Frond Forum Florida Native Plant Society Cuplet Fern Chapter :: Seminole County

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1 Florida Native Plant Society Cuplet Fern Chapter :: Seminole County Board President: Beth Jackson Vice President: Sherry Williams Secretary: Christine Brown Treasurer: Susan Blount-Angermeier Chapter Representative: Neta Villalobos-Bell Membership: Lee Perry Board Member: Barbara Whittier Committees Webmaster: Charles Miller Facebook: Shari King Newsletter: Kathleen Poole Meetup: Deborah Green Econ River Wilderness Area Field Trip On September 13 th the Cuplet Fern Chapter explored Seminole County s Econ River Wilderness Area. This natural land is a 240-acre property located near the UCF Campus. The property abuts the Econlockhatchee River which is an outstanding Florida Waterway. Cuplet Fern member and Seminole County Biologist Sherry Williams led us on a hike through the property and shared with the 18 participants the history of the property, its significance, and the land management activities that are ongoing on the property. We walked through Sandhill habitat, a rapidly disappearing habitat in Florida, as we made our way to the Econlockhatchee River. A lot of the wildflowers were just starting to bloom and some of the more notable species that we observed were the Pine Lily, a threatened plant species, Nuttals Rhexia, Goldenrod, Vanilla Plant, and a species known as Cat s Bells that is only found in Seminole, Orange, and Osceola Counties. All of the participants enjoyed experiencing one of Seminole County s natural lands and it gave us an opportunity to sharpen our plant identification skills. Come join us on some of our future field trips as we explore the natural areas that abound in Florida. Cuplet Fern Chapter Florida Native Plant Society PO Box Altamonte Springs, FL Meeting Location: 200 Fairmont Drive Sanford, FL Econ Trail Econ River

2 Eco-Buggy Field Trip to Longleaf Pine Preserve, Volusia County Space is limited for the November 15 field trip, so make your reservations now. Call before November 12. Longleaf Pine Preserve includes several natural Eco-Buggy Tour communities, including mesic and wet flatwoods, cypress strands, cypress domes and scrub. The preserve, which covers 12,000 acres, has two long marked trails: The red trail is a six-mile loop that begins and ends at the west entrance of the preserve. Along this trail visitors may see mesic flatwoods, which are characterized by longleaf pine and slash pine and an understory dominated by saw palmetto and wiregrass. Cypress domes may be recognized along the red trail and throughout the site by the dome-like appearance of their pond cypress tree line. Cypress strands elongated areas of cypress tree communities can also be seen in the distance. The 11-mile blue trail extends from the west entrance to the east entrance. The east end of the blue trail traverses through wet flatwoods with an overstory of slash pine and an understory of saw palmetto, gallberry, and seasonal wildflowers. The central portion of the blue trail winds through cypress strand swamp. The absence of tall cypress in the central portion is due to heavy logging. Wildlife along the trails may include sandhill crane, great blue heron, river otter, bobcat, coyote, fox, deer, black bear, and alligator. Land acquisitions were purchased with funds from the Volusia Forever program and through cooperative efforts with St. Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the City of Port Orange. The primary goal for acquiring this conservation land was to provide a large expanse of habitat for wildlife, natural resource conservation, and recreation. For more information go to org/services/growth-and-resource-management/ environmental-management/land-management/ conservation-lands-map/longleaf-pine-preserve. stml. Summer Camp Sponsorships Every year the Cuplet Fern Native Plant Chapter sponsors at least four Seminole County children s attendance to Seminole County s Summer Ecocamp series and Cooperative Extensions 4-H Summer Camps. One of the attendees at this year s Ecocamp shared with us what he learned about at the camp. John wrote that he learned about coral snakes, insects, and of course plants and how plants in the mint family smell really good. Our ability to sponsor these children would not be possible without your generous donations for the plants available at our meetings and the funds that we raise from participating in various plant sales throughout the year. Hopefully, these children will one day become members of the Cuplet Fern Chapter and carry on the legacy of caring for our natural resources and our desire as a chapter to provide positive educational experiences for the next generation

