Located south of Milton and Interstate 10 at Bagdad, Yellow River Marshes Preserve State Park is a sweeping open wild prairie along the shores of Blackwater Bay. There are no trails, just a parking area from which to explore Florida’s biggest burst of pitcher plant blooms in March and April.

The Citrus Tract of Withlacoochee State Forest is full of surprises, from a big dose of scrub along Loop A to a scattering of sinkhole-and-cave habitats with unique ferns and mosses along the western side of the forest.

Best noted for its springs, Wekiwa Springs State Park is also home to botanical beauty, including one of the most southernmost groves of tulip poplars and dense clusters of needle palm along its waterways.