Florida Native Plant Society Blog

Now Accepting Applications: The 2026 Florida Scrub Mint Internship

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:16:26 GMT

A hands-on conservation opportunity honoring Carolyn Schaag, Nancy Bissett, and Anne MacKay

The Florida Native Plant Society is thrilled to announce our fall 2026 internship: the Florida Scrub Mint Internship , offered in partnership with the Florida Wildflower Foundation. This paid, part-time position runs from August 10 through December 10, 2026, and puts an emerging conservation professional at the center of efforts to protect some of Florida’s rarest plants — the scrub mints of the genus Dicerandra.

A Partnership with a Rich History

This internship continues a growing tradition of collaboration between FNPS and the Florida Wildflower Foundation. Our two organizations share deeply overlapping missions - the conservation, preservation, and restoration of Florida’s native plants and the habitats that sustain them - and the internship program was created together to open pathways to employment in the conservation and nonprofit sectors.

This year’s internship is made possible by a generous donation from the Florida Wildflower Foundation in honor of Carolyn Schaag, Nancy Bissett, and Anne MacKay - three women whose vision and dedication have shaped native plant conservation in Florida. Proceeds from the 2025 FNPS Photo Contest also help support the internship program.

To see the program’s impact firsthand, read past intern Kristin Luckock’s reflection on her FWF–FNPS internship in the latest issue of Palmetto (Volume 42:2), where she shares her work restoring and monitoring the last wild habitat of blushing scrub balm (Dicerandra modesta): read the current Palmetto , available to members in our digital library .

Summary About the Position

The Florida Scrub Mint Intern reports to the Director of Communications and will gain hands-on experience across field research, conservation, and outreach, including:

Surveying privately- and publicly-owned lands for Dicerandra (scrub mint) species
Handling Dicerandra seeds and facilitating containerized plantings
Recruiting and managing volunteers for surveys
Collecting and aggregating plant location and demographic data, including mapping
Planning and hosting Dicerandra Day events in October
Developing educational materials and content for FNPS social media and communication channels

The details:

Term: August 10 – December 10, 2026
Hours: Part time, 24 hours per week (flexible; may include some weekends, evenings, and special events)
Pay: $20 per hour, paid every two weeks
Location: Fieldwork in the Polk and Marion county regions; otherwise work from a location of your choice within Florida

Who Should Apply

We’re looking for a college student or emerging professional (18 or older) currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a degree program with a focus in environmental science, biology, ecology, social science, or a related field. Strong candidates are safety-conscious team players with excellent communication skills and a passion for conservation, comfortable working outdoors in Florida’s heat and navigating rugged, off-trail terrain. A valid U.S. driver’s license is required; GIS and social media experience are a plus.

How to Apply

Email your resume and a brief cover letter to executivedirector@fnps.org by July 31, 2026 . Questions about the position are welcome at the same address. To view the full job description, download the PDF here .

We are grateful to the Florida Wildflower Foundation for making this opportunity possible, and we can’t wait to welcome our next intern to the scrub!

Celebrating 46 Years: Highlights from the 2026 FNPS Annual Member Meeting

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:56:43 GMT

We Fight for Florida's Future:

Providing CPR for Native Plants since 1980

A Year of Growth & Celebration

On July 18, 2026, members from across the state joined us for the Florida Native Plant Society's Annual Member Meeting, marking 46 years of conserving, preserving, and restoring Florida's native plants and the habitats they support. It was a chance to celebrate a record-breaking year, recognize the members and volunteers who make our work possible, and look ahead to what's next.

Check out the Meeting Slides , featuring our Photo Contest Winners!

A Year of Growth

FNPS members and chapters put in an extraordinary amount of work in 2025 and early 2026. A few numbers that stood out: Nearly 87,000 hours of volunteer service were logged in 2025 - an estimated value of almost $3 million - with 94 percent of those hours contributed by our chapters. Our annual conference drew an all-time record of 457 registrants. The Society now counts 33 chapters plus a new UF student club, including two brand-new chapters, Beluthahatchee and Highlands. Our digital reach kept growing too, with more than 1.4 million website visits and over 58,000 Facebook followers, all supported by four dedicated professional staffers. And in the field, North FL Program Director Lilly Anderson-Messec's work with Torreya was published in the American Journal of Botany.

