Program Preview - Florida Native Plant Society
Transcription
Program Preview - Florida Native Plant Society
Florida Native Plant Society’s 34th Annual Conference Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL May 15-18, 2014 Coast University welcomes the Florida Native Plant Society to our campus for your annual Page 2 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native CU practices and promotes sustainability in our curriculum and facilities planning, with the many native plants on our campus. We appreciate the work you do to foster a healthy environ- } Florida Gulf Coast University welcomes the Florida Native Plant Society to our campus for your annual meeting. www.fgcu.edu About the cover: This artwork was created by Ikki Matsumoto (January 1, 1935 - December 31, 2013). Born in Tokyo, Japan, Ikki was the son of famed Japanese illustrator, Katsuji Matsumoto. Simply translated, Ikki’s name means “the single horseman under a pine tree,” yet friends and family on Sanibel Island have shown he was never alone. Ikki designed a two-volume book of punch-out animals published by Rand McNally, illustrated the bestseller, The Joy of Cooking, and was chosen by first lady Nancy Reagan to paint an Easter egg, which is in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Museum. The artwork on this program cover appeared on the cover of Dick Workman’s book, Growing Native: Native Plants for Landscape Use in Coastal South Florida (The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Inc., 1980). During the Florida Native Plant Society’s 34th Annual Conference, we are honored to salute the memory of Ikki Matsumoto, while also acknowledging the 34th anniversary of Dick Workman’s Growing Native book. Dick is a founding member of the Florida Native Plant Society. Ikki and Dick were very good friends. 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 3 President’s Message Greetings Conference Attendee, It is a great pleasure to welcome you to our 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native hosted by our Coccoloba chapter. Enjoy these four days of non-stop fun and educational field trips, programs, workshops, and socials. Be sure and check out our excellent vendors, displays, and silent auction items. I hope you will be as proud as I am of our hard working Conference Committee and Executive Director who have done an admirable job pulling all this together. Thank you for supporting FNPS, and if you see me roaming around the hotel, venue, or socials, please feel free to pull me aside and say howdy. Steve Woodmansee President, FNPS 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. Table of Contents Slate of Proposed State Officers.............4 Maps..................................................4-5 Schedule-at-a-glance.............................6 Exhibitors, vendors, sponsors................7 Committee meetings..............................8 Nature walks................ ..........................9 2014 Landscape Award..........................9 Walking with the Natives event...........10 Conference socials...............................11 2014 field trips......................................11 Daily program schedule.................12-16 Session descriptions.......................17-31 Meet the speakers...........................32-39 The Society fulfills this mission through: support for conservation land acquisition; land management that enhances habitat suitability for native plants; education; public policies that protect our native flora, especially rare species; research on native plant species; and encouragment of local landscaping practices and policies that preserve Florida’s native plant heritage. Page 4 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Welcome to FGCU! Cohen Center Plant Sale, Exhibits, Walking with the Natives event Lots of Nature Trails Xavier Cortada FLOR500 Exhibition Kleist Health Center (beginning location of Edible Walk) 2014-2015 Proposed Slate of State Officers President: Anne Cox Secretary: Martha Steuart Director at Large: Jon Moore Director at Large: Julie Wert Director at Large: Dave Feagles Julie Wert: Julie has been active with the Nature Coast Chapter since joining FNPS in 1995. She served as Vice-President for 3 years and is currently in her fifth year as President of the Chapter. Always working to help preserve the natural resources of the Nature Coast, Julie is also a longtime trustee of the Gulf Coast Conservancy. She received the Award of Honor for Residential/Homeowner landscapes in 2011, and she continues to share experiences gained from increasing diversity in her own five acre landscape. Palmetto Hall South Village (SoVi) Dining South Village (SoVi) site of Saturday social Dave Feagle: Dave’s leadership experience started by serving as VicePresident of the student body at SUNY Cortland while studying physics and math. Six years in the Vietnam era nuclear Navy gave him a technological and laboratory background and set the stage for his activism. After supervising a hospital laboratory in upstate New York and running a database group developing software in Sarasota and Ft. Lauderdale, he returned to Sarasota in 1986 for a smaller community and more rural atmosphere. In Sarasota, he opened Earthscapes, an intentionally small landscaping business. Since stumbling onto the Florida Native Plant Society in 1991, he has been active in the Serenoa Chapter, serving as a Board Member, Treasurer, President, and Chapter Representative. Dave has worked on land reviews, helped with the CISMA startup, met with SWFWMD, done invasive control, installed out plantings, and still can’t keep his mouth shut. 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 5 Restrooms Bookstore Food Court Einstein Brothers Bagels Vendors Plant Sale & Exhibitors Terrace Ballroom B Restrooms Ballroom A Room 213 Room 214 Page 6 Housekeeping Please wear your nametag at all times for admission into conference events (and so we can all get to know each other). If you misplace your tag, visit registration for a replacement. Bring a jacket or sweater. Temperatures can be unpredictable and slow to adjust. 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Schedule at a Glance Wednesday, May 14 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm Registration opens at FGCU South Village - Palmetto Hall Lobby 6:30 am – 8:00 am 7:00 am – 2:00 pm 7:00 am – 11:30 am 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Breakfast at FGCU South Village Dining Room (for FGCU lodgers) Field Trips A-J depart from Palmetto Hall Thursday, May 15 Friday, May 16 Presenters, please check in! We are always relieved to know you’re here for your presentation, and may have some last minute information about your session. Box Lunches are provided to pre-registered attendees; Einstein’s Bagels will be open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:00am-2:00pm. Please note that vegetarian lunches are reserved for those who pre-ordered them. FNPS Members! Please plan to attend the Annual FNPS Meeting on Saturday morning at 8:00 am. See page 4 for proposed slate of officers. Catering provided by Classic Fare Catering 6:30 am – 8:00 am 7:00 am – 11:30 am 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm 7:30 am – 5:00 pm 8:00 am – 9:00 am 8:00 am – 4:30 pm 9:00 am – 10:00 am 10:00 am – 10:15 am 10:20 am – 11:45 am 11:05 am – 11:45 am 11:45 am – 12:45 pm 12:50 pm – 2:15 pm 2:15 pm – 2:35 pm 2:40 pm – 4:05 pm 4:10 pm – 5:30 pm 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Saturday, May 17 Registration at FGCU South Village - Palmetto Hall Lobby Nature Journaling with Elizabeth Smith - Meet in Palmetto Hall Lobby Edible Plant Walk – Meet at Kleist Health Education Center Council of Chapters Meeting – FGCU South Village Private Dining FNPS Board of Directors Meeting – FGCU South Village Private Dining Down Home BBQ Welcome Reception & Dinner – FGCU South Village Dining Room: Dinner, Cash bar, and FNPS Jeopardy! Breakfast at FGCU South Village Dining Room (for FGCU lodgers) nd Registration at FGCU Cohen Center Ballroom Gallery (2 floor) Native Plant Sale & Exhibits – Cohen Center Lawn & Patio General Assembly: Welcome & Announcements – Ballroom Silent Auction – Ballroom Welcome from FGCU & Dr. Jim Wohlpart’s presentation – Ballroom Break with coffee and snack service Concurrent Sessions Workshop: Palmetto Basket Weaving Workshop - Food Court Patio Box Lunches available in Ballroom Gallery Concurrent Sessions Break with coffee and snack service Concurrent Sessions Nature Trail Walk with Dr. William B. Sanders Fiesta in the Garden Social at Naples Botanical Garden: Dinner, Cash bar, Plant ID Contest 6:30 am – 7:30 am 6:30 am – 8:00 am 7:00 am – 11:30 am 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm 7:30 am – 5:00 pm 8:00 am – 9:00 am 8:00 am – 3:30 pm 9:00 am – 11:45 am 10:00 am – 2:00 pm 10:35 am – 10:55 am 10:00 am – 2:00 pm 11:45 am – 12:45 pm 12:50 pm – 3:00 pm 3:00 pm – 3:25 pm 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm 4:35 pm – 4:45 pm 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Native Plant Sale & Exhibits – Cohen Center Lawn & Patio General Assembly: Membership Meeting & Announcements– Ballroom Silent Auction – Cohen Center Ballroom General Assembly – Keynote Presentations with refreshment break Poster Session & Science Fair – Cohen Center Food Court Break with coffee and snack service Walking with the Natives – Cohen Center Lawn Box Lunches available in Ballroom Gallery Concurrent Sessions Break with coffee and snack service General Session – Dr. Bill Hammond - Ballroom Closing Remarks - Ballroom FLOR500 Participatory Art Exhibition Opening - FGCU Arts Complex A Land Remembered Social - FGCU South Village Pavilion 6:30 am – 8:00 am 7:45 am – 9:00 am Breakfast at FGCU South Village Dining Room (for FGCU lodgers) Field Trips M-V depart from Palmetto Hall Sunday, May 18 Chapter Presidents’ Breakfast Meeting, South Village Private Dining Breakfast at FGCU South Village Dining Room (for FGCU lodgers) nd Registration at FGCU Cohen Center Ballroom Gallery (2 floor) 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 7 Conference Exhibitors & Vendors Many thanks to our sponsors, listed in green! All Native Garden Center www.nolawn.com www.allnative.biz Ground Level, Inc. www.glearth.com Sweet Bay Nursery www.sweetbaynursery.com Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program www.chnep.org www.hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot. com Hawthorn Hill Nursery Trust Your Heart Aromatherapy www.trustyourheartaromatherapy.com Copperrock Creations University of Florida/IFAS, Lee County Jeanette Lee Atkinson Extension www.delnorwiggins.org/artist_12.htm lee.ifas.ufl.edu CREW Land & Water Trust www.crewtrust.org Judy Massing Pottery [email protected] Creative Garden Structures www.creativegardenstructures.com Lee County Conservation 20/20 www.conservation2020.org Deep South Native Nurseries [email protected] Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) www.lcec.net www.facebook.com/copperrockcreations Estero Bay Buddies www.esterobaybuddies.org www.xaviercortada.com/?page=FLOR389 Lee Queen Bee www.facebook.com/PureRawHoney Florida Association of Native Nurseries Naples Botanical Garden www.plantrealflorida.org www.naplesgarden.org www.FloridaNativeNurseries.org Florida Department of Environmental Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Protection www.rookerybay.org www.dep.state.fl.us Florida Gulf Coast University www.fgcu.edu Florida Wildflower Foundation www.flawildflowers.org Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation www.sccf.org University Press of Florida www.upf.com Wild Florida Photo www.wildflphoto.com And thanks to our additional sponsors: -Bill Smith Appliances & Electronics -Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education of FGCU -City of Bonita Springs -FGCU Office of the President -FGCU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs -Florida Forest Service -Mariner Properties -Magnolia Chapter FNPS -Nature Coast Chapter FNPS -Pinellas Chapter FNPS -Sarracenia Chapter FNPS -Serenoa Chapter FNPS -Suncoast Chapter FNPS -Tarflower Chapter FNPS -Turrell, Hall, and Associates Page 8 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Join a group! Committee Meetings Interested in participating in a FNPS committee? Attend one of the scheduled meetings to find out how to pitch in! Conservation Committee: Please join us on Saturday, from 1:35pm-2:15pm in Room 213, for a discussion of our efforts to protect Florida’s imperiled plants and natural communities. As development ramps-up across the state, we are rapidly losing some of the last remnants of our imperiled habitats and the plants that they support. Attention and action at the local level is vitally important – we need local ambassadors to promote conservation of our natural resources! Council of Chapters: The newly formed Council of Chapters will meet on Thursday, from 5:00pm-6:00pm in the South Village Private Dining Room. FNPS Board of Directors: General members may attend as observers, or if they have questions. If you are planning to attend, please notify Steve Woodmansee, [email protected]. The meeting takes place on Thursday, from 6:00pm7:00pm, in the South Village Private Dining Room. Land Management Partners Committee: Bill Korn, Land Management Reviewer with the Florida Forest Service, will give a brief presentation at the Land Management Partners Committee lunch meeting on Friday, from 11:45am12:45pm in Room 214. Bill will provide an overview to the purpose and process of land management reviews. Newcomers will get to know the particulars of the review process, and will learn about being an observer with another more experienced FNPS member. Experienced reviewers will be invited to share ideas about improvement, and all participants will be invited to ask questions about the process. Topics to be covered include: 1) How do the reviews help state lands? 2) What happens with the data generated from the reviews? 3) Does the review help the local land managers and personnel? 4) How can our participation benefit the state? 