Last month I talked about all the native plant resources in Florida including the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS), this time I’ll provide a guide to my addiction.
My local chapter holds informative meetings with expert speakers on a wide range of topics relating to native plants or habitats, offers plants for sale or raffle at most meetings, runs field trips, and participates in outreach programs. Our chapter has developed an “Alter-Natives” brochure for northeastern Florida that lists native plants to replace those freqently sold (and sometimes invasive) plants. Here’s a link to the illustrated list of plants and here is the link to the outside of the brochure with more information. We’ve adopted a small park in Jacksonville called native park, but ironically it was filled with non-native plants–we have plans to make this into a showcase for native plants in an urban setting. In short, our chapter is filled with smart, active and caring falks doing important work as a group and as individuals. Here’s our chapter website.
While the chapter is great fun, the annual state-wide FNPS conference is my chapter on steroids! I’ve been to two conferences now and I find that them to be even more stimulating and inspiring. There are 37 chapters around the state: so there we are all together each of us talking about our projects and learning from speakers and local field trips. I took some photos and will provide a short tour of this year’s conference which took place on May 19th to 22nd near Orlando.
Native Plant nurseries display their plants for sale under the live oak tress.
Got Milkweed?
Butterflyweed is a native milkweed and a couple of other species were offered.
Sunshine mimosa is a beautiful groundcover. It's a legume so it can grow in poor soils. Several of the nurseries offered this plant, but they were sold out the first day!
This member will have a good start on a native-filled garden.
By the end of the conference, most of the plants were sold and I came home with several swamp milkweed plants for the edge of my pond. I already have the butterflyweed growing in several areas of my yard. So I can answer “Yes!” to the question posed above.
The registration table was adorned with our state wildflower, tickseed coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
There were more than 40 speakers and 20 local fieldtrips. What a full conference! It was hard to decide what sessions to attend. Many of the conference sessions carried CEU credits for those who need them.
Most sessions were filled and discussions of topics spilled into the hallways and continued into the evening events.
There were two presentations on bees and then there were two showings of a bee movie during lunch on both days. Here’s my post on what I learned about bees over on the FNPS blog.
FNPS chapters brought a variety of merchandise that these voluteers sold between sessions.
A member created this fabulous quilt decorated with leaves of native trees over a background of the various Florida soil colors. The quilt was raffled off and brought in $1600.
Isn’t this quilt fanatastic? And what dedication from the member who designed and sewed it.
Keynote speaker Rick Darke helped us look at our landscapes differently.
My co-blogger Sue Dingwell summarized Rick’s presentation on the FNPS blog.
Bill Belleville talks about the Weviva promise.
Bill Belleville talks to us about The Friends of the Wekiva River and how their group has included many people living in the watershed. They’ve created a simple, easy to understand ”Wekiva Promise” that people have pledged not to pollute the river.
http://www.friendsofwekiva.org/
Botanist, photographer, author, Gil Nelson
In the evenings, there was music, food, socializing, and author signings. Gil Nelson, had several of his many Florida books for sale including his new expanded edition of “The Trees of Florida.” I think that Gil’s most useful book is “Florida’s Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals.” www.gilnelson.com
Craig Heugel, grower and author, and Brightman Logan, grower, are active FNPS members.
The Florida Association of Native Nurseries brings the growers together at the FNPS conferences. Their consumer website http://www.plantrealflorida.org/ is a useful tool in finding Florida’s natives.
The magnolia centerpieces added an elegant touch at the Saturday evening gala.
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About Ginny Stibolt
That quilt is amazing! Such a creative effort.
It looks like Florida is beginning to rival California in efforts to conserve the land and its biodiversity. Kudos to everyone involved. So many like Rick Darke have joined in to spread the word that there is an alternative to the dead zones so many landscapes become.
Gloria recently posted..Native Seed Growers Seedling Pick-up Day
I am always so impressed with the Florida Native Plant Society – in an environment filled with lush exotic potential, so many people are dedicated to the use and preservation of Florida’s natives. I can see how you would be addicted.
Ellen recently posted..Natural Bird Food
Ginny, thanks for this great re-cap! It brought back a spark of the energy that simply radiated from the people who attended the conference to make the most of the opportunity to learn and to network with others. I can’t wait for next year and the chance to hear Doug Tallamy again.
Sue Dingwell recently posted..Clean Green Vegetables
I am always impressed by the dedication of the FNPS members–so much has been accomplished. Thanks to all for your work and thanks for the comments here. And Gloria, if you think that Florida rivals California that’s fantastic. But… in these difficult financial times, everyone (in all states) needs to support our parks, wild spaces, and outreach efforts to educate and recruit others.