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FNPS Mission: To preserve, conserve, and restore native plants and native plant communities.
Learn more by visiting the FNPS website • Check our calendar for upcoming events sponsored by the Pinellas, Nature Coast, and Suncoast Chapters • Not a member yet? Join today!
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Event Updates
Please see details for these events in the newsletter below and check our Facebook Group and website calendar for the most up-to-date information.
- Wednesday, 5/4, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM: TBEP Seagrass Monitoring Program
- Monday, 5/9, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Pinellas Chapter Conservation Committee Meeting
- Friday, 5/20 - Sunday, 5/22, 9 AM - 4 PM: FNPS Annual Conference (Virtual)
- Saturday, 5/21, 8 AM - 10 AM: Moccasin Lake Butterfly Garden Volunteer Opportunity
- Saturday, 5/21, 8 AM - 11 AM: Moccasin Lake Invasive Removal Day
- Wednesday, 6/1, 6:30 PM - 8 PM: Gardening for Songbirds
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Action Alert - Stop Governor DeSantis from Signing SB 2508
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We need your help NOW to convince Governor DeSantis that he should veto Senate Bill 2508 because FLORIDA DOES NOT NEED A COMPLETE MAKE-OVER OF OUR IMMENSELY SUCCESSFUL LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS! The Florida Legislature passed this terrible bill and it is now awaiting the Governor’s signature. It threatens to upend our successful approach to land conservation by essentially replacing the science-based, transparent, and accountable Florida Forever program with one designed to keep agricultural lands in production. The Rural and Family Lands Program (RFL) was created to purchase conservation easements over privately owned forests and ranches, and is a valuable complement to Florida Forever because the working lands it keeps in production sometimes have supplemental habitat value for native plants and wildlife, and can maintain connectivity within wildlife corridors. But Florida Forever has been, and should remain, our principal land conservation program.
Call Governor DeSantis at (850) 488-7146 and tell him to veto SB 2508 because it will:
- Reduce the levels of transparency and accountability that have made Florida’s land conservation efforts so successful! Proposed Florida Forever land purchases are vetted by the Acquisition and Restoration Council - a panel of experienced environmental professionals – before being considered for approval by the Governor and Cabinet. Proposed RFL purchases do not undergo such review and vetting. Why should we allow less oversight of such important decisions?
- Allow landowners to “double-dip” by essentially being paid twice to protect the same piece of land! SB 2508 would allow a landowner to be paid for an RFL conservation easement that protects their land from development, and then establish a for-profit mitigation bank that would pay them for protecting their land from development – AGAIN! That is no way to run a land conservation program!
- Give utilities expedited review of wetland permits if their project serves a “public purpose” without defining what qualifies as a public purpose. This creates a “fox guarding the henhouse” protection standard for wetland destruction.
SB 2508 is an assault on the principles that have made land conservation in Florida such a success. Let Governor DeSantis know you want him to preserve the integrity and effectiveness of our land conservation programs by vetoing SB 2508. Please do not delay in taking this action. The Governor could sign this bill into law at any time.
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TBEP Seagrass Monitoring Program
Wednesday, May 4th
6:30pm - 7:30pm
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Tampa Bay was designated an “estuary of national significance” by Congress in 1990, laying the foundation for the creation of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) in 1991. Our mission is to build partnerships to restore and protect Tampa Bay through implementation of a scientifically sound, community-based management plan. The plan reflects our evolving knowledge of bay processes and community needs and is focused on three central program priorities: Clean Waters and Sediments; Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife; and an Informed, Engaged and Responsible Community. Sheila Scolaro, Community Programs Scientist, will present on the TBEP's seagrass monitoring program.
Submit questions in Zoom using the chat feature or email us ahead of time at info@pinellasnativeplants.org.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88373765772?pwd=UzhVU2d0WWFKSlhPY1YrU1cvK1h2Zz09
Meeting ID: 883 7376 5772
Passcode: 307188
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88373765772#,,,,*307188# US (Washington D.C)
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FNPS Annual Conference (Virtual)
Friday, May 20 - Sunday, May 22
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Join us for Florida’s premier event focusing on the preservation, conservation and restoration of our natural lands, ecosystems, and local communities. This year’s conference will be a hybrid event – both in-person at the University of North Florida and also broadcast as a virtual event for those preferring the convenience and reduced cost of a virtual event. The theme is “Gateway to Florida’s Biodiversity.”