5) How does our participation help FNPS? Leadership Orientation: Newly elected Board members are invited to attend this orientation session aimed at providing tools needed for leadership in FNPS. The meeting takes place on Saturday, 2:20pm-3:00pm, in Room 213. Landscape Committee: Plan to attend during Saturday’s lunch, from 11:45pm-12:45pm, in Room 214, to receive a copy of the current committee projects, as well as learn how to join the committee and contribute to the project goals. The Landscape Committee forwards the Florida Native Plant Society mission by providing the landscape industry, government entities, and citizens of Florida with resources, advocacy materials, and information to promote the use of, protection of, and conservation of native plants and native plant communities. Policy & Legislation Committee: Please join the Policy & Legislation Committee meeting on Saturday at 12:50pm1:30pm in Room 213. President’s Breakfast: Chapter presidents are invited by Steve Woodmansee to meet, break bread, and share experiences and activities over the past year. Saturday, 6:30am-7:30am, South Village Private Dining Room. Science Advisory Committee: The Science Advisory Committee meeting will be held during the lunch break on Saturday in Room 213 from 11:45am-12:45pm. Topics of discussion will include the endowment research grant program, the research-track paper and poster sessions at the Annual Conference, and other topics of interest. 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Go for a Walk! Thursday, May 15th, 2:00pm Edible Walk led by Scott Davis & Aimee Leteux Scott Davis, a botanist and ranger for Saint Marks Wildlife Refuge (Tallahassee FNPS Magnolia Chapter Representative) will lead an Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk at FCGU. He will show examples of edible and medicinal plants, flowers and woodland varieties that you can find in your own backyard and communities. Aimee Leteux (Naples FNPS Chapter Representative) will co-lead. Scott and Aimee own Palm Proliferators LLC in Naples, specializing in Florida native plants and palms. The edible walk will meet at the Kleist Health Education Center. It begins near the Food Forest and ends at the nearby trailhead. (Plan on about 2 hours minimum.) Page 9 Friday, May 16th, 4:10pm-5:30pm Nature Trail Walk led by Dr. William Sanders Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University Dr. William Sanders will lead a walk exploring the plant habitats on campus, via the nature trails leading into a cypress dome, through a hardwood hammock, and emerging in remnants of a pine flatwood. Dr. Sanders, with the collaboration of participants, will identify and discuss the plants, fungi and lichens found along the way. The walk will leave from a trail head near Cohen Center and meander back to Palmetto Hall in South Village. FNGLA & ASLA CEUs will be available for this walk. Saturday, May 17th, see announcement board for exact times Nature Trail Walks led by FGCU Student Naturalists Join one of the FGCU student naturalists in exploring the nature trails close to the Cohen Center. Get out and enjoy the sunshine after being inside all day! 2014 Landscape Award Mangrove Chapter (FNPS) Demonstration Garden presented to Jane Wallace & Bobbi Rodgers The Mangrove Chapter sponsored Demonstration Garden is located at Cedar Point Environmental Park in Charlotte County, Englewood, Florida. The park has been managed by the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) since 1994. This previously undeveloped tract is a 130-acre park, situated on Lemon Bay. It is made up of pine flatwoods, mangrove fringe, salt marshes and hammocks. The initial development of the garden began in January, 2008. The starting point was a neglected “butterfly garden” near the park’s Educational Building, which had very few butterfly larval food sources and many non-native plants.. An adjacent 3,500 square feet of overgrown saw palmettos, lyonias, rosary pea, grapevines and smilax was targeted for garden development. Nuisance natives, such as grapevines and smilax, and all non-native plants were removed. For the most part, all existing native plants were incorporated into the garden layout. The overall objective for the garden was to promote butterfly-attracting and larval host plants, showcase endangered plants, and install representative plant species occurring naturally in the region. It is an educational site where the public can see native plants in their natural habitat, recognize their beauty, and be encouraged to incorporate them into their home landscape. Page 10 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Walking with the Natives Saturday, May 17th 10am-2pm Cohen Center Lawn • FREE family fun on campus • Create your own Native Flag with Xavier Cortada • Learn about native plants • Walk nature trails with FGCU student naturalists Special Guests: • Artist Xavier Cortada • Dr. J.C. Cahill, from PBS’ “What Plants Talk About” • Dr. Don Chambers, Sea Level Scientist Generously sponsored by City of Bonita Springs, Florida Forest Service, and All Native Garden Center 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 11 Be a social butterfly! Join your fellow native plant enthusiasts during our special evening events. Thursday, 6:30pm-9:30pm: Down Home BBQ Welcome Reception & Dinner, South Village Dining ($18 includes dinner, pre-registration required) A full dinner and cash bar are offered at Florida Gulf Coast University’s South Village housing area. Expect a rousing game of Native Plant Jeopardy too! Friday, 6:30pm-9:30pm: Fiesta in the Garden, sponsored by the Naples Botanical Garden ($28 includes dinner, pre-registration required) FNPS Naples Chapter has graciously arranged to host us in the stunning Naples Botanical Garden on Friday, May 16th. This after-hours event will give you a taste of the Garden with private tours and behind-the-scenes information. In addition to an evening under the stars, the Plant ID contest will take place here. So, come and enjoy a Fiesta in The Garden. Thursday, May 15th Saturday, 5:00pm-7:00pm: Wine & Cheese Opening Reception, Xavier Cortada FLOR500 Participatory Art Exhibition, FGCU Arts Complex (sponsored by the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education of FGCU) Xavier Cortada’s FLOR500 Art Exhibition commemorating Florida’s wildflowers will open on Saturday, May 17th in Florida Gulf Coast University’s Arts Complex. The exhibition includes artworks by 59 artists from the surrounding eight county region. Mr. Cortada will host a Saturday afternoon session during the conference program to explain the Florida native plant oriented exhibition. Check the map for the location of the Arts Complex, which is right across the bridge from Saturday night’s social. Saturday, 6:30pm-9:30pm: A Land Remembered Social, South Village lawn ($22 includes dinner, pre-registration required) As they say, just press the EASY button! Saturday’s social will be under the Florida sky at FGCU’s South Village (SoVi). Florida Gulf Coast University’s campus is wonderfully inviting, and the evening will include storytelling and other informal events that will entertain and astound! Good food, good friends and fabulous atmosphere abounds as we celebrate the Florida we love! 2014 Field Trips A: A Lively Walk through CREW Marsh with Roger Hammer B: Mound House at Fort Myers Beach D: Hickey’s Creek Mitigation Park E: FGCU Vester Field Station F: Barrier Island Tour: Mantanzas Pass & Lover’s Key Beach G: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary H: Royal Palm Hammock I: Little Pine Island & Randell Research Center J: Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Scrubby Flatwoods Sunday, May 18th M: End of Road Ranch Landscape Tour N: Okaloacoochee (OK) Slough State Forest P: Cayo Costa Island State Park Q: Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area R: Naples Botanical Garden T: Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park U: Estero Bay Preserve State Park V: Gator Hole Preserve Page 12 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Schedule of events Wednesday, May 14th 5:00pm-9:00pm Registration - South Village, Palmetto Hall Lobby 6:30am-8:00am Breakfast - FGCU South Village Dining (for those staying in Palmetto Hall) Thursday, May 15th Time varies Field Trips A through J - Caravan/carpool departure location - South Village, Palmetto Hall 7:00am-11:30pm, 1:30pm-3:30pm, Registration - South Village, Palmetto Hall Lobby 5:00pm-9:00pm 1:00pm-4:00pm Nature Journaling Workshop - Meet in Palmetto Hall Lobby - pre-registration required 2:00pm-4:30pm Edible Walk with Scott Davis & Aimee Leteux - Meet at Kleist Health Education Center 5:00pm-6:00pm Council of Chapters Meeting - South Village Private Dining Room 6:00pm-7:00pm FNPS Board of Directors Meeting - South Village Private Dining Room 6:30pm-9:00pm Welcome Reception - South Village Dining Room: Dinner, Cash Bar, and FNPS Jeopardy! 6:30am-8:00am 8:00am-4:30pm Silent Auction - FGCU Cohen Center Ballroom A & B 7:30am-5:00pm Native Plant Sale & Exhibits - Cohen Center Lawn & Patio Friday, May 16th Breakfast - FGCU South Village Dining (for those staying in Palmetto Hall) 7:30am-11:30am, Registration - FGCU Cohen Center Ballroom Gallery 1:30pm-5:30pm Time Ballroom A Ballroom B Room #214 Room #213 (Research) General Assembly 8:00am-9:00am Welcome & Announcements; FNPS 2014 Endowment Research Grants; Conservation Grants; FDEP State Lands; Land Management Review Recognition Welcome Comments Dr. Ronald B. Toll, FGCU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Remembering Sacred Reason: Global 9:00am-10:00am Warming, Sense of Place, and Native Species Dr. Jim Wohlpart, Dean of Undergraduate Studies & Professor of Environmental Literature, Florida Gulf Coast University Various authors will be available to sign their books during morning and afternoon breaks on Friday and Saturday and in the Ballroom Gallery immediately following their presentations. 10:00am-10:15am BREAK - Refreshments served (Ballroom Gallery & Exhibitor Area) 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Friday, May 16th Time Ballroom A Ballroom B The Restoration of Rare and Extirpated Native Orchids at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Page 13 Room #214 Time Room #213 (Research) Living shoreline stabilization in Effective 10:20a- Canaveral National Seashore Strategies for Communicating 10:40a M. Donnelly, J. Manis, P. Sacks, J. Stiner & L. Walters with the Media 10:20am- Dennis Giardina, Everglades Region 11:00am Biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Stability and dynamics of Amy Bennett 10:40acomponents of Florida Scrub in Conservation Commission & Mike Owen, 11:00a response to fire Park Biologist, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve Williams, Eric S. Menges Journalist State Park 11:05amPalmetto Basket Weaving Workshop - Dick Workman - Food Court Patio (pre-registration required) 11:45am Plants & the Effects of fire regime on The Cultural and Natural Landscapes Ecohydrology 11:05a- serotiny of sand pine (Pinus of La Florida Before 1513: An 11:25a clausa) in Florida scrub of Southwest Jamie Peeler Archaeological and Ethnohistorical Florida 11:05amApproach Ecosystems Investigating influences of 11:45am 11:25a- habitat specificity & endemism 7:30am-5:00pm Native Plant Sale & Exhibits - Cohen Center Lawn & Patio 8:00am-4:30pm Silent Auction - Cohen Center Ballroom A & B on plant-pollinator networks in Theresa Schober, Archaeologist and Cultural Dr. Brian Bovard, 11:45a Florida Scrub ecosystems Wetland Plant Resource Consultant Devon Picklum Ecologist 11:45am- LUNCH - Box lunches in the Ballroom Gallery 12:45pm Enjoy the beautiful outdoors or join the Land Partners Committee Meeting - Room 214 (Anne Cox) Ballroom A Why People Don’t “Get It?” The Psychology of Embracing Native 12:50pm Plants (FNGLA -1:30pm & ASLA CEUs available) Time 1:35pm -2:15pm Russ Hoffman, Owner, Beautiful Ponds Native Plant Boot Camp: Basic Training (FNGLA & ASLA CEUs available) Jenny Evans, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Ballroom B Room #214 Storm Water Solutions Panel: Native Plants in Stormwater Ponds Moderated by Dr. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega; Panelists: Dr. Jim Beever & Joan Justice Room #213 (Research) Bartram’s floating fields: Fossil data indicate water lettuce 12:50p(Pistia stratiotes L.) is a Florida 1:10p native Jason M. Evans Water Quality Issues in Lee County Joy Hazell, Sea Grant Agent, University of Florida/Lee County Extension Services Time Growing and Planting Quality Native Trees: It’s More Than 1:10pGrades & 1:30p Standards (Parts 1 & 2) Dr. Ed Gilman, Professor of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida Changes in Florida forest structure due to the invasive Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum) A. Maldonado & J. Weishampel Variables influencing germination & initial survival of two critically endangered 1:35pplants: Warea amplexifolia & 1:55p Lupinus aridorum J. Rynear, C. Peterson, & M. Richardson Quantifying spatial structure 1:55p- among native cacti & their 2:15p specialist herbivores K. Sauby & R. Holt Page 14 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native 7:30am-5:00pm Native Plant Sale & Exhibits - Cohen Center Lawn & Patio 8:00am-4:30pm Silent Auction - Cohen Center Ballroom A & B Friday, May 16th Time Room #213 (Research) Ballroom A Ballroom B Time Room #214 2:15pmBREAK - Refreshments served (Ballroom Gallery & Exhibitor Area) 2:35pm Living on the edge: disease, Growing and population decline and Planting Quality conservation efforts of the Native Trees: Florida torreya (Torreya From Sea Oats to Sea Rockets: How Beach It’s More Than 2:40p- taxifolia) Plants Shape our Coastal Landscapes 3:00p J. Smith, T. Spector, R. Grades & (FNGLA & ASLA CEUs available) Standards (Part Determann, J. Cruse-Sanders, R. Pruner, M. Friel, K. O’Donnell & 3) 2:40pmJ. Bente 3:20pm Dr. Tonya Clayton, Science Writer, Editor, & Current research on the biology Dr. Ed Gilman, Educator & management of laurel wilt in Professor of Environmental 3:00p- the United States J. Smith, R.C. Ploetz, J. Hulcr, J. Horticulture, 3:20p McCutcheon, T.J. Dreaden, M.A. University of Hughes, D. Spence, K. Shin, S. Florida Inch, J. Riggins & A. Campbell Wildflowers of Collier County (FNGLA & ASLA CEUs available) The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Algae Restoration efforts