News Blog

Our theme for the year 2023 will be Homegrown National Park^®, a concept created by Doug Tallamy, a New York Times best-selling author. His book Nature’s Best Hope, laid the foundation for the Homegrown National Park® (https://homegrownnationalpark.org). The concept is that if every single homeowner in the United States converted half of his or her lawn into native plants, we could create a new national park measuring 20 million acres. Go there to register your property on the map. You can add as much or as little detail as you want.

Friday, January 27th, 9:00-11:00 AM Join Bill Dunson from the Mangrove Chapter of the FL Native Plant Society and the Lemon Bay Conservancy for a nature walk at South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve, 5472 Kenisco Road, Venice.  This is the northern-most entrance to this park at the intersection of Kenisco and Euclid Roads.  The walk will be on a 1.5-mile trail through scrubby flatwoods, passing brackish marshes and salt flats with a view of Lemon Bay. Radically different plant communities can be found in these adjacent tidal habitats.  You are required to sign a liability waiver.  No dogs or smoking/vaping allowed.  For additional information email Bill Dunson at wdunson@comcast.net.

Saturday, January 28th, 9:00-11:00 AM Join Kate Borduas from the Mangrove Chapter of the Native Plant Society for a nature walk at Amberjack Environmental Park, 6450 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., Englewood, FL.  This walk will explore the impact of elevation on the scrub vegetation within the park.  In Florida it is a “Game of Inches!” The changes in trees, shrubs, lichens, grasses and flowers can be observed while slogging a full 13 feet uphill. Bird sightings are common so bring binoculars. Meet in the parking lot at the end of Gasparilla Pines Blvd.  A hat, closed toe shoes, water, and sunscreen are recommended. For information email: mangrovechapter@fnps.org.

Friday, February 3rd, 9:00-11:00 AM Join Bill Dunson from the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and the Lemon Bay Conservancy for a nature walk at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve, 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd, Englewood.  Many of the plants common in the preserve are either edible or contain toxins.  Some of these toxins are valuable as medicines when they are purified.  The edibility of plants also reveals aspects of their life histories in relation to insects and birds.  Meet in the parking lot. For additional information email Bill Dunson at wdunson@comcast.net.

Tuesday, February 14th, 1:00-3:00 PM The Mangrove Chapter of the Native Plant Society will host Insects in the Ecosystem – Why Insects Need Our Help an educational program at Lemon Bay Park & Environmental Center, 570 Bay Park Blvd, Englewood. Last spring Master Naturalist and Insect Enthusiast Kate Borduas presented a program about the critical roles insects play in the ecosystem.  This year Kate will explore the multiple causes of insect decline and what we can do as groups and individuals to support healthy populations of these little creatures that run the world. Meet at the Environmental Center.  For information email mangrovechapter@fnps.org

Wednesday, February 22, 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 the Venice Rookery, 4002 S. Tamiami Trail via Annex Road, Venice.  The Rookery is behind the county building.  The Venice Area Audubon Society will provide a guide through this beautiful nesting area for waterbirds. The recently planted native tree thicket and understory offer great native plant viewing. For information email mangrovechapter@fnps.org.

Saturday, February 25th, 9:00-11:00 AM Join Kate Borduas from the Mangrove Chapter of the Native Plant Society for a nature walk at South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve, Osprey Entrance, 6125 Osprey Rd, Venice.  On this walk we will explore the well-maintained scrub habitat of this park as it emerges from its winter slumber.  There is also a richly vegetated swale near the trail so we can see other species that thrive in moist growing conditions.  Parking is limited, so carpools are encouraged.  For information email mangrovechapter@fnps.

Saturday, March 4, 9:00am-1:00pm. Join the Mangrove Chapter FNPS at Lemon Bay Park and
Environmental Center for Plant Native Day, your opportunity to get native plants to restore your
garden after hurricane damage. Florida Native Plants Nursery will sell native plants and
member-grown plants are available for donations. The theme this year is Homegrown National
Park ® , a project to encourage the use of native plants in your yards. Features of the day include
a Doug Tallamy video loop explaining the need for native plants, talks by Laurel Schiller and Jeff
Weber, self-guided tours of the native plant garden, a guided nature walk, exhibits by other
nature groups, and Mangrove Treasures of garden accessories, art, and books, donated by
chapter members.

Friday, March 10th, 9:00-11:00 AM Join Bill Dunson from the Mangrove Chapter of the FL Native Plant Society and the Lemon Bay Conservancy for a nature walk at Don Pedro Island State Park, 8450 Placida Road, Placida FL.  The walk will be on a 1.5-mile trail on the mainland section of the park.  This area is an example of the fast-disappearing coastal habitat mixture consisting of salt marshes, mangroves and wet pine flatwoods.  Meet in the parking lot.  There is a $3 entrance fee. You are required to sign a liability waiver.  No dogs or smoking/vaping allowed.  For additional information email Bill Dunson at wdunson@comcast.net.

Tuesday, March 14th, 1:00-3:00 PM The Mangrove Chapter of the Native Plant Society will host Promoting Bees Through Knowledge an educational program presented by Christy Linke at Lemon Bay Park & Environmental Center, 570 Bay Park Blvd, Englewood.  Meet at the Environmental Center.  Christy loves the world of bees and is the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Bees Chair.  She has been speaking about bees for 9 years.  Come learn the difference between honey bees and native bees and the benefit of both. For information email mangrovechapter@fnps.org

Nature Walk at Tippecanoe 1 Environmental Park Sunday March 19, 2023, 9-11 am.  Meet your guide Bill Dunson at the entry arch behind the Charlotte baseball park at 2300 El Jobean Rd (rt 776; 33948).  We will hike about 1 mile on sandy trails across fresh and brackish water wetlands, pine flatwoods and coastal scrubby flatwoods.  No reservations required.  No dogs, smoking or vaping allowed.   Waiver signature required..  For further information contact wdunson@comcast.net  Sponsored by Mangrove Chapter of the FL Native Plant Society and Lemon Bay Conservancy. 

Wednesday, March 22, 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 the Venice Urban Forest, 308 E. Venice Ave, Venice. This strip of restored habitat runs beside the Legacy Trail.  Features include a butterfly garden and natural shelters for wildlife.  Turn left at the underpass by the train depot and meet in the grassy parking lot. This park has no restroom facilities. MAP For information email mangrovechapter@fnps.org.