Society Awards Recipients

For his wonderful books, and mentoring of FNPS members.  He is the only Florida botanist in the Society that we know of to have been granted an honorary PhD.

Awarded for her service and dedication to FNPS, her infinite patience and generosity in sharing her expertise, time, and talents with the Society and our members.

Few people have more selflessly devoted themselves to the Florida Native Plant Society than Sonya Guidry, who contributes thousands of hours of volunteer work on the society’s behalf every year. A long-standing member of the Pawpaw Chapter, she served as one of its first presidents, from 1994-1995. More than twenty years later, her hand still is frequently the first to go up when a volunteer is needed and she is just as frequently the last person to go home.

Camel is always willing and eager to impart her knowledge to others on field trips and at membership meetings.  Her energy and enthusiasm is inspiring to beginning botanists and more advanced ones alike.  She has mentored many people including most recently, Bunny Worth and Janet Bowers.  

Awarded for mentorship of an intern.  Beyond this, she has a long history of service to her chapter and to the Society including  including the mentoring of many of her chapter members, tirelessly serving in the leadership of her chapter including a long stint as Tarflower President, implementing an award winning landscape project of her urban home, and many other things.

Awarded for over 30 years of service including tireless promotion of native plants and native plant conservation and service to his chapter that includes outreach and education.

Awarded for over 30 years of promoting the use of native plants in landscaping supporting land protection and acquisition, pioneering and supporting the restoration of native landscapes after mining, developing innovative techniques to facilitate restoration,  being a strong and capabile botanist, and sharing her knowledge with her fellow FNPS members.

Awarded for her longterm leadership in FNPS including establishment of the Land Management Partners Committee, coordination with land management agencies and FNAI, and mentoring of FNPS leaders at all levels.

Mike Kenton served the society and the Association of Florida Native Nurseries for many years, inspiring the public to use natives in landscaping, inspiring landscapers to use natives, being a nurseryman, and supporting FNPS and its members.

Note:  Mike is shown with Karen Frahley a friend and fellow nursery owner.  The photo was taken shortly before his death.

For his many years of service to FNPS, his wonderful taxonomic books for Florida, for the ISB website, and for mentoring innumerable FNPS members and students.

Taylor Alexander was an out-standing botanist and plant ecologist, and an early explorer in Everglades science. He contributed to our understanding of the Everglades centered around the effects of various environmental factors, notably fire and hydrology on plant community succession. 

One of the founders of FNPS, its first president, and first executive director.  He was a tireless supporter of a native plant society that would forward the conservation of native plants in Florida and educate the public about those plants.

Education.  For production of educational materials for the chapter.

Jim Buckner has been a member of FNPS since 1986.  He  worked diligently on the FNPS Conservation Committee, especially on the project to preserve and conserve the largest remaining population of Warea amplexifolia (clasping warea). 

Education.  She has educated about native plants both in her chapter and in her community.  She also supplies fupport for local nurseries.

Awarded for her work in educational programming.

Award for Service to the Society.

Education and Outreach.  Sharon and her husband Brent are the owners of Maple Street Natives, the only native plant nursery in south Brevard County. As such, they have been promoting the use of native plants for more than a quarter of a century. Sharon has guided many members and other native plant enthusiasts in converting their lawns to native yards and helped them in their battles with HOAs. 

Marjorie Holt has been very active in growth management issues around Central Florida.  She has worked diligently to preserve our remaining natural lands from development, helped to conserve countless plant species and plant communities, and has helped organize numerous plant rescue and restoration projects.  In her “spare time” she has created a spectacular native landscape at her home, which is often featured on native garden tours.

Service.  Joel Jackson is a founding member of the Suncoast Native Plant Society, and attended the very first meeting in 1980.  He also attended FNPS’s first conference, and served as Vice President of the Suncoast Chapter for two years.  

Service.  Joan  has not only been the backbone of the Cocoplum, Martin County Chapter of FNPS but she has also served almost continuously on the State Board since 2001/2002.  She has been chapter president and the writer of the Leaf Letter, our chapter’s printed news happenings.    Then she became our Chapter Conservation Chair.  She keeps us dutifully informed of all of the policy/legislation matters that have been arising unrelentingly.  

Public Service award for Marc and Terry Godts (Green Isle Gardens nursery) for their devotion to native plant conservation, land acquisition in Lake County, commitment to public education, and the ongoing donation of nursery space and their time to care for rescued plants until they can be reintroduced for restoration projects at protected sites.

Given for Service including promotion of roadside wildflowers especially in the Florida panhandle, and providing community education and encouragement for the use of native plants in landscaping.

Given for service including serving and president of the Serenoa Chapter, promotion of the use of native plants in landscaping, and generously educating the publice.  He also runs a successful native plant nursery (Sweet Bay).