of the endangered species Chrysopsis 3:25p- floridana on protected lands Dr. Serge Thomas, 4:05p Assistant Juliet Rynear Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University 4:10pm-5:30pm Nature Trail Walk - Led by FGCU’s Dr. William B. Sanders - Trail Head to Palmetto Hall 3:25pm4:05pm Roger Hammer, Author, Wildflower Photographer, Naturalist 4:10pm-5:30pm FANN Meeting - Cohen Center Room 213 SOCIAL EVENT - Fiesta in the Garden, Naples Botanical Garden (6:00pm carpooling from South 6:30pm-9:00pm Village Palmetto Hall; 35 minutes travel time) - Dinner, Cash Bar, and Plant ID Contest Saturday, May 17th 6:30am-7:30am Chapter Presidents’ Breakfast Meeting - FGCU South Village Private Dining Room 6:30am-8:00am Breakfast - FGCU South Village Dining (for those staying in Palmetto Hall) 7:30am-11:30am, Registration - FGCU Cohen Center Ballroom Gallery 1:30pm-4:30pm 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Saturday, May 17th Time Ballroom A 8:00am-9:00am General Assembly Plant ID Contest Winners, Membership Meeting, Palmetto Awards Time 10:00am-2:00pm Poster Session & Science Fair - Food Court (manned from 1:00pm to 2:30pm) includes professionals, undergrads, & primary school students 10:00am-2:00pm Walking with the Natives - a public event for families & young adults - Cohen Center Lawn 8:00am-3:30pm Silent Auction - Cohen Center Ballroom A & B 9:00am-9:45am 7:30am-5:00pm Native Plant Sale & Exhibits - Cohen Center Lawn & Patio Page 15 9:50a10:35a Ballroom B Room #214 Room #213 (Research) Room #214 Room #213 (Research) The Scientific Basis for Climate Change: Understanding the Most Important Findings of the 2013 IPCC Report Dr. Don P. Chambers, Associate Professor, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida Ballroom A Ballroom B What Plants Talk About (FNGLA & ASLA CEUs available) Dr. J.C. Cahill, Professor of Ecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton 10:35aBREAK - Refreshments served (Ballroom Gallery & Exhibitor Area) 10:55a Master Naturalists - Creating an Army of Informed Citizens 11:00a11:45a Dr. Marty Main, Associate Dean & Program Leader for UF/IFAS Natural Resources & Florida Sea Grant Extension Programs Exploring the causes of narrow endemism in two imperiled Florida 11:00a- sunflowers: a combined 11:25a population genetics & niche modeling approach Chase Mason LUNCH - Box Lunches in Ballroom Gallery 11:45p- Enjoy the beautiful outdoors or participate in one of the following activities: -Science Advisory Committee Meeting - Room 213 12:45p -Landscape Committee Meeting - Room 214 Conservation of Florida’s Butterflies and Native Insect Pollinators 12:50p1:30p Dr. Jaret C. Daniels, Associate Curator of Lepidoptera, Florida Museum of Natural History Landscape Awards FNPS Policy & Legislation Dr. Don Spence, Landscape Designer & Catherine Bowman, Gene Kelly Ecological Scientist Page 16 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native 7:30am-5:00pm Native Plant Sale & Exhibits - Cohen Center Lawn & Patio 8:00am-3:30pm Silent Auction - Cohen Center Ballroom A & B Saturday, May 17th Time Ballroom A Ballroom B Ecological State of Florida Gulf Coast University Campus, 1994-2014 1:35pm- 2:15pm 2:20pm-3:00pm 3:00pm-3:25pm Dr. Win Everham, Professor of Marine and Ecological Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University FLOR500 Exhibit in the Art Gallery Xavier Cortada, Artist Room #214 Room #213 (Research) Native Trees, Shrubs, Conservation and Wildflowers for Committee Meeting Landscape Design (FNGLA & ASLA Juliet Rynear CEUs available) Dr. Don Spence, Landscape Designer & Leadership Catherine Bowman, Orientation Ecological Scientist Steve Woodmansee BREAK - Refreshments served (Ballroom Gallery & Exhibitor Area) 3:00pm-4:30pm Container Gardens for Butterflies & Pollinators - Dr. Jaret C. Daniels, Cohen Center Lawn 3:30pm-4:30pm Our Two Million Year+ Brain-Body Connection to Phytons of the Plant Sphere Dr. Bill Hammond, Professor Emeritus, Florida Gulf Coast University 4:35pm-4:45pm Closing Remarks 4:45pm 4:00pm-6:00pm 5:00pm-7:00pm 6:30pm-9:00pm Raffle Drawing Silent Auction Item pick up Complimentary Wine & Cheese Reception: Xavier Cortada FLOR500 Participatory Art Exhibition Opening - Arts Complex (Gallery open all day, beginning at 10:00am) SOCIAL EVENT - A Land Remembered Dinner & Cash Bar - Pavilion outside Palmetto Hall, South Village Sunday, May 18th 6:30am-8:00am Time varies Breakfast - FGCU South Village Dining (for those staying in Palmetto Hall) Field Trips M through V - Caravan/carpool departure location - South Village, Palmetto Hall 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 17 Session Descriptions (Listed in order of start time) Thursday, May 15th, 1:00pm-4:00pm (meet in Palmetto Hall Lobby) Nature Journaling Workshop (pre-registration required) Elizabeth Smith, Artist Elizabeth Smith’s Nature Journaling Workshop at the 2013 FNPS Conference in Jacksonville received rave reviews, so we’re bringing Elizabeth and her fabulous workshop back again! Happy Sketching! Friday, May 16th, 9:00am-10:00am (Ballroom A & B) Remembering Sacred Reason: Global Warming, Sense of Place, and Native Species Dr. Jim Wohlpart, Dean of Undergraduate Studies & Professor of Environmental Literature, Florida Gulf Coast University Engaging questions of epistemology and ethics, Wohlpart will discuss how we know the world through our connection to place, and how this connection to place provides us with our understanding of right and wrong actions. More specifically, and within the context of global climate change, this talk will discuss the way in which our Western way of knowing the world has separated us from the natural environment, such that we see the world around us as a resource for our use, and which has brought us to this critical moment in our history. To solve the primary problem that humans will confront in the 21st century, we need to move beyond this way of knowing the world and develop SERENOA CHAPTER FNPS “sacred reason”- an ecological and interdependent epistemology. Through a radical empathy which allows for a relationship to native species and place, we can remember that mystery can reanimate our understanding of the world and thus, our ethics. Friday, May 16th, 10:20am-11:00am (Ballroom A & B) The Restoration of Rare and Extirpated Native Orchids at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Dennis Giardina, Everglades Region Biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission & Mike Owen, Park Biologist, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Beginning in 2007, Park Biologist Mike Owen and then Park Manager Dennis Giardina began a collaboration with Horticulturist Matt Richards of Atlanta Botanical Garden to develop a plan to conserve the genetic diversity of the less than 20 known Cyrtopodium punctatum orchids at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. Over the subsequent six years, all of the remaining Cyrtopodium punctatum orchids that produced flowers were cross pollinated, and the seeds were Join us to Discover the World of Native Plants! Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Third Mondays Sept. thru May, at 7pm Field Trip on following Saturday 941-794 -8773 | [email protected] serenoa.fnpschapters.org Serving Manatee, Sarasota, Desoto, Hardee counties Page 18 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native sent to Atlanta Botanical Garden for propagation. Introduction of the juvenile Cyrtopodium punctatum orchids grown from seed began in 2011, and by 2013, over 650 had been out-planted in over 20 experimental restoration plots. In 2009, the only known individual of Prosthechea boothiana was discovered, growing in the Fakahatchee Strand Central Slough with three seed pods. One seed pod was collected and sent to Atlanta Botanical Garden for propagation, and in 2013, approximately two dozen juvenile Prosthechea boothiana orchids were outplanted in two experimental restoration plots. In 2012, a collaboration with Cuban botanists was initiated to experimentally reintroduce two of Fakahatchee Strand’s extirpated orchid species, Bulbophyllum pachyrhachis and Epidendrum acunae, using seeds collected from the nearest extant population of those two species in Western Cuba. Friday, May 16th, 10:20am-11:00am (Room 214) Effective Strategies for Communication with the Media Amy Bennett Williams, Journalist Amy Bennett Williams shares hints and tips for getting your story told in print, on the air, and online. How to be persistent without being a pest. Ways to make your same ol’ annual plant sale announcement stand out. Williams is a veteran journalist and has edited feature sections, a Sunday sense-of-place magazine, and a home and garden section in her more than 25 years of newspapering. Friday, May 16th, 10:20am-10:40am (Room 213) Living shoreline stabilization in Canaveral National Seashore Melinda Donnelly, Jennifer Manis, Paul Sacks, John Stiner and Linda Walters, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, From his friends in the Magnolia and Sarracenia Chapters FL 32816. E-mail: [email protected]. In fond remembrance of Angus Gholson of Chattahoochee, Florida, 1921-2014. Angus Gholson was one of the first recipients of the FNPS Mentor Award. He was teacher and friend to professional and amateur botanists alike. Those who knew him will recall strolling through the woods with Angus and his handhewn hooked hiking stick, hearing witty stories in his deep southern drawl, homemade chocolate chip cookies his lovely wife Eloise packed in his lunches and signing the guest book in his garage herbarium yet another time. Others who were not so lucky will see dedications to Angus in their treasured Florida plant guides, see his name attached to species of Carex, Hymenocallis, and Liatris, and visit the Angus Gholson Nature Park in Chattahoochee, Florida. Living shoreline stabilization, an alternative to hardarmoring techniques, uses biomimicry to decrease erosion, provide structurally complex intertidal habitat, and potentially adapt to future sea level rise. Beginning in 2008, we scientifically tested living shoreline techniques and found a multi-species approach with oyster shells, Spartina alterniflora transplants, and 1-yr old mangrove seedlings reduced erosion along major boating channels in Canaveral National Seashore, FL. We applied our living shoreline methodology to protect Turtle Mound, a Native American shell midden, experiencing severe shoreline erosion. In 2011, we worked with multiple stakeholders, including the Park service, local government, recreational anglers and community volunteers, to stabilize 200 m of shoreline. Volunteers deployed 1140 oyster shell mats, 622 S. alterniflora transplants, and 450 mangrove seedlings (Rhizophora mangle and Avicennia germinans) grown by local schools. On-going monitoring has documented no significant difference in the rate of erosion compared to control living shorelines. Mean percent cover of S. alterniflora and mangrove species increased from less than 3% before stabilization to 42% and 40%, respectively, after 24 months. Oyster recruitment 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 19 was 24 oysters per 0.25 m2. Continued monitoring allows for continued evaluation and adaptation of our science-based approach to living shoreline stabilization and guides current and future projects. Friday, May 16th, 10:40am-11:00am (Room 213) Stability and dynamics of components of Florida Scrub in response to fire Eric S. Menges, Plant Ecology Program, Archbold Biological Station, 123 Main Drive, Venus, FL 33960. Email: [email protected]. Fires in Florida scrub have complex effects on vegetation structure and species dynamics. I integrate results from several studies on how fire regimes (particularly frequency, time-since-fire, and intensity) affect these responses. Fires affect inter-shrub gaps, which are key microhabitats for many endemic herbs. Fire creates gaps in the shrub matrix; the properties of these gaps reflect fire coverage, intensity, and the previous time-since-fire. Larger gaps support more species and some species require minimum gap sizes. Gaps in Florida rosemary scrub are affected by the demography of its dominant species, which has very high seedling survival, and a lack of density-dependent growth during the first 15 years post-fire. First age for flowering in Florida rosemary (about 8 years) defines a minimum fire return interval, while population viability modeling of obligate seeding herbaceous plants defines an upper boundary (about 30 years.) In contrast, most resprouting herbs (e.g. scrub blazing star) and shrubs (e.g. scrub pawpaw) appear largely insensitive to fire frequencies, intensities, or seasons. Long intervals between fire results in lower diversity and diminished responses to subsequent fires. Consequently, land managers need to burn consistently and often, but with pyrodiversity built into fire plans, to protect biodiversity. Friday, May 16th, 11:05-11:45am (Food Court Patio) Palmetto Basket Workshop (pre-registration required) Dick Workman, FNPS founding member & State Board of Directors member When Dick’s lovely palmetto basket graced the cover of the Palmetto this fall, it was widely circulated and some people joined FNPS right away so they could receive a copy of this issue. Now’s your chance to build one for yourself with Dick’s guidance. Participants should prepare to laugh and have a good time while enjoying Dick’s wit and wisdom. Plus, you’ll learn the skills to fascinate your friends. Friday, May 16th, 11:05-11:45am (Ballroom A & B) The Cultural and Natural Landscapes of La Florida Before 1513: An Archaeological and Ethnohistorical Approach Theresa Schober, Archaeologist and Cultural Resource Consultant In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Léon christened La Florida on the first documented European voyage to the continental United States. The Calusa Indians were the first identifiable group encountered by Ponce de León, and their capital at Mound Key in Estero Bay, was one of the first locations mapped. For at least 2,000 years, the Calusa exploited and intensified the natural abundance of rich coastal estuaries. With this surplus, they had established a highly stratified, politically complex, tributary chiefdom with a