FNPS Promotesthe Preservation, Conservation, and Restoration of the Native Plants and Native Plant Communities of Florida
by providing scientifically sound information on native plants, their habitats, the wildlife that depends on them, and their management and culture
FNPS Promotesthe Preservation, Conservation, and Restoration of the Native Plants and Native Plant Communities of Florida
by supporting research about Florida native plants
FNPS Promotesthe Preservation, Conservation, and Restoration of the Native Plants and Native Plant Communities of Florida
by providing information on native plant landscaping and its benefits for a healthy environment including water, wildlife, and butterflies and to preserve our natural heritage.
FNPS Promotesthe Preservation, Conservation, and Restoration of the Native Plants and Native Plant Communities of Florida
by providing supporting policies and programs that protect our natural lands and encourage proper management of those lands
News
Society's Advocacy Made a Difference: Wrap Up of 2013 Legislative Session
Thanks to the persistent efforts of our members - especially those who are part of the Action Alert network - we were able to make a significant difference in the outcome of the 2013 session of the Florida Legislature. More funding will be dedicated to land conservation than during…
Read Full Story >>Bob Egolf
It is with great regret that we announce the death of one of our most cherished leaders, Bob Egolf. Bob (full name Robert William Egolf) died on Friday April 5, 2013. Bob was FNPS President from May 2004 to May 2006. It was a privilege to serve with Bob on the FNPS board for so many years.…
Read Full Story >>Florida Legislature Supports More Funding for Native Wildflowers - After Support From FNPS and FANN
FNPS submitted a letter of support for Senate Bill 632 on behalf of our friends and partners at the Florida Wildflower Foundation (use the link below to see our letter). The bill proposed increasing the user fee for the Florida Wildflower license plate from $15 to $25 in order to bring it into conformity with the cost of other specialty license plates and in the process generate more funding for FWF's wildflower grants, roadside beautification projects, educational campaigns, and other good works. The situation appeared dire after the House passed the bill unanimously but it continued to languish in the Senate, with no indication it would ever be brought to a vote. Then it passed the Senate on the last day of the session! - thanks largely to a concerted effort by FNPS, FANN, and others, including some targeted lobbying efforts by our own Eleanor Dietrich. We also extend a thank you to Buddy MacKay who spoke up for passage, and must recognize Rep. John Wood, who sponsored the legislation in honor of his late mother who helped initiate the state's wildflower planting program; Reps Goodson and Vasilinda for serving as co-sponsors; Senator Soto who sponsored the Senate version of the bill; and Senate President Don Gaetz for putting the bill up for passage in the waning moments of the session, when it would have been easy to overlook it. Another upside according to FWF Executive Director Lisa Roberts: the Florida Legislature now knows a lot more about the benefits of native plants and about the work our organizations are doing! Congrats to FWF.
FNPS Comments on SFWMD East Coast Surplus Lands Proposal
Latest from the Blog
Live blogging from the conference: Saturday
Saturday at the conference:
FNPS held its annual membership meeting, winners of the plant ID contest were announced, and Palmetto awards were presented. Then everyone turned out for keynote speaker Roger Hammer. |
| Saturday keynote speaker Roger Hammer entertained a full house. |
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| His theme was "La Florida" so he showed us how Ponce deLeon probably appeared here. | He also had wonderful slides of some of the flowers that would have inspired the name. |
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| Bill Berthet talked about rare butterflies of NE Florida. He also led one of the field trips. | Andrea Delong-Amaya talked to us about the cool projects at the Ladybird John Center in Texas. They've been created innovative venues for kids including this Stumpery and bird nests that kids can play in. |
Lunch Break
Many attendees spent lunchtime out on the back deck: the pavilion. |
| Roger signed his books along with other authors at lunch time out on the pavilion. |
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| Some movers and shakers for FNPS. |
Afternoon sessions:
The afternoon presentations included the special homeowners' workshop. |
| Ixia members and landscape architects, Laurie Sheldon and Jake Ingram, presented the workshop o a group of more than 60 participants. Many of them bought native plants from our vendors to get started right away. |
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| The homeowners workshop included landscaping principles and personal experience with natives in your yard. Hint: They grow! |
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| The silent auction room was busy as the bidding time drew close. |
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| Linda Schneider won the quilt raffle. |
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| FNPS president, Steve Woodmansee, won the kayak raffle. REI donated this item to the conference. |
The Saturday Evening Social
The committee arranged for a Low Country boil in the Dolphin Plaza located in Hanna Park, which includes miles of Atlantic Ocean Beach. The food was great and so was the company. |
| Dunes next to the Dolphin Plaza, the location of our Saturday evening social. |
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| Our performers at the Saturday evening social: Bella Voce. |
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| We were treated to a wonderful selection of 16th century Spanish pieces to complement the conference theme: "La Florida" |
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| The dune vegetation included some windswept magnolia trees. |
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| Magnolia grandiflora |
And so another conference ends...
People were off on field trips this morning to conclude the 2013 conference. Thanks to everyone who came. You made it fun for all of us on the committee.
The organizers of the 2014 conference were in attendance and were taking notes and soaking in some of our experiences. It will be hosted by the Coccoloba Chapter in Ft. Myers at the Florida Gulf Coast University from May 15 - 18, 2014. See y'all there!
More detailed summaries of some of the presentations will be posted here in the next few weeks.
Photos and text posted by Ginny Stibolt.
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