KWBG NURSERY NOTES Key West Botanical Garden Society Summer 2015 The Nursery is one of the Botanical Garden’s best kept Semaphore cactus (Consolea corallicola) is secrets; not intentionally, just because it’s way out back! Visit us Wednesday or Saturday mornings; 9:00 to Noon. one of the most threatened and endangered Better yet, volunteer! plant species in the United States. Summer 2015 It grows naturally in only two areas; at the end The Garden has had a Nursery on-site for a number of years. Early of Little Torch Key (the area is managed by on it was used primarily as a containment area for trees and shrubs The Nature Conservancy) and Swan Key, in brought in from “rescue” sites (removal due to urban growth) and Biscayne Bay. They are not doing well in their the mainland prior to being planted in the Garden. It had fallen into natural habitat; likely due to our rising sea disarray after Botanist Stephen Hodges left, with several other bota- nists continuing the work on an EPAC (Endangered Plant Advisory level. We do have a healthy stand at the Bo- Council) grant to grow several species of endangered plants. tanical Garden and have had great success at propagation. In early 2011, with the encouragement of present day Executive Director Misha McRAE, volunteers started the long and arduous process of cleaning and organizing the Nursery, caring for the re- We received our “parent” specimens from the maining plants, and completing the EPAC grant requirements. Seed Fairchild Botanic Garden about 10 years ago. and plant material collection started in the fall of 2011. A large collection can be found while travers- ing our Western The Garden’s mission of preservation and conservation serves to direct collection policy; Florida Keys and Caribbean basin species Loop Trail. are being propagated, with an emphasis on threatened and endan- gered plants. At this time we have more than 170 species under propagation and care; with a total of approximately 2000 plants. We use the plants for out-planting in the Garden, restoration, sales to our locals and education. We are proud of our Nursery and we thank all the volunteers that have made it a success. Semaphore (noun) A visual signaling apparatus with flags, lights, or mechanically moving arms, as one used on a railroad. Volunteer Betty Desbiens with Semaphore cactus; both rare and special! .