sphere of influence and alliances, encompassing the southern third of the Florida peninsula by the sixteenth century. Although not dependent on agricultural production, Spanish captive Hernando d’Escalante Fontaneda, who lived among the Calusa for 17 years, once wrote that if he were to enumerate all the fruits that the Florida Indians ate, he would never finish. Fontaneda’s memoir and records from encounters with Ponce de León and Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, during two brief mission attempts (1567-1569; 1697) shed light on the Calusa way of life. Although the Calusa remained largely isolated from the Spanish colonial enterprise, by 1704 they Page 20 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native were displaced from south Florida. Their architectural turned archaeological features of elevated mounds and ridges, sculpted canals, and water courts are the vestiges of a once thriving society. Friday, May 16th, 11:05-11:45am (Room 214) Plants and the Ecohydrology of Southwest Florida Ecosystems Dr. Brian Bovard, Wetland Plant Ecologist, Florida Gulf Coast University Plants are known to be important players in the hydrologic cycle. However, there is little information in the scientific literature on the role native trees play in governing water losses from natural systems in southern Florida. This lack of information creates the potential for inappropriate management decisions related to water resources in the face of changing hydrologic conditions resulting from development and predicted future climate change. In this presentation, Dr. Bovard will discuss the research being conducted by students in his lab on the contributions of some of the dominant tree species in pine flatwoods and cypress ecosystems to evapotranspiration water losses from the landscape. Because plants possess the ability to regulate water losses through stomatal regulation, their transpirational water losses are not always synchronous with the physical evaporation of water from the landscape. Friday, May 16th, 11:05am-11:25am (Room 213) Effects of fire regime on serotiny of sand pine (Pinus clausa) in Florida scrub Jamie Peeler, Archbold Biological Station, 123 Main Drive, Venus, FL 33960. Email: jamie.peeler@gmail. com. Sand pine (Pinus clausa) is a characteristic canopy species of Florida scrub that is considered fire-intolerant but often recruits numerous seedlings after fire. Seeds are stored in cones that exhibit serotiny, or the capacity to delay seed release until an environmental stimulus (typically heat) triggers dispersal. This adaptation is common among pine species growing in fire-prone ecosystems. The considerable variation in the degree of serotiny among pine stands is often attributed to differences in recent fire history. However, no studies have investigated the variability of serotiny in sand pine populations. In this study, I measured the degree of serotiny in sand pine stands in south-central Florida with disparate fire histories. In addition, I collected serotinous and nonserotinous cones from multiple individuals, and designed a germination study to determine seed viability. I hypothesized that the occurrence of more frequent lethal fires would favor trees with high serotiny. I also expected older stands to contain more low serotiny trees due to increasing establishment opportunities after non-lethal disturbances. Seed release without heat may also allow sand pine to invade adjacent unburned sandhill ecosystems. This study will increase understanding about the long-term evolutionary implications of fire on sand pine populations at different scales. Friday, May 16th, 11:25am-11:45am (Room 213) Investigating influences of habitat specificity and endemism on plant-pollinator networks in Florida Scrub ecosystems Devon Picklum, Archbold Biological Station, 123 Main Drive, Venus, FL. 33960. Email: dapicklum@ gmail.com. Plant species that are endemic or restricted to specific habitats may have access only to a subset of potential pollinators or may lack the population sizes to support specialized pollinators. Poor pollinator service could then limit fecundity and contribute to endangerment. The Lake Wales Ridge in central Florida is particularly rich in habitat-specialized and endemic plant species. While many of these plant species have been well studied, little work has gone into understanding how endemism and habitat specificity factors into community functionality across the pollinator landscape. In this 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 21 study, I compare pollinator visitation in groups of narrow and more widely distributed plants using field observations at Archbold Biological Station. I also built interaction webs from an extensive pollinator database. From these data, I hypothesize: 1. Endemic plant species will be visited by more generalist pollinators, with fewer specialized pollinators; 2. Endemic plant species will have more variable rates of flower visitation; and 3. Habitat specificity will have similar effects to endemism in affecting pollinator interaction web structure. Understanding the interactions of rare plant species and their pollinators has implications for conservation of larger community structure, maintenance of network function, and the conservation of rare plants and their pollinators. Friday, May 16th, 12:50pm-1:30pm (Ballroom A) Why People Don’t “Get It?” The Psychology of Embracing Native Plants Russ Hoffman, Owner, Beautiful Ponds Native plant enthusiasts often wonder why their neighbors, friends, and colleagues have not embraced native plants with the same fervor as themselves. The field of Environmental Psychology gives great insight into how people think about environmental issues, including utilizing native plants. This talk will examine tools, techniques, and strategies to accomplish change with the people that don’t “get it.” This information can be used to discover how to accomplish the greatest environmental change in neighborhoods & communities. Please note: FNGLA & ASLA CEUs will be available for this presentation. Friday, May 16th, 12:50pm-1:30pm (Ballroom B) Water Quality Issues in Lee County Joy Hazell, Sea Grant Agent, University of Florida/Lee County Extension Services Environmental issues surrounding degraded water quality have recently been hot topics in Lee County and elsewhere throughout Florida. During this session, the importance of native estuarine plants, including mangroves and seagrasses, will be highlighted in regards to their relationship and impact on water quality. Friday, May 16th, 12:50pm-1:30pm (Part 1); 1:35pm-2:15pm (Part 2); 2:40pm-3:20pm (Part 3) (Room 214) Growing and Planting Quality Native Trees: It’s More Than Grades & Standards (Parts 1, 2, & 3) Dr. Edward F. Gilman, Professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, University of Florida This is an introduction to modern tree production strategies based on research of the last 15 years. Topics include liner and container selection, planting strategies, production pruning protocols, root pruning and field harvesting. The emphasis on practical hands-on strategies, based on techniques proven to work, will allow participants to begin producing quality shade trees tomorrow, will increase the efficiency in producing quality trees and reduce the time Page 22 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native required to grow trees. Examples from around North America will be used to show how this can dramatically improve nursery stock quality available for urban planting projects. Friday, May 16th, 12:50-1:10pm (Room 213) Bartram’s floating fields: Fossil data indicate water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) is a Florida native Jason M. Evans, Environmental Policy Program, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia, 201 N. Milledge Ave., Athens, GA 30602. Email: [email protected]. Although large Florida populations of the floating aquatic plant Pistia stratiotes L. (water lettuce) were originally described by William Bartram in the 18th century, for the past several decades, this species has been classified and managed as a Class 1 invasive exotic. However, a recent assemblage of previously obscure fossil and paleo-limnological records, synthesis of known ecological relationships, and profound weaknesses in the hypotheses for a Spanish colonial era introduction of this plant together indicate that water lettuce meets the definition of a native Florida species. The most critically important “new” data include a late Pleistocene to early Holocene fossil (12,000–3,500 BP) record of water lettuce from paleo-muck at a Vero Beach archaeological site and numerous records of macro-fossil water lettuce seeds from late zPleistocene sediments (13,500–12,000 BP) at Lake Annie in the Archbold Biological Station. While judicious control of water lettuce overgrowth is appropriate for drainage canals, stormwater ponds, and other localized circumstances, current management policies that seek to minimize or eradicate water lettuce from all state waters are clearly inappropriate, given the evidence of native tenure and important ecological functions for this species. Friday, May 16th, 1:10pm-1:30pm (Room 213) Changes in Florida forest structure due to the invasive Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum) Alexis N. Maldonado and John F. Weishampel, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd. Orlando, FL 32816. Email: [email protected]. Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum) is an invasive plant listed by FLEPPC as a category one invader with significant ecological impacts that threaten native plant diversity. This species relies on existing vegetative structures for support to climb into the forest canopy and forms dense mats that cover tree crowns. This subsequently affects the resources available to other species present. Measuring the biophysical changes by this fern has proved logistically difficult on a large spatial scale. Airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology is a form of remote sensing that measures the elevation of surfaces over a site. In this study, we utilized LiDAR to calculate various forest structure metrics at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, and to quantify the degree to which Old World climbing fern alters forest structure across various invasion densities and management frequencies. Our results show that there are significant differences (p=0.001) for the LiDAR-derived metrics across invasion densities and management frequency classes, as well as with the interaction between two factors with management mitigating the impacts of Old World climbing fern. Understanding how forest structure is altered by invasive climbing plants allows for more effective management, and in turn, reduces the potential negative impacts on forested systems. Friday, May 16th, 1:35pm-2:15pm (Ballroom A) Native Plant Bootcamp: Basic Training Jenny Evans, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Lots of buzz has recently surrounded native plants and their use in landscapes. Many people understand that using native plants in a landscape is considered “good”, but do not necessarily understand why it’s considered a good practice. This presentation will examine the “why” of native landscaping, looking at why it makes a difference which species are planted in your yard and how the maintenance of that landscaping can have 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 23 a great effect on wildlife populations and water quality issues. Please note: FNGLA & ASLA CEUs will be available for this presentation. Friday, May 16th, 1:35pm-2:15pm (Ballroom B) Storm Water Solutions Panel: Native Plants in Stormwater Ponds Moderated by: Dr. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega, Coordinator of the Pond Watch Program, Lee County Hyacinth Control District Improvement in Littoral Shore in Storm Water Urban Ponds Panelist: Joan Justice, Resident and chairperson of the Pond and Lake Committee of Palm Island Community, Fort Myers, FL In the last 8 years, the community of Palm Island, located in Fort Myers, Fl., had experienced problems in its stormwater ponds, ranging from excessive growth of aquatic weeds and filamentous algae, to severe erosion of the banks. Joan proposed to the Board a plan to re-vegetate the shoreline with attractive littoral plants that would stabilize the shoreline, preventing erosion and providing an improvement to the community. In a video onsite presentation, she will cover some of the strategies she used to convince the Board, as well as explain the way the littoral plants were propagated and maintained. Water Quality Improvements by Using Filter Marshes Panelist: Dr. James Beever III, Planner IV at the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council This project was developed to create an evaluation methodology to determine the functionality and benefits of fresh and brackish water ecosystems used for water quality treatment. This methodology includes measurements of different components, including water quality, algae, and plant species presence and condition. The results of this project will provide EPA and state, local and private sector practitioners with a way to identify the improvements in the water quality. Friday, May 16th, 1:35pm-1:55pm (Room 213) Variables influencing germination and initial survival of two critically endangered plants: Warea amplexifolia and Lupinus aridorum Juliet Rynear(1), Cheryl L. Peterson(1), and Dr. Matthew L. Richardson(2), (1) Bok Tower Gardens, 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, FL 33853; (2) Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 705, Washington, DC 20013-7012. Email: [email protected]. One challenge of ex situ conservation is developing propagation methods that promote a high rate of survival and genetic diversity. Developing successful propagation methods is especially important for rare species to prevent their extinction. Clasping warea, Warea amplexifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. (Brassicaceae), and Scrub lupine, Lupinus aridorum McFarlin ex Beckner (Fabaceae), are two rare species endemic to imperiled Florida sandhill and scrub habitats, respectively. We tested whether the