The Council of Chapters also held its first retreat at Archbold Biological Station in February 2026, bringing chapter leaders together to build community, share resources, and support one another - with another retreat already being planned.

Introducing Our Updated Mission Statement

One of the most meaningful outcomes of this year's meeting was a refreshed Mission Statement. Our Bylaws Committee, Board of Directors, Council of Chapters, and chapters across the state spent months discussing what our mission should say, and how it should say it. Here's what came out of those conversations:

"To conserve, preserve and restore Florida's native plants and their habitats through science-based education, research, advocacy, horticulture, landscaping, and engaged participation by our members and communities."

The new statement is built around three parts:

Our motto - what we stand for: to conserve, preserve, and restore Florida's native plants and their habitats.
What we do: science-based education, research, advocacy, horticulture, and landscaping.
How we do it: through the engaged participation of our members and communities.

This isn't just a wording update. It reflects who FNPS is today: a statewide network of 33 chapters, a UF student club, professional staff, and thousands of members and volunteers working together on conservation, education, and advocacy. It's a mission built to grow with us as we take on new initiatives like the Native Habitat Certification Program and the Core Chapter model.

Policy and Advocacy Wins

Our Policy and Legislation Committee - Lynn Artz, Joan Bausch, Susan Carr, Chadd Charland, Sara Delessio, Eugene Kelly, David Perkey, Winnie Said, and Melissa Fernandez (Ex Officio), with Government Affairs Consultant Travis Moore - had a busy and successful 2026 legislative session. Here's where FNPS advocacy made a difference:

Passed: Coastal Resilience (SB 302, Sen. Garcia) : promotes nature-based (native plant based) approaches to prevent coastal erosion and requires the state to provide guidelines.
Passed: Conservation Lands (HB 441) : requires 30 days' advance public notice and comment before any future proposal to "swap" state-owned conservation land for development.
Stopped: "Blue Ribbon Projects" (SB 354, Sen. McClain) : would have allowed large (15,000+ acre) development projects to bypass local regulations.
Secured $216,000 in the 2026–2027 budget for Endangered and Threatened Native Flora Conservation Grants.
Stopped: Cattle Grazing on State Lands (HB 1421) : through collaboration with Rep. Lindsay Cross and the Florida Springs Council, the bill was amended to require consideration of ecological and recreational constraints; it passed the House but failed in the Senate.
Passed, then vetoed: Biosolids (HB 1245) : would have required land applications of Class AA biosolids to stay within a pasture or crop's nutrient uptake capacity.
Passed the Senate but denied a final floor vote: Tributaries of the St. Johns River (SB 1066) : would have required FDEP to develop a restoration plan for the Ocklawaha River and create a Northeast Florida River and Springs advisory council.
Changed the Central Polk Parkway East Extension alignment following FNPS pressure, protecting the only natural population of Blushing Scrub Balm.
Opposed construction of the Alligator Alcatraz detention center.
Opposed development of the SR70-to-SR66 expressway over its projected impacts on imperiled plant species and habitats.
Supported local moratoria on data centers and is working with select legislators toward comprehensive statewide regulations.
Supported local land conservation programs, including Volusia Forever and the proposed Ridge to River referendum in Highlands County.

The fight isn't over: Florida Forever was denied new state funding despite the statutory $100 million minimum, and Ocklawaha River restoration was blocked again - both fights continue into 2027. FNPS is also positioned to partner with incoming legislative leadership on conservation easement protections and data center regulations. This is exactly why our Policy and Legislation Committee is running its first-ever targeted summer fund drive - to keep this advocacy work funded and effective going into next session.

Grants Awarded in 2026

FNPS-funded research and conservation grants continue to advance native plant science across the state:

