Upcoming Chapter Events - Please Scroll Down As These Are Not In Chronological Order

CANCELLED DUE TO STORM

Don't miss the first meeting of our new season at 1:00 on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Our program will begin with Nathalie Smith, Parks Naturalist and Land Manager for Lemon Bay Environmental Park. She will introduce herself and provide background about Lemon Bay Park.

Following Nathalie will be Jeff Weber who has been an Environmental Specialist with Sarasota County Parks for over 35 years and has managed eight different properties over that time. Jeff will present a program on Noteworthy Plants of Southwest Florida. Southwest Florida is a botanically diverse region! Here, the natural ranges of temperate and tropical plants overlap. Our area is also home to a number of interesting rare and endemic species and a few local specialties. Our mild climate provides the perfect conditions for several invasive exotic species to thrive, as well. Come and learn about Southwest Florida's most noteworthy plants.

Return to our Traditional Meeting Place

Mangrove Chapter is pleased to announce that our meetings will once again be held at our long-time home, Lemon Bay Park & Environmental Center in Englewood, 570 Bay Park Blvd, Englewood, FL 34223. Our return will begin with the first meeting of our new season on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. We will again have a large parking lot to accommodate all of us, and we will have an easy ramp instead of stairs to climb. Our meeting room will be larger, with ample chairs and tables. We will continue to meet at 1:00 in the afternoon. See you there!

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) Nature Walks

All walks begin at 8:00 AM. Prepare for each walk with plenty of water, insect repellent, sunscreen, and clothing that will protect you from insects and plants. Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, call 941-475-0769. For updates check out the CHEC Calendar

Monday, October 3rd - Seagrass Wading Trip
Advance registration is required. Trips fill up fast! 
Meet in the Cedar Point Visitor Center at 9:00 am
For more information or to register, call at 941-475-0769
or email Tome@checflorida.org.

Halloween Haunted Hikes

Saturdays October 8, 15, 22 &29
Cedar Point Environmental Park
2300 Placida Rd, Englewood, FL 34224

October Guided Hikes

Wednesday,  October 5th - Bill Coy/Buck Creek Preserve
5350 Placida Rd, Englewood, FL 34224

Wednesday,  October 12th - Bayshore Live Oak Park
23157 Bayshore Rd, Port Charlotte, FL

Wednesday,  October 12th - Tippecanoe Environmental Park
Meet behind the Charlotte County Sports Park.
Please call 941-475-0769 to register or for more information

Wednesday,  October 19th - Amberjack Environmental Park
6450 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., Rotonda, FL

Wednesday,  October 26th - Tippecanoe II Mitigation Preserve
16259 Joppa Ave., Port Charlotte, FL

Octbober 20 - EcoWalk: Meditation in the Parks 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Join us for an exploration of finding peace within nature. 
Red Bug Slough Preserve 5200 South Beneva Road Sarasota, FL 34231
This event is free REGISTER HERE

November 7 - EcoTalk: Bats! 6:00PM - 7:00PM

Learn what bats are in our area and why we want them here! 
North Port Public Library, Conference Room 13800 S. Tamiami Trail North Port, FL 34287
Instructor: Dr. Katherine Clements, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County ecology and natural resources educator. This event is free REGISTER HERE

November 18 - Wild Sarasota: Falcons of Florida 12:00PM - 1:15PM (Webinar)

In this Free Zoom episode we will focus on our local falcon species and their unique adaptations. 
REGISTER HERE

Wednesday, September 21, 4:30-5:30 PM Join Dave and Linda Manley from the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society for a Sunset Stroll at Bayshore Live Oak Park, 23157 Bayshore Rd, Port Charlotte. 

This park has flat, paved trails for easy walking. The pace is slow, with time for questions and observations, and we may see some shorebirds in one section. Some of the main attractions here will be shoreline mangroves. Meet by the playground area between two parking lots. For information email mangrovechapter@fnps.org .

Event From: Environmental Conservancy of North Port (ECNP)

Sunday, September 18th, 7:00 PM. Neighborhood Conservation Group meeting and book club discussion of “Nature’s Best Hope” by Doug Tallamy via ZOOM. Registration required. Join here.

Events from Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve

Saturday, September 3rd, 9:00 AM. Steve and Tonya Bramlage lead an introductory walk to Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve, 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd, Englewood. You learn the history and background of the preserve while you hike to view several of its main features.

Saturday, September 17th, 9:00 AM. Steve and Tonya Bramlage lead an introductory walk to Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve, 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd, Englewood. You learn the history and background of the preserve while you hike to view several of its main features.

Events from Venice Area Audubon Society (VAAS)

Tuesday, September 30th, 6:30 PM. Monthly meeting. Documentary film, "Ice on Fire" discussing the dangers of a rapidly warming planet. 4002 S. Tamiami Trail via Annex Rd., Venice.

Sunrise Beach Walk

UPDATE: The "Sunrise Beach Walk was great with diverse plant communities observed. Photos and a summary are now posted on our Facebook Page

OK, not really sunrise. Please join Anne Risberg and Linda Manley for an early morning walk at Blind Pass Middle Beach at 8 AM on Thursday, July 14. We’re starting early to avoid as much of the heat as possible and still be able to see the summer side of beach plants.

Everyone comes to Florida in the winter and we point out plants as we can, but the summer is the time when Florida flowers put forth their best. We will walk the Duisberg Trail, which goes through shady areas as well as the sunny beach.

No registration is necessary; just show up in the parking lot near the trail entrance. We anticipate the walk will be about 90 minutes, but less if the heat is oppressive. Please be sure to bring water and wear a hat and sunscreen.

Guided Walks at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve

Unless indicated otherwise, these events are FREE. open to the public and begin at the Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve parking lot at 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd, Englewood, 34224.

Explore the Preserve:  Wildflowers, Alligators, Birds and Butterflies, – June 18, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Join Tonya and Steve Bramlage on a short walk through the heart of the preserve. Come along to discover both upland and aquatic plants growing in this compact, dense, eco-friendly environment. Together we will observe a variety of soil and land elevations. The Preserve provides an amazing array of native plants and wildlife in the summer months. This walk is accessible for everyone and never fails to deliver rare sights and nature’s delights.

Birds of the Preserve – June 12, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Join Mike Wisensee on a leisurely walk to observe some of the many types of birds that visit and nest at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve.  8:00 a.m. start time!  Remember your binoculars!

Butterflies in the Preserve, - June 26, 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Join Mike Weisensee on a visit to the preserve Butterfly Habitat and nearby trails to observe some of the many butterflies and other amazing insects present in the Preserve.  Note 8:00 a.m. start time.