The Villages Recreation requested we provide a seminar for the community. On July 28, S. Egloff presented "Creating a Sustainable Community" covering the need to conserve water by minimizing turf (Did you know turf uses 30% of the drinking water of Florida and turf is the largest crop in Florida?). As an alternative, Florida natives were introduced to decrease our water consumption, create more biodiversity, decrease pollution caused by the maintenance of turf, increase food for birds, butterflies, and pollinators to enhance our food supply., and create a restorative environment for our soul. Tips were given as to how to go about designing a new landscape. One does not need to change the entire landscape but starting small in one section of your lot is a great way to begin to embrace Florida natives without expending many resources.
In August, Barbara Wertz spoke to the Southern Birders Group about soil and Florida natives and how to incorporate natives into landscapes to support birds.
The Butterfly Club invited FNPS to see a seminar presented by Jaret Daniels from UF focusing on butterflies and their caterpillar stage. The seminar was very engaging and informative. Remember to just sit in your garden to enjoy the flora blooming and the fauna that comes to visit it. Afterward, we were able to go out and visit the Fred Funk Lady Lake Adventist Butterfly Garden which was a huge treat. Labeling has been added designating plant names. There are many Florida natives as well as Florida-friendly plants - a wonderful garden where one can determine what the mature plant looks like.
his summer, our Chapter has sponsored a study, performed by UF to determine the effectiveness of damaging/killing Empire Zoyzia, Bermuda, and St. Augustine, but not killing the ground cover Frog Fruit in our landscapes. The herbicides used were Segment II, Fusilade II, and/or Pylex. Stay tuned. A presentation will be provided to our chapter at the conclusion of the study.
We were able to pick up a host of brochures from the Florida Wildflower Foundation. The new brochures have a list of applicable plants for the specified environment, their characteristics needs to survive, and pollinator/bird use. (Please join the Florida Wildflower Foundation, they are a good resource.) These will be available for you on one of the back tables during our September 8 meeting:
- "Guide for Choosing Native Plants"
- "Collecting and Sowing Wildflower Seed"
- "Starting a Wildflower Garden from Seed"
- "Great Wildflowers for Dry Landscaping"
- "Create a Pollinator Pot"
- "Great Wildflowers for Shade"
- "Monarchs and Milkweed"
- "Aquatic Wildflowers for Pollinators"
Our Facebook group continues to grow and has over 300 members. For gardening questions and successes in your gardens, please remember to post your questions and photos on our public forum maintained by Linda Hunt, to obtain multiple answers to your questions regarding Florida natives and to show others more about Florida natives. Thanks to all who have contributed to the success of our page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/680910439422588