Conservation Grant, Main Award - Rosi Mullholland : Seed collection, propagation, and planting of Warea amplexifolia in Lake County, in collaboration with FNPS volunteers, private landowners, Bok Tower Gardens, and the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Conservation Grant, Partial Award - Thomas Green : Third year of controlling woody species in wet areas of Point Washington State Park.
Barbara Grigg Grant - Dr. Weston Testo , Department of Plant Biology, University of Vermont: Studying the evolutionary origins, genetic diversity, and conservation status of the endemic Florida spleenwort, Asplenium plenum , a rare fern known from only a handful of populations in Sumter and Citrus counties.
Research Grant Award - Amy Faivre, Ph.D. , Cedar Crest College: Measuring population genetic diversity and reproductive biology of threatened Clitoria fragrans (pigeon wings), a Florida endemic.
Research Grant Award - Alassane Sow , University of Florida: Investigating the range, emergence, and evolution of Parvodontia relampaga , a recently described fungal pathogen affecting Torreya taxifolia , Taxus floridana , and other native species.
Research Grant Award - Luke Sparreo , New York Botanical Garden: Studying the systematics of North American pitcher plants ( Sarracenia ) and their symbiotic mites ( Sarraceniopus ) for insight into coevolutionary relationships.

Thank you to the Sea Rocket Chapter for providing a $500 donation to the endowment this year, and to everyone who has contributed to the FNPS Endowment over the years to make these awards possible. And thank you to the Citrus Chapter and Sea Rocket Chapter for each providing a $500 donation to the Conservation Fund this year.

2026 Green Palmetto and Silver Palmetto Awardees

Each year, FNPS recognizes the members whose work exemplifies our mission. This year's honorees:

Conservation

David Roddenberry, Sarracenia Chapter : for leading groundcover restoration of a longleaf pine-wiregrass sandhill community at Bald Point State Park, and for decades of plant rescues, surveys, and conservation work across Wakulla and Franklin counties.
Sterling Herron, Highlands Chapter : for research and conservation translocation work on endangered species like the Florida ziziphus and Avon Park harebells at Archbold Biological Station, his role as founding Vice President of the new Highlands Chapter, and his mentorship of nearly two dozen interns and research assistants.

Education

Andrea Andersen, Pinellas Chapter : for her leadership as Vice Chair of the Council of Chapters and for creating the Florida Native Plant Steward Certification Program, a statewide initiative training new stewards, advocates, and future chapter leaders.
Maggie Ulman, Martin County Chapter : for her leadership as Council of Chapters Secretary, founding the Students Against Invasive Species Group, and logging 582 volunteer hours driving conservation education and outreach as a high school student. (Congratulations to Maggie, who is headed to Duke University this fall!)

Service

Melanie L. Cave, Tarflower Chapter : for rare-plant salvage and sandhill restoration work at Oakland Nature Preserve and Bill Frederick/Turkey Lake Park.
Spencer Bennett, Tarflower Chapter : for service and leadership supporting native plant education and community engagement.
Lynn Artz, Sarracenia Chapter : a steady voice and driving force for Florida's native plants and conservation community.
Barbara Seibel, Mangrove Chapter : for over 13 years coordinating a monthly plant survey at Cedar Point Environmental Park in Charlotte County, while mentoring volunteers and sharing her native plant identification expertise.
Pam Hopkins, Martin County Chapter : in recognition of decades of service, educational outreach, scientific contributions, and unwavering commitment to Florida's native plants.
Virginia Overstreet, Suncoast Chapter : for 10 years of service and outstanding dedication to Florida's native plants and the Suncoast Chapter.
Rhonda Hoeckley, Sweetbay Chapter : as Sweetbay president for the past two years, for tireless service that grew membership, inspired new volunteers, added a new public native garden, and brought creativity and fun to the chapter's mission.

Emerging Leaders Under 30

Nel Calhoun, Nature Coast Chapter : serving as youth ambassador on the Nature Coast board, with a special focus on the Wesley Chapel District Park Demo Garden, which they now co-lead volunteer days for.
Benton Willis, Paynes Prairie Chapter : for bringing technical innovation, social media growth, and new members to the chapter, all while working as a curator at UF's mycological herbarium and completing a Ph.D. project in Plant Pathology.

Outstanding Chapter of the Year

Paynes Prairie Chapter : recognized for developing the Core Chapter model with FNPS leadership, a streamlined onboarding framework that has already helped launch two new chapters, Beluthahatchee and Highlands, in 2026.

Mentor Award

Dr. Ann Johnson : for career-long contributions to Florida's native plant communities, including decades on the Magnolia Chapter board, maintaining the chapter's Native Plant Garden at Maclay Gardens State Park, and her work as a field botanist with the Florida Natural Areas Inventory.
Cammie Donaldson : a driving influence across Florida's native plant organizations, including FNPS, the Florida Wildflower Foundation, FANN, and the Native Plant Horticulture Foundation, with work extending to national initiatives like the USDA Specialty Crop Program.

