of Transportation oversees the SUN Trail Program, which involves the development of a statewide network of trails for bicyclists and pedestrians. You can learn more about this program at www.floridasuntrail.com.

Finally, not all of Florida’s trails are on solid ground.

There are ample paddling trails around the state.

Polk parks officials are developing a well-marked trail along the Peace River. South of Polk County, the river channel is better defined.

One of my peak paddling experiences was a weeklong trip all the way to Punta Gorda.

There is also a paddling loop around Lake Kissimmee State Park.

Some of the creeks in Polk County and surrounding counties are navigable and worth a visit.

The important thing to do is to get outdoors and enjoy the amazing variety of recreational opportunities that are available.

Zoning gets political

A developer’s use of an obscure provision in the county’s development regulations to win administrative approval for a controversial subdivision on the outskirts of Eagle Lake has apparently become an issue in the upcoming County Commission election race between incumbent Bill Braswell and challenger Bob Doyel.

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The County Commission had previously voted unanimously to deny approval of the subdivision, a decision that withstood a court challenge.

The recent change is headed to court, too, I’ve read.

Doyel recently posted a video on his campaign website showing him standing along a busy road nearby, stating the development of this type has to be stopped.

The case involved a proposal to develop a subdivision that is much denser than the surrounding rural and suburban homes.

The  approval was reportedly justified by provisions in the development regulations that can be interpreted to make this sort of thing legal.

The Eagle Lake case involved a provision that allows parcels as large as 80 acres to be considered eligible for more liberal residential infill development rules.

It is supposedly based on surrounding densities, but these types of calculations have been gamed regularly in the past to justify whatever was being proposed. In this case, it seemingly conflicts with other portions of the infill regulations that state the intent is to encourage “consistent and compatible redevelopment.” The property was formerly a citrus grove.

I will tell you from experience that the county’s development regulations are peppered with provisions that allow development to proceed in ways that seem counterintuitive.

So what’s the solution?

Here’s one suggestion, and it’s not a simple one.

After the County Commission belatedly approved its updated growth regulations in 1991 to comply with a 1985 state law, the development community that had been heavily involved in writing the regulations asked for a second bite at the apple. They persuaded commissioners to appoint a so-called “Glitch Committee” that would go through the regulations and find anything they missed the first time around.

Maybe it’s time for a second such committee, but this time it would include a lot more input from the residents who are affected by these surprise developer-friendly provisions in the regulations.

That may not help people on Crystal Beach Drive or other places , but it may instill some public confidence that there is a more level playing field for average homeowners.

Check out Tom Palmer's blog at www.ancientislands.org/conservation.