Please go to our website for information on our Monthly Meetings and Field Trips. 

 

We will be kayak/canoeing down the beautiful the Santa Fe river…. A refreshing  spring fed river which defines the northern boundary of Alachua County, and flows through the heart of Florida’s “ spring country”.  Some of the better known springs of our state  flow into it…. Such as  Ginnie Springs, Blue Spring, Poe Spring, Ichetucknee Springs……. just to mention a few…… there are literally dozens more.

This river has the smallest population of alligators in that area, but if you are disappointed by that, you will be happy to know it probably has more turtle species than any other north Florida river, most common the peninsular cooters, and the chick turtles, with occasional snapping turtles.  We might also be fortunate enough to see some Otters, often seen near Columbia Springs and up toward River Rise….    We hope to get out to swim at one of the spring areas, so plan for that.

Dr. Craig Huegel will be our plant & wildlife expert for this trip.

This trip is termed ‘easy’; goes with the current, so not much heavy paddling is expected, but it is a 9 mile trip, so come prepared for about a 4-5 hour trip on the water   (plus travel time)

 

 

Tarflower's field trip on Saturday, July 11th will be at Seminole County's Lake Jesup Wilderness Area.  This natural land parcel is a jewel in July because the hydric hammock and floodplain forest along the the trail berm provide a fair amount of shade.

Hopefully, we will catch a breeze off the lake as well.  Let's just get out and have some fun!  We will meet at 8:30 at the trailhead's parking lot where chapter member Sherrie Williams has graciously offered to be our guide.
 
The Lake Jesup Wilderness Area contains a mixture of predominately wetland communities such as wet prairie, shallow marsh, and hydric hammock. The tract is an approximately 490 acre site located on the north shore of Lake Jesup west of Highway 417 and south of Lake Mary Blvd.

The property was purchased through a joint effort with the St. Johns River Water Management District, towards the goal of preserving significant habitat to aid in the restoration of Lake Jesup.

Chapter members will get a first hand look at the extensive flood plain of this lake and the countless species of wildlife that live there. The majority of trails cross wet prairie and hyric hammock, Plant species of note are Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica), Royal Fern, and Buttom Bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), which can be found growing in the cool shade of the dense canopy.

Wildflowers such as Saltmarsh Mallow and Swamp Hibiscus (Hibiscus grandiflorus) are scattered among clumps of cord grass and many herbaceous species. Along the edges of Lake Jesup and at occasional locations on the interior, plants such as soft rush, Blue Flag Iris  (Iris hexagona), and Pickeral Weed may be encountered.  Review your sabatias as well.

Guidance:
No restrooms at the site!
We will walk about a mile and a half, maybe two, depending on the heat.
There may be ankle deep water at points!
A vicinity map, aerial, and plant list will be posted on our chapter website.
Mapquest or Google:  5951 S. Sanford Ave. Sanford, Fl. 32773
Please email John Cento at jcentocpa@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

• Lake Jesup Wilderness Area aerial photo
• Lake Jesup map of vicinity

 

PEAR Park Scrub Planting - Saturday, July 11 and August 1, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.

Sign up and come to help the PEAR Park volunteers with two or more big planting days on the Scrub Oak/Scrub Jay restoration project.  The volunteers have everything ready for planting, just bring you and your shovel and join the fun!  Contact:  Peg Urban at 326-3868 or Ron Plakke at 365-6467

 

Due to the Independence Day holiday, the July meeting of the Hernando Chapter FNPS will be held on the second Monday, July 13. For our Annual Garden Party we will share success stories and photos of our Florida native plant landscaping experiences, as well as try to ID mystery plants. Members are encouraged to bring photos on CD or flashdrive. Garden hats are encouraged! We will also have a special plant auction of select species which will be fun and educational. 

Chapter members are the speakers this month as they share what garden activities they have been involved with this past year, any special yard or community projects or problems they have tackled. Visitors are invited to come listen, bring in questions about their yard or just enjoy the snacks and roundtable discussion!

