Coral Cove Park

Hi Friends!

Today was an incredibly exciting day! As a class, we all headed over to Coral Cove Park to learn about the many plants and animals that inhabit the area. When we first arrived, Dr. Moore began with a tour of the area, explaining how these rocks lining the shore of the beach create a biome full of life.

It was an incredibly beautiful day, with clear skies and strong waves crashing against these rocks. After each wave pulled back, I hurried to see if I could find any creatures hiding in the crevices before the next wave approached. Sadly, I did not end up finding anything but I did capture some photographs of the beautiful waves and rocks.

Next, I worked my way back up towards the dunes, collecting a few shells along the way. Once I reached the top of the stairs, I began studying the plants that lined the beach dunes. Seagrape shrubs (Polygonaceae) were predominately visible, with other plants and grasses mingled in between. One of the most interesting features of the Seagrape shrub is its color variation. Many of the leaves vary from bright green to a deep, brownish-red while others are spotted with dry spots that turn brown and orange. Dr. Moore explained that these spots are a result of a combination of saltwater and sun burning the leaves.