This year conference will be held on a full-featured online platform to allow for you to bookmark and attend your favorite sessions, contact and network with other attendees, speakers, and vendors/exhibitors, join workshops, and "sit down" with your favorite plant nerds at a virtual table.
Please share the news about this important conference with your colleagues and neighbors.
Find out how YOU can help conserve our native plants and the pollinators and animals that depend on them.
A few highlights:
- Adventures of a Transplanted Gardener: Improving efforts to create gardens that truly benefit pollinators
- Cutting-edge research
- Enhancing Landscapes with Native Plants to Attract Wildlife
- Why and how restoration matters
- Lots of networking and advocacy opportunities with our Whova virtual platform!
- In-person attendees will also enjoy all the benefits of our Whova virtual platform
Registration is now open!
$50 for attendees
$100 for vendors/exhibitors
FREE for full-time students who are members of FNPS
Within a week of registering you'll receive a link to log in to the conference platform via email.
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Moccasin Lake Butterfly Garden Volunteer Opportunity
Saturday, May 21st
8 - 10 am
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 Join a team of volunteers in maintaining the Butterfly Garden at Moccasin Lake. This is a great opportunity to learn more about which plants attract and host our local butterflies, what conditions they grow in and how to prune them.
Please bring hand tools (if you have them), work gloves and a reusable water bottle. The chapter will provide trash bags.
We really appreciate the City of Clearwater allowing us to use the classroom at the park for our monthly meetings, and volunteering in the park is our way of showing it.
RSVP with your mobile number for further instructions.
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Moccasin Lake Invasive Removal Day
Saturday, May 21st
8 - 11 am
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Keep Pinellas Beautiful is partnering with Moccasin Lake Nature Park in Clearwater to remove the invasive Caesar Weed, Urena lobata. We really appreciate the City of Clearwater allowing us to use the classroom at the park for our monthly meetings, and volunteering in the park is our way of showing it.
Caesar Weed is an exotic invasive plant that is a prolific spreader. Removing Caesar Weed prevents the area from becoming a mono-culture dominated by a single type of plant. A diverse environment of native plants is important because they provide a food source and habitat for native insects, pollinators, and other wildlife.
We will be pulling up the Caesar Weed to get the root system and bagging it up. It is important to bag it up because the seeds fall easily and could lead to new growth if we were to just leave it on the ground.
This will be a fun event that will definitely have a “Before And After” impact. You will see the results of your work! For more information on Caesar Weed, please visit this link.
WHERE TO MEET: Moccasin Lake Nature Park. Please meet at the picnic shelter behind the Birds of Prey exhibit at 8 AM to sign in.
WHAT TO WEAR: Volunteers must wear closed toe shoes. Long sleeves and hats are recommended.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Gloves, sunscreen, bug repellent and water will be provided. Please bring your own reusable water bottle if you have one. For the safety of our staff and volunteers, we encourage masks at our events.
If you have any questions, please contact Evan Earle, Beautification Specialist, at beautification@kpbcares.org.
Please bring hand tools (if you have them), work gloves and a reusable water bottle. The chapter will provide trash bags.
RSVP for the event below!
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Gardening for Songbirds
Wednesday, June 1st
6:30 pm - 8 pm
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Songbirds are a joy to have in the garden. Their unique colors, individual songs, and quirky habits make them fun to watch. They are also incredibly important in our ecosystem, helping with pollination, seed dispersal, and eating pests in the garden. What's not to love? This presentation will guide you to create a garden to attract and support diverse songbirds, so that you can enjoy their beauty and their benefits to your space, while aiding in their survival in the face of increasing urbanization and habitat loss.
Amanda Streets is a lifelong gardener and nature enthusiast. She is a Florida-Friendly Landscape Certified Professional and permaculture designer. She is the owner of Living Roots Eco Design & Garden Shop. Through her work, she helps people learn to take care of the earth in more eco-friendly ways. Amanda enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors with her son, and traveling.