Presented for service including lectures, nature walks through preserves & parks, garden tours & booths at many chapter and community events which  educate the public on the importance of using native plants in landscaping and on local environmental issues.

Award given for service including proofing for FNPS, service to the Ixia Chapter, and years of writing and promoting the FNPS blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Given for Service including his leadership of the 2012 Society Conference in Plant City, service to the chapter including promoting and developing chapter's spring and fall plant sales, participation in chapter leadership including being chapter president (2011-2012), and tireless support of the use of natives in landscaping. 

Awarded for service including chapter leadership (a past chapter treasurer and board member) and assisting with chapter outread programs.

Awarded for Service and Education especially on the use of natives in everyday landscapes and for the development of native plant demonstration gardens.  She also educates through seminars and has practical knowledge about native plants in the landscape through her work as  facilities manager at Pine Jog Environmental Education Center. 

Awarded for his inspiration and leadership in the restoration of the Snook Islands Maritime Hardwood Hammock.

Awarded for Service including major contribution to the development of the FNPS blog and Facebook sites and was a major editor of the FNPS website,especially the Native Plants for Your Area resource.  She is also a native plant author, gardener, and speaker.

Awarded for for Service. His services include outreach projects for his chapter, participating on the FNPS land management review committee, and initiating the Pawpaw Chapter's Rugel's Roundup" in 2012.  He has supported several citizen science projects intended to increase awareness of rare plants.

Given for Education  and to her efforts in support of the restoration at Pear Park (a chapter project)

For Service to the Society including being a founder of the Longleaf Pine and Solidago Chapters.

The award was given for service to their chapter.

Awarded for Service including scientific research on native plants and on invasive species coupled with strong support for conservation in Florida.

Awarded for service including creation of the chapter's alternatives poster, support for native plant conservtion, and invasive species awareness.

Awarded for service to her chapter including enthusiatic participation and leadership.

Awarded for Service, especially for his work in invasive species awarness.

Nominated for Service to his chapter, restoration of the native plant garden and MacClay Gardens State Park, and support for regional conservation

Award for Service to her chapter.

Awarded for Education and Outreach. For a decade, she indefatigably created research and demonstration landscapes for butterfly gardening at schools and parks throughout the region, educatee new residents about  pest plant species and native landscape alternatives, and recruited many new members to the FNPS. 

Awarded for Service.  He has a lifelong history of educating his fellow members and the public about natives, developing new means of propagating natives, and providing natives through his family nursery.

Service.  He has been an active member of his chapter and has been its President and Newletter editor.  He has written many native plant profiles, and has become one of Florida's best known experts on phenology and the potential effects of climatic change on phenology of Florida natives.

Awarded for Administration and Service to her chapter.  . 

Service.  Awarded for his vision, leadership and guidance in the restoration of approximately 50 acres of land in Lake County’s PEAR Park into scrub habitat. 

Awarded for her service to her chapter including donations of native plants.  She was Policy Committee Chair for FNPS for many years, and continuously advocated for smart management of Florida's natural resources.

Awarded for service to his chapter including acting as its chapter representative, being a field trip leader, educating the public on the importance of native area conservation, educating on  native tree biology, planting and landscape care. 

Awarded for Service, especially for sharing her plant identification skills and her contributions to the plant lists of public parks and other public lands.

Service.  

Education.  Karen became known for her nature tours at the Manatee County Duette Preserve.  She also owns a native nursery.

Service.  In addition to being on the FNPS board on behalf of his chapter, he was also a a poet.

Service.  Al has represent his chapter on the FNPS Board of Directors for many years.  At the time of his entry, he serves on the Council of Chapters.

Education.  For her contributions to FNPS.  She spent many hours researching the history of long leaf pine in Florida and shared that knowledge with FNPS members.  She also led field trips, and in her job, contributed to the management of the Citrus Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest.

Service

Service. 

Service

Service

Service

Nancy Coile, PhD -- Technical

Education

 Service.  For his work as the FNPS representative on the FDACS Endangered Plant Advisory Council.

Service

Service.  FNPS secretary for many years.  Active in her chapter and has been on the chapter board.  

Service.  Years of effort above and beyond expectations.

Given for Education.  Tireless service to the Florida botanical community through his work on the Florida Plant Atlas website and the USF Herbarium

Education

Education

Service, for her long-term service to the environment and environmental community of S. FL

Science.  For her work as a botanist, for her research contributions in the area of natural plant communities of FL.

 Education, for his many contributions over the years, including authoring two popular FNPS books that teach and promote the native plant - animal connection.

Service

Service

Education, Tarflower Chapter

Service.   A founding member of the Paynes Prairie Chapter formed in 1986, and has served in leading role ever since.  She organizes plant rescues, has helped FDOT create a reasonable policy for native wildflowers on roadsides, and has worked with others to create native plant demonstration sites.

