Today is #ArborDay, and the magnificent grounds of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum feature many trees. Our Maritime Hammock, a stabilized sand dune that allows for larger tree growth, is filled with native coastal vegetation. The Live Oak, Sabal Palm, and Eastern Red Cedar can all be seen on-site. Live Oak trees are often associated with Southern strength and charm. This beautiful tree is draped in Spanish moss and maintains green leaves year-round by continuously growing new leaves. The salt air impacts the live oak by creating dramatic bends and turns in the branches. The process is known as “Salt Pruning.” The Sabal Palm is the state tree of Florida, but the ones found in the Hammock are low-growing green fronds with the majority of the trunk growing under the sandy soil. Also known as the cabbage palm, it has a cylindrical center core that can be harvested. The Eastern Red Cedar is a native evergreen that thrives in Anastasia Island’s sandy soil and salty winds. T...