With the weather still wintery in Florida, we are off to another local park. This morning the temperature was 49 and now it is almost 70. We decided on Rothenbach Park which has a nice trail, 2.7 miles around a huge trash mountain and through a Hammock grove of old Spanish moss covered oak trees. A very nice way to spend some time in the Florida sunshine.

After parking, we head off on the trail. The first part is all in the sun and has a dried creek bed on one side, a waterway and the trash mountain on the other side.

When I say trash mountain, it is covered in grass and you would never know what it was unless you understand that there are no mountains in this area of Florida and no fields of grass unless it’s a golf course. Of course, this sign left by Solid Waste Management is also a clue.

The Florida Hammock is beautiful here. The trees are amazing and some still have the resurrection fern in bloom. We enjoying spotting plants we have seen through our park explorations and some new ones. We are lucky to spot a deer, a few birds, and a couple of monarch butterflies along this peaceful trail.

Signage along the trail is informative. World Trail fitness stops are along the trail where you can do specific exercises if you are so inclined.

Steve has been helpful with the plant identification.

The final stretch runs alongside the ‘mountain’ again with a fence covered in Spanish moss. Steve comments that they look like animal pelts. They do!

This is a lovely park, quiet, easy trails for walking, running or biking. A beautiful day to adventure local!