.usf.edu/orgs/suncoast … · 2020. 8. 10. · Vaughn, Nature Coast Chapter. All other photos by John Miller, Suncoast Chapter. Field Trip, February 23rd Environmental Equities Buying

The Suncoast Grapevine—February 2008 Page 1

Volume 25 Number 2 FEBRUARY 2008

Cane Toad, © Stephen Johnson

The Florida Native Plant Society was organized in 1980 to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. For more information about the Florida Native Plant Society, please visit our web site: www.fnps.org

The

SuncoastGrapevineNewsletter of the Suncoast Native Plant Society, Inc.

www.www.www.www.ficusficusficusficus.usf.edu/orgs/suncoast.usf.edu/orgs/suncoast.usf.edu/orgs/suncoast.usf.edu/orgs/suncoastwww.fnps.org/chapters/suncoast

Photo: Shawna Himelright

February 20, 2008

7:00 pm Hillsborough Extension Office

Landscaping with

Natives Presented by Laurel Schiller

As land is developed in Florida, the native flora is removed and usually replaced with non-native vegetation. Wildlife habitat is reduced, water, fertilizer and pesticide usage increases, and the appearance of Florida is altered. Urban and suburban dwellers can reduce the damage being done to our ecosystems by viewing their yards as part of the natural system. This means using native plants and doing it in a way more attuned to natural places.

Our February speaker, Laurel Schiller, has co-authored a book with Dan Walton, titled Natural Florida Landscaping.

This book was written to help homeowners create a landscape plan using natives that will thrive with a minimum of care. Laurel and Dan have spent the last ten years growing Florida native plants in their nursery called Florida Native Plants in Sarasota, Florida and using them for landscaping homes and commercial properties. Laurel has a degree in wildlife biology from Oregon State University and a degree in systematics and ecology from Indiana State University. She is vice-president of the Florida Native Nursery Association and chair of the State Education Committee for the Association. She serves on the board of directors for the Friends of the Rails to Trails Park in Sarasota and is a member of the Sarasota Tree Advisory Council. Laurel is serving a second term as a Sarasota County Planning Commissioner.

Submitted by Mary Miller

Page 2 The Suncoast Grapevine - February 2008

Werner-Boyce Salt Spring Field Trip Twenty stalwart members of Suncoast and Nature Coast

braved threatening rain and were led into the middle of this new and largely undeveloped state park by FNPS member and park ranger Gorgon O'Connor. Gorgon pointed out numerous karst features including natural bridges across the Salt Spring run, small sinks, and other features that are difficult to put a name to. One had swirling water that was unsure if it was

coming in or going out! We also saw good coastal vegetation including pineland acacia, several species of Spartina, and

leather fern. All had a fantastic time. Suncoast member John John John John Miller, Miller, Miller, Miller, geologist, has taken on writing up a geological blurb

for the park. - Submitted by Shirley Denton, PhD. Photo above right by Susan Vaughn, Nature Coast Chapter. All other photos by John Miller, Suncoast Chapter.

Field Trip, February 23rd

Environmental Equities Buying Trip

Nancy Desmond will open Environmental Equities for Suncoast members on February 23. For those of you unfamiliar with this native plant nursery, Nancy grows many natives that most of us only see in the wild. She is especially good at wildflowers and has many unusual ones. She also has a good selection of shrubs and trees. Prices are great since she gives native plant society members wholesale prices. While not much is blooming now, this is an ideal time to plant so that the plants are well established by the time they do

bloom. So get the green thumb ready and come out to a great native nursery.

-Shirley Denton

The Suncoast Grapevine—February 2008 Page 3

Suncoast Calendar To submit information to the Calendar, email Mary Miller: [email protected]

Programs for 2008

♣ January 16—Jennifer Roberts:

Hillsborough County Invasive Species Task Force ♣ February 20—Laurel Schiller:

Landscaping With Natives ♣ March 19—Rob Northrop:

Forest Sustainability: Tampa Bay Watershed ♣ April 16—Mary Miller:

Bluebirds and Boxes

♣ May 21—Phil Compton:

Restoring the Hillsborough River With Native Plants

♣ June 18—Sylvia Durrell:

Dealing With Florida’s Drought

♣ July 16—Jeff Klinkenberg:

Preserving Old Florida ♣ August 20—To Be Announced

♣ September 17—Shirley Denton:

The Zen of Native Plant Photography

May 24 –Crystal Springs. View examples of native restoration at this once public park. Easy walk. Details to be announced.