Silver Palmetto Award

Dr. Gage LaPierre : for leading formation of the FL Native Seed Partnership, co-authoring the Florida Meadow Manual, organizing the Groundcover Restoration and Enhancement Workshop (GREW), and his work as founder/manager of the UF Native Plant Nursery.
Rebekah Kaufmann : for revitalizing the Council of Chapters as Chair, driving major increases in meeting attendance and participation, improving communication between the Council and Board, and helping organize the Board and Council retreat.

Congratulations to all of this year's honorees, and thank you for everything you do for Florida's native plants.

New Board Members Elected for 2026-2028

Members also elected new board leadership for the 2026-2028 term, with strong support:

Secretary - Melanie Trexler (Sarracenia) : elected, 100% yes (75 responses).
Director at Large - Paul Schmalzer (Sea Rocket) : elected, 98.6% yes (74 responses).
Director at Large - Andrea Andersen (Pinellas) : elected, 98.6% yes (73 responses).
Director at Large - Christopher Goettlieb (Pinellas) : elected, 98.6% yes (74 responses).
Director at Large - Rhonda Hoeckley (Sweetbay) : elected, 100% yes (72 responses).
Director at Large - Alyssa Sferrazza (Sea Rocket) : elected, 100% yes (70 responses).
Director at Large - Kristen Young (Paynes Prairie) : elected, 98.6% yes (72 responses).

Congratulations to our newly elected board members, and thank you to everyone who cast a ballot.

Bylaws Revisions Approved by the Membership

Members also voted on four proposed changes to the FNPS bylaws during the meeting, and all four passed by a wide margin (75 responses each):

Administrative Changes and Updates (Articles 1; 2; 3.A, C, F(4); 4; 6-7; 8.A(1)(4), B(3); 9; 11-12; 14-18): approved, 97.3% yes.
Chapters-related changes (Article 10): approved, 98.7% yes.
New Dispute Resolution Article (Articles 3.D(3)(4); 13): approved, 97.3% yes.
Notice Requirements (Articles 8.A(3), B.(1), C(1)): approved, 98.7% yes.

Thank you to everyone who voted and to the Governance ad hoc Bylaws Committee - Ann Redmond (chair), Athena Phillips, Chris Moran, Gage LaPierre, John Benton, Melanie Trexler, and Susan Earley - for their work developing these updates.

What's Next for FNPS

Looking ahead, there's a lot in motion: an updated Mission Statement: to conserve, preserve and restore Florida's native plants and their habitats through science-based education, research, advocacy, horticulture, landscaping, and engaged participation by our members and communities - a new Native Habitat Certification Program in development for home landscapes, new Business Membership tiers, a growing internship program, and proposed bylaws revisions (including a new Core Chapter structure) up for member vote. And save the date: the 2027 State Conference heads to the Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach, April 1–4, 2027, hosted by the Pawpaw Chapter.

Ways to Get Involved

Our work is only possible because of members like you. Here are ways to plug in this summer - add your links for each:

Become a member : join or renew your FNPS membership.
Donate to the Policy & Legislation Fund : support our first-ever targeted summer fund drive backing the advocacy work above.
Give to a grant fund : Science Endowment, Conservation Grant Fund, Endangered Species Grant Fund, or Barbara Grigg Grant Fund.
Sign up for Eco Action Alerts : help amplify our voice on threats to Florida's native plants.
Volunteer with your local chapter : find a chapter near you and get involved locally.
Give your time and talent : sponsor an event, donate to a silent auction, donate a car or property, or become a Land Management Review (LMR) reviewer.
Join the Legacy Society : name FNPS in your will or estate plan through our free FreeWill partner tool.
Become a Business Member : explore our new business membership tiers.
Attend the 2027 State Conference : join us in Daytona Beach, April 1–4, 2027.

Thank you for being part of FNPS's 46th year - and for everything still ahead.

Give Native Plants a Bit of CPR

Support policy-smart conservation advocacy to protect Florida's habitats for native plants.

