Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Let's Get Botanical!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Audubon Everglades gets botanical this year and kicks off a new series of hikes focused on exploring Florida’s habitats and the variety of native plants and wildlife that flourish in them.

Check out the Scrub, Coastal Hammocks and Flatwoods to see exciting wildflower meadows, orchids and other interesting rare plants. Learn about the interactions plants have not only with each other, but with birds, pollinators and butterflies. Along with endangered habitats, we’ll see rare and imperiled plants in different native plant communities and how they flourish in restored natural areas.

Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a curious nature enthusiast, these hikes will offer fresh perspectives on the natural world, helping you connect more deeply with the habitats and native plants that make South Florida exceptional, unique and special.

Bring your camera, your curiosity and hiking boots, and get ready to expect the unexpected.

Walk on the Edge as the Coastal Hammock Meets the Scrub

Guides:

CJ McCartney, Audubon Everglades Advisory Board, Environmental Steward

Mindi Ogden, Audubon Everglades Board of Directors, Chair of Plants for Birds, Ecologist for the Preservation Society, and Program Associate at the Institute for Regional Conservation

Join CJ and Mindi to explore an interesting oceanfront tract in Juno Dunes Natural Area where two ecosystems meet in a region known as an ecotone. Ecotones are special edges between habitats that have abundant plant diversity. The wildflowers and plants are amazing to see as the habitats merge in these unique areas.

Curious? Interested? We will guide you through these habitats and the role the plants play where the coastal hammock meets the scrub. Along with examining the differences a habitat makes to plant life and to the wildlife that lives there, we will observe the layers and niche environments for specialist species. CJ and Mindi will guide you through the plants and their roles in the ecosystem so you can walk away with a fresh appreciation for these incredible places and how important Wild Florida is to all of us.

This hike is for the experienced, beginner and the curious who want to see Wild Florida at its finest. Expect natural, sandy trails so wear closed toe shoes, bring sun protection (hat, glasses etc.) and water. Expect fun, all are welcome to come explore and get botanical in this amazing ecosystem.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• A guided walk of Juno Dunes Natural Area to explore the native plants and wildflowers that are unique to this ecosystem.
• Fascinating habitat and plant facts and field insight from naturalists
• An opportunity to see the connection of native plants, pollinators and birds.
• Observe Coastal Hammock and Scrub habitats and the plant communities that grow in them.
• A plant check list and an iNaturalist project to remember the trails you walked and the plants you saw.

LOGISTICS:

• Where: Juno Dunes Oceanfront Tract, 14200 South U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach. Park behind Loggerhead Marinelife Center and meet in the northeast end of the parking lot.
• When: April 12, 2026. 3:30-6:00 pm
• Meeting Spot: Trail head on northeast end of parking lot.
• Restrooms: There are no restrooms.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Registration is required. No walk-ins.
• Be on time so we can make the most of our time in the field.
• Rain or shine, unless there's a hurricane.
• Trail conditions can vary; Concrete to sandy natural trails.
• Photos may be taken for social media. Let us know if you'd rather not be included.
• Please cancel if you can’t make it—someone else may be waiting.
• Bring Sun Protection – eyeglasses, hats etc.

WHAT TO BRING:

• Wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dirty/wet.
• Closed toe shoes you don’t mind getting muddy or wet.
• Bring sun protection (hats, glasses etc.) and bug spray.
• Bring water and a water bottle.

This is a wonderful chance to spend time outdoors, learn from top naturalists while connecting with fellow nature enthusiasts.

About Your Guide:

CJ McCartney, Environmental Steward

After moving to South Florida from Chicago in the late nineties, CJ McCartney underwent a shift in interests. Unfettered from her company, and now living in a subtropical climate, she began cycling and hiking natural habitats and started noticing the wildlife that lived in and depended upon them for survival.

Along with a changing philosophy from “Somebody ought to do something about that, to one day realizing that she could do something,” she started learning how to be a knowledgeable and effective Environmental Steward. Along with training to become a Master Gardener, she started taking a variety of botanical and horticulture classes and seminars to supplement her formal education from Harvard University in public policy and urban management.

Currently, she is the Master Gardner in Residence at Ann Norton Sculpture Garden and serves on Audubon Everglades Advisory Board and several state and local Boards and committees. She leads a Conservation Conversation and Art & Nature Series focusing on reconciliation ecology.

Two decades later, that budding interest takes many forms – photographing nature, speaking to community groups as well as designing/installing pollinator and wildflower gardens are just some of the ways it shows up today.

She approaches community service with an underlying belief that – together - we can mitigate the loss of natural habitats by creating a patch or a plot of wildlife friendly spaces to offer our homeless wildlife and native plants a safe and welcoming haven that establishes wildlife corridors while restoring biodiversity.

Contact information: CJ McCartney, cjmpbc@gmail.com Instagram: @Botanizingbirdingbutterflies