February Field Trip - Edibles in the Wild

Location: Aripeka Sandhills Preserve

18000 Aripeka Road
Hudson, FL 34667

Date and Time: Saturday, February 18, 2023 10:00 am

Field Trip guide: Valerie Anderson, Director of Communications and Programming, FNPS

Valerie will follow up her presentation at our February meeting with a field trip to the Apripeka Sandhills Preserve.  She will primarily focus on learning to identify our native blueberries in the offseason. Valerie will point out habitat for chanterelles and boletes (edible mushrooms). We will also discuss and find edible native mints and other native plants.

The  Preserve was acquired as part of the Weekiwachee Preserve on November 8, 2007. This was a joint acquisition with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pasco County. The funding from Pasco County was provided by Penny for Pasco. The preserve is managed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District as a part of a regional system of conservation lands that extends up to Crystal River Buffer Preserve, preserving the southernmost coastal hardwood hammock in western Florida. As part of this large preserve, Aripeka Sandhills preserves important habitat communities such as dense hardwood swamps and pine-covered sandhills

Valerie Anderson is the second-full time staff person for FNPS, hired in September 2018 as the Director of Communications & Programming. She runs the virtual FNPS educational programming and assists with many aspects of running FNPS. She lives in Kissimmee with her wife and two dogs, where she is active in her local chapter (Pine Lily), botanizes, lifts weights, and does sprint triathlon.

Directions:  

From Heritage Park in Land O’ Lakes. Head north on Land O' Lakes Blvd/US Hwy 41 N for 6.5 miles to State Rd 52 W and turn left. Travel for 1.9 miles and turn right on to Shady Hills Rd for 4.7 miles.  Turn left onto Peace Blvd/Platinum Dr and continue to follow Peace Blvd for 2.9 mi. Continue onto Denton Ave for 3.7 miles. Turn left onto Little Rd for .7 miles.  Use the right 2 lanes to turn right onto US-19 N. Stay on US 19 for 1.3 miles then turn left onto State Hwy 595.  The destination will be on the right.

Becky Clayton call or text 813-416-5672 or raclayton01@yahoo.com with questions.

Past Field Trips

January 2023 Field Trip - Walking Tour of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Location:  Marie Selby Gardens, Downtown Campus

1534 Mount Street

Sarasota, FL. 34236

https:selby.org/visit/

Date and Time:  Saturday, January 14, 2023 9:30am

Cost:  $18 per person for tour and general admission

Meet at Paynes Mansion Gate at 9:15 to center by 9:30

West good walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen

Sign up with Becky Clayton or Jonnie Spitler at the January meeting or call/email Jonnie.  Pay by Thursday, January 12 to reserve your spot.