New Research on the Survival of Florida's Most Imperiled Tree

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:12:26 GMT

Work documenting the condition of 40 trees on public land is just a subset of our conservation work

FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
https://www.fnps.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Valerie Anderson, Director of Communications and Programming
Phone: 386.852.2539 | Email: communications@fnps.org

Tallahassee, FL, July 10, 2026.-- We are pleased to announce that our collaborative research with the Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) on Florida Torreya ( Torreya taxifolia ) recovery from Hurricane Michael has been published in the American Journal of Botany.

The Florida Torreya, locally known as just Torreya, is one of the rarest and most imperiled trees in the world, endemic to a small region of the Upper Apalachicola River in the central Florida Panhandle and South Georgia. Once common in the mid-story, only scattered trees remain in the form of root sprouts due to an introduced systemic fungal pathogen, Fusarium torreyae . Torreya saplings that have resprouted from persistent root systems still exist in the wild, but remain infected, and are prone to canker outbreaks if stressed. Deer rubbing, extreme heat, drought, and other stressors the trees experience in the wild, give the fungus an opportunity to flourish, resulting in die-back of above ground growth, or complete mortality. Due to the many stressors our wild trees are facing, wild trees typically decline before they reach sexual maturity, meaning there is no sustained reproduction in the wild.

This project followed forty Florida Torreya trees for five years following Hurricane Michael’s landfall in the panhandle in October 2018. ABG and FNPS visited each of the forty trees yearly to record measurements and data on the trees and their habitat. The work addressed an important question: how does one of North America's rarest conifers respond to a major hurricane? Because so few wild Torreya remain, every individual tree is important, and understanding how these rare trees respond to major disturbances is critical for their conservation.

One encouraging finding was that many surviving Torreya trees showed increased branch growth after the hurricane. When neighboring trees were knocked down, some Torreya appeared to benefit from the temporary reduction in competition and greater access to light. At the same time, the study reminds us that these short-term gains do not eliminate the species' larger challenges or continued overall mortality.

Loss of canopy results in warmer conditions in their typically cooler ravine habitat, which is a threat to Florida Torreya. Torreya is a glacial relict, which relies on the cool microclimate created by these densely canopied steephead ravines. Warmer conditions created by loss of canopy were associated with increased disease symptoms, which are correlated to higher mortality. As forests recover after the storm, new competitors such as vines and fast-growing pioneer species may also reduce the temporary reduction in competition created by the hurricane. Many trees we visited had been completely swallowed by vines and dense new growth.

Florida Torreya appears capable of benefiting from small-scale forest disturbance after hurricanes, but those gains are temporary, and do not overcome the larger threats of disease, climate change, invasive species, and long-term habitat degradation.

The Florida Native Plant Society recognized the plight of the Torreya in early 2018. Our Magnolia Chapter, in partnership with the Friends of Torreya State Park, formed TorreyaKeepers to inventory trees on private ravines. In 2019 we formally took the program over as one of our core conservation projects and hired Lilly Anderson-Messec as TorreyaKeepers coordinator to continue this critical work.

FNPS has led and collaborated on many other projects aiding the conservation of this endangered tree.

In 2018, the vast majority of documented trees were on publicly owned land. Only approximately 200 Florida Torreya trees had been documented on privately owned land; approximately 15% of the known wild population at the time. Lilly led surveys covering over 2,000 acres of privately owned land from 2019 to 2025 to find undocumented Torreya trees. We have now more than tripled the documented population of Florida Torreya on private lands to 614. Thus, more trees are now known on private land than public lands.

Each new tree was given a metal identification at its base, with a unique identification number. That number ties it to its exact location in the ABG database, and the data and samples we collect at each tree. DNA samples were taken from every tree to aid in the genetic sequencing of the species done by ABG. Cuttings were carefully taken from healthy trees and sent to the ABG ex-situ conservation nursery, which now houses 428 genetically distinct living Torreya specimens. This makes Torreya one of the best represented plant species in ex-situ conservation collections on the east coast.

On these surveys, we also documented more than 100 locations of the equally rare Taxus floridana , Florida Yew, as well as many other rare and listed plant species. Rare plant locations, as well as locations of documented invasive species, were shared with the landowners. Lilly worked with landowners to advise them on best management practices for protecting their Torreya and other rare plants, as well as management of invasive species found on their property.

FNPS also set up, and continues to monitor, 22 Torreya seed trial sites on three separate properties, as well as a few restoration outplantings of Torreya saplings on privately owned properties within its native range. While all current wild populations only occur on the eastern side of the Apalachicola River, there was one historic site on the western side of the river, which had been extirpated. FNPS worked with the private landowner of this site and reintroduced several trees to the exact location they once occurred on.

