The trailhead at Branford provides parking
and access to the Suwannee River Greenway, a rails-to-trails
project that is part of a larger regional, and statewide
greenway system. There are also views there overlooking
the river. The client, Suwannee River Water Management
District working with the town of Branford, commissioned a
planting design that would provide a graceful sense of entry to
the trail, better definition of the parking area, and, if
possible, selective buffers between the trail and near-by
businesses. Watermelon processing warehouses adjoin the
site, for two months every late spring,
semi-tractor-trailer trucks that carry watermelons to much of
the US east of the Rockies, spill over onto trail lands, though
usually not onto the trail itself. The site is located in
the old town depot area, and this coupled with the
limestone’s prevalence in the soil substrate, caused much
of the existing soil to be compacted and if not bare then
sparsely covered.
Because of the watermelon trucks, one of
the strategies was defensive planting - choosing tough plants
and arranging them in a way to discourage the mammoth trucks'
intrusion. Because of the limestone the plants also
needed to be able to withstand highly alkaline soil.
Another objective was to provide shade for trail users in
north Florida's hot season, and yet at the same time allow
sunlight and warmth in the cooler season. The design therefore
includes deciduous trees. All the plants used are native
to Florida. Because of the limited budget mostly young plants
were specified, therefore though the initial effect is less
dramatic, there will be a greater impact over time as the
design encompasses a larger area. Plants were installed
in Spring, 2000. Since then changes have been made to the
original design on site. Most regrettably, replacement
plantings have been made with little concern for building a
buffer between businesses and trail. However, much of the
basic framework remains and the trail has become a more
graceful, comfortable and used place.