Location: St. Marks Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 7922 State Rd. 52,
Hudson, FL, 34677. Meetings of the Chapter are free and all interested parties are invited to attend and enjoy the refreshments and native plant drawing. Telephone inquiries are taken by Mary at (727)849-2335 or by e-mail at horansmo@earthlink.net 

Speaker:  Chris Matson, Restoration Projects Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy's Disney Wilderness Preserve -- Subject:  to be announced 

Saturday from 10 a.m. - 12 Noon
Dave Barnard’s nursery in Land O’ Lakes specializes in 1-gallon flowering natives. He also has a few non-native butterfly plants. Dave says July is a good time to visit the nursery as we should see lots of butterflies in action. He will give us a tour of the nursery, tell us about the plants, and offer advice on making appropriate landscape choices.
Directions: Meet at 10am at Cypress Acres Nursery, which is located at 8632 Ehren Cutoff Road, Land O Lakes (zip 34639).
    From SR 54, go north on US 41 (about 3.5 miles) to Erhen Cutoff Road. Turn right and continue 3.5 miles to the nursery, which will be on the right.
    From SR 52, go south on US 41 (about six miles) to Erhen Cutoff Road. Turn left and continue 3.5 miles to the nursery, which will be on the right. 

 

Sunday, July 19, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. - The program for this meeting will be "Attracting Birds," presented by Beautyberry & Audubon Members Peg Lindsay and Peg Urban.  This beautiful and informative program will highlight birds that can be invited to your backyard and how you can assist them throughout the whole year.  The Chapter will hold this meeting on the west side of the county at the Pilgrims United Church of Christ in Fruitland Park located at 509 County Road 468 (aka the Red Road).  A map is on their website, www.PUCC.info.  Come at 1:30 p.m. for plant and information exchange, library and socializing.  Program begins at 2:00 p.m..  The public is welcome at all the program meetings.  See you there! 

 

 

Shannon R. Julien, Vice President/Division Manager of Ecology for Environmental Services, Inc. in Daytona Beach.
Shannon will give us an overview of environmental permitting at the state/federal levels and speak to questions specific to tree and landscape permitting in Volusia County.
The July Plant of the month will be firebush. 

 

Our next Chapter meeting will be at the Circle B Reserve on Tuesday July 21, 2009.  There will be a 6:30 Potluck dinner with the program beginning at 7:00.  We will also have native plants available for purchase. The Speaker will be announced as soon as possible.

 

The Circle B Reserve is located at 4399 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland, FL. It will be held in the Work Shop Room.  They are located on CR540 between Highway 98 and the landfill.  Come early and enjoy the beautiful Circle Bar B Reserve.

 

 

 

Canoe Rock Springs Run
Leader: Sonya Guidry sonyaguidry@yahoo.com 

Dr. Kennedy was a local fixture on WQCS our Public Radio Affiliate for many years.  He had a daily 'Palm Minute' that was very informative but new management, in their poor policy changes, removed the program. His yard is filled with many, many different species of palms he has collected and so his presentation about our Native Palms will be fascinating ! 

August's meeting is Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at Leu Gardens, 7:00 PM. Meetings are open to the public. 

Barbara Hoffman, MS, former Pinellas FNPS President,  will be presenting a program about the many plants, and marine grasses found in a marine ecosystem, and the many creatures that are dependent upon it.   

Place:  to be announced…..   Barb is previewing sites to pick the best one.   Exact Site will be posted on the FNPS.org/Pinellas web site by mid July, or you can call Alexa Wilcox-Huegel @ 422-4792 after  mid-July for more information.

 

This will be a wading/snorkeling trip led by Barbara Hoffman to see some of the natural sea grasses she will be teaching us about at the August meeting.  We did a similar type trip a number of years ago, and it was so enjoyable we have asked Barb to repeat it.  It is a great opportunity to see and experience an aquatic plant community. 

 

Plan to Bring: 

Snorkel gear; (we will have a few extras for those who do not have a mask  or snorkel)

Sunscreen; bug spray;  towels/ chair/ beach gear of your choice.

Drinking water; 

We will have a short meeting before entering the water……

 

Bring clothes to change; we will plan to go to a casual restaurant for lunch afterwards…..

