sea oats

• 
• 
• 
• 
  A diversity of gulls, terns and various shorebirds can be found year-round feeding at the shore.
• 
  The initial step in restoration of deflated sand dunes is to use structures that can accumulate sand. Dune building fences can be erected in order to trap sand and reconstruct new dunes.
• 
  Beach elder (Iva imbricata) has sparse, woody, upright stems and fleshy narrow bright green leaves. Small lavender flowers occur in late summer. Beach elder accumulates sand rapidly and produces low rounded dunes.
• 
• 
• 
  The road to the fortifications bisects the narrow barrier island.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  Dunes at the end of the island rise high above the waves.
• 
  The ranger house at Fort Pickens is the welcome area for the National Seashore.
• 
  The building was formerly used as the Coast Guard Station.
• 
  This view of the Ranger Station is taken near the wreck of the Norweigan bark, the Catherine, which is located in 15 feet of water where it sank on August 7, 1894. The outline of the vessel can be seen as a dark shadow on the surface.
• 
  Battery Langdon is directly across Fort Pickens Road from the shelter and walkway leading to the gulf.
• 
  The southern facade of the building faces the gulf.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  The fence is located at the Opal Beach sign, three miles from the Opal Beach boardwalk.
• 
  The fence on the right of the photograph is put in place to promote dune formation.
• 
  The walkway leads through the dunes to the beach.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  This is a short run boardwalk from the parking lot over the dunes.
• 
  The national seashore maintains boardwalks and parking bays along Via de Luna Drive on Santa Rosa Island
• 
  The boardwalk aids in the formation of its own dune alongside of the walkway.
• 
  The boardwalk ends in a larger staging area across the dunes.
• 
• 
• 
  The boardwalk leads from Johnson Beach Road to the Gulf.
• 
  Gulf Islands National Seashore is open year-round. A dune crossover is recommended to save vegetation and wearing down of the dune.
• 
  There is little wave action on the sound side.
• 
• 
  A short boardwalk leads from the road to the water.
• 
  There is a boardwalk on the Gulf side of the turn-around leading to the beach.
• 
  For nature lovers, the park is a good place to begin an exploration of the barrier island ecosystem.
• 
  This view of the lighthouse shows its relationship to the coastline. Sea oats in the foreground are the predominate vegetation that grow along the dunes.
• 
  Windows are placed as a geometric composition.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  There is a wide expanse of beach between the waterfront and the home.
• 
  Every room has the advantage of a large expanse of windows or skylights on both floors.
• 
  Dunes on the side and front are held in place by the extensive root system of sea oats.
• 
  A boardwalk leads from the backporch to the beach.
• 
  The view is facilitated by glass balcony railings. The fence on the beach is a dune building line trap the blowing sand.
• 
  The house was rebuilt in 1995. Stainless steel trim and hardware were added to the exterior finishing.
• 
  The second floor deck wraps around the house and is an extension of the interior living space.
• 
  A hot tub is sunken into the deck off the master bedroom.
• 
  The staircase bisects the deck leading to the downstairs living area.
• 
• 
  There is an enclosed patio area on the east side the house.
• 
  The home faces north on Ariola Drive.
• 
  The glass brick tower is the dominant feature of the facade. It functions as the enclosure for the circular staircase.
• 
  Stucco is the exterior finish of the home.
• 
  A circular staircase connects the guest quarters to the second floor residence.
• 
  The risers are wood that match the upstairs flooring material.
• 
• 
  The kitchen is located on the west side of the second floor. It features a catering kitchen and wine cooler.
• 
  The appliances were imported from France.
• 
  Tom Roush stands atop a dune formation.
• 
  Escambia County and the Santa Rosa Island Authority have built eleven crossover boardwalks similar to the one shown above from Fort Pickens to the Santa Rosa Gulf Islands National Seashore park area.
• 
• 
• 
  Breaking waves run up on wide, sandy beaches against a backdrop of large sand dunes topped with a smattering of sea oats.
• 
  Atop and just behind the dunes lies an intriguing habitat that supports a limited but interesting array of plants and animals.
• 
  Deep white sand is so fine that the beach below you squeaks when you walk. Its seaward edges borders deep green and blue water.
• 
• 
• 
  Sea oats are the preferred landscaping element at the beach.
• 
• 
• 
• 
  The seed heads mature in August.
• 
  Sea Oats provide long term protection against beach erosion and add natural beauty to coastal ecosystems.
• 
  The tall brown stalks that form wheat-like seed heads are called sea oats.
• 
  The modified branches of the sea oat insure that the plant captures an adequate water supply from the porous sand while at the same time staying firmly planted in position.
• 
  The white sand actually traveled from the Appalachian mountains from local rivers. The dunes are tops with a smattering of sea oats.
• 
  Summer is best for saltwater and beach ativities; fall, winter, and spring are best for birds.
• 
  Dunes surround the house which faces south on the Gulf of Mexico.
• 
  The back porch of the home faces the Gulf of Mexico.
• 
  This north view shows the facade of the house which faces the Gulf of Mexico
• 
  The home is surrounded by dunes. Sea oats, lichens and cacti are ground cover.
• 
  The facade of the house faces the Gulf of Mexico.
• 
  The home is isolated in the center of acres of native plants on low dune formations.
• 
  The gazebo overlooks the Gulf of Mexico on the beachfront.
• 
  The walkway extends from the house to the beachfront gazebo.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  A photo shoot sets up near the gazebo. Wrangler Jeans choose the house as a location for its fall advertising campaign.
• 
  A Wrangler model poses under the boardwalk.
• 
  Photos from the shoot will be used to establish a point-of-puchase campaign at WalMart stores.
• 
  There is a distinctive dune formation between the park site and the beach.
• 
  The State of Florida operates two park sites along Perdido Key Drive.
• 
  Boardwalks from the parking lot allow visitors to access the beach without causing damage to the fragile dunes and beach vegetation.
• 
  Several paths lead across the dunes to the gulf.
• 
  Visitors can view native plants and animals in the natural environment.
• 
  Coastal dunes are formed when sand is trapped around the stems, leaves and roots of plants in the vegetated areas of the beach.
• 
  The road was damaged by Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis, but has been repaired repeatedly. The county views the road as a safety issue since they can use it to get to the two bridges off the island and so will repair it as often as need be.
• 
• 
• 
•