Volume 3, Number 3 :: June 2012 Springing into nature! The Cuplet Fern Chapter Board set a 2012 chapter goal to identify a local value-added program that promotes outdoor and nature activities for youth. The program chosen was Eco Camp, hosted by Seminole County Leisure Services, held at The Environmental Studies Center during winter and spring break and in the summer. The chapter sponsored two campers for the Spring Break Camp in March. Sisters Julielenet and Angelica Lynch 2012-13 BOARD were the recipients of the scholarships. President: Beth Jackson “The girls ended up being our Counselors In Training and did an amazing job,” said Lori Hartsock, Program Vice President: Sherry Williams Coordinator for Seminole County Greenways and Secretary: Natural Lands. “They helped set up and clean up for Vacant projects that the campers were doing, helped take Treasurer: photos during camp, and even created a Power Point presentation for the last day of camp with some of Susan Blount-Angermeier the photos taken during the week. Past President: Neta Villalobos-Bell “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your group Chapter Representative: donating the two scholarships that allowed these Neta Villalobos-Bell girls to go to camp,” said Hartsock.“I know they had Director/Membership: a great time and the teachers truly appreciated all their help!” Graham Williams application and more information can be found on Pages 6 and 7. Please distribute this form to anyone Director: Vacant It was so successful the Chapter Board has voted to you know who might be interested. If you have any sponsor two more children for this summer. The questions, please call Neta at 407-302-7616. 2012-13 COMMITTEES Newsletter Editor/Social Media/Publicity: Shari King “Thank You” from Julielenet and Angelica [email protected] Webmaster: Charles Miller Cuplet Fern Chapter Florida Native Plant Society PO Box 150021 Altamonte Springs, FL 32715 MEETING LOCATION: Sanford Garden Club 200 Fairmont Drive Sanford, FL 32773 sanfordgardenclub.org Thank You: WELCOME NEW Thank you to Deborah CHAPTER BOARD Green, Cuplet Fern Although there were no “new” members elected to the Chapter Board Chapter Board at the May member meeting, the Board Member, (upper photo) positions have changed. Please welcome: for presenting the April President: Beth Jackson Vice-President: Sherry Williams meeting about Why and Treasurer: Susan Angermeier How Plants and Insects Secretary:Vacant Membership: Graham Williams Depend on Each Other, Member at Large:Vacant Communications: Shari King and to Mike Martin Webmaster: Charles Miller Florida Forestry Chapter Rep: Neta Villalobos-Bell Service (lower photo) We are still seeking a Secretary and one Member at Large. for presenting the May The Board meets monthly, Tuesday a week after the monthly meeting about Seminole member meeting, 6:30pm, in Altamonte Springs close to SR 436 and I-4. If you are interested in native plants and want to State Forest. (And help support the chapter mission, please call Neta at 407 302- 7616 or talk with any of your Board members about thanks to Charles participating. Thanks. Miller for the photos!) Work continues at Crystal Lake Preserve in Lake Mary Left photo: Cuplet Fern Chapter members partner with photo: Neta Villalobos-Bell and Kermit Hunnicutt dig in lead organization Seminole Audubon Society. Right to install a point of interest post on the trails. Frond Forum 2 June 2012 June Chapter Meeting July Chapter Meeting & Field Trip Monday, July 9, 7 p.m. Sanford Garden Club Monday, June 11, 7 p.m. 200 Fairmont Drive, Sanford Sanford Garden Club 200 Fairmont Drive, Sanford PROGRAM :: Salvaging the Real Florida. Author Bill Belleville recounts eco-adventures in the backcountry of the Florida Keys, on the Suwannee River, in the swamps of the PROGRAM :: Natives in the Urban Landscape Miguel Garces, Wekiva, and in freshwater spring and cave systems around the ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance Account Manager in charge of the state. For more information on Bill Belleville and the program, upkeep of most of the common areas in Baldwin Park, the walk-able please see Page 4. community in Orlando, is our guest speaker. He will describe the process and challenges of landscaping zero size lots, community open JULY FIELD TRIP space, and downtown areas. (For more information on Baldwin Park, No field trip is planned due to the expected hot weather. please go to Page 8 to see a story excerpted from the May 2012 Baldwin Park Living community magazine.) Bill Belleville at a JUNE FIELD TRIP recent nature Saturday, June 16, 9 a.m. journaling workshop Baldwin Park held at Lake Harney Meet at Harbor Park, in the Village Center, near the fountain Wilderness Area. and Lake Baldwin (New Broad Street) Look for the story on the workshop in the Guided Walk through Baldwin Park Landscapes :: Miguel Garces, July 2012 Frond ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance