|  | Autumn light enhances the beauty of the Loop along Old Dixie Highway near Tomoka State Park. – Photo courtesy of M.H. Myers |
| Here's wishing a very happy and bountiful Thanksgiving to all! As we enter the "official" holiday season, we'll be taking a bit of a break to celebrate long standing traditions with our family and friends. We are thankful for your continued interest and support of the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail and wish you and yours a very warm and Happy Thanksgiving! | The Importance of Gopher Tortoises |
| | Justin Grubb/Running Wild Media |
| During the final ReGrow the Loop program for 2023, Ranger Andrew Lemin of Tomoka State Park will present an exciting program about the incredible gopher tortoise. These fascinating reptiles play a vital role in our Florida forests, with their burrows providing shelter for more than 300 other animal species. Unfortunately, gopher tortoises are endangered, and as the only species of their kind east of the Mississippi River, we should do all that we can to protect them. Sponsored by Dream Green Volusia, this family-friendly event is a great activity to enjoy during the long Thanksgiving weekend. Date: Saturday, November 25, 2023 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM Location: Tomoka State Park, meet at the Recreation Hall, 2099 N. Beach Street, Ormond Beach CLICK HERE TO REGISTER | | | Adding Understory and Colorful Plants to Your Landscape The next ReGrow the Loop program will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 9:30 AM at the Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S Beach Street. This in-person event is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their gardening skills and beautify their outdoor space. Expert speakers will share their knowledge on selecting the right plants for your soil, creating a stunning color palette, and maintaining a healthy garden. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from the best and take your gardening skills to the next level! |
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 | Ormond Beach Waives Fee for the Day! |
| On Saturday, November 18th from 8 am to 2 pm - A1A will be the place to shop for bargains and meet new friends! The 15th Annual Super Scenic, 150 Mile Garage Sale offers you the chance to clean out your garages and closets while making some spending money in the process. And to make this fun event an even better "deal," the City of Ormond Beach has waived its fee in support of the Garage Sale. Don't live on A1A? No worries - join one of the community sites you'll find online. Registration is now open at: www.a1agaragesale.com All registration proceeds support the Friends of A1A Programs including an A1A Scenic Byway Mobil Tour, Kids Ocean Day Florida, beach & roadside cleanups. As a designated Florida Scenic Highway, the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail participates annually in this 150-mile shopping extravaganza which is the largest super scenic garage sale in the country. | | A Bevy of Birds Seen During Bulow Walk |
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On November 4th, a Bird Walk sponsored by the Halifax River Audubon as part of the ReGrow the Loop initiative, took place in Bulow Creek State Park. About 15 participants, including a number of novice bird watchers, were led through the Park by Halifax River Audubon President Joan Tague. During the 2-mile walk along the trail, participants stopped periodically to "look and listen" as Joan identified specific bird species found within the Park's various habitats. |
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 | Red Shouldered Hawk |
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|  | Great Egret |
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Highlights included the opportunity to view birds through a spotting telescope and also when, at a stop along one of the marshes, participants sighted a belted kingfisher, northern harrier hawk, red shouldered hawk, egrets and herons. In other areas of the Park, red-bellied woodpeckers, yellow-rumped warblers, ruby-crowned kinglets and blue jays were seen. Members of the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail learned a lot during this program and look forward to future bird walks and other events. Thank you Joan! |
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Caring For Our Native Palms |
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 | In recent years, we've seen an uptick in a devastating pruning practice which has become popular among landscaping companies. For homeowners who are new to the area and may be unfamiliar with the care of palm trees, this pruning process is unnecessary and often an opportunity for landscapers to create another revenue stream. PLEASE TAKE NOTE, the process of removing most of the fronds from our native cabbage/sabal palms invites disease, stresses the plant and also takes away important habitat and food sources for birds, bats and other wildlife. While popular with homeowners because it makes yards look "neater," this practice is threatening the health of our native palms. Palm trees are strong plants which serve as powerful wind breaks when planted in groups, and they survive during times of both drought and deluges. There's a reason that the lowly cabbage, aka sabal palm, is Florida's state tree and should be cared for appropriately.. We'd like to share some information from the University of Florida's Institute on Food and Agriculture about proper pruning practices: "When pruning palms, you may have heard of the 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock rule. With this guideline, you remove fronds (leaves) that hang below the 9 o'clock or 3 o'clock position. The point of pruning should be primarily to remove dead growth. Palms need their leaves to photosynthesize and produce food for the plant. Removing too many leaves will result in less food for your palm tree. Remember that overpruning will weaken the palm tree and increase risk for the palm to get damaged by wind, insect, and disease. If you hire a professional landscaper, let them know you want a rounded canopy." For more information about the proper care of your palm trees, please CLICK HERE. | | Our November Meeting We invite you to attend either remotely or in person! |
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| Wednesday, November 15th; 5:30 pm
Ormond Beach Public Library, Sandpiper Room
30 South Beach Street
Ormond Beach FL 32174 Doors open at 5 pm and the meeting starts at 5:30. |
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To Attend Remotely: For those attending remotely, please sign on 15 minutes early. We have had some audio difficulty getting everyone online so our Team will be working out any technical difficulty before the 5:30 meeting starts. Microsoft Teams Meeting: |
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| | "Can anyone tell me why they call it Happy Turkey Day?!?!?" |
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The Mission of the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail Byway organization is to protect and enhance the Loop by serving as a focused source of education, community outreach and enhancements projects consistent with our volunteer resources and guidelines of the Florida Scenic Highway and National Scenic Byway programs. |
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Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail Corridor Management Entity, Inc. |
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