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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, 10/5, 6:30 - 8:00 PM: Pinellas FNPS Monthly Program - Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges
- Saturday, 10/8, 8 AM - 11 AM: Field Trip to Brooker Creek Headwaters Preserve
- Saturday, 10/8 - Sunday, 10/9; 10 AM - 3 PM: Native Plant Sale and Fall Festival
- Monday, 10/10 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Pinellas Chapter Conservation Committee Meeting
- Saturday, 10/11, 7 PM: Monthly Volunteer Orientation
- Saturday, 10/15, 8 AM - 10 AM: Moccasin Lake Butterfly Garden, Volunteer Opportunity
- Saturday, 10/15, 9 AM - 3 PM: Conradina Chapter Native Landscape Tour
- Saturday, 10/22, 9 AM - 3 PM: Backyard Biodiversity Day 2022
- Saturday, 10/22, 10 AM - 5 PM: Honeymoon Island Fall Fest
- Saturday, 10/22, 9:30 AM - 11 AM: Selecting Native Plants for a Successful Landscape
- Friday, 10/28, 9 AM - 11 AM: Native Plant Hike at the Florida Botanical Gardens
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FNPS Monthly Program: Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges
Wednesday, October 5th
In person and Zoom
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
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 The Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges is a 501(c) (3) non-profit volunteer organization that provides assistance to, and supports programs of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. Refuge Systems are lands and waters set aside to protect our wildlife population.
Right here in Tampa Bay, there are three National Wildlife Refuges that need your help. They have become safe havens surrounded by one of the most densely populated areas in Florida. Pinellas Refuge, Passage Key, and Egmont Key offer natural areas for wildlife to rest, feed, and procreate free from human interference. Beach nesting and migratory birds, sea turtles, gopher tortoises and fish are examples of wildlife that rely heavily on these refuges for survival. Hear from Dave Howard and Patrick Mundus about the work of the Friends, as well as the many fieldtrips they sponsor each year.
This meeting is in person and on Zoom. We hope you will join us in person.
Address:
Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Ln, Clearwater, FL 33759
Arrive at 6:30pm to enjoy refreshments, meet other members and participate in a silent auction of donated native plant "volunteers", seeds and cuttings. Prices start at $1. Bring what you can and be sure to bring cash to purchase.
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)
Questions? program@pinellasnativeplants.org
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FNPS Awards Presented to Honorees to Mark
Florida Native Plant Month
October 18, 8:30 AM
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 In honor of Florida Native Plant Month, the City of Dunedin will be acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the Pinellas Chapter at the City Commission Planning Session on Tuesday, October 18th at 8:30 AM at City Hall, 542 Main Street. Members are welcome to attend and show their support for native plants. Meetings are broadcast live here, on Facebook and YouTube. All Commission Meetings and Workshops can also be viewed online on demand.
City Commissioner Jeff Gow will be presenting FNPS member Craig Wilson a Proclamation recognizing October as Florida Native Plant Month, followed by presentation of the FNPS 2022 awards received by the chapter and three of it's members. Rebecca Wellborn, Michelle Birnbaum, and Nichole Mattheus were all awarded a Silver Palmetto Award by the Florida Native Plant Society for their work on saving the Gladys Douglas Preserve. These awards are given to members who make major contributions to the Society through Service, Education, or Conservation.
The Pinellas Chapter received the Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award for working with the City of Dunedin, Pinellas Community Foundation, Clearwater Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Blue-Green Connections and others to raise $4.5 million in public funds toward the purchase of this 44 acre property of sandhill, scrub, wetlands and the last remaining rosemary bald in the county. The property is a haven for threatened and endangered plant species, including: Garber’s Scrub Stars, Garberia heterophylla; Nodding Pinweed, Lechea cernua, and Spreading Pinweed, L. divericata.
Michelle Birnbaum is a professional archaeologist who lives across the street from the new Gladys Douglas Preserve in Dunedin. She read a story in the Tampa Bay Times in August of 2020 reporting that Pulte Homes had a contract to buy the property. She went by herself to the corner of Keene Road and Virginia Avenue to wave a “save the Gladys Douglas Hackworth property” sign, and ignited a citizen movement that led to the eventual purchase of the property by the City of Dunedin and Pinellas County.
