Michael Salerno of "The Daily Sun." Interview
Sue Egloff: Please note the objectives stated are ones that I would like to achieve during my tenure. The list is by no means complete and I do hope the board has other objectives to add to the list. I look forward to working with you to grow our chapter during these trying times and achieve some of our objectives.
Michael Salerno: Why did you wish to serve the chapter as president?
Sue Egloff: Serving as chapter president for the Florida Native Plant Society, The Villages chapter, is my way of giving back to the community and making an impact on our ecosystem, minimizing the voracious water demands of turf and minimizing chemical fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides for our gardens. The chapter had discussions of dissolution due to lack of board members and I decided that was something I would make an effort to avoid for its 100 plus members. We continue to look for a vice president and secretary. Anyone interested?
Michael Salerno: What will be your priorities/what do you wish to do in your leadership of the chapter?
Sue Egloff: During my term of president, my main goal is to increase The Villages homeowners’ awareness of Florida Native Plants in The Villages as to how they can reduce water consumption, provide a welcoming habitat for birds and butterflies, maintain Florida native plants and increase the number of attractive Florida native plant gardens in our community.
The board has several objectives: developing a brochure showing the different Florida native plants for incorporation into individual landscapes, working with the builders to offer attractive Florida native gardens on their new construction or rebuilt home sites, possibly havng the homeowner documents designate one of the new villages as a Florida native plant community, encourage the developer to install Florida native plants in medians and continue to be a resource of Florida native plant information.
Michael Salerno: How long have you been a native plant gardener, and why did you take an interest in it?
Sue Egloff: While growing up, my family always took an interest in gardening. I continued to do so at my homes in Connecticut and Virginia. I have always learned that growing native plants increases their chances of survival ability and reduces the maintenance required to have a beautiful garden. Florida is a whole new habitat for me and the best way to learn how to incorporate natives is by joining the Florida Native Plant Society and meeting successful gardeners. What a perfect way to avoid COVID exposure by working in your garden and having fun to boot when a butterfly alights on your flowers?
Michael Salerno: Why is a leader who’s passionate about native plant landscaping important for the local chapter alive?
Sue Egloff: In The Villages, there are so many activities to capture one’s attention. There needs to be an enthusiastic advocate to capture the homeowners’ attention in creating their gardens that will help our ecosystem use less water and minimizing pollutants. If a person is doing landscaping and wants a noteworthy garden, why not make it with natives. Once established, it will use much less water than turf and does not need to be cut weekly. Most people do resist change and it is up to The Village Florida Native Plant Chapter to allay those fears and give the gardener many options in accomplishing his/her native garden objective. We must keep the local chapter alive to share the knowledge of Florida natives. The Villages is number one in so many areas. Let's be number one in the number of Florida native gardens,
Come join us to make it happen. For more information, please go to The Villages Chapter of the Florida Native Plant webiste.
Due to COVID, we are currently meeting via Zoom fourth Friday every month at 1:30pm - 22 January "Native Plants and Florida Friendly Principles" with Jackie Rolly and 26 February "Manatees" with Brittany Scharf. A link to the Zoom meeting is located on our website. Once COVID restrictions are lifted we will be returning to the Big Cypress Rec Center at the same time. Past webair links can be accessed on our YouTube Channel.
