News Blog

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

Monday, March 13th, 9:00am-11:00am - Broadmoor Park is a converted golf course in Rotonda West; comprising 26 acres including 12 lakes of varying size..It is located at 646 Rotonda Cir, Rotonda West, FL 33947. [MAP] In 2014, the Rotonda West Association obtained the park and various efforts have been made to make the park wildlife friendly. The park is an iNaturalist project, an e-bird hotspot, and has had intermittent littoral zone faunal surveys led by Bill Dunson. The walk on March 13th will focus on bird identification, insect (especially butterfly) identification, and plant identification, native and non-native.

You are required to sign a liability waiver.  No dogs or smoking/vaping allowed.  For additional information email Bill Dunson at wdunson@comcast.net.

Wednesday, March 15, 4:30-5:30 PM J

** CANCELLED **

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.

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.

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. The theme this year is Homegrown National Park® , a project to encourage the use of native plants in your yards.

• Florida Native Plants Nursery will sell native plants
• Member-grown plants are available for donations (in the Pavilion).
• Mangrove Treasures of garden accessories, art, and books, donated by chapter members.(also in the Pavilion)
• A Doug Tallamy video loop explaining the need for native plants (in the Environmental Center),
• Talks by Laurel Schiller (Florida Native Plant Nursery) and Jeff Weber (Sarasota County Parks) in the Center Classroom,
• Self-guided tours of the Pollinator Display Garden.
• Exhibits by other nature groups, and a guided nature walk.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Due to plant loss from Hurricane Ian, the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society is pleased to announce a change to the Landscape Grant which was created to enhance or replace gardens within our Chapter boundaries (Englewood, Venice, North Port, Pt Charlotte) with Florida native plants. Two grants are available: one for private homeowners, and one for public clubhouses, businesses, or non-profit entryways. Grants are limited to up to $100 for private homes, $500 for public, per grant request. The private grant is available for this grant cycle only.

See our Grants page for details and application.