We collaborated with ABG, researchers at the University of Florida, and USDA Forest Pathology in collecting hundreds of fungal samples of both the pathogen implicated in the decline of Florida Torreya ( Fusarium torreyae ) as well as a novel pathogen, Parvodontia relampaga , that we found in our surveys.

The Florida Native Plant Society is committed to the recovery of this iconic Florida species. Unfortunately, cuts to federal Endangered Species Recovery Plan funding mean we can no longer rely on federal grants to fund this effort. To support this important work, become a sustaining member of the Florida Native Plant Society at fnps.org/join or donate to our Conservation fund at https://fnps.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate-to-our-conservation-fund .

Loy, X., A. Smith, L. Anderson‐Messec, I. Sabo, J. Evans, J. Stockert, L. Blackmore, and E. E. D. Coﬀey. 2026. Hurricane disturbance and local temperature are associated with growth and disease patterns in the endangeredFlorida torreya. American Journal of Botany 113:e70222. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.70222

The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) preserves, conserves and restores the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. Since the 1980s, this organization has been advocating for increased protection for threatened and endangered plants and plant communities. FNPS encourages the planting of native plants in home, commercial, and institutional landscapes. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization with over 5,000 members in 35 chapters statewide. To learn more, please visit us at https://www.fnps.org/

An Overview of the Florida Native Plant Society’s Participation in the Legislative Process

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:58:09 GMT

We Fight for Florida's Future:

Inside FNPS's 2026 Advocacy Wins

By Eugene Kelly, Policy Committee Chair

Advocacy is most definitely NOT a spectator sport. Participation requires us to invest some personal time and effort to help ensure our elected officials serve our interests and advance the conservation of Florida’s native plants . When enough of us combine our efforts – our voices! - in support of a cause or issue, it becomes much more difficult for decision-makers to ignore us. Successful advocacy often requires persistence, as well. To win the most important battles, we must be willing to endure some losses and stay in the fight. We are rarely fortunate enough to engage in “one and done” battles. Thanks to the participation and persistence of our members and partners, the Florida Native Plant Society’ advocacy achieved some notable successes during 2026 Legislative Session. In the process, we also set the stage for additional successes next year.

The passage of two bills, both now signed into law by Governor DeSantis, serve as clear examples of the importance of persistence:

SB 302, entitled Coastal Resilience , promotes the use of “nature-based” (i.e., native plant based) approaches to protect our coastline from erosion caused by flooding and sea level rise – as opposed to simply armoring our beaches and other shorelines with seawalls. It requires the state to develop guidelines for the use of such methods and opens the door to future funding assistance. We are grateful to all the sponsors of this legislation, in both the House and Senate, but reserve special kudos for Senator Illeana Garcia who persisted in introducing this legislation through three consecutive sessions. FNPS supported it every time – the 3rd time was the charm!

HB 441, entitled Conservation Lands , ensures we will never again be blindsided by proposals to sell off or trade conservation land protected by the state so it can be developed. Filed in response to public ire over several such proposals, and coming on the heels of passage of the State Parks Preservation Act the previous year, this legislation requires adequate public notice of any future proposals, opportunities for public comment and a clear demonstration any proposed “land swap” or sale would result in a net conservation benefit. In combination with the State Park Preservation Act, this legislation put the development industry on notice that the people of Florida are paying attention and that we treasure our conservation lands.

FNPS support for the bills discussed above was conveyed successfully by your Policy and Legislation Committee and by FNPS's Governmental Affairs Advisor, Travis Moore. Our issuance of action alerts, numbering 8 in total during the 2026 session, was reserved for legislation that we knew would require the extra weight provided by mobilizing our member’s voices.

Working in close cooperation with our partner organizations, we successfully stopped the absolute worst bill of the session – BARELY!. The insultingly misnamed Blue Ribbon Projects bill would have allowed city-sized land development projects of 15,000 acres or more to sidestep local government land use regulations and any meaningful opportunities for public input. After being approved by every committee that reviewed it and receiving final passage in the House, the only thing that prevented it from becoming law during the final hours of the legislative session was the knowledge it couldn’t pass the final hurdle on the floor of the Senate. A massive outpouring of opposition in response to our alerts convinced just enough legislators to oppose it.