June 14 – 15 –Butterfly, Herb & Native

Plant Fair, USF Botanical Gardens. Call Kim Hutton at (813) 974-2329. June 21 – Native Plant Buying Trip to Sweet Bay Nursery (near Parrish). Buying trip also includes easy tour of nearby forest habitat. Details to be announced. July 4 – 6 – Fakahatchee Strand. In addition to viewing ghost orchids in bloom in Fakahatchee Strand, spend one day at Corkscrew Swamp. Details to be announced. August 24 – Alderman Ford County Park. A moderate two mile hike to see floodplain and xeric habitats. Details to be announced. September 20 – Photography Workshop. Practice your photography skills in an area where native wildflowers are in full bloom. Details to be announced. October 11 – 12 – Fall Plant Festival, USF Botanical Gardens. SNPS will sell native plants. To volunteer, call Sally Sun at (813) 935-1312.

Field Trips and Events

February 23 – Native Plant Buying Trip to Environmental

Equities, Hudson, FL. 10:00 am. Contact Shirley Denton at (813) 986-6485.

March 15 – Landscaping workshops – basic and native, USF Botanical Gardens. Contact Kim Hutton at (813) 974-2329. March 22 – Two Mile Prairie Tract, Withlacoochee State

Forest, Citrus County. Contact John Miller (813) 960-8132. April 12 – 13 –Spring Plant Festival, USF Botanical Gardens. SNPS will sell native plants. To volunteer, call Sally Sun at (813) 935-1312. April 19 – Bluebirds and Flatwoods. View bluebirds in nesting boxes and native plants at Flatwoods Park on Morris Bridge Road. Contact Mary Miller (813) 960-8132. May 15 – 18 –Uplands to Estuaries: Celebrating Florida’s Native Plant Heritage, Florida Native Plant Society Annual Conference, Manatee Convention Center, Palmetto, Florida.

Page 4 The Suncoast Grapevine - February 2008

Plant ProfilePlant ProfilePlant ProfilePlant Profile Common name: Sand live oak Botanical name: Quercus geminata Small Synonyms: None Family: Fagaceae (Birch) Zone: 8 – 10A Plant Habit: Small to medium semi-evergreen tree Habitat: Sandhill, scrub, coastal hammocks Size: 20-30 ft. (h) by 20-30 ft. (w) Leaves: Thick, leathery, alternate, simple, entire, extremely

revolute leaves; dark green above, dull gray beneath Fruit: Small acorns (1 in. long) in fall Distribution: North Florida southward to Dale and Collier counties

Growing conditions Light: Full sun to light shade Water: very drought tolerant Soil: well-drained, sandy Propagation: Seed Motility: Self-sow seeds in open, sandy soil; may form thickets in open areas Maintenance: None, if grown in ideal conditions Availability: Native plant nurseries Comments: Tannins in leaves and acorns stain sidewalks and driveways; growth habit is variable – some are trees, others are shrubby, forming thickets

References:

Nelson, Gil, 1994, The Trees of Florida: Pineapple Press, Inc., Sarasota, FL, 338 p. Osorio, R., 2001, A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants: University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 345 p.

Wunderlin, R.P. and B.F. Hansen, 2003, Guide to Vascular Plants of Florida, second ed.: University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 787 p.

Wunderlin, R.P. and B.F. Hansen, 2005, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (http://plantatlas.usf.edu/). Information compiled by George R. Kish Photos by Shirley Denton, USF Herbarium Slide Collection, Dennis Girard

The Florida Native Plant Society maintains an Endowment Grant program for the purpose of funding research on native plants. These are grants in the amount of $2500 or less, awarded for a 1-year period, and intended to support research that forwards the mission of the Florida Native Plant Society. Application deadline March 7, 2008. Grants will be awarded in Spring,

2008 and announced at the 2008 Annual Conference in Palmetto, Florida. Application instructions are on the FNPS Web site (www.fnps.org). Follow the links Programs/Awards & Grants/Endowment Fund Grants. For additional information, contact Paul A. Schmalzer [email protected].

