Conservation Collier

What’s that purple flower filling the marshes at your Conservation Collier preserves? It’s Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)! 🪻These native wetland plants bloom from summer into fall, brightening up freshwater marshes across Southwest Florida.

The purple flower spikes attract native bees (like carpenter bees and small solitary bees), butterflies, and other pollinators. As the blooms fade, they produce seeds eaten by Mottled ducks and other marsh birds. Even White-tailed deer will browse on its roots, leaves, and stems. Pickerelweed is also working below the surface - its roots help hold soils in place, while its stems create structure in the water where fish, aquatic insects, and amphibians can find cover, feed, and grow. 🪲🪱💧

Swallow-tailed Kite chicks are hatching across Conservation Collier preserves! 🐣

During their first week, these tiny nestlings are hard to spot, but listen closely and you may hear their soft begging calls from the treetops. Within a week or so, you might catch a glimpse of them peeking over the nest edge or being fed by a parent.

Nests are especially sensitive to disturbance. Please give wildlife plenty of space so these young kites have the best chance to grow and thrive 🪁

We are so grateful for the Publix employees who volunteered at Pepper Ranch Preserve! They helped to groom our Panther Pass and Black Bear Berm hiking trails and they did a great job. The trails look amazing! Thank you Publix Serves! 🌿🐸🥾