We already know the powerful development interests that wrote and pushed this bill will enlist legislators to bring it back again next year. Perseverance is the only way to win a fight like this one and we are prepared to continue opposing any such attempts in the future to whittle away the last remaining remnants of responsible growth management in Florida.

So the dreaded Blue Ribbon Projects bill died because it failed to be scheduled for a final vote in the Senate – precisely to avoid an embarrassing defeat in response to our successful opposition. One of our favorite bills was killed in similar fashion. We were inches away from successful passage of a bill to restore the Ocklawaha River. It had passed all its committee stops and been approved by the full House. It was clearly poised to pass in the Senate; however, despite a tremendous response to our alerts and entreaties asking Senate President Albritton to schedule the bill for a final vote, he refused – in order to prevent almost certain passage. This was the closest we’ve ever come to achieving restoration of the Ocklawaha River and you can be darn certain we will be fighting for restoration of the river and its floodplain forest and spring run streams again in 2027.

On June 23, legislative leadership finally presented their 2026-2027 budget to Governor DeSantis. The Governor was required to act on it by June 30 since July 1 is the first day of the next fiscal year. The budget denied any new funding to the Florida Forever land conservation program. Our final action alert of the 2026 legislative session was issued in defense of funding for land conservation and asked the Governor to veto “back of the bill” provisions that redirected funding originally dedicated to buying land in the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The legislature used the same strategy last year to allow the Governor to spend $83.3 million FROM THE SAME FUNDING SOURCE on 4 acres of land in Destin that have virtually NO conservation value.

It was both disappointing, and unsurprising, that Governor DeSantis declined to veto those provisions when he signed the budget into law on June 29. Unsurprising because an undefined share of those funds are now earmarked to purchase MORE LAND WITH UNVETTED CONSERVATION VALUE in the Destin area potentially owned by an influential political benefactor. If he had issued the veto we requested then those funds, estimated to exceed $300 million, would have remained available for future land conservation purchases. Instead, he chose to veto $1.6 billion in other spending before signing a $117+ billion budget that included NOTHING for Florida Forever.

Despite our disappointment with Governor DeSantis’ decision, FNPS will be well positioned to make a principled argument in support of Florida Forever funding next year to a new governor and a new leadership team in the Legislature. There will be little reason for us to miss the current leadership team given their complicity in the decision to withhold funding for land conservation. After asking them to allocate $300 million to Florida Forever at the beginning of the session, and seeing the pittance they were proposing late in the session, we asked them to simply honor their own commitment, enshrined in statute, to provide a minimum of $100 million annually to Florida Forever. And for yet another year, they declined to comply with their own law. The Legislature’s shameful inaction on Florida Forever will not dissuade us. We will continue to press our support for land conservation as the most effective strategy for protecting native plants and the habitat they require.

There were other important bills that we advocated for, or against, during the session. We’ve only touched on the major highlights – and the lowlights of blocking Ocklawaha restoration for yet another year and failing to fund Florida Forever. Your support allowed us to achieve some important successes, and our effectiveness is reflected in an invitation to engage in consultations with a state agency pivotal to our mission and an opportunity to collaborate with supportive legislators in the development of a bill that would strengthen conservation easements.

We hope you are pleased with the work we are doing on your behalf and that you will continue to support us.

Give Native Plants a Bit of CPR

Support policy-smart conservation advocacy to protect Florida's habitats for native plants.

Annual Member Meeting · July 18, 2026

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 13:31:07 GMT

Join Us for Our Annual Member Meeting — July 18 at 10 AM

Mark your calendar: FNPS is hosting our annual member meeting on July 18, 2026 at 10 AM on Zoom . This is a members-only event where our community comes together to chart our course forward.

Here's what's happening:

Vote on New Board Leadership. We'll elect new members to lead FNPS for the coming year.
Update Our Bylaws. Members will vote on important governance updates that keep FNPS aligned with our mission and values.
Recognize Our Annual Awards. We'll celebrate the members and chapters who exemplify our values on the journey to advance our mission.
Celebrate Our Wins. From successful restoration projects to legislative victories to expanded education programs, this year brought momentum. We'll share the highlights and look ahead.

