Florida Native Plant Society Blog

Everyone in your FNPS chapter is a winner when you encourage Landscape Awards applications submissions from your region.  Help People Showcase the Beauty of their Florida Native  Landscapes… That’s why we are members of FNPS, right? Native plants bring life to this landscape! Here’s all you do… Check out the categories and criteria for the 2016 Landscape Awards . Select a landscape or two in your area to represent your chapter. Get moving – the deadline is March 18th. . Here’s what is in it for you… STAR Chapter recognition at FNPS Annual Conference in Daytona Beach May 19-22. Prestigious local press release promoting your chapter. Esteemed recognition in FNPS publications and website. Increase your odds of success… Print out the first two pages of the Landscape Awards application (back-to-back on the same sheet of paper) and create awareness by distributing to local organizations including: Chapter meetings and events Garden Centers ...

By Donna Bollenbach When the concept of recycling first came up in my community I knew it was the right thing to do, but it meant that I had to spend more time sorting the trash, nagging my husband and children to put items in the right bins, and carry more containers down to the curb. We weren’t perfect at first, but like changing any habit, it took practice and commitment. Now our recycle bin fills up far faster than our garbage bin, and I feel good that I am doing the right thing. I even encourage others to recycle. Inherently, I feel most people want to do the right thing. But like my commitment to recycling, doing the right thing oftentimes requires us to break old habits, which is not easy. But once we make the change, we usually feel good about it. Sometimes we even convince others to change as well. That’s what I’m hoping to do with you right now, but this change isn’t about recycling, it’s about planting native . Floridians are in love with exotic plant...

by FNPS Conservation Committee Policy Statements Conservation   FNPS resolves that the preservation and perpetuation of the unique genetic diversity within and among Florida’s native plant populations and plant communities is our highest priority.  Activities that endanger this genetic diversity are in direct conflict with the society's goal of preservation of native plant species in their natural habitats. Preservation The preservation and perpetuation of native plant communities is our highest priority.  Restoration of disturbed lands and the encouragement of the use of native plants for landscaping are important  secondary goals .  However, restoration must not be considered as a desirable or an equal alternative to preservation.  Be it affirmed then:  FNPS is, dedicated to the identification, preservation and understanding of native plant communities. FNPS organizes native plant sales across the state so people can add more native...

by Donna Bollenbach A few years ago my parents decided that they could no longer keep up with the maintenance of their home. They moved in with my sister, and asked my husband and I if we would like to live in their house. As we were between homes, we accepted. The move from a country home on a two wooded acres to a suburban home on a 1/3-acre lot with a tropical landscape was quite a change for us. We missed our native trees and shrubs and all the wildlife they attracted. The tropical vegetation was pretty, but had very little attraction for the wildlife.   We joined the Florida Native Plant Society Shortly after moving, we joined the Suncoast Native Plant Society . We learned that the native plants we took for granted in our rural home attracted more wildlife because they preferred natives for food and shelter. In our rural landscape we had very little grass, but lots of oaks, longleaf pines, beautyberry, firebush, pokeweed, dewberry, holly, sweetbay, Caroli...

The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) is proud to be one of many native plant societies in the United States affiliated with the Native Plant Conservation Campaign (NPCC).  In 2015, I was honored to attend NPCCs first conference call with representatives from native plant societies across the United States.  It was inspiring to hear the passion in people’s voices as they described their plant conservation projects and endeavors. The following is a summary of achievements for 2015 that was written by Emily Roberson, the Director of the Native Plant Conservation Campaign. Enjoy! Juliet Rynear FNPS Conservation Committee Chair Florida's scrubs provide many ecosystem services including habitat for a wide range of wildlife. 2015 was an historic year for plant conservation in the United States – and for the Native Plant Conservation Campaign! The Native Plant Conservation Campaign celebrated several milestones: We held our inaugural NPCC conference call bring...

#GivingTuesday By Andy Taylor The Florida Native Plant Society was happy to participate in 2015 #GivingTuesday!  What is #GivingTuesday you ask? It is a global initiative of giving back following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  You can read more about #GivingTuesday here . FNPS participated by using our social media pages to look back on some of the work the Society has done and opportunities to give, either financially or as a volunteer. You can donate financially to FNPS at this link . Did you know your employer could double or even triple your donation??  Until December 15, 2015 , Double the Donation has made their database free to see if your employer makes donations.  Please check it out at https://doublethedonation.com/giving-tuesday/ Sunrise at DeSoto Park by Georgia Wilson. Some of the programs and projects we looked back at for #GivingTuesday: FNPS chapter field trips: Georgia Wilson recently took this beautiful photo...

You can help FNPS while you shop and it won't cost you anything! Use our Amazon links to buy all your merchandise. We have listed books here on the blog and on our website dealing with Florida native plants, native ecosystems, and sustainable landscaping with links to Amazon. If you use our links when you purchase these books, FNPS receives a referral fee. BUT you can also help FNPS when you purchase anything from Amazon. Just use one of our book links to get into Amazon and then search for other items on your list from there. FNPS will receive referral fees for your whole shopping list. See? Wasn't that easy?? Here are some new or interesting books you many be interested in for yourself or as a gift: Principles of  Ecological Landscape Design by Travis Beck Your Florida Guide to Butterfly Gardening:  A guide for the Deep South by Jaret Daniels Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies in Tropical Florida by Roger Hammer Everglades Wildf...