East Hillsborough News

Hike for your health, explore your community, and earn a commemorative medallion or patch during the 2022-23 Hillsborough County Hiking Spree! Registrants who complete eight or more hikes between Nov. 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, can choose a medallion for their walking stick, a patch, or a bandana for their favorite four-legged hiking companion (many trails on the list are pet friendly).

This year's Hiking Spree medallion art is colorfully adorned with sea oats (Uniola paniculata), a highly adaptable Florida native plant that plays a vital role in protecting the state's coastal communities. This long-lived, slow-growing, warm-season perennial grass can grow up to 8 feet tall, supported by a massive root system. Few other species are as hardy, weathering the sea's wind, sand, and salt.

Sea oats are a beautiful, breezy symbol of Florida's beaches, but their conservation function and role in shoreline stabilization cannot be overstated. The coastal protection offered by sea oats is so important that these plants are protected by Florida state statute.

According to the Florida Wildflower Foundation, "You've got to be incredibly tough to not only survive but thrive in the harsh sand dune ecosystem, and sea oats are as hardy as they come." 

The resilient sea oat serves as an iconic symbol of the 2022-23 Hillsborough County Hiking Spree, celebrating the strength of the community and promoting the conservation of one of the region's most important environmental assets. It is an important reminder to appreciate and respect Florida's natural habitat as you explore the trails.

Complete your spree, one hike at a time, and earn your own 2022-23 Hiking Spree Sea oats medallion! Register and begin planning at HCFLGov.net/HikingSpree.

Original source can be found here.