Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Land O' Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O'Lakes Blvd., Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
Our meetings are open to the public. Please come join our monthly meetings at 7PM at Heritage Park. Experienced presenters speak on a variety of subjects, from wildlife and their habitats, gardening with native plants, and everything in between!
February 10, 2026
Date and Time: February 10, 2026, 7:00 p.m. or come at 6:30 p.m. to socialize and help set up chairs.
Location: Heritage Park at 5401 Land O Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lakes, Florida 34639
Presentation: A Mid-Season Appraisal of the 2026 Legislative Season. Florida’s 2-month legislative session for 2026 will convene on January 13 and conclude on March 13. Gene will discuss the status of legislation relevant to FNPS, including bills our we support and those we oppose. Mid-February is a time when the lawmaking action in Tallahassee is moving at a fast and furious pace and proposed legislation is heading rapidly towards the finish line. This means that FNPS still has the ability to exercise some influence through a coordinated action. Come learn how you can help support the good and stop the bad. Gene will also highlight other policy priorities important to native plant conservation.
Presenter: Gene Kelly is the current president of FNPS. He also serves as the Policy and Legislative Committee Chair and is a member of the Hernando Chapter. Gene is a Conservation Biologist and has a long history of working to protect and conserve natural Florida. He worked at the Southwest Florida Water Management District for 16 years where he served as the Environmental Lands Planner and helped identify lands to be protected thought the Save Our Rivers, Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever programs and wrote land management and public use plans for acquired properties. Gene also worked for the Nature Conservancy and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
January, 2026 Meeting
Date and Time: January13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. or come at 6:30 p.m. to socialize and help set up chairs.
Location: Heritage Park at 5401 Land O Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lakes, Florida 34639
Presentation: History and Hydrology of the Green SwampWell-known for its hydrological and ecological importance, the Green Swamp serves as the headwaters to four major river systems in Florida. It also sits on some of the highest aquifer levels in the state. This presentation will explore the history of the region as well as dive into the hydrological dynamics that make this area so unique.
Presenter: Dr. Mark Fulkerson is a Citrus County native who grew up paddling, fishing, and camping along many of our region’s waterways. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and both a Master's and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on water resources. Over the past 20 years, he has led a variety of projects at the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) This includes developing a comprehensive model of the entire Withlacoochee River Watershed and surveying the river’s entire 160-mile-length to characterize its unique dynamics.with withhhhhh
November, 2025 Meeting
Guest Speaker:
Ryan Smart, Executive Director, Florida Springs Council
Bio:
Ryan Smart holds a Master's degree in Political Science, focused on Water Policy & Public Administration from the University of Florida, where he was honored for his environmental advocacy work as the 2017 University of Florida Bob Graham Center Young Floridian of the Year. He took the helm as FSC's first Executive Director in 2018, after having served as the Director of the Florida Conservation Coalition and President of 1000 Friends of Florida.
Program Abstract:
Nearly 90% of "Outstanding Florida Springs" are impaired by excessive nitrogen pollution from agriculture, wastewater, and urban fertilizer. We'll focus on Pasco County’s fragile gems in Weeki Wachee, Homosassa and the Chassahowitzka as we examine the sources of pollution and regulatory programs intended to restore them. Learn what can be done at the state, local, and personal levels to reduce pollution and bring back healthy springs.
May 13, 2025 Monthly Meeting
Date: MAY 13
Program: Getting at the Root of Natives by Understanding Florida Soil
We’ll explore the relationship between Florida native plants and the soils that they live in. Florida has over six soil regions with over 300 mapped soils. We can cultivate healthier plants and landscapes by having a better understanding about what’s going on below the surface.
Presenter:
Dani Hall is an ecologist, naturalist, wildlife photographer, gardener, and author. She has lived in the Tampa Bay area with her husband Brent for over twenty-three years and they converted their property into a certified native wildlife sanctuary and food forest. Dani provides nature walks in the Tampa Bay area to increase eco literacy and to foster a greater passion for our planet.
Learn more about Dani and her work here: https://thepeacefulbird.com/
June, 2025 Combined Monthly Meeting and Field Trip
June Combined Monthly Meeting and Field Trip: Tour of Pasco County Schools Energy and Marine Center (EMC) and Boat Trip to Durney Key
Date and Time: Saturday, June 7th, 8:30 am
Location: Energy and Marine Center, 9130 Old Post Road,Port Richey, FL 34668
Wear good walking, closed toed shoes, clothing appropriate for the weather and sunscreen.
Bring a hat, water, a snack and bug repellant. It is suggested that wear or bring water shoes or shoes you don’t mind getting wet if you plan on going on the boat trip.
Field trip Leader: Josh McCart, Environmental Resource Teacher, Pasco County Schools. Pasco County’s Energy and Marine Center is located on a coastal hammock on the Salt Springs Run Estuary in Port Richey, Florida. This facility is ideal for research and explorations involving coastal ecology, wetlands, marshlands, and estuarine environments. At the EMC, Salt Springs drain into the Gulf of Mexico providing comparisons between freshwater and saltwater environments. The center is surrounded by marsh grasses, three species of mangrove, and oyster bars. Frequent visitors to the center outside of the students, includes raccoons, foxes, armadillos, marsh hares, marsh periwinkles, egrets, herons, stingrays, fiddler crabs, turtles and tortoises, dolphin, the occasional manatee, and much much more.
We will have a short meeting in the building and then take a tour of the center before heading out to Durney Key on two pontoon boats. Durney Key is spoil island about a mile off the coast. Josh McCart is heading up a five-year project on Durney to establish an oyster reef barrier, remove invasives, and replant native plants. We will tour the key with Josh as he describes the project planned for the island.
