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Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society Meeting
September 13, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
FreeThe Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society meets the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM at The Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd/US 41, Land O’ Lakes, 34639, between SR 52 and SR 54. The subject of the September 13, 2022 meeting is “Native Ferns of West Central Florida”, presented by James Stevenson, an Extension Specialist with the University of Florida IFAS Extension Services in Pinellas County.
Ferns, which reproduce by spores, are the second-most diverse group of vascular plants on Earth and one of the oldest groups of plants, with a fossil record dating to nearly 400 million years ago. Their size range from over 60 feet tall to tiny plants, millimeters in size. Ferns are found in a variety of large naturally occurring communities, from tropical to northern forests and semiarid deserts. In Florida, most fern species can be found in damp and shady areas; rock crevices, bogs, swamps, acid wetlands and as epiphytes on tropical or even temperate trees. During this presentation we will explore the fascinating world of these ancient plants, study the natural history of ferns and get identification tips plus interesting facts.
James works out of the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center in Tarpon Springs. There he teaches classes on a variety of natural resource conservation topics, including: plant identification, botany, entomology, ecology and particular groups of native plants such as ferns, wetland wildflowers and epiphytes. Exploring the natural world has been James’ passion since growing up in Clearwater. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Plant Ecology from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN and then worked in botanical gardens around the world; from North Carolina to Europe & Israel. Before returning to Florida in 2006, James worked in the UK on his advanced degree at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and as the Assistant Curator at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden. James doesn’t really understand gardening in Florida, so he now grows orchids and watches birds.
Meetings of the Chapter are free, and all interested parties are invited to attend and bring questions about their yard. There will not be any refreshments or drinks available, so everyone needs to bring their own. Telephone inquiries are taken by Molly at (813) 469-9597.
Nature Coast Chapter: naturecoastfnps@gmail.com