Fall wildflowers are in full bloom in Alachua County, and now is a great time to get out and enjoy them. The Alachua County Public Works Department works hard to protect and encourage native wildflowers within the County’s maintained Right of Ways (ROW) as safety allows.
Over 300 acres of ROW are currently actively managed for wildflowers. Most of these sites are “remnant” stands of native wildflowers adjacent to conservation areas, which are using prescribed burning to manage the forests. It is well known that prescribed fire stimulates wildflower production. However, mowing the ROW at the right time can mimic prescribed fire and stimulate wildflower production. One example is the wildflower area on S.E. County Road 325 between S.E. County Road 2082 and S.E. County Road 346 in the Micanopy/Cross Creek area that is adjacent to several conservation and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA’s). When residents visit this area, they may notice that staff recently mowed one strip adjacent to the pavement so cars can safely pull onto the shoulder if needed. The rest of the ROW will be mowed later this fall when the flowers are finished blooming and the seeds are ready to be dispersed by mowers. In the meantime, the pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and beetles serve an important ecological function by nectaring on flowers and aiding in seed production.
Some of the fall-blooming wildflowers that are visible on S.E. County Road 325 now are:
- Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus angusitifolius)
- Florida Paintbrush (Carphephorus corymbosus)
- Downy Lobelia (Lobelia puberal)
- Several species of fall blooming Golden Rod and Asters (Solidago sp. and Symphyotrichum sp., respectively)
- Several species of Tickseed (Coreopsis sp.)
- Several species of Beggarticks and Spanish needles (Bidens sp.)
- Several species of Gayfeather (Liatris sp.)
- Little Bluestem Grass (Andropogon virginicus)
- Purple Lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis)
Wildflower areas within the County’s ROW fall under the supervision of Public Works Horticulturist Neil Greishaw.
For more information, contact Neil Greishaw at 352-374-5245.