The Suncoast Grapevine—February 2008 Page 5

Make check payable to FNPS. Detach and mail to:

Suncoast Chapter of

Florida Native Plant Society, Inc

P.O. Box 1158

Seffner, FL 33583-1158

Plant Raffle GuidelinesPlant Raffle GuidelinesPlant Raffle GuidelinesPlant Raffle Guidelines

≈ Please sign the raffle donor sheet and record the number of plants you donated.

≈ Before the start of the raffle, we will offer first choice of a plant on the raffle table to our speaker, followed by plant donors in the order of the number of plants donated.

≈ After these selections have been made, we will begin the raffle.

Remember, you get a free plant before the raffle when you donate plants for the raffle.

MEMBERSHIP

New

Audrey Garretson, Brandon Margo McKnight, Thonotosassa Virginia Overstreet, Tampa

Renewed Wendy Anastasia, Apollo Beach,

Tampa Electric/Manatee Viewing Center Richard and Sydney Brown, Riverview

Joel Cleveland, Tampa Yvette Killian, Tampa

Kenneth P.C. Kwo, Tampa Rita Lassiter, Riverview Mary MacArthur, Brandon Virginia Payne, Tampa

Membership in the Florida Native Plant Society enables you to receive their wonderful quarterly magazine The Palmetto. Joining the FNPS also entitles you to membership privileges in the Suncoast Florida Native Plant Society and a subscription to their monthly newsletter The Suncoast Grapevine.

Contact the membership chair, Harriett Wright, at 908-9398.

Check pertinent category:

� New Member/Gift $25 � Individual/Renewal $35 � Not-for-profit � Full time student $15 organization $50 � Library subscription $15 � Business or � Family or household $50 corporate $125 � Contributing $75 � Supporting $100 � Life $1,000 � Donor $250

Florida Native Plant Society Membership Application

� New Member � Renewal

Name _______________________________________________________ Business name or organization _______________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________

City, State and Zip _______________________________________________ Home phone ____________________ Email _________________________

Page 6 The Suncoast Grapevine - February 2008

Suncoast Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society, Inc. P.O. Box 1158

Seffner, FL 33583-1158

Please deliver to:

Newsletter Submissions Deadline for the next issue:

FEBRUARY 29

Please send articles and original artwork for The Suncoast Grapevine to Shawna Everidge, by the deadline of this month. Text should be in MS

Word; graphics should be in a standard graphic format (.jpg, .bmp, .gif). Previously published artwork should be accompanied by a letter of

permission from the original publisher.

Email… [email protected]

Meeting Locations

Suncoast Native Plant Society, Inc. meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Hillsborough Extension office

in Seffner.

SNPS Web Address: www.fnps.org/chapters/

suncoast

DIRECTIONS TO: Hillsborough County

Extension 5339 County Road 579,

Seffner. Take I-4 to Exit 10 (just East

of I-75). Go South for two blocks. The office is at the corner of Old Hillsborough

Road, and County Road 579.

Activities & Committee Chairs

Field Trips

Shirley Denton 986-6485

Publications Dick Wunderlin 977-6484 George Kish 920-0853

Librarian

Vikki Sinclair 989-2896 Membership

Harriett Wright 908-9398 Newsletter Editor

Shawna Everidge 757-9289 Mike Fite, Assistant 977-0892 Programs and Publicity

Mary Miller 960-8132 Education

Troy Springer 967-4538 Book Sales

Sally Sun 935-1312 USF Plant Sale

Sally Sun 935-1312 USF Botanical Garden Liaison Kim Hutton 974-2329 Chapter Representative

James Wheeler 571-5865 Webmaster

Pat Clouser 662-7222

Officers & Board of Directors

President

Harriett Wright 908-9398

Vice-president Mary Miller 960-8132

Secretary

Margo Funk 654-5611 Treasurer

John Miller 960-8132

Board Members Mary Miller Harriett Wright Margo Funk John Miller James Wheeler Troy Springer Shirley Denton

The SNPS BOD meets regularly.

Call Harriett Wright for exact locations.

Club logo:

“Beach Sunflower”

Helianthus debilis