Click to return to 2008 Chronology

Correspondence form various Environmentalists Regarding the ENA Condition

From most recent to oldest

From: Annemarie Post [apost@scgov.net]

Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 4:37 PM

To: Jost Jack; Robert Fleming

Cc: Vickie S. French; Todd W. Hershfeld; Begazo Al

Subject: Landings Eagles Nest Area

Dear Jack and Larry,

I enjoyed the site visit last Friday and find your initiative of wanting to restore this area admirable. It is a daunting task and may be best undertaken in stages. I observed many invasive plants such as Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terbinthifolius), Carrotwood (Cupianopsis anacardioides), Chinaberry seedlings (Melia azedarach), Rosary Pea Vine (Abrus precatorius), Guinea Grass (Panicum maxima) and Lantana (Lantana camara). Removal of these plants is recommended. Large tree should be cut down and treated with a herbicide, while smaller plants and grasses could be kept under control through selective mowing and selective herbicide treatments.

Other non-natives observed were seedling Yellow Poinciana (Peltophorum pterocarpum), a mature Ear Tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) and an exotic Milkweed (Asclepius curassavica). These three species are not listed as invasive but since there are so many Yellow Poinciana seedlings, I recommend that those are removed.

Natives trees observed were Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii), Cabbage Palm seedlings (Sabal palmetto) and Southern Red Cedar (Juniperus sillicicola). You expresssed that the cedars were installed several years ago and that there may also be some Red Bay trees (Persea borbonia) on the site. Native understory plants observed were Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and a Hypericum sp.

Since the area is so disturbed, it is hard to determine what was there originally. However, it is important to establish the tree canopy first once the invasive plants have been removed. Live Oak, Slash Pine, Cabbage Palm and Southern Red Cedar could all be added, while the larger Cabbage Palm seedlings could be preserved.  Unfortunately, Florida Red Bays suffer of a disease and are currently not available.  In areas where great masses of Brazilian Peppers are removed, it may be best to plant fast-growing small trees such as Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) in order to avoid reinfestation with Brazilian Peppers. Other understory plants such as Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) and appropriate grasses, could be added later.

If you email me your address, I will send you a copy of a publication on identification and control of invasive plants. See http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/planting.html for information on planting trees.

Please make sure your plans have the approval of Sarasota County Resource Protection and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Do not hesitate to contact me if you need further help with plant identification or plant selection.

Best regards,

Annemarie Post

Extension Agent, Environmental Horticulture

UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension

6700 Clark Rd, Twin Lakes Park

Sarasota, FL 34241

ph: (941) 861-9815

FAX: (941) 861-9886

http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/FYN/fyn.shtml

__________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________