A pitcher plant bog sits on a gently sloping hillside in the middle of the Mineral Spring site. The open meadow is surrounded by an unburned climax Southern hardwood forest. The pitcher plant bog occupies approximately one acre of natural wetland.
Florida absorbs more lightning strikes per year than any other state. Intentional management of a longleaf pine - wiregrass forest requires yearly controlled burning to make up for the absence of natural fires. The ecologist is using a drip torch to ignite a controlled forest fire. This fire line will burn through the low hardwood scrub understory, and it will scorch the trunks of the young longleaf pines, but will not reach the forest crown. Regular burning permits both fire tolerant wire grass and longleaf pine to dominate the Southern landscape.