collection site of seeds, seed stratification temperature, and several propagation methods influenced germination and initial survival of W. amplexifolia and L. aridorum. The collection site of seeds and type of pot influenced percent germination of W. amplexifolia, whereas soaking seeds in water and stratification temperature did not. The site where seeds were collected did not influence germination of L. aridorum, and P.O. Box 2460, 2575 Case Road, LaBelle, FL, 33975 treating seedlings with salicylic acid, nitrogen, or salicylic acid [email protected] 863-675-3006 Page 24 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native and nitrogen, sometimes reduced, but did not increase, initial survival of seedlings. Overall, our results will inform additional experiments on ex situ conservation and may be applicable to other herbs endemic to Florida. Friday, May 16th, 1:55pm-2:15pm (Room 213) Quantifying spatial structure among native cacti and their specialist herbivores Kristen E. Sauby and Robert D. Holt, Department of Biology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118525 Gainesville, FL 32611. Email: [email protected]. We explored how much spatial variation in native cactus abundance (Opuntia pusilla and O. stricta) is explained by the presence of two specialist moth species, a native (Melitara prodenialis) and an invasive of conservation concern (Cactoblastis cactorum). We hypothesize that moth infestation depends locally on cactus abundance within patches and regionally on the size, quality (i.e., cactus abundance), and proximity of patches. During summer 2012, we set up 1358 1-m2 plots at seven habitat patches in Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (near St. Augustine, FL). We surveyed plots four times over the past 2 years for presence/absence of cactus and moth populations. We collected information about factors that could affect extinction, including maximum height of cacti and percent cover of each cactus species by plot as indices of biomass. We found more O. stricta populations infested by the invasive moth compared to O. pusilla but no such difference for the native moth, matching previous research. We observed colonization and extinction events for all four species. Cactus mortality varied among habitat patches; many cacti that died were attacked by the invasive at some point during the past year. Friday, May 16th, 2:40pm-3:20pm (Ballroom A & B) From Sea Oats to Sea Rockets: How Beach Plants Shape our Coastal Landscapes Dr. Tonya Clayton, Science Writer, Editor, & Educator Florida’s native beach plants don’t just look good — they also work hard. In this illustrated tour, we’ll meet the unusual cast of green characters that helps to shape our coastal landscapes. We’ll encounter, for example, the vines, forbs, and grasses that serve as seaside trailblazers, builders, and stabilizers. How do these working plants do their jobs? And how do they survive and thrive on the sandy, salty, ever-changing edge of the sea? We’ll also meet a few invasive newcomers that have taken root along our ocean shores. Today’s underappreciated coastal habitats face many challenges. We’ll touch on not only major threats to sandybeach ecosystems, but also some ideas for beach stewardship. Please note: FNGLA & ASLA CEUs will be available for this presentation. Friday, May 16th, 2:40pm3:00pm (Room 213) Living on the edge: disease, population decline and conservation efforts of the Florida torreya (Torreya taxifolia) Jason A. Smith, Tova Spector, Ron Determann, Jenny Cruse-Sanders, Ray Pruner, 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 25 Marvin Friel, Kerry O’Donnell and John Bente, University of Florida, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL 32611-0410. Email: [email protected]. Florida torreya, Torreya taxifolia, has experienced a dramatic and precipitous population decline in its native habitat in ravines along the Apalachicola River. Recent studies have demonstrated that a novel fungal pathogen, Fusarium torreyae, is causing a severe canker and dieback that is decimating the remaining extant individuals. The status and condition of the current wild population has recently been documented, and in addition to very high disease incidence, the average stem lengths were 127 cm, few seed bearing trees were present, and the population was estimated at less than 1500 individuals. Efforts are underway to better determine methods to improve health of the population in situ, propagate disease-free trees, and expand an ex situ germplasm conservation program at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. In addition, studies to assess genetic diversity within the population are underway. Recommendations for future in situ and ex situ conservation strategies for this endangered conifer will be discussed. Friday, May 16th, 3:00pm-3:20pm (Room 213) Current research on the biology and management of laurel wilt in the United States Jason A. Smith, R.C. Ploetz, J. Hulcr, J. McCutcheon, T.J. Dreaden, M.A. Hughes, D. Spence, K. Shin, S. Inch, J. Riggins and A. Campbell, University of Florida, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL 32611-0410. Email: [email protected]. Laurel wilt (LW), caused by the fungal pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, is a highly destructive exotic disease that threatens trees in the Lauraceae, including avocado, redbay and sassafras. Since 2002, the disease has nearly wiped out redbay in much of the southeastern USA, and threatens the avocado industries in Florida (valued at > $60 million/year) and California ($400 million.) Natural communities have been devastated by this disease as rare plant hosts and their associated fauna are impacted. Recently, massive mortality in the tree islands of the Everglades has been reported. The pathogen is transmitted to trees by an insect vector, the Asian redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus. Typically, ambrosia beetles carry nonpathogenic fungal symbionts that the beetles consume, rather than wood. LW is unique in that the symbiont of X. glabratus, R. lauricola, is highly virulent to host trees. Very few spores of R. lauricola are needed to incite LW. Microscopic observations and studies with secondary metabolites indicate that hosts over-react to the presence of the pathogen by excessive tylose formation, and ultimately, vascular dysfunction, but that toxins are probably not involved in pathogenesis. Genetic analyses of R. lauricola indicate that a single clone occurs in the USA. Comparisons of microsattelite loci of the pathogen in the USA indicate a close match with isolates in Taiwan, but differences in Japan; however, there were no differences in virulence among isolates from the three countries on redbay or avocado. Lateral transfer of the pathogen to other ambrosia beetle species, their experimental transmission of the pathogen, and the subsequent development of LW in no-choice studies, has been documented. Whether and to what extent species other than X. glabratus play roles in the natural spread of this disease is not known. Current efforts to manage LW focus on systemic fungicides, judicious sanitation in avocado orchards, and host resistance. Genomic analyses of the pathogen and closely related, nonpathogenic symbionts are underway to gain insight into what makes R. lauricola a plant pathogen. Friday, May 16th, 3:25pm-4:05 (Ballroom A & B) Wildflowers of Collier County Roger Hammer, Author, Wildflower Photographer, Naturalist FNPS Rock Star Roger Hammer is back! A widely recognized expert on native wildflowers, Roger is passionate about Florida native orchids. Roger’s depth of knowledge and wit will inform what promises to be an engaging homage to common and www.esterobaybuddies.org Page 26 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native critically imperiled wildflowers of Collier County. Please note: FNGLA & ASLA CEUs will be available for this presentation. Friday, May 16th, 3:25pm-4:05pm (Room 214) The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Algae Dr. Serge Thomas, Assistant Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University Urban manmade wet ponds are a very conspicuous feature of Southwest Florida. These ponds are dug out for the fill they provide to elevate houses for flood protection. They also have been mandated since 1982 to efficiently treat up to 80% of the pollutants from stormwater runoffs. However, besides these aforementioned attributes, these ponds have morphed into aesthetically appealing “lakes” surrounded by lush manicured lawns. As planned, excessive amounts of nutrients thus reach these ponds, which then turn green from algae and subaquatic plants. Because these expected proliferations are perceived as unaesthetic, ponds are heavily managed by a plethora of lake management companies, who use more or less aggressive algae and plant growth control methods. The lack of plants and algae render the ponds inefficient to uptake nutrients, which, along with the herbicides, are inexorably exported downstream if an outfall is present. My talk will focus on the ecology of the “bad and ugly” suspended, scum-forming and matforming algal blooms typical of the aforementioned dysfunctioning ponds. These will contrast with the native “good” (i.e. beneficial) healthy community of algal mats, which colonize healthy ponds, and which, unfortunately, are often misdiagnosed as problematic blooms. Solutions to cope with the algae will be presented and will be up for debate. Friday, May 16th, 3:25pm-4:05pm (Room 213) Restoration efforts of the endangered species Chrysopsis floridana on protected lands Juliet Rynear, Rare Plant Specialist, Bok Tower Gardens Chrysopsis floridana (Florida Golden Aster) is a short-lived perennial endemic to the scrub habitat of central Florida. Occurring in Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas Counties, the species is federally and statelisted as endangered. The Rare Plant Conservation Program at Bok Tower Gardens has successfully introduced six new populations onto protected lands since 2008. The success of these introductions and strong natural resource management programs in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties has significantly aided the conservation of C. floridana. In Hillsborough County, conservation land was purchased through the Endangered Land Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP) and these properties contain several large populations. There are also several populations in Manatee County on managed preserves. The successful conservation achievements for this species illustrate the necessary interconnection of science, government policies that support natural resource protection, and non-government organizations. 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 27 Saturday, May 17th, 9:00am-9:45am (Ballroom A & B) The Scientific Basis for Climate Change: Understanding the Most Important Findings of the 2013 IPCC Report Dr. Don P. Chambers, Associate Professor, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida The ocean influences climate by storing and transporting large amounts of heat, freshwater, and carbon, and exchanging these properties with the atmosphere. About 93% of the excess heat energy stored by the earth over the last 50 years is found in the ocean. More than three quarters of the total exchange of water between the atmosphere and the earth’s surface through evaporation and precipitation takes place over the oceans. The ocean contains 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere and is at present acting to slow the rate of climate change by absorbing one quarter of human emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning, cement production, deforestation and other land use change. I will summarize the observational evidence of climate change presented in the 2013 report on the physical basis of climate change, with an emphasis on ocean observations. These topics include changes in subsurface ocean temperature and heat content, evidence for regional changes in ocean salinity and their link to changes in evaporation and precipitation over the oceans, observations of sea level change, and biogeochemical changes in the ocean, including ocean acidification. I will also discuss global and regional projections of sea level change through 2100. Saturday, May 17th, 9:50am-10:35am (Ballroom A & B) What Plants Talk About Dr. J.C. Cahill, Professor of Ecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton In this talk, Dr. Cahill will discuss general issues in this new field, as well as provide some specific work conducted by his lab. He will suggest we are undergoing a paradigm shift in our understanding of plants, with potentially important implications and opportunities. Further, though plants and animals differ greatly in many ways, their behaviour appears to be more similar than imagined. Please note: FNGLA & ASLA CEUs will be available for this presentation. Saturday, May 17th, 10:00am-2:00pm (Food Court) Poster Session & Science Fair The influence of water temperature and salinity on consumption of Vallisneria americana by the invasive aquatic gastropod Pomacea maculata Shannan McAskill, Spencer Talmage and James Douglass, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965. e-mail: [email protected]. The Island Apple Snail (Pomacea maculata) is a large, herbivorous freshwater gastropod that has become invasive in Florida. P. maculata is known to feed on an important species of submerged aquatic www.CHNEP.org The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) is a partnership working to protect the natural environment in Florida from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter Haven. Art by Linda Soderquist, lindasislandart.com Learn about CHNEP’s partnership efforts to protect estuaries — where fresh and salt water mix — and the land that drains into these waters by exploring www.CHNEP.org and by subscribing to the free quarterly magazine, Harbor Happenings. You will learn about the issues confronting the region, the committees that guide the program, research, restoration, advocacy and stewardship projects, grants, our calendar of donated images showcasing the beauty and diversity of the natural environment, events, informational videos and