November 23, 2018
Panel Discussion
Topics
- Design and ARC Approval
- Installation
- Maintenance
- Plant Selection
See minutes for details on each topic.
Download Minutes PDF 78kb or Word 24kb
October 26, 2018
Ginny Stibolt “Authentic Florida Yards are Filled with Native Plants”
Ginny gave us access to this document. You can download the file to your computer or view it online.
Why Native Landscapes are Important 1.2 mb download
By the authors of
A Step-by-Step Guide to a Florida Native Yard
Ginny Stibolt & Marjorie Shropshire
BLog Green Gardening Matters (Books, Articles, Resources, Appearances and more) Look under "Old Events". Maybe you will see yourself in the picture she took today. Ginny gave us access to this document. You can download the file to your computer or view it online.
Books by Ginny Stibolt
Available at Amazon:
- A Step-by-Step Guide to a Florida Native Yard Mar 27, 2018
- Climate-Wise Landscaping: Practical Actions for a Sustainable Future Apr 17, 2018
- Organic Methods for Vegetable Gardening in Florida Mar 12, 2013
- The Art of Maintaining a Florida Native Landscape Sep 08, 2015
- Sustainable Gardening for Florida Sep 13, 2009
Download Minutes PDF 68kb or Word 15kb
September 28, 2018
Soil, Fertilizers, Composting and Mulch by Kathy Porter
Kathy discussed the
- Geology of Florida
- Soil versus Dirt
- Texture of Soil
- Soil Ph and Nutrients
- Composting
- Worm Farming
You can email Kathy for a copy of the presentation.
The minutes contain more information about Kathy's presentation.
Download Minutes PDF 68kb or Word 20kb
Aug 24, 2018
Jonnie Deitz of Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, FL
Common Pollinators of Central Florida
Download Minutes PDF 616kb or Word 19kb
July 27, 2018
The Florida Milkweed Project by Marc Godts
Three organizations, the University of Florida, The Florida Wildflower Foundation and the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, have a joint project to help the monarch butterfly in Florida by:
- Collection of native ecotype milkweed seeds Information on seed collection, storage and propagation.
- Development of best practices on growing native milkweed
- Education on the selection, use, cultivation and maintenance of native ecotype milkweed plants.
Link to a brief on the Florida Milkweed Project: https://www.floridanativenurseries.org/info/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/The-Florida-Milkweed-Project-BRIEFv2.pdf
Download Minutes PDF 608kb or Word 18kb
June 22, 2018
Update on Native Landscapes in The Villages
by Steve Turnipseed, Chapter President.
Steve Turnipseed is a retired Chemical Engineer, now a certified UF/IFAS Master Gardener in Sumter County, a Florida Water Star Accredited Professional and the founding president of The Villages Chapter of FNPS. His own yard is all native and recipient of the 2016 FNPS Award of Excellence.
The pictorial tour includes drone pictures by Roger Selch and Al Lippman. Steve provided a look at many of the larger native landscape conversions with before and after images. The chapter Guidance for Residential Florida-Friendly Native Plant Landscapes was also reviewed.
Download Minutes PDF 620kb or Word 19kb
May 25, 2018
Invasive Plants Still for Sale,
by Sandra Wilson, UF/IFAS Professor of Environmental Horticulture
An invasive or exotic plant is one that is not native to the ecosystem and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Most invasive or exotic plants were introduced as ornamental. An estimated cost of invasive plants in natural areas, agricultural and gardens is $34.7 BILLION to the U.S.
Florida ranks second in the US for the degree of ecosystem devastation as a result of invasive alien species. Invasive species enter Florida via
- Ports
- Weather
- Waterways (because Florida is a peninsula)
- Tourism
Plants may be determined to be invasive based on: (1) status (2) known impacts (3) potential for expansion (4) difficulty of management (5) commercial value.
Florida is the second largest producer of ornamental plants in the US. The Florida Department of Agriculture Consumer Services has the best / most accurate website for determining if a plant is considered invasive.
In 2016, Florida Native Plants represented 16% of nursery sales, doubled from 2010.
45.2% of retailers offered “Florida Friendly Plants” for sale. Florida has over 3,300 native plant species, but less than 20% are estimated to be in cultivation. We need to re-train our “eye” to appreciate a Florida Native Landscape.
Download Minutes PDF 514kb or Word 14kb
April 27, 2018
Rare and Endangered Wildflowers of Florida: Roger Hammer
A look at some of the rarest and most vulnerable wildflowers in the sunshine state, by Author / Photographer, Roger Hammer a returning speaker from South Florida. Roger L. Hammer is an award-winning professional naturalist, author, botanist and photographer who offers entertaining and informative programs to orchid societies, garden clubs, butterfly organizations, Audubon societies, environmental groups, botanical gardens, and civic organizations. A few facts presented about plants in the state of Florida: Federal Endangered: 50 species State Endangered: 445 species Federal Threatened: 11 species State Threatened: 117 species Major threats: Habitat loss, displacement by invasive exotic plants, imported pests / diseases, fire suppression. The presenter covered 74 plants from across the state and told a few interesting stories on what he had to do to get some of the photos. Of the plants covered: at least 2 are known to excellent landscape plants in Central Florida. The False Rosemary (Conradina grandiflora and the Skyblue Clustervine (Jacquemontia penthanthos).
Download Minutes PDF 514kb or Word 17kb
How Roots Work by Craig Huegel
Good root structure is more important to a healthy plant than how attractive the foliage appears. Plants take in water and nutrients, compete for space and even communicate through the roots. Learn what goes on below the ground with Craig’s informative and entertaining presentation.
Download Minutes PDF 52kb or Word 18kb
Spring Landscape Maintenance: Recovering from the Freeze
Our first presenter Kathy Porter is a Sumter County Master Gardener where she is the editor of the monthly Gardener’s Journal and the annual Calendar. Kathy served as the program VP for our FNPS chapter for 3 years, is the Treasurer of the Marion County Rose Society, President of the Bookworm Book Club and is a Supervisor for District 1.
The freezes in Jan 2018 were some of the coldest in a decade for Central Florida. Many plants, both exotic and native were visually impacted. This presentation will cover what to do and what not to do to recover an attractive visual appearance. Typical Spring maintenance items are also addressed.
We have had a long period of mild winters and many people were surprised how cold it got this January
Spring Garden Maintenance: Download Kathy's Presentation 5.3mb pdf
The co-presenter, Steve Turnipseed is also a Sumter County Master Gardener, serves as The Villages FNPS Chapter President and is a Florida Water-Star Accredited Professional.
Spring Pruning: Download Steve's Presentation 2.4mb pdf
Download Minutes PDF 66kb or Word 13kb
Preserves in The Villages:
Creation of the Sharon Rose Wiechens Wetland
by Jeff Pardue
This is your opportunity to get an overview of all of the Preserves in The Villages then learn about the details of the construction methods and native planting of the Sharon Rose Wiechen Preserve and Wildlife Corridor.
Our guest presenter Jeff Pardue, is Senior Vice President and Senior Scientist at Breedlove Dennis & Associates, Inc, an environmental consulting firm. Mr. Pardue is a certified environmental professional with 42 years of experience as an environmental professional. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology as well as an M.B.A. Prior to joining BDA in 2000 Mr. Pardue spent 24 years as an environmental professional in the electric utility industry culminating as Director of Environmental Services at Florida Power Corporation in St. Petersburg, FL.
Survey of Cold Hardiness of Central Florida Plants
Survey Results
Download Minutes PDF 60kb or Word 17kb
