Florida Native Plant Society Blog

We recorded some of the sessions for the 39th Annual Conference in Crystal River from May 16-19, 2019. For more information, see the conference website and photo album . Clockwise from top left: Peggy Lanz works on a garden plan in the Landscaping for Pollinators Workshop, Rolf's Milkweed ( Asclepias tuberosa var. rolfsii ) in the Citrus Tract Sunday Field Trip , Anna Pepper works a microscope to identify a native bee, and following Dr. Jack Putz through the marsh during the Gulf Coast Ecosystems and Sea Level Rise Field Trip .  Keynotes Rising Seas, Retreating Forests, and other Rapid Changes in Coastal Ecosystems by Jack Putz, PhD Download the audio (mp3) file here and watch the video here . Florida Regional Landscape Conservation Obstacles and Opportunities by Tom Hoctor, PhD Download the audio (mp3) file here . Why is Florida So Rich in Biodiversity? by Reed Noss, PhD Download the audio (mp3) file here . Sessions How to Lead the Best F

by Eugene Kelly, Policy and Legislation Chair A conservation buffer with native plants, photo by Jennifer Hopwood, Xerces Society The Society recently had an opportunity to speak in support of native plants on a national basis. The USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) accepted comments on the Practice Standards they use while implementing Farm Bill [ wikipedia ] programs. Landowners can apply for funding assistance – typically on a cost-share basis – to make changes to their agricultural practices that achieve a variety of conservation benefits. The general substance or goal of a particular Practice Standard can often be surmised from the title. Examples of Practice Standards promoted by NRCS include Field Border , Forest Stand Improvement , Hedgerow Planting , Streambank and Shoreline Protection , and Upland Wildlife Habitat Management . And the conservation benefits of the practices are aligned with such Farm Bill objectives as reducing

by Bonnie Basham, President of Sarracenia Chapter Senate Bill 82 , which prohibits local governments from regulating whether a homeowner can have a veggie, herb, or fruit garden in their front yard, has passed the legislature. All bills filed for consideration by the House and Senate, have unique folders which contain the history of that bill as it travels through the process. The front of SB 82’s folder will be signed by the House Speaker and Senate President and then presented to the Governor for his signature. If the bill is signed and presented to the Governor by Saturday, May 4 the Governor will have 7 days to sign it, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature. However, if the bill is signed by the presiding officers after May 4, the Governor will have 15 days to sign, veto or allow it to become law without his signature. Because several hundred bills are passed the last 10 days of session, some bills may not reach the Governor’s desk until June 15. This is because