Poison Ivy and Bee Hive

Photo #1 was taken near this location and shows poison ivy in early spring before leafing out. Berries will appear in the summer. Poison ivy is an important source for wildlife; only people and a few other primates are affected by urushiol. Deer feed on the leaves; wild turkeys and bobwhite feed on the berries, especially in the winter when other berries have already been eaten.

From this spot on the trail you should be able to find a honey bee hive in the prairie. Sometime in the spring of 2023, a new information panel on pollinators will be installed near the parking lot. This and the grassland restoration panel will let you learn even more about the wildlife along these trails.

photo credits: poison ivy and bee hive: Donna Brunet. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

source: Rachel Mathes, Leon County Extension (Florida). Tallahassee Democrat, October 24, 2019. "Poison ivy is the wildlife salad bar of the woods." https://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/home-garden/2019/10/24/poison-ivy-wildlife-salad-bar-woods/4076245002/