Conradina Chapter Meeting Page 2

Preserving, Conserving, and Restoring the Real Florida Since 1980.

Nov 2019

Inside this issue: Conradina Chapter Meeting Page 2. Carol's Corner Monday, November 11, 2019 Page 3. Calendar 5:30 P.M. Refreshments  6:00 P.M. Meeting Page 4. UF/IFAS FMNP Scholar- ship & Melbourne Village AHF Building 555 Hammock Rd., Weed Party Melbourne Village, Florida 32904

Page 5. Indian River Lagoon day ‘Grasses, Rushes, and Sedges for Florida Landscapes’ by Nancy J. Bissett Native grasses, rushes, and sedges can play an important part in our landscapes Page 6. Upcoming Event by offering unique textures, accents, stability and natural settings for Page 7. Chapter Board and News wildflowers, as well as year-round changes in color. Though pink muhly grass is well known, there are many species now available from native plant nurseries and even more that could be used. Nancy will discuss the characteristics of each species and how they can be used in a landscape as well as their maintenance needs. Grasses have been widely used to make meadow gardens throughout the country, but we have just begun to use our unique grass and grass-like flora in Florida. Attendees will learn about and become inspired to take advantage of the many possibilities. Please join us! Nancy J. Bissett, Botanist, Restoration Ecologist, Horticulturist • Graduate of Florida Southern College with BS. degree in horticulture and botany, June 1980 • Co-owner of The Natives, Inc. a nursery growing only Florida native plants since 1982 As the developer of The Natives nursery, Nancy has experimented with the propagation and growth of many natives plants, including grasses, wildflowers, and rare species. She has also developed techniques for restoring many upland communities including scrub, sandhill, and flatwoods that include planting, Next Chapter Meeting direct-seeding native groundcovers, and weed control. As a botanist she has November 11 2019 helped federal, state, and local authorities find and evaluate rare plant communities, and has found new rare plant locations, a new scrub mint and new Carphephorus called Pineland Purple.

www.conradina.fnpschapters.org November 2019 Conradina News Page 2

Carol’s Corner: Whoopie...I have a Coontie! By Carol Hebert

Coonties were a treat at Conradina's Native Plant Garden tour. There were several plants that had Atala caterpillars and a few adults. Of course the weather conditions were off a bit with TORNADO WARNINGS for every County in Central Florida! Coonties (Zamia pumila) is not a fern or a palm. Coontie is a cycad, which is an ancient cone-bearing plant. It is also a great plant that is very attractive in yard landscape. It is the host plant to the Atala butterfly. The Atala butterfly was featured on the cover of the Native Plant Garden booklet. We also counted eleven caterpillars on a Coontie in Adam's yard! The Coontie is a small "shrub" and grows very slowly. It will reach to 2-1/2 to 3 feet tall by 3-5 feet wide. It takes full sun to full shade. So be sure when you decide to plant a Coontie in your yard be sure to give it enough room to grow and cover a wide area. As we know they are also salt tolerant. They also like well drained soil and are drought and cold tolerant. They will grow well in any part of Florida, even outside its normal range which is in the north part of the panhandle. Another cool thing about Coonties is they are a male and female plant. The one pictured in my yard is a male. The Seminole Indians used the underground stems of the Coontie to ground into a flour and use it for making bread. I personally would not recommend this recipe even if you are a very experienced cook. Plant native! Native Plant Nurseries and Service Providers Hey everybody! Have you planned on, or have you already started planting new native plants in your garden and yard? Have you had trouble finding the native plants and wildflowers you want? Well here are a few links to help you locate what you are looking for. Company / Web link Name / email Telephone Comments Maple Street Natives / Sharon / Brent Dolan 321-729-6857 Native plants NatScape LLC Native Land- Drew Dolan 321-223-6147 Landscape design, installation, consultation and Tree scapes Service Go Native Landscaping Nichole Perma 321-795-3111 Native landscape design, installation, consultation and maintenance Native Butterfly Flowers, LLC Tim / Anna 321-626-7386 Native plants and landscape design Change of Greenery Brendan Healy 321-536-0655 Lagoon friendly landscape designs and installations Florida Native Wildflowers Purchase seeds on-line Ask about gift certificates! Happy gardening.