more. Page 28 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Poster Session & Science Fair (continued) vegetation, Vallisneria americana, which lives in both freshwater and oligohaline estuarine environments. While V. americana was common to the Caloosahatchee Estuary as recently as the 1990s, drought and man-made changes to water flow have wiped out almost all viable populations. Herbivory by P. maculata has hindered efforts to cultivate and restore V. americana populations in permanently freshwater areas of the Caloosahatchee River north of the S-79 lock and dam, which are thought to serve as a seed source for estuarine populations of V. americana. We hypothesize that the severity of grazing impacts are influenced by environmental factors such as variations in water temperature and salinity, and that understanding these effects could aid efforts to control P. maculata and restore V. americana. Floating island pilot project for nutrient removal in stormwater ponds on Sanibel Island, Florida Mark Thompson and Jenny Evans, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, 3333 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel FL 33957. Email: [email protected]. Stormwater ponds and lakes throughout Florida and the United States are becoming more eutrophic due to excessive inputs of nutrients from urban stormwater runoff. Urbanization has resulted in greater runoff volume and higher concentrations of nutrients in that runoff. Excessive nutrient standing stock in waterbodies can cause algae blooms, low dissolved oxygen, reduced water clarity and fish kills. Lake management companies are often employed to improve conditions, but their use of toxic herbicides, to kill aquatic vegetation and algae only temporarily masks the symptoms resulting in larger, more complex problems later. Florida native plants can be used in a variety of ways to prevent future nutrient runoff and to control nutrient standing stock already existing in stormwater systems. Floating island technology has been used to allow nutrient uptake and cycling from waterbodies which are already eutrophic. Native plants which are amendable to the existing water quality conditions are propagated on these floating islands, developing extensive hydroponic-like roots systems and removing nutrients through uptake and cycling processes by periphyton attached to the roots. The root systems also provide increased refugia for zooplankton algae grazers, adding another method for increased algae control. A 250 square foot floating island of native plants was installed in The Dunes stormwater system on Sanibel Island in April 2012. Findings from the first year of this pilot study are presented in this poster. Correlations between ground cover community structure and hydrology in isolated cypress domes located in west-central Florida Paul E. Thurman(1), Thomas L. Crisman(1), David Carr(2), and Jason Rohr(1), (1) Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, (2) Southwest Florida Water Management District, Brooksville, FL. Email: [email protected]. An historical database was analyzed to investigate how ground cover communities fluctuate over time as a function of hydrologic variables in isolated cypress domes found in west-central Florida in two ground-water producing wellfields (Cypress Creek and Starkey) and one control system (Green Swamp). When all wetlands were combined, no single hydrologic variable or lag time was correlated with changes in ground cover communities; however, individual wetlands were correlated to a unique set of hydrologic variables. Of these variables, groundwater pumping volume was correlated with the highest percentage of wetlands sampled (46%), followed by hydroperiod and maximum depth (37% each), average depth (26%), and precipitation (16%). Ground cover communities located in the Green Swamp fluctuated regularly and tended to be correlated with hydrologic variables less than one year prior to monitoring. In contrast, the wellfield wetlands were considerably less variable and were correlated with hydrologic variables with lag times of two to three years. This study illustrates the uniqueness of individual wetlands and raises concerns about assuming that all wetlands respond to hydrology the same, even when found within close proximity to one another. 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 29 Poster Session & Science Fair (continued) Reintroduction of two extirpated ferns into Miami-Dade County Craig van der Heiden1 and Bruce Holst2, (1)The Institute for Regional Conservation,100 E Linton Blvd. Delray Beach, FL 33483; (2) Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 South Palm Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236. Email: [email protected] Florida has three fern species in the genus Campyloneurum, commonly called strap ferns. The long strap fern (C. phyllitidis) is locally common in hammocks and swamps throughout peninsular Florida. The remaining two species, narrow strap fern (C. angustifolium) and tailed strap fern (C. costatum), are extremely rare in Florida. Both were formerly more widespread in their distribution but are now severely restricted in their range due to habitat destruction, habitat alterations, and poaching. Narrow strap fern and tailed strap fern where previously found in Miami-Dade County but have been extirpated. The main objective for this project is to reintroduce these two species to previous habitat in Miami-Dade County. To accomplish this goal, both ferns were grown at the Marie Selby Botanical Garden from spores collected in the Fakahatchee Strand in November, 2007. An initial trial outplanting of three sporophytes of each species was undertaken in September 2012. Both species of fern were planted on rocks and tree roots in a solution hole. Sporophytes were watered weekly for nine weeks and then observed bimonthly for an additional three months. The successful reintroduction was followed by out-planting of 18 narrow strap fern and 8 tailed strap fern in three locations within a hammock in October 2013. Ferns were planted on a variety of substrates, including rotting stumps, tree bases, and tree trunks following the same protocols. Reintroduction of these two species contributes to the restoration of the historical biodiversity of this hammock. Saturday, May 17th, 11:00am-11:45am (Ballroom A & B) Master Naturalists -- Creating an Army of Informed Citizens Dr. Marty Main, Associate Dean and Program Leader for UF/IFAS Natural Resources and Florida Sea Grant Extension Programs Planet Earth is experiencing environmental change on every scale, from loss of local wetlands, to rising global temperatures. Our society seems to be growing increasingly distant from, and either indifferent to or unaware of, the elements of nature that enrich our lives and support our life processes. We look to our leaders to change these things, but we should be looking to ourselves as the elements of change. The Florida Master Naturalist Program educates and empowers citizens so they can foster environmental awareness in others and become ambassadors for the responsible stewardship of our natural resources. Dr. Martin Main is Program Leader and innovator of the Florida Master Naturalist Program and will speak about the program and the role of informed, empowered, and engaged citizens in promoting greater awareness, respect and stewardship of Florida’s natural world. Saturday, May 17th, 11:00am-11:25am (Room 213) Exploring the causes of narrow endemism in two imperiled Florida sunflowers: a combined population genetics and niche modeling approach Chase Mason, Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, 2502 Miller Plant Sciences, Athens, GA 30605. Email: [email protected]. Many species are restricted to small ranges, and the causes of such narrow endemism are not always clear. This study attempts to unravel the causes of narrow endemism in two imperiled Florida sunflower species (Helianthus carnosus and Phoebanthus tenuifolius) by investigating two important potential drivers of species distributions – habitat availability and underlying population genetics. Niche modeling indicates that both species have narrow environmental requirements driven by soil and climate, and thus that these species are likely historical endemics. However, recent land use changes appear to be negatively affecting at least one of the two species, and both species have lower genetic diversity than expected, based on life history and as compared to close relatives. Furthermore, models of habitat availability Page 30 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native under climate change predict dramatic reductions in available habitat for both species over the next several decades. This information will hopefully help inform conservation and management efforts of these two state-listed species. Saturday, May 17th, 12:50pm-1:30pm (Ballroom A & B) Conservation of Florida’s Butterflies and Native Insect Pollinators Dr. Jaret C. Daniels, Associate Curator of Lepidoptera, Florida Museum of Natural History and IFAS Associate Professor of Entomology, University of Florida Florida is home to a rich diversity of butterflies and other highly charismatic and beneficial insects. Together, many of these organisms provide important ecosystem services, such as pollination, and help to engender awareness of our complex natural world. Populations of butterflies and other wild insect pollinators have suffered declines in recent years, prompting calls for proactive strategies designed to identify the drivers of these losses and to help bolster remaining populations. Of particular concern for conservationists is the fact that many species are disappearing from locations, including many conservation lands, where they were formerly abundant. Collaborative efforts to help evaluate, stabilize and restore their populations are discussed. Saturday, May 17th, 1:35pm-2:15pm (Ballroom A & B) Ecological State of the Florida Gulf Coast University Campus, 1994-2014 Dr. Win Everham, Professor of Marine and Ecological Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University Since its selection as the site for Florida’s tenth university, the ecological impacts of construction of the Florida Gulf Coast University campus has raised concerns in Southwest Florida. We report on the development of the site, and our efforts to include ecological research in the curriculum. The National Science Foundation funded a project to integrate our curriculum with campus, watershed, and regional research needs. This Campus Ecosystem Model provided a framework for guiding field-based course projects and faculty, undergraduate and graduate student research. This presentation reports on the results of wildlife, water quality, and vegetation research and monitoring through: general education courses, including Environmental Biology and Environmental Chemistry; upper division courses in the Biology and Environmental Studies majors, such as General Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Limnology, Wetland Ecology, and Ecological Monitoring Techniques; undergraduate Senior Research projects, and Master’s thesis research. These data provide us with insight into the current ecological state of the campus, 20 years after construction began. Saturday, May 17th, 1:35pm-3:00pm (Room 214) Native Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers for Landscape Design Dr. Don Spence, Landscape Designer and Plant Pathologist & Catherine Bowman, Ecological Scientist Conference attendees participating in the “Native Trees, Shrubs and Wildflowers for Landscape Design” session will learn about the best examples of native species, soil and light conditions for various landscape designs, as well as gain a greater appreciation and understanding of native plant habitats, common and rare species and uses of native plants in various design settings. Don Spence, Ph.D., landscape designer, arborist and plant pathologist, and Catherine Bowman, ecological scientist, will instruct on the value of native plants, the importance of native plant biodiversity, and how to promote natives in landscape design projects. There will be a focus on how to create a balanced and ecologically sustainable landscape. Please note: FNGLA & ASLA CEUs will be available for this presentation. 