It’s been a while since my last report, as we have been very busy here at the Randell Research Center following two years of active hurricane seasons.

We are happy to announce the near-completion of the teaching pavilion, and also the installation of our new tool shed located along the back fence line of the Pineland site, where we keep our tools, tractor, and mowing equipment, including our brand new 72- inch zero-radius mower. I would like to thank Doug Jones, Director of the Florida Museum of Natural History, for helping us to acquire our new mower. The site is a monumental task for one person to mow, and the new machine allows me to cut the nature trail, headquarters, and post office properties in one day, leaving about two hours left for trimming and weed-eating the following day. This task used to take an entire week with our earlier equipment. Thank you, Dr. Jones!

photo of a man standing in a storage shed
Craig Timbes has moved his maintenance equipment and supplies into a new storage building. Photo by W. Marquardt

Thanks to our grant from the Florida Division of Forestry, the extensive growths of exotic Brazilian Pepper trees have been eliminated on more than thirteen acres throughout the site and headquarters properties. We will also soon be purchasing more than 900 native trees and shrubs, which will allow us to reforest and enhance portions of both the cleared areas and the existing open areas along the trail. This will provide shade and restore some elements of the indigenous Calusa landscape.

Do I dare ask where the rain is? Some of you may have noticed some rather dry conditions around the trail this spring. It has been extremely dry here for a while, and a little rain would at this point be appreciated instead of dreaded.

I would like to thank all of you for contributing and taking an earnest interest in what we do here at the RRC. Because of you, we have been able to achieve amazing things. If you haven’t been here in a while, please drop by and see us and the ever- changing Pineland site and Calusa Heritage Trail. It’s never the same twice.

This article was taken from the Friends of the Randell Research Center Newsletter Vol 5, No. 2 June 2006.