www.conradina.fnpschapters.org November 2019 Conradina News Page 3

Upcoming Events & Meetings

2019 Monday Nov 11, Conradina Chapter FNPS General Meeting.‘ Grasses, Rushes and Sedges’ by Nancy Bissett, The 2019 Native Inc. native plant nursery and landscaping company. NOTE CHANGE OF MEETING LOCATION -Meeting will be at Melbourne Village AHF Building 555 Hammock Rd., Melbourne Village, Florida 32904 Monday Dec 9, Conradina Chapter FNPS General Meeting.‘‘ Create A Wreath With Native Plant Cuttings’ Martha 2019 Steuart and helpers provide a wonderful amount of native plant cuttings for decorating a wreath to take home and display in your home for the holidays. Wreaths made from native grape vines are provided or bring your own. Melbourne Fee Avenue Public Library. 5:30 P.M. refreshments, 6:00 P.M. meeting. 2020 Monday Jan 13, Conradina Chapter FNPS General Meeting.‘ Native Plants at Shoreline and oyster bags to make ’ 2020 by Callie Shaffer, Brevard Zoo. Melbourne Fee Avenue Public Library. 5:30 P.M. refreshments, 6:00 P.M. meeting. January 25, 2020 3rd Transforming Landscapes for a Sustainable Future Register online at www.PelicanIslandAudubon.org. 8 am—4:30 pm Emerson Center 1590 27th Avenue Vero Beach, FL 32960 Monday Feb 10, Conradina Chapter FNPS General Meeting.‘ Marine Mammals’ by Susan Phillips, Hubbs- 2020 SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI), A non-profit scientific research organization. Melbourne Fee Avenue Public Library. 5:30 P.M. refreshments, 6:00 P.M. meeting. Monday Mar 9, Conradina Chapter FNPS General Meeting.‘ TBD’ by Bert Alm –Advanced FL. Naturalist, a founder 2020 of the Space Coast Reg. Friends Group of FMNP and Space Coast Audubon. Melbourne Fee Avenue Public Library. 5:30 P.M. refreshments, 6:00 P.M. meeting. Monday Apr 13, Conradina Chapter FNPS General Meeting.‘ Native Plants’ by Jennifer Mitchell Ph.D., SJRWM. 2020 Melbourne Fee Avenue Public Library. 5:30 P.M. refreshments, 6:00 P.M. meeting. Monday May 14, Conradina Chapter FNPS General Meeting.‘ TBD’ by TBD. 2020 Melbourne Fee Avenue Public Library. 5:30 P.M. refreshments, 6:00 P.M. meeting. Sunday June 14, Conradina Board meeting (11:00) and Member Potluck Brunch (Noon) Socialize and share food. 2019 A boardwalk tour of Erna Nixon Park after brunch. Hyperlinks go to Conradina web calendar. You can share the calendar events with your calendar by clicking on then and selecting Share and the calendar type.

Help Recycle & Reuse Nursery Pots Members participating in providing native plants for the plant drawing for our monthly meetings are in need of small pots (1 gal or less). Please bring your extra pots to the meeting, we will collect and distribute. Please rinse pots before bringing to the Library. All members are encouraged • to bring native plants to share and • to bring empty pots to pass along Thanks!

www.conradina.fnpschapters.org November 2019 Conradina News Page 4 Upcoming Events Conradina Chapter, FNPS offers UF/IFAS Florida Master Naturalist Program scholarship each year! The scholarship is good for one of the seven Florida Master Naturalist Program courses and must be used before the end of one year from the award date. Scholarship Applicant Criteria: The applicant should be a Brevard County resident, a current member of Conradina Chapter, FNPS and have the time and commitment to fully participate in the class. Want to apply?

• Write a one to two paragraph narrative as to why you want to participate and how you would potentially use this knowledge in promoting environmental education.

