New Year's Day Tour: Circle B

The Environmental Land Program’s objectives were to acquire, preserve, protect, manage and restore endangered and environmentally sensitive lands, water resources and important wildlife habitat. The 20-year plus history since the program began includes a body of work that encompasses more than 12 environmentally selected sites within the county — and one of the most beautiful, to me, is the Circle B.

Commissioner Lindsey urged all Polk County voters to hang toward the back of the tour so the visitors and non voters could scare off the bugs, snakes and alligators for us; however, we walked near the front of the line with Lindsey who answered questions about how it all began.

Lindsey noted that the Circle B Bar was named after a cattle ranch owned by the Bellotto family, who offered the land to the County. The land was jointly acquired by the County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) in order to protect the floodplain of Lake Hancock for the enhancement of the Upper Peace River Watershed and to restore the Banana Creek marsh system.

Lindsey said that this included changing the layout of the working ranch land, which had a drainage system, to restore it back its original hydrologic condition. The restoration resulted in an impressive and prolific bird population including various waterfowl and wading birds, hawks, bald eagles, and owls.

More than 6,000 a week visit the Polk County Nature Discovery Center since its completion in 2008, and each year more than 9K students and 800 teachers make good use of the Center. Katherine Black Belcher, who was my walking partner that day, said that as a teacher and a school volunteer, she’s been at the Center with 4th and 5th graders, who donned waders and then entered Lake Hancock to look around. I’d like to do that!

The Discovery Center hosts learning programs such as “Water, Wildlife and Wilderness Field Studies,” “Water, Wings and Wild Things KIDS Festival,” and a summer camp and self-guided tours.

I found out from a Discovery Center calendar that on February 14th, a Valentine’s Tram will be offered. (I wonder if I could get my husband on it . . .) I picked up calendars to have on hand at the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, first come first served, if you’d like one.

The calendar has beautiful photos by area photographers and snippets of information such as events at the Reserve, and unusual tidbits about pickerelweed, palafoxia, gopher tortoise, etc. — and other plants and animals you may find on the property.

On the 2–1/2 hour tour, we got a chance to stop at “education stations,” manned by Circle B volunteers who gave us quick classes about the unique habitats — freshwater marshes, pine flatwoods, depression habitats, oak hammocks, and hardwood swamps.

The different habitats offer homes to a variety of wildlife such as alligators (and Circle B has one of the biggest and best known — ol’ Hump), gopher tortoises, bobcats, wild hogs and more.

We didn’t see ol’ Hump — but in the afternoon he was photographed crossing the very path on which we were walking that morning.

We learned about invasive species such as the Apple Snail, and about how volunteers go throughout the park and “root up,” invasive plants, not native to Florida.

We want to thank Commissioner Lindsey for continuing the New Year’s Day tour, which was a project of past County Commissioner Bob English, Lindsey said. “When Commissioner English left office, he said I was appointed to the tour.” Lindsey didn’t mind it. “I love it,” he said.

If you love Circle B Bar Reserve as Commissioner Lindsey and I do, you’ll want to check out the facebook public group page: Circle B Bar Reserve — Polk Nature Discovery Center.

JOIN THIS PAGE! You’ll see some of the most unusual photos from some of the greatest nature photographers in the County. One of my personal favorites is a photo of a group of armadillos in a kind of ritualistic mating dance captured by Bartow photographer, Dennis Hollingsworth. I laugh every time I see it. Did you know armadillos do a dance?

Thanks to all the great contributors to this wonderful page.

For more information about Circle B, you may also visit the Polk County Circle B Bar Reserve website or SWFWMD Circle B Bar Reserve website.

Thanks, again, Mr. Lindsey! See you next year.


New Year's Day Tour: Circle B The Environmental Land Program’s objectives were to acquire, preserve, protect, manage and restore endangered and environmentally sensitive lands, water resources and important wildlife habitat. The 20-year plus history since the program began includes a body of work that encompasses more than 12 environmentally selected sites within the county — and one of the most beautiful, to me, is the Circle B. Commissioner Lindsey urged all Polk County voters to hang toward the back of the tour so the visitors and non voters could scare off the bugs, snakes and alligators for us; however, we walked near the front of the line with Lindsey who answered questions about how it all began. Lindsey noted that the Circle B Bar was named after a cattle ranch owned by the Bellotto family, who offered the land to the County. The land was jointly acquired by the County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) in order to protect the floodplain of Lake Hancock for the enhancement of the Upper Peace River Watershed and to restore the Banana Creek marsh system. Lindsey said that this included changing the layout of the working ranch land, which had a drainage system, to restore it back its original hydrologic condition. The restoration resulted in an impressive and prolific bird population including various waterfowl and wading birds, hawks, bald eagles, and owls. More than 6,000 a week visit the Polk County Nature Discovery Center since its completion in 2008, and each year more than 9K students and 800 teachers make good use of the Center. Katherine Black Belcher, who was my walking partner that day, said that as a teacher and a school volunteer, she’s been at the Center with 4th and 5th graders, who donned waders and then entered Lake Hancock to look around. I’d like to do that! The Discovery Center hosts learning programs such as “Water, Wildlife and Wilderness Field Studies,” “Water, Wings and Wild Things KIDS Festival,” and a summer camp and self-guided tours. I found out from a Discovery Center calendar that on February 14th, a Valentine’s Tram will be offered. (I wonder if I could get my husband on it . . .) I picked up calendars to have on hand at the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, first come first served, if you’d like one. The calendar has beautiful photos by area photographers and snippets of information such as events at the Reserve, and unusual tidbits about pickerelweed, palafoxia, gopher tortoise, etc. — and other plants and animals you may find on the property. On the 2–1/2 hour tour, we got a chance to stop at “education stations,” manned by Circle B volunteers who gave us quick classes about the unique habitats — freshwater marshes, pine flatwoods, depression habitats, oak hammocks, and hardwood swamps. The different habitats offer homes to a variety of wildlife such as alligators (and Circle B has one of the biggest and best known — ol’ Hump), gopher tortoises, bobcats, wild hogs and more. We didn’t see ol’ Hump — but in the afternoon he was photographed crossing the very path on which we were walking that morning. We learned about invasive species such as the Apple Snail, and about how volunteers go throughout the park and “root up,” invasive plants, not native to Florida. We want to thank Commissioner Lindsey for continuing the New Year’s Day tour, which was a project of past County Commissioner Bob English, Lindsey said. “When Commissioner English left office, he said I was appointed to the tour.” Lindsey didn’t mind it. “I love it,” he said. If you love Circle B Bar Reserve as Commissioner Lindsey and I do, you’ll want to check out the facebook public group page: Circle B Bar Reserve — Polk Nature Discovery Center. JOIN THIS PAGE! You’ll see some of the most unusual photos from some of the greatest nature photographers in the County. One of my personal favorites is a photo of a group of armadillos in a kind of ritualistic mating dance captured by Bartow photographer, Dennis Hollingsworth. I laugh every time I see it. Did you know armadillos do a dance? Thanks to all the great contributors to this wonderful page. For more information about Circle B, you may also visit the Polk County Circle B Bar Reserve website or SWFWMD Circle B Bar Reserve website. Thanks, again, Mr. Lindsey! See you next year.
Template 2 - January 9, 2019