Account Manager in charge of the Forum. (Photo courtesy of G.K. upkeep of most of the common areas in Baldwin Park, will guide a walk Sharman) through Baldwin Park’s natural landscapes, spotlighting the use of natives in the urban landscape. This is a great opportunity to learn from our guide and get ideas for your own yard. IF YOU MISSED THIS FIELD TRIP, YOU MISSED A LOT! This fellow was spotted on the May field trip to Seminole State Forest. Look for more photos from this field trip and April and May events, as well as a calendar of upcoming meetings and field trips, and much more in a “special” July edition of FROND FORUM. Frond Forum 3 June 2012 ‘Salvaging the Real FloRida’ Author to speak in July Cuplet Fern Chapter, Florida Native Plant Society is pleased to host author Bill Belleville at their July 8 meeting. “Salvaging the Real Florida” recounts author Bill Belleville's eco-adventures in the backcountry of the Florida Keys, on the Suwannee River, in the swamps of the Wekiva, and in freshwater spring and caves systems around the state. Of Bill’s work, best-selling New York Times writer Carl Hiaasen has said: "Bill Belleville writes gorgeously and straight from the heart." During the program, Bill will read from “Salvaging” and show nature photos to illustrate. “Salvaging” was recently honored with the top award in the Literature-Natural History category from the National Outdoor Book Award foundation. Bill’s five other books include “Deep Cuba.” “River of Lakes,” and “Sunken Cities, Sacred Cenotes and Golden Sharks: Travels of a Water-bound Adventurer.” His book “Losing it All to Sprawl: How Progress Ate My Cracker Landscape” was named one overseas for the Discovery Channel, and has been a Writer in of the “best books” in the country by the National Library Journal Residence at USF’s graduate “Florida Studies Program.” He lectures in 2006. Bill has also contributed to nine anthologies, including "Best throughout the state on behalf of the Florida Humanities Council, Travel Writing” and more recently “Bartram’s Living Legacy:The He lives in Sanford. For more information, please visit Travels & the Nature of the South.” www.BillBelleville.com. He’s scripted and co-produced documentaries for PBS, and with The regular month chapter meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Philippe Cousteau, produced a radio documentary for NPR’s “Living Sanford Garden Club, 200 Farimont Drive, in Sanford.The on Earth” on the manatees of Blue Spring. Bill’s traveled widely presentation is open to the public. NOW AVAILABLE! Two styles of totes screen printed with the CUPLET FERN LOGO! ONLY $18 Frond Forum 4 June 2012 Another great conference! By Deborah Green Outgoing Chapter Representative The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) just completed another fantastically successful annual conference May 17-20 in Plant City, sponsored by the Suncoast and Hernando Chapters. Due to work commitments, I was only able to attend for one half day, but I could see the excitement and great turnout.As I wrote last year, when our chapter was one of the hosts of the 2011 conference in Maitland, the conference is the heart of the FNPS. It's a time to go on field trips that can allow you to learn how others have landscaped their yards or what natives grow in what natural habitats. It's a time to renew friendships you have made on field trips from past conferences. It's a time to hear exciting keynote speakers and talks on a wide variety of native plant topics. And perhaps best of all, it's a chance to purchase native plants from a dozen or so local native plant vendors. I already have all the common local native species in my yard, so I seek the rarer species in the conference plant sale.This year I focused on adding a few more species of ferns and Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Yes the conference costs a bit - $75 per day before the early registration deadline this year, in part a fundraiser for the society - but if you love native plants, maybe you can prioritize it for next year. Next year's conference is again mid-May and this time in Jacksonville. I know I'll be there again. (Photo courtesy of the FNPS Facebook page.) Lake Wales Ridge State Forest:The search for rare plants By Beth Jackson and endangered plant species such Incoming Chapter as the scrub plum, pygmy fringe tree, President scrub blazing star, and bear grass. On May 12, members from the Members of the various chapters Tarflower, Pine Lily, Heartland split into four groups so that we and Cuplet Fern native plant society chapters went in search of could survey more of the property, rare plant species in the Dry Prairie alas none of the groups found the habitat of the Lake Wales Ridge plants we were searching for that State Forest.We were searching for day but we did forge new friendships blue butterwort, yellow butterwort with fellow plant enthusiasts.