• Send the above narrative and the completed application to Kathryn Merry, Conradina Secre- tary at [email protected]. ——————————————————————————— Weed Party at the West Melbourne Post Office Please come join us to clean up this huge and amazing Keep Brevard Beautiful grant site that needs some love from native plant enthusiasts. The transfor- mation of this space has been wonderful and is now attracting butterflies and other wildlife like this pretty snake. Where: West Melbourne Post Office on the corner of Minton Road and Henry Ave When: Sunday Nov. 17 starting at 8 am – 11 am What to Bring:

• Gardening gloves and tools

• Water to stay hydrated, hat, sunscreen, etc.

• Pine needles for mulch if you have extra

• Large sheets of cardboard with the plastic tape removed please Other requests: Jane has 9 bags of pine needles stored up if someone has a pick-up truck to bring them please. For any questions please email Jane at janehig- [email protected] Thank you!

www.conradina.fnpschapters.org November 2019 Conradina News Page 5 Upcoming Events

Music! Food! Arts & Crafts Vendors! Event Schedule:

• 9 – 11 a.m. Hook Kids on Fishing Program Kids who participate receive a free fishing rod. Advance registration required.

• 10 – 2 p.m. Learn about the Lagoon Exhibitor booths, volunteer opportunities, hands-on learning.

• 11 – 12 p.m. Rain Barrel Workshop Only 30 spots available to make your own free rain barrel. Advance registration required.

Advance Registration:

• To register for the Hook Kids on Fishing Program, contact: Summer Kessler at [email protected] or call (321) 508-0201

• Register for the rain barrel workshop at: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/irldayrainbarrel Or, contact Nicole Broquet at (321) 725-7775 or [email protected]

www.conradina.fnpschapters.org November 2019 Conradina News Page 6 Upcoming Events

www.conradina.fnpschapters.org November 2019 Conradina News Page 7

Officers and Directors Chapter News President Carol Hebert A BIG THANK YOU to the Homeowners and Volunteers that helped make Vice President the 10th annual "Native Plant Garden" tour a success! Jo Sarmiento Homeowners: Cindy Lively, Paul and Peggy Biggs, Trevor Nimmons, Jo Sar- Secretary miento, Bev Allen, Melanie and Mitch Rotenberg, Adam and Sarah Stokey. Kathryn Merry Volunteers: Martha Steuart, Sara Morrison, Joan and Mike Buckler, Dicque Treasurer Jane Higgins Walz, Cammie Donaldson, Carol Hebert, Joann and Kevin Gulliver, Karen Chapter Representative Hill, Lynda Geraci, Stewart Wiener, Leonard McCray, Kathryn and Paul Mer- Martha Steuart ry, Jim Baldwin, Beth Glover, Karen Moser, David Zeitz, Carl Winebarger, Board of Directors At Large Kate Wells, Jane Higgins, Ann Sepri, Eileen McGurk, Lisa and Rob Longacre, Jim Baldwin Steve Cook and Elizabeth Malle. Sharon Dolan Thank you so much for volunteering your time to educate others and highlight Cammie Donaldson Lynda Geraci native plants in landscapes! Plant Native! Lenoard McCray Jr. Sara Morrison Karen Moser Bo Platt Suzanne Valencia Stewart Weimer Carl Winebarger David Zeitz

Membership Chair Lynda Geraci Webmaster Stewart Weimer Newsletter Editor Stewart Weimer

Conradina Chapter Florida Native Plant Society www.conradina.fnpschapters.org Brevard County Commission Proclamation for Native Plant Month

On October 22, Commissioner Kurt Smith issued a resolution proclaiming Florida Native Plant Society October Native Plant Month. Bo Platt arranged this with the County Commis- www.fnps.org sioner. Below is photo of Suzanne Valencia receiving the framed resolution from Commissioner Curt Smith. Proclaiming October native plant month. Video of presentation: http:// brevardfl.granicus.com/player/clip/42? meta_id=17221 (starts at 16:42 of video) Thanks!