Overview: Daggerwing Nature Center is all wet. Or mostly wet, at least. It is a 40-acre preserve, primarily swamp, wetlands and lake within the Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park in suburban Boca Raton. It has slightly more than a half-mile of trails, but you won't get your feet wet, because the trails are entirely boardwalk. It's an easy hike.
History: Daggerwing is one of the oldest nature centers in Palm Beach County, dating back to 1996. In 2008, a 3,000-foot exhibit hall opened adjacent to the trails.
What You'll See: Species we spotted there include wood storks, great blue herons, great white herons, ibis, black-crowned night heron, red-shouldered hawk, mockingbird, cardinal, eastern gray squirrel, raccoons, bald and pond cypress, gumbo limbo trees, pond apples, wild coffee, cat-tails, resurrection fern, and air plants. One species we did not spot, oddly enough: the namesake ruddy daggerwing butterfly. Burt Aaronson South County Regional is 848 acres west of U.S. 441 off Glades Road (it can be accessed from Yamato Road as well). The Palm Beach County park is multi-purpose, with picnic areas, water park and more. There are ponds and lakes throughout; along with some wooded margins, they are great places to find birds, butterflies, dragonflies and wild flowers.
Amenities: Daggerwing has an interpretive center, and offers programs throughout the year for a variety ages and interests. The center is open limited days and hours (check the website for details) but the trails are open sunrise to sunset, every day of the year. There is an observation tower on the trail, and a butterfly garden at the entrance.
Of Note: There is no fee for entering Burt Aaronson Regional Park, the nature center or walking the boardwalk. Parking is plentiful. The boardwalk is open sunrise to sunset every day of the waek. The nature center itself has limited hours. Check the website for details.
Cover Photo: It's not always the big creatures that grab our attention. This is a palomeides swallowtail butterfly we photographed at the butterfly garden at Daggerwing Nature Center on one incredibly hot and muggy July afternoon several years ago.
History: Daggerwing is one of the oldest nature centers in Palm Beach County, dating back to 1996. In 2008, a 3,000-foot exhibit hall opened adjacent to the trails.
What You'll See: Species we spotted there include wood storks, great blue herons, great white herons, ibis, black-crowned night heron, red-shouldered hawk, mockingbird, cardinal, eastern gray squirrel, raccoons, bald and pond cypress, gumbo limbo trees, pond apples, wild coffee, cat-tails, resurrection fern, and air plants. One species we did not spot, oddly enough: the namesake ruddy daggerwing butterfly. Burt Aaronson South County Regional is 848 acres west of U.S. 441 off Glades Road (it can be accessed from Yamato Road as well). The Palm Beach County park is multi-purpose, with picnic areas, water park and more. There are ponds and lakes throughout; along with some wooded margins, they are great places to find birds, butterflies, dragonflies and wild flowers.
Amenities: Daggerwing has an interpretive center, and offers programs throughout the year for a variety ages and interests. The center is open limited days and hours (check the website for details) but the trails are open sunrise to sunset, every day of the year. There is an observation tower on the trail, and a butterfly garden at the entrance.
Of Note: There is no fee for entering Burt Aaronson Regional Park, the nature center or walking the boardwalk. Parking is plentiful. The boardwalk is open sunrise to sunset every day of the waek. The nature center itself has limited hours. Check the website for details.
Cover Photo: It's not always the big creatures that grab our attention. This is a palomeides swallowtail butterfly we photographed at the butterfly garden at Daggerwing Nature Center on one incredibly hot and muggy July afternoon several years ago.
