What's in Bloom
Common Blue Violet, Viola sororia, is a well-known resident of forest communities.
The list of violets documented for Hernando County include:
• Bog White Violet, Viola lanceolatale
• Early Blue Violet, Viola palmata
• Primroseleaf Violet, Viola primulifolia
• Common Blue Violet, Viola sororia
• Carolina Violet, Viola villosa
Coral Bean, Erythrina herbacea, is found throughout the county. Although a thorny customer, with toxic fruit, in the right landscape its charming foliage and dramatic flower spikes make it a shrubbery of choice. For more on the Coral Bean, get the factsheet at our articles page which had a long list of topics for your reading pleasure.
Miss last month's news? You can scan history from our archives.
Give a gift that gives on giving by purchasing a FNPS gift membership for only $25.00. For a membership form, visit http://www.fnps.org
Are you getting your Sabal minor on-line? If not, the Society may not have your correct e-mail address. Please send it to info@fnps.org to keep up with all the FNPS organizational news.
There is still room in the Inn! Register Now for Florida Native Plant Society’ Annual Conference, Estuaries to Uplands: Celebrating Florida's Native Plant Heritage, May 14-18, 2008, Manatee Convention Center - Palmetto, FL. To register on-line, visit http://www.fnps.org/ and click on Conference in the menu bar. To get a hotel room at conference rates, call Holiday Inn Riverfront at (941) 747-3727 and tell them you're with the FNPS conference.
May Program of the Hernando Chapter
Violets of Florida
featuring Steve Farnsworth
Monday May 7, 2008 – 7:00 pm
Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service
Did you know that Hernando County is home to five different violets? In spring, you have an opportunity to enjoy them all, once you know what to look for. We are privileged to bring you a well-known horticulturist who has prepared an overview on this delicate and beautiful plant species.
Steve Farnsworth operated Farnsworth Farms Nursery for 20 years, and has worked as Environmental Analyst for Palm Beach County's Environmentally Sensitive Lands Acquisition program for over a decade. Steve has a bachelors degree in Plant Science and Masters in Horticultural Science. He has served as President and Vice-President of FNPS and authored policies on restoration of native plant communities and transplanting from the wild. Steve continues to grows native plants as a hobby.
Monthly meetings and programs of the Hernando Chapter are open to the public, free of charge. They are held at the Hernando County Cooperative Extension Office – 19490 Oliver Street (next to the County Fairgrounds) in Brooksville. For more information about this program or the Florida Native Plant Society, contact Cindy Liberton, liberton@earthlink.net or (evenings) 352-583-2384.
Hernando Chapter Goes Public in April
Thanks to all who those on hand to meet the public during our April events! At Chinsegut Nature Center's Birding and Wildlife Festival, many hands made fun work on April 12. Master Propagatress, Rita Grant, supplied the inventory for our Spring Plant Sale, and Bruce Vanderveen and Cindy Liberton were on-hand for the early morning set up. They were soon joined on the sales floor (or pine duff, actually) by Jim Clayton, Rita, Sue Blakeman, and Jan Beudel. Other members like Vince Morris stopped by to keep up the chatter. Annie Schmidt gave a spirited presentation on Home Landscaping with Native Plants, and behind the curtain, the actors for the beloved puppet show were all Hernando Chapter members.
Miki Renner, our Chapter President, headed up our presence at the annual SWFWMD volunteer appreciation day on April 26 at Nature's Classroom in northern Hillsborough County. Bruce Vanderveen and Cindy Liberton supplied the equipment and literature, and Miki was joined at the Hernando Chapter exhibit by Brooke Martin. Miki reports that they were successful in spreading the word among those who volunteer for conservation, and have a great need to know about the Society's efforts.
NEW! Rebecca Brown just sent out the Spring Edition of Chinsegut Volunteer Newsletter, and its so good we want to share it with our membership; in fact, many of you get special mention. Click here to download from http://hernando.fnpschapters.org/news/ChinsegutVolunteerNews.pdf [be patient to download file: 330 kb]. Many stories include our membership, such as the nut cracking party on Tillis Hill. And for a great photo of Rita Grant at the Incredible Edibles program, see http://myfwc.com/recreation/chinsegut/volunteer.asp
FNPS Legislative Update
The FNPS Board of Directors approved funds for a lobbyist in the 2008 FNPS budget, which enabled the Society to have effective representation in Tallahassee during the legislative session for the first time in our history. In January, FNPS contracted with Sue Mullins who lobbied on our behalf during the legislative session.
During one of the toughest legislative sessions in recent memory, budget cuts topped the list of action items for the legislature. Therefore, we are pleased to report some good news: Lawmakers managed to find $100 million for Everglades restoration and another $300 million for Florida Forever.
Watch for analyses of the good, bad and ugly in the month to come.
