Naples in Collier County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Landmark Cypress № 3 — "Leopold"

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, March 4, 2015

1. Landmark Cypress № 3 — "Leopold" Marker

Inscription. Aldo Leopold is considered the father of the modern conservation ethic. He lamented the toll wrought on the landscape in the name of material progress, and the ever widening disconnect between society and land. Where John Muir was inspired by passion and activism, Leopold was a scientist concerned with understanding and preserving wilderness and its complex ecosystems.

The Leopold tree is 500-plus years old, one of the forest's oldest, and at 98 feet tall, one of its tallest. The toll wrought by numerous hurricanes has cost this tree its top and most of its branches, leaving a massive main trunk that, chest high, is 22 feet around. Its fallen branches combine with the litter of cypress needles, cones, leaves from other trees, and the roots of nearby plants, contributing biomass to the spongy organic peat of the forest floor. Peat acts like a sponge to wick moisture up to the cypress roots year-round. The moisture in turn keeps the forest cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Historic Trees series list.

Location. 26° 22.256′ N, 81° 36.806′

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W. Marker is in Naples, Florida, in Collier County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Sanctuary Road West and Rookery Lane. Marker and subject tree are located along the cypress swamp boardwalk in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 375 Sanctuary Road West, Naples FL 34120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Landmark Cypress № 7 — "Rhett Green" (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Landmark Cypress № 6 — "Guy Bradley" (about 700 feet away); Landmark Cypress № 4 — "Roosevelt" (about 800 feet away); Landmark Cypress № 8 — "Asteenahoofa" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Landmark Cypress № 10 — "Dutcher" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Landmark Cypress № 12 — "Baker-Curry" (approx. half a mile away); The Start of a Sanctuary (approx. 0.7 miles away); What Makes Corkscrew Swamp Special? (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Naples.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Also see . . .
1. Aldo Leopold. Considered by many to be the father of wildlife ecology and the United States’ wilderness system, Aldo Leopold was a conservationist, forester, philosopher, educator, writer, and outdoor enthusiast. Among his best known ideas is the “land

Landmark Cypress № 3 — "Leopold" (<i>trunk</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, March 26, 2014

2. Landmark Cypress № 3 — "Leopold" (trunk)

(view from marker)

ethic,” which calls for an ethical, caring relationship between people and nature. (Submitted on January 18, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. About Corkscrew's Boardwalk. A 2.25-mile boardwalk meanders through pine flatwood, wet prairie, around a marsh, and finally into the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America. These impressive trees, relatives of the redwood, tower 130 feet into the sky and have a girth of 25 feet. Their massive branches are draped with mosses, lichens, bromeliads, and ferns. (Submitted on January 18, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Landmark Cypress № 3 — "Leopold" (<i>canopy</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, March 4, 2015

3. Landmark Cypress № 3 — "Leopold" (canopy)

(view looking up from marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 18, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 18, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 144 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 18, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.