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

Friday, December 5, 9:00-11:00 AM.  Join the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and member Dr. Mary Davis for a walk at the Myakka State Forest, 2000 S. River Road, North Port.  We will discover what life is like in the SW Florida Flatwoods Ecoregion along the lower reaches of the Myakka River.  Meet at the Ranger’s office.  There is a $2 per person fee to enter the park. All are welcome to participate. For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org.

Monday, November 17, 9:00-11:00 AM.  Join the UF/IFAS Sarasota Extension Service and Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and member Dr. Mary Davis for a walk at the South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve, 6200 Osprey Road, Venice.  Join us to learn more about our amazing and unique Florida ecosystems as we explore the transition from coastal mangroves to upland scrub.  This event is free and all are welcome. For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org 

Tuesday, November 11, 1:00 PM.  The Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society invites you to join us at Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center, 570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood, for our Chapter's monthly meeting and program. This month we welcome forager and Florida Master Naturalist Amanda Adams.  Amanda will share information on edible and medicinal plants in the area and possibly already in your yard!  Weather permitting, there will be some time outside to practice identifying plants. Come early for social time beginning 12:00 p.m.  This event is free and all are welcome. For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org 

Friday, November 7, 9:00-11:00 AM.  Join the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and member Dr. Mary Davis for a walk at the Oscar Sherer State Park, 1843 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey.  We will talk about the resident Florida Scrub Jay as we learn more about plant taxonomy and physiology.  Meet at the Nature Center at the end of the entrance road.  This event is free and all are welcome. For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org 

Wednesday, November 26, 9:00-11:00 AM Join Dr. Bill Dunson from the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and Lemon Bay Conservancy for a nature walk at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve (3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., Englewood).  The topic of the day will be "Restoration Ecology."  The Preserve is a wonderful place to consider how best to restore an old golf course to natural habitats.  Much of the 80 acres was completely cleared and a variety of habitat based plant communities replanted.  Various decisions had to be made in choosing the plants and in managing their growth and establishment.  A major problem was posed by the natural and very powerful process of Succession. Various possible solutions will be considered and debated.  This event is free, and all are welcome to participate. For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org. No dogs and no smoking/vaping allowed.  No reservations required.

Saturday, November 15, 9:00-11:00 AM.  Meet Bill Dunson and join the Mangrove Chapter of the FNPS for a nature walk at Tippecanoe 1 Environmental Park, 2300 El Jobean Rd., Port Charlotte.  Observe the wide variety of plants and animals characteristic of the scrubby flatwoods, and a mangrove-lined tidal creek, while discussing the impact of prescribed burns and other habitat manipulations. This area is being managed as scrub jay habitat.  Meet at the entry gate behind the baseball park. This event is free and all are welcome.  For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org 

Saturday, Nov. 1, 9:00-12:00 pm.  Join the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and our guide, Mike Stanfield, on a walk at the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, 12301 Burnt Store Rd., Punta Gorda, 33955.  (It is about 3 miles south of the intersection of US 41 and Burnt Store Rd, on the right (west) side of Burnt Store Rd.) Nicknamed "the Plant Dude", Mike was a Park Ranger at the Myakka River State Park for over 12 years. The second of two gates will be open and there is a parking lot and bathroom facility. From there we will carpool to an area about 6 miles, just south of the Lee County line (and a Dollar General store). There is another gate- we will park inside that gate. The hike will be along service roads and a lot of it is in open sun. Round trip will be approximately 2.5 miles. It is a fairly easy walk but will have some sand and is not ADA friendly. Please wear closed shoes as there are a lot of sandburs in places. There are no restrooms at the trailhead! No dogs please. This area is not usually open to the public. This event is free, and all are welcome to participate. For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org.

Monday, October 20, 9:00-11:00 AM.  Join the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and UF/IFAS Sarasota Extension Service member, Dr. Mary Davis, for a guided nature walk at the Manasota Scrub Preserve, 2695 Bridge St., Englewood.  Join us to learn more about our amazing and unique Florida ecosystems as we explore the mosaic of plant communities that are typical of the SW Florida Flatwoods Ecoregion.  This event is free, and all are welcome to participate. For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org.

Tuesday, October 14, 1:00 PM.  The Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society invites you to join us for our monthly program at Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center, 570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood.  This month will include short presentations by some of our recent recipients of the Mangrove Chapter's native plant grants. Come early for social time (12:15pm). This event is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org.

Friday, October 10, 9:00-11:00 AM.  Join the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and member Dr. Mary Davis for a guided nature walk at the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve, 1800 Mabry Carlton Pkwy, Venice.  Mary will tell us about managing local ecosystems that help protect the Myakka River and source of water supply.  Meet at the first parking lot on the right.  This event is free, and all are welcome to participate.    For more information, contact mangrovechapter@fnps.org.