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 31 Saturday, May 17th, 2:20pm-3:00pm (Ballroom A & B) FLOR500 Exhibit in the Art Gallery Xavier Cortada, Director and Artist-inResidence, Florida International University, College of Architecture Xavier Cortada will explain the participatory art exhibition, FLOR500, which will open at the close of the Saturday’s conference sessions. Learn about this exciting participatory art, nature, and history project that marks the importance of the moment when the history of Florida changed forever. Cortada will share highlights of the project, which includes 500 native wildflowers selected by a team of scientists, as depicted by 500 Florida artists. Additionally, he’ll describe the wildflower gardens being established by students from 500 schools across Florida’s 67 counties to commemorate 500 notable Floridians chosen by a group of Florida historians. Saturday, May 17th, 3:00pm-4:30pm (Cohen Center Lawn) Container Gardens for Butterflies and Pollinators Dr. Jaret C. Daniels, Associate Curator of Lepidoptera, Florida Museum of Natural History Container gardens are portable, ideal for small spaces and provide an almost instantaneous landscape look. They can also boast an attractive and productive display of flowers perfect for attracting butterflies , bees and other beneficial pollinators. Enjoy this informal, hands-on workshop that includes both design considerations and an overview of the best pollinator-attracting plants. Saturday, May 17th, 3:30pm-4:30pm (Ballroom A & B) Our Two Million Year+ Brain-Body Connection to Phytons of the Plant Sphere Dr. Bill Hammond, President of Natural Context Consulting & Professor Emeritus, Florida Gulf Coast University Intuitively we know that a connection to Nature is innate in each of us. We are now in the third generation of the majority of our society that have minimized their direct experiences working and playing in outdoors on farms and in forests, resulting in what Richard Louv coined as Nature Deficit Disorder. Newly emerging scientific, medical and physiological research is documenting how experiences in nature and its plants are critical to our learning, creativity and healthy development, as well as personal and societal future. There is a greater need than ever for people to Go Native with new incentives for better health! Page 32 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Meet the Speakers Jim Beever, Ph.D. Filter Marsh Nutrient Treatment (Friday, 1:35pm-2:15pm) James (Jim) William Beever III is an expert in the natural resources and estuaries in southwest Florida. He is a Planner IV for the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC). His work includes: the development of ECOSERVE, a method to evaluate total ecosystem services values; the development of an assessment method to evaluate the water quality benefits of designed freshwater and brackish water ecosystems used for water quality treatment; fertilizer management planning; the model Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council’s Fertilizer Resolution; assistance to local governments in other regions; implementing the environmental planning review for the SWFRPC; regional climate change planning; coordinating regional wildlife habitat planning; review of developments with regional impact; Comprehensive Everglades Restoration implementation; the Southwest Florida Watershed Study; wildlife resource inventories; fish and wildlife technical assistance; and 22 committees and partnerships. He has been employed protecting the natural resources of southwest Florida for 29 years. Brian Bovard, PhD. Plants and the Ecohydrology of Southwest Florida Ecosystems (Friday, 11:05am-11:45am) Dr. Bovard is a wetland plant ecologist at Florida Gulf Coast University. While most of his current research interests are in wetlands, he also periodically works in upland systems. His doctoral training was specifically in the field of plant physiological ecology at Duke University, but his interests were and still are in how physiological responses scale to higher ecological scales, such as populations, communities and ultimately ecosystem processes. Specific research interests include: understanding plant contributions to ecosystem water loss in South Florida wetlands; physiological plant ecology; global climate change; and ecosystem carbon storage Catherine Bowman Native Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers for Landscape Design FNPS Landscape Awards (Saturday, 12:50pm-1:30pm; Saturday, 1:35pm-3:00pm) Catherine Bowman is a long-time Florida Native Plant Society member and served as the Tarflower Chapter president from 2006 to 2013. Catherine is the president of Bowman and Blair Ecology and Design, Inc., a Winter Park, Florida, firm founded in 2013, which provides an array of ecological consulting services. Her twenty-year professional career as an ecological consultant is founded on a B.S. in Botany from the University of Central Florida, with a focus on field botany. Catherine is experienced in the restoration of upland and wetland habitats, as well as having a strong knowledge of native Florida plant species and their use in the urban environment. J.C. Cahill, Ph.D. What Plants Talk About (Saturday, 9:50am-10:35am) Though plants do not feel, think, nor understand ... can they behave? If so, how does this alter our perception of nature? Dr. Cahill (JC) is a Professor of Ecology at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997, and has been working in Edmonton 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 33 since 1999. He supervises a large research group of students, focusing on topics that include plant foraging behaviour, mountain pine beetle impacts on soil ecology, climate change effects on rangeland sustainability, and pollination biology. Don P. Chambers, Ph.D. The Scientific Basis for Climate Change: Understanding the Most Important Findings of the 2013 IPCC Report (Saturday, 9:00am-9:45am) Dr. Don P. Chambers is an Associate Professor at the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, and is an internationally recognized expert in the field of sea level science. His specialty is in using satellite observations to measure sea level change, both globally and regionally, and he has served on numerous national and international science committees, including as a Lead Author on the 5th Climate Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in September 2013. Tonya Clayton, Ph.D. From Sea Oats to Sea Rockets: How Beach Plants Shape our Coastal Landscapes (Friday, 2:40pm-3:20pm) Dr. Tonya Clayton is a science writer, editor, and educator based on Florida’s Gulf Coast. She is also a Florida Master Naturalist, an NAI Certified Interpretive Guide, and a graduate of the Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute. Her work as a geologist and oceanographer has taken her from the sandy barrier islands of Portugal to the clear blue waters of the deep Pacific Ocean. Her latest book, How to Read a Florida Gulf Coast Beach, was named “a total success” by Florida Weekly. Photo courtesy of R. Byrne Xavier Cortada FLOR500 Exhibit in the Art Gallery (Saturday, 2:20pm-3:00pm) Miami artist Xavier Cortada created art installations at the North Pole and South Pole to address environmental concerns at every point in between. He’s been commissioned to create art for the White House, the World Bank, Miami City Hall, Miami-Dade County Hall, Florida Botanical Gardens, the Miami Art Museum, Museum of Florida History, Miami Science Museum and the Frost Art Museum. Cortada has also developed numerous collaborative art projects globally, including peace murals in Cyprus and Northern Ireland, child welfare murals in Bolivia and Panama, AIDS murals in Geneva and South Africa, and ecoart projects in Hawaii, New Hampshire, Taiwan, Holland, and Latvia. Jaret C. Daniels, Ph.D. Conservation of Florida’s Butterflies and Native Insect Pollinators Container Gardens for Butterflies & Pollinators (Saturday, 12:50pm-1:30pm; Saturday, 3:00pm-4:30pm) Dr. Jaret Daniels is the Associate Curator of Lepidoptera at the Florida Museum of Natural History and IFAS Associate Professor of Entomology at the University of Florida. An entomologist by training, he specializes in the ecology and conservation of butterflies and other native insect pollinators. He has authored more than 50 scientific papers, popular articles, and books dealing with butterflies, conservation, integrated pest management, and butterfly gardening, including the most recent titles: Wildflowers of Georgia (2012); Wildflowers of Florida (2010); Butterflies of Florida Field Guide (2003); Butterflies of the Carolinas Field Guide (2004); Butterflies of Georgia Field Guide (2004); Butterflies of Ohio Field Guide (2004); and Butterflies of Michigan Field Guide (2005). He has served as a design and technical consultant for numerous butterfly houses, commercial landscape projects, and school and home gardens. Page 34 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Jenny Evans Native Plant Boot Camp: Basic Training (Friday, 1:35pm-2:15pm) Jenny’s love of nature and plants began during her childhood in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Since then, she has earned a B.S. in Biology, with a double major in Theatre, from Mary Washington College and a graduate degree in Public Garden Management from Cornell University. As the manager of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Native Plant Nursery, Jenny has had an opportunity to blend many of her passions, including conservation, horticulture, and education. Previous to SCCF, she had experience in a variety of non-profits, from botanical gardens in Washington state and Washington D.C., to environmental education organizations in Florida and the Bahamas. Win Everham, Ph.D. Ecological State of the Florida Gulf Coast University Campus 1994-2014 (Saturday, 1:35pm-2:15pm) Dr. Win Everham is Professor of Marine and Ecological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University. He teaches field-based ecology courses, and his research interests center on the response of ecosystems to disturbance. In Southwest Florida this has included: the impacts of exotic invasion and removal in wetlands, fire ecology in exotic infested systems, ecological dynamics of stormwater ponds, and the response of ecosystems in Southwest Florida to hurricane disturbance. Since arriving in Florida in 1996, Dr. Everham has served in many capacities on community organizations including: Chairman of the Estero Bay Agency on Bay Management, member of the Fort Myers Beach Marine Resources Task Force, member of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida Environmental Education Committee, Board Member for the Calusa Nature Center, member of the Big Cypress National Preserve Off Road Vehicle Advisory Committee, and member of the Institute for Food and Agriculture Immokalee Field Station Agroecology Advisory Board. Dennis Giardina, Everglades Region Biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission The Restoration of Rare and Extirpated Native Orchids at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (Friday, 10:20am-11:00am) Dennis Giardina began his career in 1989 at the Caribbean National Forest in Puerto Rico, working on the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Project. From 1991 to 1996, he worked at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, restoring long leaf pine ecosystems, and from 1996 to 2005, he worked at Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge on a variety of endangered and invasive exotic species issues. From 2005 to 2008, he was the Park Manager of Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park before accepting his current position as Everglades Region Biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Edward F. Gilman, Ph.D. Growing and Planting Quality Native Trees: It’s More Than Grades & Standards (Parts 1, 2, & 3) (Friday, 12:50pm-1:30pm (Part 1); 1:35pm-2:15pm (Part 2); 2:40pm-3:20pm (Part 3)) Dr. Edward Gilman received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University. He has been on the faculty at the University of Florida in Gainesville since 1984, where he is a Professor in the Environmental Horticulture Department. Dr. Gilman teaches arboriculture, conducts research on planting and pruning, and works extensively with industry. He is the author of six books on trees and landscape 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 35 plants, as well as many software programs and websites. The third edition of his book, Illustrated Guide to Pruning, was published in 2012. Dr. Gilman is a Florida chapter ISA Past-President. He received the Author’s Citation Award in 1999, the Educator’s Award in 2003, and the Research Award in 2007 from the ISA, for sustained excellence in research, publishing and teaching timely information on tree care. He has published more than 100 scientific peer reviewed journal articles on the principles of tree care in his 30 years in academia and industry. Roger Hammer Wildflowers of Collier County (Friday, 3:25pm-4:05pm) Roger L. Hammer is a retired professional interpretive naturalist and a part-time instructor and field trip leader for Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables. He received the first Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award presented by the Dade Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society in 1982 for “outstanding, consistent, and constant service in the areas of education, research, promotion, and preservation of native plants.” Tropical Audubon Society awarded him the prestigious Charles Brookfield Medal in 1996 for “outstanding service in the protection of our natural resources.” In 2003, he received the Green Palmetto Award in Education from the Florida Native Plant Society, and in 2008, he gave the keynote address at the Nineteenth World Orchid Conference in Miami. In 2012, Florida International University honored him with an honorary Doctor of Science degree. He is an accomplished wildflower photographer and the author of Everglades Wildflowers, Florida Keys Wildflowers, A Falcon Guide to Everglades National Park & the Surrounding Area, and Florida Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Sunshine State. Roger discovered two species of native orchids that were new to the flora of Florida, rediscovered the atala hairstreak butterfly that was feared extinct, and discovered the first pair of Bahama woodstar hummingbirds in Florida. His hobbies include wildflower photography, long-distance solo canoeing, kayak fishing, and gardening. He lives in Homestead with his wife, Michelle. Visit his website at: www.rogerlhammer.com Bill Hammond, Ph.D. Our Two Million Year+ Brain-Body Connection to Phytons of the Plant Sphere (Saturday, 3:30pm-4:30pm) Bill Hammond is a Professor Emeritus at Florida Gulf Coast University and was a founding faculty member of the Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences. He is also President of Natural Context Consulting. Bill has worked in every state, 8 Canadian Provinces, with 17 other nations in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia, as well as with governmental agencies, not-for-profits, and corporate clients. Bill is in his 53rd year working in education, applied creative thinking, environmental education, and environmental planning with public schools and Fortune 500 companies. He was a community co-leader in the public acquisition of a multitude of preservation properties, often in cooperation with his high school students. He has served on seven Governor-appointed Boards and Committees, including two terms on South Florida Water Management District. He also served on the boards of the National Project Learning Tree, Project WILD, Brandwein Institute, and as President of the National Alliance for Environmental Education. He has received many awards, including the National Theodore Roosevelt Award presented by President George H. Bush for Conservation Service to the nation, the National Federation of Garden Clubs Silver Seal Award (2nd highest national award) for the Six Mile Cypress acquisition project, the National Wildlife Federation National Teacher of the Year, and FGCU Professor