 

 

Dr. Walter Kingsley Taylor will be a guest speaker at the local chapters of the Florida Native Plant Society meeting in Deland on Tuesday, August 11th at 7pm. He will discuss his new book, A Guide to Florida Grasses.

The meeting will take place in the auditorium at the Volusia County Agricultural Center located at 3100 East New York Ave. (I-4 and SR44).

This is a joint meeting of the Lyonia and Pawpaw Chapters, to be held at the Lyonia Chapter's regular meeting night (2nd Tuesday) and place. 

Dr. Walter Kingsley Taylor will be a guest speaker at the local chapters of the Florida Native Plant Society meeting in Deland on Tuesday, August 11th at 7pm. He will discuss his new book, A Guide to Florida Grasses.

The meeting will take place in the auditorium at the Volusia County Agricultural Center located at 3100 East New York Ave. (I-4 and SR44).

This is a joint meeting of the Lyonia and Pawpaw Chapters, to be held at the Lyonia Chapter's regular meeting night (2nd Tuesday) and place. 

Saturday, August 15 at 8:00 a.m. - We will beat the heat with an early start!!!  This field trip will be a backyard garden tour of several of our member's home landscapes.  We will concentrate on several gardens along the US 27 corridor and end up at PEAR Park to see the summer bloom there.  We will plan to end up with a picnic at the pavilion overlooking the park.  We will start early 8:00 a.m. at the Publix parking lot at the corner of US 27 and County road 48 and we will carpool from there.  Our trip leaders will provide the route from home to home.  contact: Peg Lindsay for the carpool at 352-326-2045. 

For your comfort, remember to bring water, hat, bug spray, a light lunch and wear comfortable clothing and shoes for walking.     

 

 

 

“Digging for Tomorrow - Successful Plant Salvages” Jackie Rolly and Marge Holt, FNPS Tarflower Chapter 

Our next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 6:30.  We will plan to meet at Fred's in downtown Bartow. 

Summer Plant Swap (only 3 plants, please!) and Shaded Walk at Museum of Arts and Sciences; Leader Sonya Guidry sonyaguidry@yahoo.com 

September's meeting is Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at Leu Gardens, 7:00 PM. Meetings are open to the public. 

Karina Veaudry, Executive Director, FL Native Plant Society 

Haw Creek Preserve. In W. Flagler County, 1 mile Boardwalk through wet hammock at Haw Creek. Lunch at Bull Creek Fish Camp, Leader: Mark Wheeler 

The trees, plants, wildflowers and wildlife of a Sandhill ecosystem; what makes a sandhill different from a scrub;

 

We are announcing the October F/T a little early, as, in addition to our ½ day hike, we are offering an opportunity for a camp-out for those who wish to stay over.. and  for the camping you will need to make early reservations…  

 

The October Field trip/ hike (Sat. Oct. 10) will be to a Sandhill ecosystem, located in the Ocala National forest.   The Riverside Island tract is one of the few remaining longleaf pine forests that has been managed for decades with prescribed fire so that the open park-like nature of this type of system is very evident.  This location is a beautiful and classic sandhill, which was one of the most predominant ecosystems of central & north Florida in the  “pre-developed Florida” era.  The fall season shows this ecosystem at it’s most beautiful.    We will see several species of Liatris ( Blazing Stars) Carphephorus (Florida Paintbrush, Deertongue, Vanilla Plant), Golden Asters,  and wide variety of other fall blooming wildflowers.

This is an easy hike; we will drive to an area, get out, explore a while, then get back in our cars and drive to another area, but please where hiking appropriate clothing, and closed toe shoes.  This area has also been managed as a Red-cockaded woodpecker habitat so hopefully we will see some of these elusive birds as well.

Dr. Craig Huegel will be our leader and plant/wildlife expert for this trip.  

 

For more information, and details of  carpooling  times and meeting places,

please contact Alexa Wilcox-Huegel @ alexa776@tampabay.rr.com

or 727) 422-4792

 

November's meeting is Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at Leu Gardens, 7:00 PM. Meetings are open to the public. 

details tba