WHERE: Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Ln, Clearwater, FL 33759
6:30 pm - Refreshments, native plant silent auction and announcements
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Program
Questions? Email program@pinellasnativeplants.org
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Seedlings for Schools Grant
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The Florida Wildflower Foundation’s Seedlings for Schools grants program is accepting applications now through May 15, 2022. Teachers at Pre-K–12 public and private Florida schools may apply to receive an assortment of small Florida native wildflower plants with which to establish or enhance a native wildflower garden. Professional guidance on garden establishment and classroom resources also are provided. These gardens can beautify school grounds and provide an outdoor classroom that helps create connected pollinator pathways.
Grant awardees will receive plants in September for fall planting. Species supplied will be a good fit for smaller garden spaces and should thrive year-round. Those who successfully establish fall gardens will be eligible to receive more plants in spring 2023.
In the 2021 school year, a total of 49 schools were awarded and approximately 4,887 students were impacted. Read the report here.
Visit the Seedlings for Schools grants page for more information and to apply.
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June Volunteer Opportunity: Pine Tree Planting at Fort DeSoto - Phase II
Saturday, June 18th
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After an extremely successful Pine Tree Planting in February, the Florida Suncoast Sierra Club and Keep Pinellas Beautiful are holding a second phase of plantings, with a goal to plant about 100 trees! This event is limited to the first 50 to sign up, so please pre-register here. 👈
Free entrance into the park for all volunteers, just tell the ranger at the park's entrance gate you're there for the Pine Planting. Then follow the signs upon entering the park!
Please wear/bring:
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Closed-toed shoes
- Water
- [Please bring a shovel if you have one but it's not required to participate. We want you to plant trees!]
Sponsors of this event include: WunderFarms, Pinellas County Parks, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Suncoast Sierra Club, and Ideas For Us.
Questions? Email Ray Wunderlich at rwunderlic@gmail.com.
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The Pinellas Chapter has several volunteer opportunities that will allow you to channel your passion for native plants and conservation into helping the chapter fulfill its mission. Many volunteer positions require just a few hours a month, and most duties can be performed at your home. If you are interested in applying or would like more information, email volunteer@pinellasnativeplants.org.
Volunteer Committee Member
- Recruiting volunteers for special projects and the speakers bureau utilizing social media, emails, and special events.
- Collecting volunteer contact information, availability and skills, and maintaining a volunteer database.
- Keeping new and existing volunteers informed about the organization’s volunteer opportunities, matching volunteers to opportunities that suit their skill sets, and ensuring they understand their responsibilities and receive the proper training.
- Keeping records of volunteers' hours and reporting them to FNPS.
- (2 to 4 hours per month)
Marquette McManus
Volunteer Chair
(727) 776-2794
volunteer@pinellasnativeplants.org
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Thank You To Our Business Members
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Pinellas Chapter Florida Native Plant Society
2022 Officers, Directors and Committee Chairs
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All chapter members are invited to attend Board meetings, normally held via Zoom the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. Email the President for information about the next meeting, and/or if you have an issue that you would like addressed.
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President - Davis Byrkit
Vice President - Jane Graham
Secretary - Andrea Andersen
Treasurer - Robin Peacock
Past President - Michael Coleman
Director / Chapter Representative - David Perkey
Director / Membership Chair - Ginger Brengle
Director / Programs Chair - Pam Schrader
Director / Communications Chair - Jessica Palenchar
Director At Large - Vicki Thomas
Director At Large - Sari Wood
Social Media and Email - Rebecca Wellborn
Newsletter Editor - Nataly Capote
Webmaster - Patty Perkey
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Florida Native Plant Society Mission
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The Mission of the Florida Native Plant Society is to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida.
The Society fulfills this mission through:
- Support for conservation land acquisition
- Land management that enhances habitat suitability for native plants
- Education
- Public policies that protect our native flora, especially rare species
- Research on native plant species
- Encouragement of local landscaping practices and policies that preserve Florida's native plant heritage
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