The Slough and Forest Trails | Martin Dies State Park

Acer floridanum, southern sugar maple.

Ilex opaca, American holly

Poor luna moth!

Lobelia cardinalis

The afternoon we arrived at the state park we combined the Slough and Forest Trails for a giant loop through the Hen House Ridge Unit of the park. Being as it was Saturday the park was very busy and the trails did have people on them, particularly closer to the ‘front country’ interface near the roads. One thing we were definitely surprised with in this park was the size of some of the trees out there, particularly the magnolias, beeches, and even some of the American hollies. Ocassionally there would be a large pine that has evaded logging.

When we get to any sloughs or swamps we always pause for awhile. I think we both get a little wistful for the swamps and sloughs of south Florida. I know that we miss a lot of the epiphytes. Still, there are interesting things to see in the swamps of southeast Texas, too.