Nichole Mattheus is a biologist and activist based in Dunedin. In the fall of 2020, through social media, press coverage, speaking at commission meetings and public protests, she and Michelle mobilized support for the purchase of the land, and gained the support of The Suncoast Chapter of the Sierra Club and Blue-Green Connections.
Rebecca Wellborn has been a member of FNPS since 2012, and has served in prior years as Treasurer, Volunteer Coordinator and Communications Chair. Inspired by the efforts of Michelle and Nichole, she mobilized the Pinellas Chapter and FNPS in support of preservation of the Gladys Douglas property. She produced the Save the GDP Concert & Fundraiser in January of 2021, which raised $30k in just three weeks. Following the purchase of the property by the City of Dunedin and Pinellas County, Rebecca spearheaded an application for a 2021 FNPS Conservation Grant to conduct a floristic inventory of the property, to aid development of a management plan, which is currently underway.
You can purchase a Florida Native Plant Month T-Shirt here. The Pinellas Chapter has over 500 members and is the state's largest native plant chapter. They hold monthly meetings and field trips, workshops, special events and volunteer projects. In addition, they award grants to other organizations for projects that support our mission.
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Field Trip to Brooker Creek Headwaters Preserve
October 8th, 8:00 am - 11:00 am
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Join us on a guided hike on nature trails through a mosaic of forested swamps, floodplains and low-lying uplands. The uplands include pine flatwoods, xeric oak hammocks, and mixed hardwood and pine prairies. The largest area of contiguous natural habitat remaining in northwest Hillsborough County, public ownership of this preserve ensures protection of important wildlife habitat and the site's wetlands, which serve as the headwaters of the Brooker Creek system. This 1121-acre preserve is owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and managed by Hillsborough County.
More information on Brooker Creek Headwaters Preserve
Trip leaders: David Perkey and Pam Schrader
When: Saturday, October 8th, 8:00 - 11:00 am
Where: Park at trailhead located at 7020 Lutz Lake Fern Rd Odessa, FL 33556
RSVP using the link provided and include your mobile phone # for last minute updates.
Be prepared for wet and muddy conditions. Wear closed-toed shoes, and bring drinking water, insect repellent, and sun protection. There are restrooms available. The first mile of the walk will be on a paved trail where the nature trails are accessed. At this point, you can choose to venture into the nature trails or return back on the paved trail to the parking lot. Mileage on the nature trails could be up to an additional 3-6 miles, depending on what everyone wants to explore. Be prepared to hike through standing water, especially on the nature trails and possibly on sections of the paved trail (depending on recent rainfall).
Participation in this event, sponsored by the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, is voluntary and is offered free of charge or at cost. All participants acknowledge and agree that they will assume all risk associated with such participation and waive any action or claim against The Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, Inc., (the Pinellas Chapter) and the Florida Native Plant Society, Inc. (FNPS), for any damage, injury or harm of any kind resulting from or occurring during this activity. Participants acknowledge that photos will be taken for promotional purposes and their image may be used by PCFNPS or other organizations at the event.
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Pinellas Chapter Nominating Committee
Seeking Candidates for 2023 Board
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Chapter President David Byrkit has appointed Rebecca Wellborn as Chair of the Nominating Committee for the 2023 Board of Directors. Serving with Rebecca are FNPS members Roberta Owens and Antonia Krueger. The Nominating Committee is tasked each fall with finding members with a passion for native plants, that are willing to serve as an Officer or Director. The Board meets monthly on the third Tuesday, via zoom, at 6:30 pm. Meetings last about an hour. If you have an interest in becoming more involved in the chapter, please join us at our next board meeting to see what goes on "behind the curtain." Email President@pinellasnativeplants.org for the Zoom link to attend the September meeting, which was postponed due to the hurricane.
The Committee will be calling members to ask about their interest in serving. Please do us the courtesy of returning our calls, even if the answer is NO! This is not an easy task and being ignored only makes it worse.
According to the Bylaws, Section 1:
The Officers of the Pinellas Chapter shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Directors of the Pinellas Chapter shall be: Chapter Representative, Past-president, and up to five (5) Directors-at-Large. Directors generally Chair one of the standing committees, but not always. The Standing Committees shall include Program, Membership, Volunteer, and Communications. Each of these committees shall be chaired by a Director-at-Large, who may recruit committee members to assist in carrying out the functions of the committee.