This is where member voices matter most. Your vote shapes FNPS. Your feedback drives our work. If you're not yet a member, now is the time to join us.

Meeting Details: Members have received an email with a registration link. If you can't find the email, login to your member portal and check the Events page.

See you July 18!

April is National Native Plant Month!

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:02:51 GMT

S. RES. 665

SENATE RESOLUTION 665—DESIGNATING APRIL 2026 AS "NATIONAL NATIVE PLANT MONTH"

Mrs. HYDE-SMITH (for herself, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. HUSTED, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WICKER, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. BENNET, Mrs. SHAHEEN, and Mr. HEINRICH) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

S. RES. 665

Whereas native plants are indigenous species that have evolved alongside native wildlife and occur naturally in a particular geographic region, ecosystem, and habitat;

Whereas there are more than 17,000 native plant species in the United States, which include large shade trees, understory trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, grasses, and wildflowers;

Whereas native plants are essential for healthy, diverse, and sustainable ecosystems and are critical for cleaning air, filtering water, and stabilizing soils;

Whereas native plants are well-adapted to specific soils, temperatures, precipitation, and environmental conditions, making them the best option for conserving and protecting our environment and adapting to its changes;

Whereas native plants provide shelter, as well as nectar, pollen, seeds, and foliage that serve as food, for native butterflies, caterpillars, birds, bees, and other wildlife in ways that non-native plants cannot;

Whereas more than 200 of the native plant species in the United States are estimated to have been lost since the early 19th century;

Whereas habitat loss and degradation, extreme weather events, and invasive species have contributed to the decline of native plants in the United States; and

Whereas native plants are essential components of resilient ecosystems and our natural heritage: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved , That the Senate—

(1) designates April 2026 as "National Native Plant Month"; and

(2) recognizes the benefits of native plants to the environment and economy of the United States.

Learn more about the National Native Plant Month at this link!

Palmetto Award Nominations are now OPEN

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:44:19 GMT

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for their work for Florida's native plants?

Nominations are open for FNPS service awards, and we want to hear from you! Here's what's available:

Green Palmetto Award for members making major contributions through service, education, or conservation
Mentor Award , our highest honor, for lifelong or career-long dedication to native plant preservation
Emerging Leaders Under 30 , celebrating the next generation of native plant champions
Outstanding Chapter of the Year , recognizing chapters going above and beyond for the mission

All nominees must be current FNPS members. Nominations are due May 15, 2026. Visit the link in our bio to learn more and submit your nomination.

Let's make sure the people and chapters doing incredible work for Florida's native plants get the recognition they deserve!

Board Nominations are now OPEN

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:01:38 GMT

�� Board Nominations Are Now Open!

Do you love Florida's native plants and want to make a real difference for their future? Now is your chance to step up and help lead the Florida Native Plant Society.

We are currently accepting nominations for open Board positions, and we would love to see passionate, dedicated members throw their hat in the ring. Whether you have a background in finance, communications, conservation, or simply a deep commitment to our mission, there is a place for you on the Board.

Visit our Opportunities page to learn more about the open positions and submit your nomination. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2026.

Voting will take place at the Annual Meeting on July 18, 2026, and elected officers and directors will begin serving immediately following the vote.

Join us in steering FNPS forward. Florida's native plants need advocates like you at the table.

Florida Native Plant Society Opposition to Section 6 of SB 290 DACS

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:41:52 GMT

FNPS Advocates for Florida's Conservation Lands

Florida Native Plant Society has sent a formal letter of opposition to members of the Florida Senate regarding Section 6 of SB 290. This provision would direct the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to sell conservation lands, acquired through the Florida Forever Program, back into private ownership if deemed suitable for agricultural use. These lands are critical habitat for Florida's endangered native plants and the wildlife that depends on them. Allowing them to be converted to row crops or other intensive agricultural uses would be a devastating blow to the biodiversity we work so hard to protect. We urge our members to stay informed and engaged as this bill moves forward.

Florida Forever funding has declined dramatically since its peak in the early 2000s, dropping nearly to zero following the 2008 Great Recession and recovering only modestly after voters passed Amendment 1 in 2014. In recent years, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has absorbed a growing share of the state's land acquisition budget, a shift that underscores why protecting existing Florida Forever conservation lands from being sold back into private ownership is more critical than ever.