Habitats

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Se7en Wetlands is a combination of uplands, marshes, and lakes. Each habitat is unique and supports a wide array of plants and animals. Visit the sections below to learn more about these dynamic habitats. 

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• Marsh

  Marshes are areas in Florida where the soil is saturated for most of the year, usually topped with water. Plants, like cattails, root in the soil and emerge out of the water. 

  

• Lakes

  Both the shallow and deep water lakes at Se7en Wetlands are home to many fish and bird species. The lake islands, left over from phosphate mining, have been colonized with plants and are used by nesting birds to rear their young. 

  

• Uplands

  The upland areas at Se7en Wetlands are filled with pines, oaks, wildflowers and grasses. Here you will find gopher tortoise, butterflies, and chirping birds. 

  

• Restoration Area

  You might notice a field blooming with purple muhly grass or yellow prickly pear cactus flowers near trail marker 4. This 3.5 acre site was dominated by cogon grass and other invasive plants. In the summer of 2021, over 16,000 native Florida wildflowers and grasses were planted to improve this habitat and educate visitors on the importance of native Florida plants. 

  Why are native Florida Plants important?

  • Provide habitat for wildlife
  • Increase Florida's biodiversity
  • Seeds produce food for wildlife
  • Roots & microbes benefit the soil
  • Flowers help native pollinators