A. Program Committee: This committee shall coordinate the planning and execution of monthly programs, field trips, and other activities, and shall produce an annual calendar and promotional announcements for use by the Communications Committee.
B. Membership Committee: This committee shall coordinate with the FNPS to welcome and instruct new members, and shall work to recruit new members and retain existing ones.
C. Volunteer Committee:This committee shall recruit, coordinate, and acknowledge volunteers in order to accomplish the goals of the Board, and shall be responsible for recording volunteer hours and submitting them to the FNPS.
D. Communications Committee: This committee shall publicize the details of Chapter news and events to Chapter members and to the public, using the most effective means available, including the Chapter website, social media, email, and press releases, and shall maintain a database of contacts for that purpose.
Contact the Nominating Committee if you have an interest in learning more or want to nominate a member you admire.
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USF Botanical Garden Native Plant Sale
and Fall Festival
October 8th & 9th, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
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- $5 Admission
- Free for USF Botanical Garden Members
- Children under 12 are free!
- Free parking and children's activities!
Please do your part to keep the Gardens beautiful for all to enjoy by following these simple RULES:
- Stay on established paths
- Removing plant material is prohibited
- Smoking and Vaping are prohibited on USF property
- Stay in guest areas
- Follow all signage
Children's Activities
- Storytime - Children's Area Deck: 11:00. 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 each day
- Children's Nature Art: Sun Prints - Pavilion: 12:30 each day
- Children's Nature Art: Kindness Rocks - Children's Area- 1:30 each day
Workshops: Pavilion
Steve Grace from Grace's Hydro Organic: Saturday 11:00
Tampa Audubon: Saturday 1:30, Sunday 11:00
Raleigh Barns from Third Insight Design on Sugar Cane: Sunday 2:00
USF Bee Workshop: Saturday & Sunday noon
Dozens of fall vendors! Learn more!
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Monthly Volunteer Orientation
Tuesday, October 11th, 7:00 pm
via Zoom
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 Support FNPS by attending our monthly volunteer orientation, held on the second Tuesday of every month. We'll go through all the different opportunities to become involved and important information for new volunteers.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82495507182?pwd=K09SU2ZJMHIrWkx5VXZLREk0eTJhZz09
Meeting ID: 824 9550 7182
Passcode: 002075
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,82495507182#,,,,*002075# US
+19292056099,,82495507182#,,,,*002075# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 824 9550 7182
Passcode: 002075
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Moccasin Lake Butterfly Garden Volunteer Opportunity
Saturday, October 15th
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 below for further instructions.
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CONRADINA CHAPTER NATIVE LANDSCAPE TOUR
MELBOURNE FLORIDA
Saturday, October 15, 9 am - 3 pm
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Please join the Conradina Chapter FNPS for the 13th Annual Landscaping with Florida Natives Tour to observe and explore wonderful native plant landscapes at a variety of locations. This year there are six homes, one large commercial space, one public space, and one Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands site available for you to tour and learn about Florida native plants. The tour is a fabulous look at what homeowners and public spaces have done using native plants in different situations.
Native plants are important to preserve our wildlife, pollinators and local heritage as well as requiring much less maintenance, water, and fertilizer, which benefits our local environment and the Indian River Lagoon. Please come see how easy it is to use native plants and help make a difference in your yard!
Heritage Park and various locations
2550 South Grant Street
Melbourne, FL 32901
Conradina is the local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. Please check out our website at https://conradina.fnpschapters.org
Purchase tickets on Eventbrite at 2022 Landscaping with Florida Natives Tour Tickets, Sat, Oct 15, 2022 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite and we will email you the brochure and plant lists within 24-48 hours.
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Backyard Biodiversity Day 2022
Saturday, October 22nd, 9 AM - 3 PM
Mead Botanical Garden - Winter Park FL
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Backyard Biodiversity Day celebrates Florida's native flora and fauna. Come out and enjoy noted speakers, workshops, guided hikes, local vendors, and a huge native plant sale!
