It doesn't take much change in elevation to produce radical changes habitat. Case in point, Sweetbay Natural Area. Scan around and everything seems to be perfectly flat. But look at the vegetation. In places where the land is slightly higher, scrub-like plants, such as saw palmetto, staggerbush and gallberry dominate the understory as slash pines provide the canopy. It's tough, tough land to move through for both humans and wildlife. In slightly lower places, wax myrtle, roundpod St. John's wort and other water-loving plants take over — Photo by David Sedore