The Nature Coastline Newsletter of the Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society A Message from the President A little bit of Nature eases stress in our everyday life! We all have stress in our lives from not those gardens with stones, ce- one thing or another. We also all ment and alien plants that do not love native plants and know that encourage nature. Even if you our environment is very important spend only a short time outside MARCH-APRIL to us and the future. How can we enjoying your environment and 2020 handle our everyday lives and still breathing the fresh air, you can In this issue: have time to follow the mission of relieve stress. So, the moral of this Meetings/Programs the Florida Native Plant Society of story is that if we plant natives and by Pat Kelly preserving, conserving and restor- encourage wildlife into our back- ing native plants and native plant yards we are also healing our- Calendar communities of Florida? I found selves. In the Spotlight several ways to do this and I hope Thank you for being members of David Barnard you might have your own methods. the Nature Coast Chapter of the One way I found to cope with the Florida Native Plant Society. stress of life and still follow the Lessons from the Landscape by Julie Wert mission is to sit in the backyard with a cup of coffee or a glass of Jonnie Spitler, President Plant Profile: wine! and just enjoy nature around Florida Native Blackberries me. Breathe the fresh air, watch (Rubus argutus, cuneifolius, the birds, the great variety of in- flagellaris, trivialis.) sects, look at the beautiful native by Peggy Gretchen plants you planted and even the volunteers that you cannot identify yet, look at the sky and take it all in. How lucky we are that we have a place we can absorb real nature, The Mission of the Florida Native Plant Society is to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. Nature Coast Chapter meetings, field trips, The Society fulfills its mission through: and activities are open to FNPS members and Support for conservation land acquisition the public alike. Land management that enhances habitat suitability for native plants Monthly meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of each Education month at 7 p.m. Public policies that protect our native flora, especially rare species Location: Research on native plant species Land O’ Lakes Community Center Encouragement of local landscaping practices and poli- 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd (US 41) cies that preserve Florida's native plant heritage Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639 In the back meeting room. Entrance is off the courtyard - on the south side of the To become a member go to FNPS.org and click on “Join/ building. Support” at the upper right-hand corner of screen. Print form, complete, and mail form to FNPS, or call. You may Chapter website: pasconativeplants.org also join at a chapter meeting. Chapter E-mail: [email protected] www.facebook.com/PascoNativePlants MEMBERSHIP LEVELS twitter.com/NatureCoastFNPS Gold $500 FNPS website: http://www.fnps.org/ Patron $250 Business $150 Non-Profit $150 Supporting $100 Household $50 Individual $35 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL Full Time Student $15 INFORMATION FOR THE FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY, A OR BOOST YOUR SUPPORT by renewing as a Sustain- FLORIDA-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION ing Member -- easy $10 monthly payments automati- (REGISTRATION NO. CH3021), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM cally and securely charged to your credit card. CREDIT THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL- CARD PAYMENT REQUIRED. No checks/invoicing. Sus- FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR taining membership remains in effect as long as you VISITING THEIR WEBSITE AT csapp.800helpfla.com. REGIS- OFFICERS: President Jonnie Spitler 813-948-8472 [email protected] Vice President Nancy Heusted 727-515-1642 [email protected] Treasurer Peter Gonzalez 813-416-2375 [email protected] Secretary Carol Vanek 813-949-5588 [email protected] Chapter Rep Diane Caruso 813-334-2886 [email protected] CHAIRPERSONS Audio/Visual Molly Hays 813-469-9597 [email protected] Conservation Janice Howie 727-848-7689 [email protected] Construction Richard Stauffer 352-584-7116 [email protected] Facebook Administrator Gail Parsons 813-920-2730 [email protected] Field Trips Rebecca Clayton 813-416-5672 [email protected] Landscape Consultant David Barnard 813-406-3313 [email protected] Library Sharon Holding 727-843-9771 [email protected] Membership/Books Julie Wert 727-863-1363 [email protected] Newsletter Editor Karen Wright 813-963-7010 [email protected] Nominating Committee Jo Anne Hartzler 813-962-4216 [email protected] Plant Auction Joel Jackson 813-528-8156 [email protected] CHAPTER Plant Sale Peggy Gretchen 813-991-4812 [email protected] DIRECTORY Programs/Plant Sale Pat Kelly 352-588-0266 [email protected] Publicity Sandra Vanno 727-376-7663 [email protected] Refreshments Rebecca Dance 813-368-9041 [email protected] Web Master Melissa Perkins 813-417-5506 [email protected] Meetings/Programs MARCH 10 , 7 PM Crop Wild Relatives – Native Plant Cousins of the Foods We Eat Speaker: Katie Mac Millan From Biodiversity International, “Crop Florida grows 106 native Katie Mac Millen has Master’s degree in Environ- wild relatives are wild plant species that plant species that are mental Studies from the University of Montana and a are genetically related to cultivated closely related to the Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Carleton College. crops. Untended by humans, they con- foods we eat. Pasco and She has worked as an environmental educator at the tinue to evolve in the wild, developing its adjacent counties J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park in Pasco County, a biologi- traits – such as drought tolerance or pest grow 64, or 60%, of cal technician on Pasco conservation lands managed resistance – that farmers and breeders these native plant spe- can cross with domesticated crops to pro- cies. How can we, as an by the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Manage- duce new varieties.” FNPS chapter, contrib- ment Program and as a development review biologist ute to global food secu- for Pasco County Natural Resources. Katie is now a From Crop Trust, “The wild relatives of rity? Collecting crop grant specialist for Pasco County Parks, Recreation and our domesticated crops are the greatest wild relatives might be Natural Resources. source of untapped diversity. These crop one answer. wild relatives are, however, threatened in their natural environment; they are also missing in crop collections.” APRIL 14 , 7 PM Explore, Experience, Embrace Wild Florida Speaker: Linda Wilinski This presentation will introduce us to Linda Wilinski, a freelance photographer focused on the Linda will take us on a photo- the conservation of wild Florida, is a certified Florida graphic journey through wild Florida Master Naturalist, Springs Ambassador and attended to be inspired by its natural beauty, Crealde’ School of Art. She completed a year-long hear about its perils and learn how we photo series at the Oakland Nature Preserve and her can all make a difference. artwork has been exhibited throughout Florida with an upcoming exhibit in Cedar Key in March of 2020. Linda’s mission is to serve as the bridge between the audience and wild Florida. She will have some of her prints for sale. Volunteer Opportunities Volunteering is the most important part of any organization. We do not pay people, but we have a mission and need people to fulfill that mission. Here are some ways you can help and at the same time have fun Outreach: During the year there are several opportunities to connect with the public and promote FNPS and our chapter. Out- reach usually consists of a tent, table, and literature and 2-3 volunteers. If you are interested in being chair for one event or sev- eral, we need you. Volunteer Administrator: It is important for FNPS to gather information about our volunteer efforts. The person who chairs this task uses their computer to fill out the volunteer information received from our members and officers. Photo Chairperson: Many of us take great pictures at events, field trips and in our own gardens. A central person to gather these photos and then send appropriate ones to update our website and facebook and archive for our chapter. Education Chairperson: What about that younger generation? Anyone with ideas and energy to help us educate the young? This is a great opportunity to lead a committee. The Nature Coastline 3 January Field Trip to Tucker Hill Croom Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest Led by Vince Morris, ecologist and forest supervisor Man made nest box for endangered red- cockaded woodpecker Loblolly Pine native common blue violet Smilax pumila or dwarf smilax Yucca filamentosa - Adam's needle frostweed with hoverfly Common Buckeye The Nature Coastline silkgrass 4 Calendar of Events Monday, March 2, 2020: Nature Coast Chapter Board Meeting 2:00 pm. Saturday, March 7, 2020: Native Plant Walk at Lettuce Lake Park 9:00 a.m.6920 East Fletcher Avenue Visi- tor's Center Tampa FL, 33637 Saturday, March 28, 2020 Native Plant Sale Heritage Park 5401 Land O Lakes Blvd. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Field Trips Contact Becky Clayton 813 416-5672 [email protected] Sunday, March 22, 2020 10:00 am Title: Crop Wild Relative Hunt Location: Big Pine Tract of the Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area – 12060 Old Crystal River Road, Brooksville. Field Trip Leader: Katie Mac Millen, MS Grants Specialist Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources This trip is a follow up to the March Program.