of the Year, voted by FGCU students. Bill’s passion is family, including his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as teaching and learning, particularly while wading in swamps and along mangrove and beach shorelines. Page 36 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Joy Hazell Water Quality Issues in Lee County (Friday, 12:50pm-1:30pm) Joy Hazell is a faculty member of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences and is currently the Sea Grant Extension Agent in Lee County. She has extensive experience in developing needs based educational programs, facilitation and project planning. As the Lee County Sea Grant Agent, Joy plans, develops, implements and evaluates comprehensive needs based marine and natural resource educational programs that focus on marine fisheries and habitat issues. She facilitates issue based programs through workshops, conferences, and electronic media for various audiences. Joy reaches diverse audiences associated with recreational and commercial fisheries, coastal resource users, public and private organizations, government agencies, youth groups, and educational institutions. She also evaluates and analyzes the results of her various programs to determine social, environmental and/or human health improvements as a result of her work. She holds an undergraduate degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of New Hampshire and a graduate degree in Marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami. Joy started her career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Central African Republic, teaching high school biology. Most recently she was the Coastal Training Specialist at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, with a focus on providing professional decision makers the knowledge and tools to address coastal resource issues. Russ Hoffman Why People Don’t “Get It?” The Psychology of Embracing Native Plants (Friday, 12:50pm-1:30pm) Russ Hoffman owned & managed a psychology practice near Chicago for 20 years. He returned to his environmental roots 15 years ago. He now owns Beautiful Ponds, a lake management company dedicated to sustainable environmental practices. He is currently conducting research with Cornell University regarding nitrogen reduction by microbial processes. Joan Justice Improvement in Littoral Shore in Storm Water Urban Ponds (Friday, 1:35pm-2:15pm) Joan Justice came from Lake Villa, Illinois, 10 years ago. She is a permanent resident of Palm Island Community in Fort Myers. She also is the Chairperson of the Ponds and Lake Committee, where she coordinates the work of the pond management company in implementing the best management practices to improve the conditions of the urban stormwater ponds in her community. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega, Ph.D. Storm Water Solutions Panel: Native Plants in Stormwater Ponds (Friday, 1:35pm-2:15pm) For more than 20 years, Dr. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega has been working at the Lee County Hyacinth Control District in Fort Myers, Florida, as a biologist controlling aquatic weeds. He is a native of Panama. He received his master’s degree from Auburn University and his doctorate degree from University of Central Florida. Dr. Lasso de la Vega coordinates the Lee County Pond Watch Program, which is a volunteer monitoring program, where homeowners can sample the water in their stormwater ponds to learn about the nutrient loads and best management practices to alleviate problems in these ponds. 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 37 Marty Main, Ph.D. Master Naturalists - Creating an Army of Informed Citizens (Saturday, 11:00am-11:45am) Dr. Marty Main is the Associate Dean and Program Leader for UF/IFAS Natural Resources and Florida Sea Grant Extension Programs. He is also a Professor in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and the Program Leader of the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP). Marty has a diverse background, including a Ph.D. in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University, a M.S. in Biological Oceanography from the Florida Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Central Michigan University. Marty’s educational background fueled a diverse research history that has included near-shore reef systems, habitat management and fire ecology, and behavioral ecology studies on birds and large mammals. Most of Dr. Main’s recent research has focused on large carnivores, including coyotes, the Florida panther, and jaguars in Brazil and Guatemala. Marty’s academic and research background and broad interests were important factors in the development of the FMNP, which is the professional achievement of which he says he is most proud. The FMNP issues approximately 1,000 graduate certificates each year and has been emulated by states across the country. Dr. Main recently received the prestigious Eugene P. Odum Award for Excellence in Ecology Education from the Ecological Society of America in recognition of the success and impact of the Florida Master Naturalist Program. Dr. Main recognizes and is quick to acknowledge that the tremendous success of the FMNP is due primarily to the talented and dedicated instructors who teach FMNP courses and to the many contributions that FMNP graduates provide to their local communities. Mike Owen The Restoration of Rare and Extirpated Native Orchids at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (Friday, 10:20am-11:00am) Mike Owen has been the Park Biologist at the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park since 1993. His duties include: hydrological monitoring; endangered plant surveys; herbarium collection; wildlife observations, including road kill data and vertebrate species list; plant species list; non-native plant removal; participation in prescribed burns; and conducting interpretive programs, including swamp walks, power point programs and guided walks. Juliet Rynear Restoration efforts of the endangered species Chrysopsis floridana on protected lands (Friday, 3:25pm-4:05pm) Juliet Rynear is the Rare Plant Specialist at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida. Her work in the Rare Plant Conservation Program includes research on Florida’s rare plants and their habitats, the development of protocols for nursery propagation, and the introduction of populations onto protected lands. Juliet received her Master of Applied Science in Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management and earned a Certificate in Applied Plant Conservation from the University of Denver. Juliet has enjoyed a lifelong love of plants and our natural world. Before moving to Florida in 2008, she was a member of the Mississippi, as well as the Nevada Native Plant Society. She is currently the Chair of the Conservation Committee for the Florida Native Plant Society. Page 38 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Theresa Schober The Cultural and Natural Landscapes of La Florida Before 1513: An Archaeological and Ethnohistorical Approach (Friday, 11:05am-11:45am) Theresa Schober is an archaeologist and cultural resource consultant working in south Florida since 1998. For nine years, she directed the restoration and exhibit development at Mound House and Newton Park on Fort Myers Beach, where she secured $4 million for historic preservation, public education, and cultural landscape initiatives, receiving two awards from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. She serves as vice president of the Florida Anthropological Society and of the Archaeological Research Cooperative, is a member of the Lee County Historic Preservation Board, and past board member and vice president of the Trail of Florida’s Indian Heritage. Most recently, she has been coordinating a two-year programming partnership between Lee Trust for Historic Preservation and the Florida Humanities Council, that has included serving as co-curator of the award-winning ArtCalusa: Reflections on Representation exhibition now traveling in Florida, and (with Jerald Milanich) of Enchantments: The Photographic Adventures of Julian Dimock & Clyde Butcher, opening in May at the Southwest Florida Museum of History. Schober is also Executive Producer of a forthcoming documentary film about the Calusa capital of Mound Key in Estero Bay for the Friends of Koreshan State Historic Site. Elizabeth Smith Nature Journaling Workshop (Thursday, 1:00pm-4:00pm) Elizabeth spent her early years in the woods and waters of Iowa developing a love for plants and wildlife that she hopes is reflected in her work. Her personal style is self-taught and shaped by ten years in the graphic arts, and after that, by private studies and workshops. Recently she went back to school to complete her art degree and take postgraduate classes in education; she’s especially interested in art education and using the arts to heal. She hopes that she can inspire others to take a moment to connect to nature and the amazing systems around us. Elizabeth is a member of the United Arts Council of Collier County and the Florida Native Plant Society. Don Spence, Ph.D. Native Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers for Landscape Design FNPS Landscape Awards (Saturday, 12:50pm; Saturday, 1:35pm) Don Spence is a Certified Municipal Arborist, FL1341AM and owns Native Florida Landscapes. He has been specializing in plant disease diagnosis, tree surveys, tree health assessments, native and exotic plant identification for 18 years. Don has a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. Don has written articles related to invasive species, tree selection, and the importance of using native plants in urban landscapes. Don was also instrumental in the formation of the East Central Florida Cooperative Weed Management Area. Serge Thomas, Ph.D. The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of Algae (Friday, 3:25pm-4:05pm) Dr. Thomas is an Assistant Professor from Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL. Prior to this, he was a visiting scientist at Florida International University. He holds a Ph.D. in Oceanology from the University Pierre and Marie 34th Annual Conference: Growing Native Page 39 Curie, France (2000). His thesis topic focused on the limnology of ranching reservoirs in the Ivory Coast, Africa. His research mainly focuses on the eutrophication of shallow hydrosystems, ranging from saltwater, estuarine, brackish transient, or permanent lentic or lotic water bodies. He mainly studies eutrophication through a bottom up approach, where primary producers interact and compete. Dr. Thomas has expertise on the Everglades periphyton physiology, in particular as bioindicators of pollution and as a pollutant remover in stormwater treatment areas and ponds. More recently, Dr. Thomas is building a program on urban pond ecology. Amy Bennett Williams Effective Strategies for Communication with the Media (Friday, 10:20am-11:00am) Amy Bennett Williams came to The News-Press in 1988 as an ashtray-emptying, obituary-writing clerk/reporter. Since then, she has gone on to cover everything from cake contests to tuberculosis outbreaks. In addition to writing features and news articles, Williams helped conceive the paper’s weekly Tropicalia magazine, where her column, “Field Notes” appears. Her sense-of-place essays air weekly on local NPR affiliate WGCU. She lives in rural Alva with her writer husband, Roger, two sons, an ever-changing menagerie, and a beloved ancient Rhipsalis baccifera. Jim Wohlpart, Ph.D. Remembering Sacred Reason: Global Warming, Sense of Place, and Native Species (Friday, 9:00am-10:00am) Jim Wohlpart is Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Environmental Literature at Florida Gulf Coast University. He joined the University in 1994 to help write the curriculum and hire the faculty. He is a Senior Scholar with the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education, has published widely on sustainability and curriculum, and has worked to broaden our understanding of sustainability to include questions of the spirit. He has co-edited two volumes: A Voice for Earth: American Writers Respond to the Earth Charter and Unspoiled: Writers Speak for Florida’s Coast. His latest book is entitled Walking Land of Many Gods: in the Remembering Sacred Reason in Contemporary Environmental Literature. Dick Workman Palmetto Basket Workshop (Friday, 11:05am-11:45am) After being educated as an environmental sciences teacher at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Dick Workman’s career path guided him through the Mojave Desert in Southern California during his military service. As a volunteer educator at both elementary schools and junior colleges, he led field studies of desert natural systems. During a brief two year return to the temperate hardwoods of Ohio, he directed the Warren County Park District, educating the public about the vital importance of maintaining native plant communities. Returning to the desert latitudes in 1973, he directed the SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). Growing Native: Native Plants for Landscape Use in Coastal South Florida, published in 1980 by the SCCF, was his first book. Dick serves on the Florida Natural History Museum’s Randell Research Center Advisory Board in Pineland, FL, where he sometimes can be found demonstrating palm frond weaving, twining plant fibers, or playing the conch shell horn. He is also a founding member of the Florida Native Plant Society and serves on the State Board of Directors. Be Captivated. Stroll through 170 acres of lush tropical cultivated gardens and native preserve inspired by landscapes from around the world. Naples Botanical Garden Welcomes the Florida Native Plant Society. SpeCiAl GArDen AnnounCeMenT: The Garden is closed for construction Monday, June 2 - Wednesday, october 22, 2014, with our public Grand opening tentatively scheduled for Thursday, october 23. For all the latest developments on the completion of our new visitor center and other exciting happenings at the Garden, please visit naplesgarden.org Connect with us on Facebook & Twitter Download our Free Mobile App 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, FL 34112 / 877.433.1874 WWW.NAPLESGARDEN.ORG