|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Your membership supports the FNPS mission to promote the preservation, conservation and restoration of native plants and native plant communities of Florida.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
|
|
|
|
|
|
What We Did Last Month
Monthly Activities
|
|
Cutting Horse Eco-Center Update
|
|
This month we continued weeding, labeling plants, mulched, and repotting plants with continuing help from student volunteers from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) . One of the photos below are students Christopher, Haley, Carly and Sierra doing the FGCU "wings" - GO EAGLES! Mary and Tim Boyd finished cleaning the nursery floor. Nine Del Tura residents from North Fort Myers were down for a private tour of the garden.
We donated a dozen black mangroves to our FGCU volunteer Alexis and her professor. They will study what effect, if any, sunscreens have on mangroves.
Naples Chapter FNPS hosted the March 20th Saturday plant sale and their sales were a whopping $1,139. We will donate $570 to them in appreciation for their hard work and massive success. Naples Chapter FNPS volunteers included Andee, Evan, Karyn and Connie.
A refrigerator from Koreshan was moved to Cutting Horse for use to keep water and food for those working in the garden. Tim, Mary and Tony cleaned up the Koreshan nursery area, stowing plant pots and other loose items in the sheds.
|
|
Many thanks to the MAJOR SPONSORS of Cutting Horse Eco-Center:
|
|
|
Marlene participated in the Pine Island Asimina pulchella/Beautiful Pawpaw Hunt with Conservation 20/20. We believe we found and logged over 100 of these federally-endangered plants. Besides being successful, it was a gorgeous day for a hike with fun folks.
|
|
Lovers Key Welcome and Discovery Center
|
|
Pat and Tony Mauriello designed the butterfly garden and wildflower garden landscaping for Lovers Key State Park’s new Welcome and Discovery Center currently planned to open in April. .The gardens include a five foot wide walking path, plant labels, trellises for vines, and butterfly water dishes. Plants were purchased by FGCU and the Friends of Lovers Key. FGCU student volunteers, organized by Louise Kowitch, put the plants in the ground.
Additional plantings are planned for several other areas around the Center.
|
|
Tony Mauriello presented the following:
- IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE PLANTS - via ZOOM to the Bonita Bay Nature Club, Bonita Springs, FL,
- NATIVE LANDSCAPING - via ZOOM to the Mound House, Ft. Myers Beach, FL
- BUTTERFLY GARDENING - via ZOOM to the Trails for Tails team at Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers, FL
|
|
What We're Doing This Month
|
|
|
Who wouldn't love to purchase native plants from the comfort of home? Now you can! Our Cutting Horse Eco-Center Native plant sale is now available online. Order online and come to Cutting Horse to pick up your plants. Pop your trunk/liftgate and a helpful volunteer will pack your order. You can get to the website from the home page
|
|
|
Please note that SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOALS AND MASKS are required to visit this property. Any classes or formal gatherings are canceled until further notice. We're starting to get vaccines, but it is still very dangerous. Let's all be safe and healthy.
|
|
Tony Mauriello was invited to present the following:
- NATIVE FLORIDA LANDSCAPING - via ZOOM to the Naples Park Community
- BUTTERFLIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates - Grow Fort Myers Plant Sale and Workshops on April 24th at 10:15 AM. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
|
|
WetPlan Pond Side Talks via Zoom
|
|
|
Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/07/2021
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Pond Side Talks Webinar Series – “Dos and don’ts” of urban ponds of SW Florida – Dr. Serge Thomas, Florida Gulf Coast University.
At the time of the webinar, click this link to join –>https://zoom.us/j/93853217137?pwd=L0NqUXFyMUVIZFhhemNJYVhIOERnQT09
Meeting ID: 938 5321 7137
Passcode: wetplan
|
|
Chapter Membership Meeting
|
|
Our next virtual meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 15th at 7:00 pm. A social time will begin at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you there.
Here's the information to join the meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/98758816601?pwd=SWdjcWN4OVBDV0R3aEU1NlU5U2UyZz09
Meeting ID: 987 5881 6601
Passcode: FNPS
|
|
Coccoloba Chapter Board of Directors meetings are being conducted online using ZOOM. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 8th at 6:30 pm.
These meetings are open to the membership and the public. If you would like to join us, please email Coccoloba@fnps.org to get on the agenda. Thank you.
https://zoom.us/j/92109225927?pwd=YWRWS1p5Y2lKRXA3d1EzZ1NrU3ZsUT09
Meeting ID: 921 0922 5927
Passcode: fnps
|
|
Groundsel Tree, Baccharis halimifolia
|
|
|
Groundsel Tree, Baccharis halimifolia, a wetland member of the Asteraceae family. A multibranced evergreen shrub to 12’ in both height and width Leaves are simple and alternate on the branches. Leaf shape Ovate to Obovate. Margins are widely serrated with coarse teeth. Leaf color greenish. Length 11/2” to 3” and 1” to 1/1/2” wide. Leaves are leatherly.
Halimifolia is dioecious. Male and female flowers are on different trees. These tiny flowers are borne in thousands of tiny flower heads. Flower structures are not similar to sunflower structures of disk and ray florets. The Male flower is borne in flower heads .Its structure is spherical. About 1/8” in diameter. Several yellow stamens with pollen laden anthers cover the flower. Color is yellow. Female flowers are in erect flower heads about 1/8” long with several flowers per head. Color is snow white. Both male and female flowers bloom at the end of branches. The inflorescence is Terminal. Fruit occurs with female flowers. Fruit is an achene seed pod that is attached to tuffs of cotton like bristle. Female flowers are wind pollinate and its seeds are dispersed by wind. The bristles pulls out the seeds and goes with the wind.
Halimifolia is disbursed in every County of the State. This plant has a tendency to colonize. Often the male tree is right next to the female. This tree grows in Matanzas Pass Preserve. Monarch butterflies on their flight to Mexico will rest on the the trees and enjoy the nectar. The photo shows two female flowers covered in bristles. Each flower is about 1/18” wide.
JIM RODWELL
|
|
President: Tony Mauriello - tmauriello89@gmail.com
Vice President: Marlene Rodak - 239.273.8945; RodakMA@msn.com
Treasurer: Graham Scott - coccoloba.treas@gmail.com
Secretary: Christopher Bowman - chrishugh2001@gmail.com
Council of Chapters Rep: Lucy-Breitung Fagan - lfbreitung@gmail.com
Membership Chair: Cassie Valenti - cassie.valenti@yahoo.com
Jam Newsletter Editor: Tony Mauriello
Events Coordinator: Nick Valenti - nickv.coccoloba@hotmail.com
FGCU Native Plant Club Liaison: Cassie Valenti
Director: Jim Rodwell - NickNTime39@embarqmail.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
