Suncoast Grapevine

www.ficuswww.suncoastnps.org.usf.edu/orgs/suncoast The Suncoast Grapevine Newsletter of the Suncoast Native Plant Society, Inc. Volume 31 Number 4 April 2014 The Art of Nature Photography: With an emphasis on creative flower photography in the field and garden Presented by Donna Bollenbach Wednesday, April 16, 2014 @ 7PM Hillsborough County Extension Office Local nature photographer, author and SNPS member, Donna Bollenbach, will teach you creative techniques to improve your outdoor photography. Learn to see line, shape, form, texture and pattern in nature, and to include them in your images. Find out why light is the single most important element to taking extraordinary images and learn the questions you should ask yourself before pressing the shutter to make sure your image reflects your vision. Whether you use a digi- tal SLR with all the bells and whistles, or a point and shoot camera, local nature photographer and author, Donna Bol- lenbach, will teach you creative techniques to improve your outdoor photography. Creative nature photography begins by recognizing the art elements in nature and designing your image around them. Donna started photographing the plants and animals so she could later identify them. "Nature photography was the key that opened the door to the natural world for me" she said, "What started out as a means of documenting species turned into a passion to capture unique and creative images of plants and animals." She became certified as a Florida Master Naturalist and her focus turned to using her images to promote environmental education and conservation. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Suncoast Chapter of the Native Plant Society and the Friends of Kissimmee Prairie State Park. Locally, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Bay Soundings, Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP), various state parks and a wildlife rehabilitation center have used her images in brochures and calendars. She has also taught nature photography workshops in conjunction with gallery shows in Weedon Island Preserve and Brooker Creek Preserve. Donna’s articles on nature and photography have been published in magazines and on-line. In 2012, she published an e-book on "The Art of Nature Photography," which is available on Amazon. Our meetings include light refreshments and a plant auction afterwards. - submitted by Janet Bowers 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 Suncoast Grapevine— April 2014 Page 1 2014 FNPS Annual Conference The conference features wonderful speakers, field trips, and reasonable cost housing. This is your opportunity to explore the fantastic ecosystems of Southwest Florida with well known botanists, enjoy an evening at the Naples Botanical Garden, listen to well known speakers and meet them in person at the social events, and get to know the members and leaders of the Florida Native Plant Society. Early registration discount ends April 13. Several members of SNPS have already registered - hope to see you there! See details at www.fnps.org/conference UPCOMING SPEAKERS- May - Open Mic - members talk about July -Joint meeting, SNPS hosting Plants, No Politics! At Nature’s Classroom June - Lisa Roberts - Wildflowers Aug - Juliet Rynear - Conservation Project Update Thanks for helping with the March meeting to - Fred Mulholland, Cliff Brown for providing plants for the auction. Donna Bollenbach for bringing the refreshments Note from the Editor I’ve covered a lot of miles in the past 2 weeks! I went through about 21 counties. My trip to Torreya was by way of my daughter’s house in Melrose, I cruised up 471 through the Richloam Wildlife Management Area, then up 301 through Citra and Hawthorne, wildflowers guiding me most of the way. From her house, I went up Route 100 through wilderness and small towns. The next weekend, I went south to my other daughter’s home. We took a trip to the near- by Mounts Botanical Garden and I wound my way home on 710 with a brief stop at Kissimmee Prairie to see what spring looks like there. I felt like I took a lot of the ‘roads less travelled’ and arrived back home with a better sense of Florida spring wildflowers. Ditto to everything that Devon said - Torreya was great, the bunk beds looked like teen summer camp but we had a plant review every night before bed. The food was amazing, I watched Devon make Thai Chicken from scratch on her 2 burner camp stove, very impressive! I was also inspired by the Torreya park employees and volunteers. The campground restrooms were clean and well maintained. The effort and helpfulness of all the people we met was out- standing and added to the experience. Ranger Howard went above and beyond to make me feel welcome in the cabin when I arrived and the other campers were on their hike. He even handled Devon calling his boss when he showed up about 2 minutes late for the Gregory House tour. He led the tour and added many colorful stories along the way. First, we sat on the bench overlooking the river as he explained how the house built on the other side of the river at river lev- el, came to be where it is today, 200 feet above the Apalachicola River. He gave us a taste of how life was back in the 1800’s when the river was the transportation highway. The campground host was quick to help us move tables and fire rings to where we had chosen to gather at the overlook. Customer happiness was definitely in their vocabulary, unlike many other consumer experiences I have had. The state parks that I have been to on native plant trips have been staffed by amazing, dedicated people who make me want to see more parks. - Janet Bowers, Grapevine editor Page 2 The Suncoast Grapevine—April 2014 Letter from the President IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT PLANTS! The weather forecast said 90% rain but I wasn’t listening. Besides, we had the cabin and yurt to sleep in. Everything would be fine I kept telling myself. All I knew was I was going to Torreya State Park for 4 nights come hell or high water, and that is exactly what the weather forecast was warning. I arrived Thursday just before dark to find Carmel, Bunny and Shirley had already arrived and settled in. We wanted to get in a Friday morning hike before the rest of the group arrived. Friday morning it was clear others had already arrived as 13 intrepid souls gathered under very gloomy skies. Everyone was prepared for whatever came our way and as we set off on the Garden of Eden trail, it started to drizzle. The steady misting continued throughout our hike but everyone was in great shape (except Bob after he dislocated his finger). It was obvious the afternoon hike to Aspalago Landing would have to be cancelled, so a half dozen of us huddled in the screened porch of the cabin and talked. By dinner it was still raining so we all moved to the CCC barracks in the center of the camp ground. Troy built one of his fa- mous fires in the fireplace. Everyone brought a feast that was way more than we could con- sume, but we tried. Comfy couches, fire, friends and food. Life doesn’t get much better. At 6AM Saturday morning we ALL woke to a tremendous storm with thunder raining down. Several of the tent campers bee- lined it to the CCC barracks for coffee until daybreak. I pulled the covers over my head, but by 8AM it was all over. The skies were still gray but there was blue on the horizon so all 22 of us packed up and headed to Apalachicola to see the bogs and Pitcher plants. The rains were over and we were richly rewarded for enduring the storm. Another 3 stops to see more Pitcher plants, the Venus Fly Traps by the side of the road and a recently prescribed burn portion of Apalachicola and by 5PM we were all exhausted. Shirley had a gynormous pot of Chili waiting for us and dinner was another feast by the overlook of the river, 100+ feet below, with a gorgeous sunset. Sunday morning, 26 of us gathered in the parking lot for our hike of Torreya, most people I had never met. Word had spread about our venture and as we introduced ourselves, it was apparent some half dozen chapters were represented. The 7 mile hike around the park was littered with blooming Red Buck- eye, Dogwoods, Silverbells, Wild Comphrey and Wild Blue Phlox and the rolling trail took us through Pine Flatwoods and wet ravines. Our line strung out for miles as fast hikers raced for the end and the hard-core botanists examined every find. The campground was the gathering spot at the end of the day as we all chatted about our adventures. Dinner was “left-overs” night as we had been so well supplied on the previous evenings. It occurred to me that camping in Torreya was more than just looking at plants. It’s about relation- ships with old friends and new ones. It’s about spending time with people with common interests, who aren’t afraid to camp in bad weather, hike in the rain, dodge ticks or slog through snakey bogs looking for elusive plants. It’s about plants but it’s also about people who happen to be interested in plants! Thanks to my wonderful cabin mates, Carmel, Bunny, Janet, Frank and Lucy.

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