What's in Bloom
Walter's viburnum, Viburnum obovatum, is a native shrub or small tree, in the Caprifoliaceae or honeysuckle family. These blooms appear in clumps on delicate small trees throughout the county. Walter's can be found growing in moist pine flatwoods, stream and river banks, swamps, hammocks, and also in much drier uplands.
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
Registration Now Open 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.
March Program of the Hernando Chapter
Hammocks and Rare Plants in the Withlacoochee Forest
featuring Colleen Werner, Withaloochee State Forest Ecology Unit
Monday March 3, 2008 – 7:00 pm
Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service
This presentation will introduce hammock vegetation of the state forest, with emphasis on rare flora and threats from invasive exotic pest plants. The talk will also include the karst features and cultural resources within the hammocks. Hernando and Citrus County's uplands are unique and rich in plant diversity. This program will help you know our forests better, and learn what is being done to protect these natural areas.
At the Florida Division of Forestry, Ms. Werner's projects include the state forest herbarium, invasive exotic pest plant control, identification of rare flora, assistance with rare fauna management, cultural resources and karst resource management.
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 March 1 & 2 at Swampfest
The Weeki Wachee Swamp Festival is this weekend, March 1 and 2 at Linda Pederson Park at Jenkins Creek in Weeki Wachee. This event features entertainment, food, arts and crafts, and educational exhibits by groups like ours. If you can volunteer for an hour or two, just stop by the booth to help us greet the citizens.
In the past, parking has been an issue--see their website for festival location and shuttle info. http://www.wwswampfest.com/map.html
Hernando Chapter to Address Commissioners
We have been invited to make a fifteen minute presentation to the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners on the use of Native Plants in landscaping. Needless to say this is a terrific opportunity to promote the use of native plants, as well as the Florida Native Plant Society, and our Chapter.
We need additional photos of Native Florida Landscaping – from homes or businesses. These photos need to be overwhelmingly NATIVE, not just 'Florida Friendly'. The more local, the better; it would also be nice to have a physical address of where the picture was taken in case one of the Commissioners would like a first hand look.
If you have any pictures that might fit the bill, please email them to me as attachments and if possible include the address where the picture was taken. The sooner the better, your efforts will be greatly appreciated.
Mark Hutchinson
Conservation Chair
HCFNPS
mhutchinson10@tampabay.rr.com
