Otter Park North
Sound
On/Off
[ Date ]
06 01 2026
Otter Park North is a small waterfront park where lagoon, wetland, and maritime forest meet. Shaded trails wind through dense palms and moss-draped trees to quiet water, offering a landscape of gradual transitions, rich bird life, and the gentle rhythms of the estuary.
[ Geographic Features ]
Lagoon, Shoreline, Wetland, Watershed, Coastal plain, Mangrove Fringe
[ Patterns of Land Use ]
Public Park, Waterfront Access, Conservation Land
[ Data Set ]
7:00 PM EST
29.023620, -80.959799
81°F 27.2°C 66% RH, Cloudy
Wind 4 mph Gust up to 5 mph Direction 32° NNE
A narrow path follows the water’s edge, weaving between open shoreline and hammocks of cabbage palm, oak, and wax myrtle. The lagoon appears in fragments, its surface rippling where fish break through. A great blue heron stands motionless among the branches before lifting across the water.
Grasses line the shore. The understory grows dense beneath oak and palm, with Spanish moss hanging from the branches. Fallen limbs extend into the water. Palmetto fronds overlap, narrowing both the path and the view. Beyond the trees, traffic moves along the road, muffled by distance and foliage. As the path bends in and out of the forest edge, the lagoon disappears and returns.
[ Plants ]
Desert False Indigo
Common Names: Desert False Indigo, False Indigo Bush, Indigo Bush, Bastard Indigo Bush, Lead Plant
Botanical Name: Amorpha fruticosa
Deciduous native shrub with compound leaves and dense branching, commonly found in wetlands, stream margins, and disturbed habitats where it helps stabilize soil and supports pollinators.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Amorpha
Species: A. fruticosa
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Groundseltree
Common Names: Groundseltree, Eastern Baccharis, Groundsel Bush, Saltbush, Sea Myrtle
Botanical Name: Baccharis halimifolia
Salt-tolerant native shrub common along coastal marshes and estuaries. An important late-season nectar source for pollinators and a frequent component of maritime and wetland edges.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Baccharis
Species: B. halimifolia
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Yaupon Holly
Common Names: Yaupon Holly, Yaupon, Cassina, Dwarf Yaupon Holly
Botanical Name: Ilex vomitoria
Evergreen coastal shrub or small tree valued for its dense growth, wildlife habitat, and bright berries. Widely found in maritime forests, scrub habitats, and coastal hammocks.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Aquifoliales
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Genus: Ilex
Species: I. vomitoria
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Saw Palmetto
Common Names: Saw Palmetto
Botanical Name: Serenoa repens
Low-growing native palm forming extensive colonies in coastal scrub, pine flatwoods, and maritime forests. Provides important cover and food for wildlife.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Serenoa
Species: S. repens
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Eastern Red Cedar
Common Names: Eastern Red Cedar, Red Juniper, Virginia Juniper, Aromatic Cedar
Botanical Name: Juniperus virginiana
Evergreen conifer adapted to dry, sandy, and coastal conditions. Produces berry-like cones that are an important food source for birds.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Pinales
Family: Cupressaceae
Genus: Juniperus
Species: J. virginiana
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Slash Pine
Common Names: Slash Pine, Southern Florida Pine, Swamp Pine
Botanical Name: Pinus elliottii
Tall native pine common in Florida flatwoods and wet pine habitats. Adapted to periodic fire and important for maintaining biodiversity in southeastern pine ecosystems.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Species: P. elliottii