3 Culpet Fern Chapter Sells Florida Native Plants Get ready for two Fall events in which our Cuplet Fern Chapter will sell Florida Native Plants. You can never have enough and Fall is a great time to plant. We can help you choose the Right Plant for the Right Place. Come see us! 5K run, Pancake Breakfast, and Open House Saturday, October 18, 8:30AM 12PM Environmental Study Center 2985 Osprey Trail, Longwood Fifth Annual Seminole County Garden EXPO Saturday, November 1, 9:30AM 3PM UF/IFAS Extension 250 W County Home Road, Sanford v Plant Vendors v How to Clinics v Speakers Robert Bowden and Tom MacCubbin For more information go to Cuplet Fern Plant Sale Other Native Plant Sales and Events Wings and Wildflowers Festival October 3-5 Venetian Gardens, Leesburg Backyard Biodiversity Day and Native Plant Sale October 18 Mead Gardens, Orlando Gardening with Natives Landscape Tour October 25 Ormond Beach area, PawPaw Chapter, FNPS events/ / Plant Sale November 8 Mead Gardens, Orlando, Tarflower Chapter and Green Isle Native Plants will be there

4 Upcoming Meetings All meetings are free and open to the public Wekiwa Springs State Park October 13, 2014, 7PM Fairmont, Sanford. Wekiwa Springs State Park is 7,000 acres. In 1941, the Apopka Sportsmen s Club purchased the property from the Wilson Cypress Company, which had maintained a small turpentine camp in what is now the park, maintaining the area for recreational use. By 1969 the state of Florida expressed interest in the property for use as a state park. Learn more about the history of Central Florida s largest state park. Florida Panther: Following the Road to Recovery November 10, 2014, 7PM Fairmont, Sanford. Join Erin Myers, private land s biologist and veterinarian for the USFWS, for an upclose look at this highly endangered species. Challenges are great for survival of the Florida Panther, whose habitat is fragmented and requires a home range of approximately 520 square-km in an increasingly fragmented habitat. She will discuss panther biology, their current threats, and planned solutions. Holiday Potluck Party December 8, 2014, 7PM Fairmont, Sanford. End of the year Holiday Party with Cuplet Fern Native Plant Chapter. Bring friends and family, and a covered dish to share. Galapagos Islands Flora and Fauna of Darwin Fame January 12, 2015, 7PM Fairmont, Sanford. Roger Fulton, an author of several outdoor books and a Florida Master Naturalist, will speak about his experience in the Galapagos Islands. He will provide a PowerPoint presentation and his insight into what he found 177 years after Charles Darwin first visited the islands on the HMS Beagle in Beneficial Bats February 9, 2015, 7PM Shari Bissett-Clark of Bat Belfrys will present a familyfriendly program about bats. She will cover bat biology, life-style, and conservation strategies. Florida is home to thirteen (13) species of bats that are either year round or seasonal residents. All thirteen species are insectivorous and do not suck blood. Landscape Design with Native Plants March 9, 2015, 7PM Scott Simpson, horticulturist and owner of Earthwise Horticultural Services, LLC, has noticed an increased interest in sustainable and Florida-friendly plant design using native plants. He will speak of landscape design strategies and selecting the right native plant for the right place in your yard considering existing environmental conditions. Exploring Lake Lotus Park April 13, 2015, 7PM Park Ranger Frank Higgins will reveal what there is to see, wildlife and plants, at Lake Lotus Park in Altamonte Springs. This hidden jewel is tucked off Maitland Blvd. Orlando Wetlands Park May 11, 2015, 7PM In the mid 1980 s the City of Orlando s Iron Bridge Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant needed more effluent capacity than what was allowed in the Little Econlockhatchee River. In 1986 the City of Orlando purchased 1,650 acres. In 1987 the 1,220 acres wetland treatment system was completed and reclaimed water from Iron Bridge Plant began to flow. Park Ranger Mark Sees will cover the history of Orlando Wetlands Park and its subsequent success as a wildlife and nature destination in Central Florida