Science.  A research scientist in the area of plant ecology & conservation at Archibold Biological Station. He has established long-term studies on most of the Lake Wales Ridge endemic plants and regularly reports his findings in peer-reviewed journals.

Technical, Manual on invasive alien pest plants.

Awarded for many years of service as a photographer and educator.  She was also a very strong supporter of FNPS and often used her buying power at FNPS conference auctions to ensure that items would sell strongly and bring in substantial funds to support FNPS project.

For outstanding work as an environmental educator

Technical, For her plant recovery efforts in the Keys

Education.  Professor of botany at UF,  for his work on the book 'Big Trees of Florida'

Service.  For his work on the Exotic Plant Pest Council

For his plant survey of DuPuis Reserve

Science/education. Professor of botany at FAU, for two decades as an effective educator, and his service on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC), the&>Society for Economic Botany, and as a writer, particularly of his guides& to coastal dune plants and parks and for his work with FLEPPC

Publications Committee Head, Editor of The Palmetto

Service.   Developed a native plant slide show

Georgia Tasker -- "...has written many articles about native plants in the Miami Herald, many of which were published by FNPS as Wild Things as well as authored the only book published by FNPS."

David Wilson -- "organized a new chapter (Charlotte Harbor), and has been an excellent speaker at various conferences throughout Florida on the virtues of native plants."

Awarded for his years of service to FNPS from his local chapter to the Council of Chapters and the Board of Directors.

Awarded for her years of service on the FNPS Board of Directors.

Awarded for his years of service to the Society, the Policy Committee, and the Board of Directors.

Awarded for his years of service to the Society, his chapter, the Science Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors.

Awarded for her service as Past President.

Awarded for her service as Vice President for Administration.

Awarded for her work as the Conference Committee Chair.

Awarded for her work as the Conservation Committee Chair.

Awarded for her dedication and work as the V.P. of Finance.

Marlene was given this award in acknowledgment of her extremely hard work in leading two consecutive conference teams to success.

Awarded for her dedication to excellence in producing the Palmetto and many other artistic works for FNPS.

Awarded for her dedication to FNPS.

Awarded for her service as Treasurer and for her assistance with the annual conference.  Awarded by President Anne Cox.

Karina was given the award for her guidance and support for our president, Anne Cox, and for her multiple years of service to FNPS as chair of the FNPS Landscape Committee.

Awarded for her role as a founder of the Marion County (noe Big Scrub) Chaper and coordination with the FNPS Board.

Awarded for her work in Society leadership, her support of ongoing growth in her roll as Society Past President, creating an on-line membership renewal system and donation system, forwarding website development, and otherwise contributing to FNPS leadership.

Awarded for her service as Communications Chair. She has brought vision for how internal and external communications can work effectively within this society.

Service.  Webmaster

For his work on the Landscape Committee

For her work as Treasurer of FNPS

Awarded for her tireless efforts Land Management Partners Committee Chair.  She invented this highly successful FNPS program.

Science Chair, WebMaster.  At this time of this award, she had moved the Society forward to have a database driven website on the commercial web servier.  

Given for being an effective Vice President of Administration and mentor to the President.

Landscape Awards Chair

Awarded for her contributions as Communications Chair.

Science Chair and Web Master.  At the time of this award, she had reorganized the FNPS website so that it was driven by a menu, with every page available from that menu (prior to that time, there was no clear navigation structure).  She also made sure that the website was always current and removed the need to pay for basic webmaster services.

Service.  For acting as Conference Chair, fundraising for the Society, and membership chair.

For his tireless efforts on behalf of the FNPS Endowment Fund research awards and FNPS publications.

Service

For efforts as 1996 Conference Chair

For her work as treasurer

Treasurer

Unofficial legal council.

In recognition of all the effort that went in to making 2015 a banner year in terms of fulfilling our mission and generating momentum that will continue to support chapter growth.

In recognition of its hosting of the very successful and financially profitable 2012 conference.

Given to the chapter for outstanding growth in membership, improvements to chapter infrastructure including adding a website for the chapter, improved programs, and lots of enthusiasm.

For service to their community including native plant outreach, participation on a governmental advisory board, participation in "alliance for a Livable Pinellas", and production of educational materials for public education.

Given for its extensive agenda of field trips, educational programs, plant rescues, home garden tour, and education and outreach.

For its work with teachers and the community.

Achievement.  For the "Right Plants for Dry Places" book.

Chapter Achievement. For their work in hosting the 1995 conference and installation of a native plant area at MacClay Gardens in Tallahassee.

Chapter Achievement.

Chapter Achievement. For their efforts on behalf of Preservation 2000.

Chaper Achievement.  For work with FDOT on a median planting (There is a question as to whether this was awarded in 1990 or 1991).