Map to Treasures on the FNPS Website

The Florida Native Plant Society may not have coffers as deep as the Federal Reserve, but it DOES have a collective depth of knowledge that not only makes it wealthy, but also gives it the ability to lend out to others. One place that is a repository for some of that wealth is the FNPS.org website. And good news: the information there is free for the taking, no applications needed, no interest charged.

Website overhauls are in the works, but in the meantime, did you know that you can find:
  • a clickable map listing plants that grow in your county? 
  • meaty information on what FNPS does state-wide?
  • a fantastic children's coloring book of native plants and animals?
  • instructions on how to make a butterfly garden?
  • great printable summaries of how to plant for wildlife and how to use bunch grasses?
All of these (which make great handouts for outreach events by the way), and much, much more are at your fingertips from the homepage.

Finding a local chapter and information on the annual FNPS conference are pretty easy,  but let's look behind some of the hidden doors; maybe you will discover solutions that you have been searching for!

Here is the sweet spot for our search, it's on the left hand side of this page as well as the homepage. You can see what I mean about hidden doors!

In 'Contacts' you will find the keys to the kingdom! How to get in touch with FNPS officers and Administrative services - have you been wanting to write to the President? Mail in an application? Get in touch with a Chapter Rep, or share an idea with the Membership committee?  Well, now you know where to look!

By choosing the 'Calendar' option under 'What's Happening' you will have the option of seeing a quick overview of the chapters' meetings, programs, and field trips, along with  some of the major events occurring in Florida that might be of interest to members.  The meetings times, dates and locations of the Society's Board of Directors can be found here.

So where's the BEEF? If you click on 'Committees,' a wealth of information is revealed about the pithy work of these FNPS groups: Legislation and Policy, Conservation, Land Management Partners, Education & Outreach. Find out what FNPS is really up to! What are the Society's positions on water use, invasive plants, biofuels? How do you get your issue added to the Action Alert status? How do FNPS members keep tabs on our conservation areas? Where can you find more information about natives, conservation, teaching others about our issues, finding gardens that showcase native plants? Look no further, the 'Committees' door is open!

The 'Publications' door opens up the last seven years of Sabal Minor issues for you to read or print out, and tells you how to submit articles to our flagship magazine, the Palmetto. Did you know that many Palmetto articles are archived there, too? Great reading!  The following titles are also available for reading or printing:  Landscaping for Wildlife, Bunch Grasses, Alternatives to Cypress Mulch, and the Coloring Book. Free, free, free, and created by expert FNPS volunteers.

The Heart of the Matter......
Now we get to some doors that are enclosing vital and fundamental information that every FNPS member should know they can  access. In case you forget. Or in case you are presenting  a case to an HOA near you! By clicking on 'Planting Natives,' you will see these great choices:

  • Plants for Your Area - this is the map that leads to lists derived from such FNPS member/authors as Wonderlin, Denton, Haehle, Osorio and Brookwell. It's the real thing! Click your county for a complete list.
  • Why Go Native
  • Getting Started
  • Attracting Butterflies
  • Attracting Wildlife
  • FNPS Transplant Policy
  • Find a Native Plant Nursery
And one last, important door that you are invited to open is this one: 'About Native Plants.' Here you will find answers to:
  • Native Plant Definition
  • Threatened and  Endangered Species
  • The Florida Environment
  • Invasive Species
All of the content for these articles has come from that collective wealth of knowledge that was mentioned at the beginning, reflecting the science-based thinking that FNPS is founded upon. So while we wait for the day when the site can be updated, don't miss out on the treasure that is waiting behind those doors, now open!

Have ideas or requests for the new website? Let us know with an email to: fnps.online@gmail.com

sue dingwell

Comments

daisy g said…
Thanks for the great information!!! daisy
May 4, 2011 at 8:21 AM
Florida Native Plant Society said…
You are so welcome, Daisy! Thank you for taking the time to give us feedback, and for your continuing interest in native plants! Sue
May 4, 2011 at 11:34 AM
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