Grassy Waters Preserve

Grassy Waters Preserve https://linktr.ee/grassywaters
(561) 804-4985
ADA Acc
(264)

Grassy Waters Preserve is a 23 square mile wetlands ecosystem that serves as the freshwater supply for the City of West Palm Beach and the towns of South Palm Beach and Palm Beach Island. In addition to meeting local demands for freshwater, Grassy Waters Preserve provides hands-on educational experiences for learners of all ages.

Please be advised, the Nature Center and Cypress Boardwalk Trail will be CLOSED on Monday, September 7th, for a governme...
09/06/2026

Please be advised, the Nature Center and Cypress Boardwalk Trail will be CLOSED on Monday, September 7th, for a government holiday.

All other trails will remain open during normal operating hours.

For detailed hours and trail maps, please visit wpb.org/grassywaters

Join us tomorrow for a slow Sunday morning stroll to learn about the beautiful wildflowers found at Grassy Waters! 🌷This...
09/05/2026

Join us tomorrow for a slow Sunday morning stroll to learn about the beautiful wildflowers found at Grassy Waters! 🌷

This program is free, but space is limited and reservations are required. Ages 15+

Please call 561.804.4985 to reserve your spot today!

Alligator flag is in bloom here at Grassy Waters Preserve! Beyond seeing the delicate flowers, it’s also the best time t...
09/04/2026

Alligator flag is in bloom here at Grassy Waters Preserve!

Beyond seeing the delicate flowers, it’s also the best time to catch a glimpse of a Brazilian Skipper (Calpodes ethlius). This beautiful butterfly lives in wetlands throughout the Americas, where they rely on wetland plants like alligator flag to survive. 🦋

As adults, they can be recognized by their light brown color, huge black eyes, and glassy whitish squares on the wings. They can be seen fluttering quickly from plant to plant, drinking nectar from flowers with their long proboscis (tube-like mouthpart).

As caterpillars, they are light green and translucent – you can even see their internal organs and circulatory system! Despite this interesting appearance, their most distinctive feature is in their behavior. These caterpillars roll up the leaves of their host plant (you guessed it… alligator flag) with sticky silk and live inside of this shelter, growing and eating leaves until they metamorphose.

Did you know? Alligator flag is not this species’ only host plant. They are also able to eat the leaves of canna lilies, which explains one of their common names, larger canna leafroller! 🐛

Keep an eye out for these wonderful butterflies on your next trip to Grassy Waters Preserve!

📸GWP Staff

New month, new programs! Check out our offerings for September. 🐊Reservations are required for all guided programs, unle...
09/03/2026

New month, new programs! Check out our offerings for September. 🐊

Reservations are required for all guided programs, unless otherwise indicated.

Please call 561.804.4985 to reserve your spot today!

09/01/2026

Kick off September with some more time in nature!

Explore one of our trails – we’re open 7 days a week 🌻

Please visit wpb.org/grassywaters for full trail information and hours.

The muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) is a native plant favored by humans and wildlife alike.🍇Muscadines grow well th...
08/28/2026

The muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) is a native plant favored by humans and wildlife alike.🍇

Muscadines grow well throughout most of the Southeastern United States and can be identified by their heart-shaped leaves and plentiful fruit in the late summer and early autumn months.

There are over 100 different cultivars that vary in size of fruit, color, and taste! All varieties produce grapes with thick skin and crunchy seeds, which are eaten by mammals like deer, raccoons, squirrels, and several bird species.

There are records of this plant growing in North America dating back to the 1500s and it has been grown commercially for over 200 years. Both the leaves and fruits are edible for humans and have been used to make jelly, juice, w**e, and even dye.

Did you know? Muscadines were the first native grape species to be cultivated in North America!

If you’re interested in learning more about the ethnobotanical uses of this native plant, join us for our Edible Everglades Boardwalk Hike on Sunday, August 30! Reservations required, please call 561.804.4985 to reserve your spot.

📸GWP Staff

08/25/2026

Looking at your calendar for the weekend? 🦌

Join us indoors for our Speaker Series or out on the boardwalk for Edible Everglades!

Visit wpb.org/grassywaters for full program descriptions. Please call 561.804.4985 to register.

Interested in learning more about the ecosystems here in West Palm? 🌊🌴Learn what our salty coastal habitats have in comm...
08/24/2026

Interested in learning more about the ecosystems here in West Palm? 🌊🌴

Learn what our salty coastal habitats have in common with our freshwater swamp and marsh, and how living shorelines use nature's own tools to keep our waters clean, support fish and birds, and help communities weather storms.

This indoor program is FREE, but space is limited and reservations are required. Please call 561.804.4985 to register today.

Please be advised, the Nature Center will be CLOSED on Tuesday, 8/25 and the afternoon of Wednesday, 8/26 for staff trai...
08/23/2026

Please be advised, the Nature Center will be CLOSED on Tuesday, 8/25 and the afternoon of Wednesday, 8/26 for staff training. We will resume normal hours of operation on 8/27.

Thank you for understanding! 🌱

If you’ve ever taken a walk on our Cypress Boardwalk, it’s likely you’ve seen dozens of small, stump-like protrusions co...
08/21/2026

If you’ve ever taken a walk on our Cypress Boardwalk, it’s likely you’ve seen dozens of small, stump-like protrusions coming out of the soil or peeking above the water line.

These are not stumps at all, but rather vertical roots from the surrounding cypress trees referred to as knees. Cypress knees vary in height and distribution, often influenced by water depth.

Since their first documented observation in the 1800s, the function of these growths has stumped (🥁) the scientific community. A variety of ideas have been proposed, such as:

- Root aeration
- Methane emission
- Reproduction
- Nutrient absorption
- Carbohydrate storage
- Structural support

While the root aeration and structural support hypotheses are most widely discussed, the scientific community has yet to reach an accepted consensus backed by evidence. It’s even been suggested that knees may have evolved in response to evolutionary pressures that no longer exist – suggesting we may never know their purpose!

Did you know? Bald cypress trees are some of the oldest living organisms in the Eastern United States – some reaching over 2,000 years old!

Address

8264 Northlake Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL
33412

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm
Saturday 8am - 4:30pm
Sunday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+15618044985

Website

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