This FREE family-friendly event features:
- Informative presentations about creating biodiverse backyard habitats that help support bees & native wildlife
- Interpretive hikes focusing on pollinator insects, edible plants, herpetology, gopher tortoises, and the ongoing sandhill habitat restoration project at Mead Garden
- Native plant & wildflower seed sale
- Environmentally-conscious exhibitors and vendors
- Kids activities
- Food trucks
- Live music
Hosted by the Tarflower Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. More information to be updated as the event gets closer. The event's coordinator Tamie can be reached at bbd.director@fnps.org. We welcome like-minded businesses and organizations to join the event. For information on being a sponsor or vendor, please email us.
Location:
Mead Botanical Garden
1300 S. Denning Drive, Winter Park, FL 32789
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HONEYMOON ISLAND FALL FEST
Saturday, October 22, 10 am - 5 pm
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We are seeking a volunteer to coordinate a chapter exhibit at this event on Saturday or Sunday. That involves setting up the exhibit tent and the exhibit, scheduling and supervising volunteers and breaking down the tent. Board members are willing and ready to support anyone who wants to take this on. Interested in lending a hand at this event? Email volunteer@pinellasnativeplants.org
Honeymoon Island State Park will host Honeymoon Island Fall Fest on October 22 and 23 from 10 to 5 on Oasis Beach. This new annual family-oriented festival features outdoor recreational activities, arts market, nature exhibits, food trucks, live music and more in a beachside setting, providing two days of fun for visitors of all ages!
Location
Honeymoon Island State Park
Oasis Beach Parking Lot
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Selecting Native Plants for a Successful Landscape
Saturday, October 22, 9:30 am - 11 am
Florida Botanical Gardens
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Planning a native landscape might be an intimidating or overwhelming task, especially to newcomers. However, by breaking down the components of what makes a native landscape successful into a handful of easy steps, it can seem like just another day in the garden. Whether your project begins with aesthetics, maintenance or wildlife in mind, or starts with the core concepts of a sustainable ecosystem, making that first step simple will allow you to build a perfect and attractive landscape.
Special guest speaker: Davis Byrkit, president of the Pinellas Chapter Florida Native Plant Society and general manager at Wilcox Nursery.
Limited seating. Please reserve your seat early, but kindly cancel your ticket if you can no longer attend.
Location:
Magnolia Room, Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL 33774-3602, United States
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Planning a native landscape might be an intimidating or overwhelming task, especially to newcomers. However, by breaking down the components of what makes a native landscape successful into a handful of easy steps, it can seem like just another day in the garden. Whether your project begins with aesthetics, maintenance or wildlife in mind, or starts with the core concepts of a sustainable ecosystem, making that first step simple will allow you to build a perfect and attractive landscape.
Special guest speaker: Davis Byrkit, President of the Pinellas Chapter Florida Native Plant Society and general manager at Wilcox Nursery.
Limited seating. Please reserve your seat early, but kindly cancel your ticket if you can no longer attend.
Location:
Magnolia Room, Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL 33774-3602, United States
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Native Plant Hike at the Florida Botanical Gardens
Friday, October 28, 9 am - 11 am
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Walk with a Master Gardener through the natural area at the east end of the Florida Botanical Gardens. Learn about the native ecosystems and plants found in our natural area.
Limited to groups of 20. Hikers please wear closed-toe shoes and bring proper sun/insect protection and a refillable water bottle. Hike will be cancelled without notice in the event of rain or other inclement weather. Please check local forecast before arriving.
Tour will begin near the restrooms in the Florida Botanical Gardens near the entrance to the tropical walk (not at the main Extension building). The closest parking is the entrance located off of Walsingham Road in parking lot 4, please see map.
Plan to walk and talk for up to 2 hours. There are benches at intervals along the trail but terrain is uneven.
Location:
Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road Largo, FL 33774
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SAVE THE DATE:
Florida Gulf Coast Hope Spot Festival Volunteer Opportunity
Saturday, February 11th, 2023
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Save the Date!
The Pinellas Chapter FNPS is excited to participate again in the Florida Gulf Coast Hope Spot Festival! Last year’s festival was extremely well attended and a huge success!
As the event draws nearer, we will be seeking volunteers to assist at our table at this event. So, please, save the date and keep an eye out for updates.
Sign up below to put your name down early!
Location
Edgewater Park
51 Main St, Dunedin, FL 34698
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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 - 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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