Thursday, August 15 at 8:00 AM.  Join the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society for a walk at Manasota Scrub Preserve/East -  Walk a 1.5 mile loop through mesic pine flatwoods and next to two wetlands. Meet in the parking lot just a few yards from Manasota Beach Rd (2695 Bridge Street, Englewood) at 8 am for a 1 hour walk. All our activities are free and open to the public. Please bring water and sunscreen as the weather will be hot.   Please no dogs or smoking/vaping.  For additional information email mangrovechapter@fnps.org.

Our beach walk with Bill Dunson at Blind Pass has been rained out. Instead we will explore what’s growing along the boardwalk at Chadwick Park/Englewood Beach. Come join us!

Parking instructions and directions:

Take the southern road to Manasota Key (turn west at McDonalds) and drive to the round about at Circle K and enter the lower parking lot. Address 2100 N Beach Rd. Englewood.  We will meet at the southern end of the boardwalk. You must pay for parking on-line- see instructions at the kiosk unless you have a car pass: https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/departments/community-services/parks/parking.stml

We will walk less than a one mile loop north along the boardwalk and back along the street side grassy drainage area. The protected area between the boardwalk and the beach is remarkably natural and will challenge you to identify/learn more than 60 species of plants. Learning to distinguish the beach birds is also fun and not as easy as you might think.  

https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/departments/community-services/parks/all-parks/englewood-beach-at-chadwick-park.stml

Some of our past events

February 20 Tuesday, 8:30-10:30 AM   Meet the Mangrove Chapter of the FNPS and member Charlie Woodruff for a walk on Stump Pass Beach, 900 Gulf Blvd, Englewood. Learn about the unique history of the beach as well as its nature and inhabitants. As parking has a $3 charge and is limited, carpool and plan to arrive around 8am. Wear shoes that can get wet and bring a hat and water. All are invited to participate. For more information email mangrovechapter@fnps.org

Tuesday, February 13, 1 PM   The Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will host “Easy Plant Identification-The Big 4”, an educational program presented by extension agent, James B. Stevenson at Lemon Bay Environmental Center, 570 Bay Park Blvd. Englewood. Learn how knowing the four plant groups can lead to a big step in plant ID, and what makes a plant belong to one group.  BYOPicnic social at 12:15pm.  This event is free and all are invited to attend.  For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org.

Thursday, February 8, 9-11 AM Join the Mangrove Chapter of the FNPS and Chris Meyer for a nature walk at Myakka Islands Point, 1289 Campbell St, Port Charlotte, FL. The preserve is only 100 acres but comprises mesic flatwoods, mangrove swamp, salt marsh, maritime hammock and scrubby flatwoods. Sections of the trail system are tidal so wear appropriate footwear. This preserve is unique in that the largest and highest island on the entire Myakka River occurs here.  This event is free and all are invited to attend.  For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org