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

Pollinators: Insects, Birds, and Mammals
Sat, June 18, 2022 - 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT
North Port Library, 13800 Tamiami Trail, North Port, FL

Pollinators are beautiful, colorful, diverse and fun to watch, and they play critical roles in our ecology and food systems.

Join UF/IFAS Extension agent and resident 'bug lady', Carol Wyatt-Evens, to learn more about the amazing array of insects, birds and even mammals (we're looking at you, bats) that act as pollinators, and what you can do to help protect and preserve them.

REGISTER: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pollinators-registration-270977329487

For questions or further information, please call 941-861-5000 or email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu. If you require special accommodations to attend one of our events, please contact us in advance at 941-861-5000 or sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu.

The theme is “Gateway to Florida’s Biodiversity.”

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 is virtual.

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!
• Agenda

May 7 - Volunteer Drive - Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, 6968 Reisterstown Rd in North Port

Details - https://ecnorthport.com/events%2Fabout-us%2Fservices

Registration reqauired: Email NPconservancy@gmail.com or call/text 941-218-9775 

May 28 - Nature Watching at Shannon Staub Library Pond 10:00am - 11:30am (4675 Career Lane, North Port, FL.)

Join nature lovers on a slow and relaxing walk around the Shannon Staub Library pond to view, identify and discuss birds, pollinators, native plants and trees that surround and inhabit this manmade but natural-world-inhabited waterbody. 

Registration is recommended through the library website: 

May Meeting

At our May 10^th meeting we will have a BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic) and a silent auction—what fun! Bring a sandwich or snack and a beverage to drink. We’ll have a photo loop running during picnic time as you eat at your seats, and you can peruse the auction and place bids anytime during the gathering.

Begin now to burrow through your garden items, stored-away art, and dusty books and find some things to bring to our auction. The silent auction will have additional items donated by Lois Cantwell before she returned to Michigan as well as more artwork, additional nature books, and a treasure trove of items from all you chapter members. The meeting will be at 1:00 at Cedar Point Environmental Park, 2300 Placida Road, Englewood.

Earth Day at Cedar Point Environmental Park, 2300 Placida Rd, Englewood April 23, 9-Noon

There will be live animals from animal rescue services, children’s activities, kayaking, hikes, food trucks, and information about native plants.

Go Florida Native Arbor Day Festival, Centennial Park, 1185 Centennial Blvd, Port Charlotte, April 29, 9am-1pm

This celebration is co-sponsored by UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County and Peace River Audubon.

Volunteers will include Charlotte County Master Gardeners and students from the Port Charlotte Environmental Club. Exhibits feature commercial nurseries, educational booths, and displays from nature-related organizations. For more information see https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/charlotte/ 

Wednesday, April 20, 4:00-5:00 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’ll probably see some shorebirds in one section. Some of the main attractions here will be shoreline mangroves. Meet in the playground area between the two parking lots.

For information email mangrovechapter@fnps.org .

Arbor Day Tree Fair, City Center Green, 4970 City Hall Blvd, North Port

April 30, 10am-2pm.

Hundreds of native trees will be available here at extremely low prices: $15 for a 3-gallon pot size or $25 for a 7-gallon pot size. You can enjoy food trucks and music, and many nature-related groups will have tables with information about their organizations.

For more details see http://www.peoplefortrees.com/?fbclid=IwAR2tjoZjR8S-VrFZdyFF7uWXHNCV3PLIpqGhjyK1ziUUUU-uO-2MJscfTuA

Saturday, April 30th, 9:00-11:00 AM  - Long Leaf Pine: The Tree that Built the South

Join Kate Borduas from the Mangrove Chapter of the Native Plant Society for a nature walk at Curry Creek Preserve - East, 1500 Pinebrook Road, Venice FL. The land for this 81-acre preserve was obtained in 2001 through the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program, and was named for the Curry Family, early settlers to this area.

The eastern section of the preserve is home to a remnant longleaf pine forest.  Once covering 90 million acres, longleaf pine was harvested heavily, with little thought to wildlife losses within the environment.  Pond apple trees, rare for this area, may be found along the creek.  The trails are unpaved but very even.  Sturdy shoes are recommended. 

If you are interested in learning more about Long Leaf Pine, you may want to attend Kate’s presentation at the Jacaranda Public Library, Friday, April 15 at 1:30

Registration required at ufsarasotaext.eventbrite.com

Wednesday, March 2, 9-11 AM. Manasota Scrub Preserve, 2695 Bridge St, Englewood.

Tuesday, March 8, 9-11 AM. South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve, 6200 Osprey Red., Venice.

Tuesday, March 29, 8:30-11:30 AM. Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center, 570 Bay Park Blvd, Englewood.

Thursday, March 31, 9-11 AM. Scherer Thaxton Preserve, 13125 Honore Ave, Osprey.