Class Reflection

Coming away from my Colloquium class, I am actually surprised with the amount of knowledge I have gained. I was hoping to learn more about the various plants and animals that are native to the area, but I honestly did not anticipate learning a whole lot more that what I already knew.

I found the field trips and campus walks especially helpful because we were able to experience what we were learning about first-hand. Surprisingly enough, they have also helped me with my experience at work. Being a Hospitality Management major, I would not have guessed that there would be much of a connection between this class and my work experience, but I was glad to find that I was wrong. I work at a resort on Fort Myers Beach, so I was interested in seeing what we would learn on our field trip to the surrounding area. Only about a week after our visit, I was approached by a guest who was holding the propagule of a red mangrove.  He wondered what kind of plant it might have come from, so I was excited to be able to explain my knowledge to him. This led to further conversation about the sea grapes which line the majority of the hotel’s property. I told him about how its grapes can actually make edible jelly, and he later commented to me about how great it is that there are employees who actually have a good knowledge about the plant life in the area. It turns out that cataloguing plants in the area he was visiting from was a hobby of his, so he greatly appreciated our conversation and earned bonus points for myself and the hotel.

I also thought it was great to be able to learn about the various species on our very own campus. I see the trees and plant-life all the time as I walk to class, but had never before had a very deep knowledge of what I was seeing. I knew what a slash pine was, but I had not realized what an interesting tree it was. It is very adapted for fire in that it has puzzle-like bark that flakes off and its pine cones burst when hot and spread seeds across the ground.

All in all, I found my experience in Colloquium class very rewarding and beneficial, and I am excited to move forward with the knowledge I have attained.

Word Count: 405

Field Journal

Throughout our many experiences in Colloquium class, we had the opportunity to grow familiar with a variety of plant and animal species that are native to Southwest Florida.

Several walks through our very own campus provided us with a wealth of knowledge about quite a few plant species. Just a few examples are the Slash Pine, the Melaleuca, the Coontie, and Wild Coffee.

Featured below is the Sabal or Cabbage Palm. It is the State Tree of Florida and can be found throughout FGCU’s campus. The palms have often been used to make chickee huts. An excellent example of this was seen when we visited Fort Myers Beach and could see several of the hotels who had constructed their own huts from the palms. The Cabbage Palm also has “boots” on its trunk, which serves as a habitat for living things like insects.

While on our field trip to Fort Myers Beach, we learned a lot about the Sea Grape. It is a native plant with large round leaves and “grapes” that can be used to make jelly. While we were on the trip, it was very exciting to be able to actually try the grape jelly. The Sea Grape has an interconnecting root system which helps hold the barrier islands together.

We also learned about the various types of mangroves. These include the black, white, and red mangroves. The Red Mangrove is often recognized by its root and aerial systems which are used to stabilize it. Its pointy leaves are also good identifiers. In class we learned a rhyme that goes, “red, red, pointy head.”

Our trip to the Corkscrew Swamp also provided ample opportunity for learning new species. We learned about Alligator Flags, which is a native swamp plant that was used to warn early Florida settlers of danger. We also learned about Lichen, which is featured below.  It is a combination of algae and fungi and is a good indicator of good air quality.

Word Count: 327

Downtown Fort Myers Field Trip

I had such a great time on our field trip to Downtown Fort Myers with our Colloquium class. Though it was not as riddled with varieties of plant, animal, and insect species as our other field trips were, it was very interesting being able to learn more about the history of the area in which we spend so much time.

As we rode in to the downtown area together on our big, white bus, we were able to gaze outside our windows to see dozens of Royal Palms lining the road. Before we even stepped out of the bus, we learned that this type of palm tree is native of Cuba. Thomas Edison lived in an estate along the road, and it was his wife who loved them so much to bring them to the area.

Once we arrived, we talked about the numerous pieces of history that took place in the area. We learned that Fort Myers was actually named after the commander of the fort’s son-in-law, who never actually set foot in the fort itself. We also talked about how the Buckingham field and Page field were used for training for soldiers. While walking, we learned that the large American flag was donated by an insurance company and when it was being raised on a windy day, was wrapped around the men who were putting it up.

We learned about the mangroves that line the land and are placed in windows so the water can be seen. This can be done based on an agreement that if the mangroves are taken out of one area, they will be replaced elsewhere.

It was exciting seeing the fountain entitled “Uncommon Friends,” which features Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone. These men were very influential, both in their time and leading to today.

I loved having the opportunity to walk around the downtown area and learn the various things that formed its existence. Before taking a tour of the of the Hotel Indigo, we were able to see a huge mosaic mural in the courtyard that had been hidden for years because it hadn’t featured the “important” people that were intended, but instead portrayed farmers and African American soldiers along the newly constructed railroad.

Word Count: 374