5 Upcoming Field Trips Wekiwa Springs State Park October 18, 2014, 9AM Wekiwa Circle, Apopka. Located at the headwaters of the Wekiva River, the beautiful vistas within this park offer a glimpse of what Central Florida looked like when Timucuan Indians fished and hunted these lands. This is a joint trip with Friends of Wekiwa River. Park entrance fee. Space is limited. Reservations required Seminole County Gardening EXPO November 1, 2014, 9AM The 2014 Seminole County Gardening EXPO is sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Seminole County. They are particularly excited about this year s event as it marks the fifth anniversary of the EXPO. This year s EXPO features: Well-known speakers, Tom MacCubbin and Robert Bowden, in our auditorium. Brief, but continuous How To clinics featuring vendor specialists. A conversion of our popular vegetable demonstration garden to organic grown vegetables. A wide variety of exhibit booths including commercial and non-profit exhibitors. Food vendors and a picnic area. Longleaf Pine Preserve Eco-buggy Ride November 15, 2014, 9AM Join Cuplet Fern Native Plant Chapter and Volusia County Staff to explore this Conservation property on an eco-buggy tour through pine flatwoods, cypress domes, and swamps. We will hopefully see such wildlife as sandhill crane, great blue heron, river otter, bobcat, coyote, fox, deer, and alligator. Free. Space limited and reservations required. (Rescheduled from August 14, 2014.) December 2014 No field trip due to the holidays. Hike Clay Island at Lake Apopka January 17, 2015, 9AM No physical address. Call for directions. Join St Johns River Water Management Biologist for a tour/hike of Clay Island. Located on the border of Lake and Orange counties, the 19,800-acre restoration area was targeted for cleanup as Lake Apopka is in the headwaters of the Ocklawaha River. Clay Island is a small portion of the entire area and is located in Lake County. Major activities include marsh and floodplain restoration and the creation of a marsh flow-way system that filters Lake Apopka s waters by circulating lake water through restored wetlands. Free. Reservations recommended. Longleaf Pine Preserve - 5 -

6 Upcoming Field Trips continued Hike Black Bear Wilderness Area February 14, 2015, 9AM Jim Duby, Program Manager for Seminole County Natural Lands, will lead us on a hike through the Hydric Hammock and onto a historic levee to its end at the St. Johns River. The 1,650-acre Black Bear Wilderness Area was purchased to preserve its diverse array of habitats, which include Mixed Hardwood Swamp, Floodplain Swamp, Floodplain Marsh, and Hydric Hammock. Animals seen in the wilderness area include Florida black bear, bobcat, white-tailed deer, barred owls, redshouldered hawk, wood stork, dusky pygmy rattlesnake, corn snake, and Florida box turtle. Free. Reservations recommended. Hike Crystal Lake Preserve March 14, 2015, 9AM Meet at Timacuan Golf Club, 550 Timacuan Blvd, Lake Mary. This preserve is open by appointment only, so take this opportunity to hike this secluded 40-acre area. It is the only natural area left in Lake Mary. Even though there is only about a mile of trails, there is much to see. Our hike leader is Jim Denslow, a passionate volunteer with the Preserve. Free. Space limited. Reservations required. Hike Lake Lotus Park April 18, 2015, 9AM Park Ranger Frank Higgins will lead a hike through this hidden and often bypassed area. It s 150 acres of woods and wetlands that includes a 1.7 mile trail, plus a 1 mile long boardwalk. You ll be enchanted hearing the birds and observing wildflowers in bloom. Free. Reservations recommended. Hike Orlando Wetlands Park May 16, 2015, 9AM Join the Cuplet Fern Native Plant Society and Park Ranger Mark Sees for a hike through Orlando Wetlands Park. The park has more than 20 miles of woodland trails through marshes, hardwood hammocks, and along scenic lakes. Free. Reservations required Scrub Oak Community