Each boat holds 15 people so make sure you sign up at the May or June monthly meeting or contact Becky Clayton at raclayton01@yahoo.com, or text 813-416-5672. If you don’t want to go out to the island you can still come to the EMC for the meeting and tour of the facility.
https://durneykey.com
Directions: From Heritage Park Community Center Rd turn left on US-41 N/Land O' Lakes Blvd for 6.7 miles. Turn left at the light at State Road 52W and travel 12.4 miles to US 19. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto US19S. Go 3.9 miles then turn right onto Bay Boulevard and then .4 miles to Old Post Road. Travel on Old Post Road for .7 miles to the entrance of the EMC. Becky Clayton
Becky Clayton
raclayton01@yahoo.com
April 8, 2025 Meeting
Date: APRIL 8
Title/Topic: Native Plants for Florida Gardens
Discover the joy of gardening with Florida’s native wildflowers and plants! Based on the book Native Plants for Florida Gardens, this talk with co-author Stacey Matrazzo takes the guesswork out of incorporating natives into residential landscapes. She will highlight versatile and easy-to-grow species, showcase how they not only beautify your yard but also provide habitat for wildlife and give practical tips on plant selection, care, and design.
Presenter: .Stacey Matrazzo has been with the Florida Wildflower Foundation since 2008 and is now the executive director. She is an environmental educator with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a master’s degree in liberal studies from Rollins College, where she is also an adjunct professor. A native Floridian, Stacey is a certified Florida master naturalist and is the co-author of Native Plants for Florida Gardens (with Nancy Bissett; Pineapple Press, 2019). She will be selling this book and wildflower seeds at our meeting.
The Florida Wildflower Foundation protects, connects and expands native wildflower habitats through education, research, planting and conservation programs. Learn more at www.FlaWildflowers.org
March, 2025 Meeting
Date: MARCH 11
Title/Topic: Selecting Native Plants for a Successful Landscape
Native plants are an easy passion to indulge in, but putting them into practice in landscaping can be challenging, especially for newcomers. In this program, Davis will be tackling the problem-solving aspects of landscaping with native plants, as well as the bigger picture, 'conservation on a residential scale’.
Presenter: Davis Byrkit, General Manager of Wilcox Nursery and Landscape, embarked on his journey in the world of native plants by joining a small gardening company specializing in the maintenance of native yards. During this time, he gained invaluable hands-on experience with a wide array of Florida’s native plant species. Many of the landscapes he maintained were designed by Wilcox Nursery, allowing him an intimate understanding of how native plants can be used in urban landscaping.
January 14 Meeting
Date: Tues. Jan. 14, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. or come at 6:30 to socialize and help set up chairs.
Location: Heritage Park 5401 Land O Lakes Blvd.
Land O Lakes, FL 34639
Title/Topic: "Exploring the Vital Role of Florida Mangroves"
This talk highlights the unique ecosystem of Florida's mangrove forests, and their importance in coastal protection, biodiversity, and climate resilience. We'll dive into how these fascinating trees thrive in coastal waters, support diverse wildlife, and help mitigate the impacts of storm surges. You will learn how to identify the three main species of mangroves in Florida and touch on some of the regulations for mangrove trimming.
Presenter:
Dr. Megan Moore is the Sea Grant Extension Agent II for Pasco County, and her current programming focuses on coastal resiliency, water quality, and enhancing marine and coastal environmental literacy, and stewardship within the community. Megan grew up in the coastal town of New Port Richey, where she developed her passion in the natural world around her. She earned her B.S. in Geology from the University of South Florida, conducting research on marine systems, and then pursued her Ph.D. in Marine Geosciences from the University of Miami where her research evaluated the environmental impacts of sea level changes, agricultural pollution. and water quality.
Past Meeting Information
Title/Topic: Let’s Do It in the Garden! – Tales of Bug Love and Bloomer Boogie
Sex is a driving force that shapes the lives of all living things, so animals and plants have more in common than you might think. What is this force that unifies us all? How does it function? What are some of the astonishing, outrageous, and wildly bizarre ways that Nature gets the job done? Armed with his camera and thinking cap, John Lampkin has been photo-documenting some answers over the past 25 years in gardens far and wide. “Let’s Do It!” will amaze, entertain and educate, all at once!
Presenter: John Lampkin is an avid naturalist and Nature photographer with credits in many field guides, books, journals, websites and blogs, and he won the 2020 “American Butterflies” magazine photo contest. As a professional composer, his woodwind quintet, "Insects: A Musical Entomology in Six Legs" won the Grand Prize in a Composers Guild international competition. John also constructs crossword puzzles for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the LA Times and other venues, with many of his puzzles having Nature themes. Except for his fascination with bugs and plants he is totally harmless.
Past Meeting Information
September, 2024
Title/Topic: Common Bird Species of Pasco County
While it is possible to see over 300 species of birds in Pasco County, what are the most common birds we see most of the year? These include birds we see on the wires as we drive around locally or in our yards and neighborhoods.
Presenter: J Mike Kell has been a member of the West Pasco Audubon since 2006and is a board member and the Vice President of Education. His Life List of birds seen is at 266 species. J Mike and his wife, Laurie, have added several native plants to their yard over the years as the result of their association with the Florida Native Plant Society.
June Meeting & Field Trip
JUNE Meeting and Field Trip Combined
Because of Summer Camp at the Community Center at Land O’Lakes Heritage Park we are unable to use our meeting space in June and July.
(Note: We will not have a meeting nor a field trip in July)
LOCATION: Heartwood Preserve, 4100 Starkey Blvd, Trinity FL 34655
This is part of the Starkey Wilderness Preserve and is a natural cemetery within a 41-acre conservation sanctuary where the natural habitats found here—longleaf pine flatwoods and cypress dome—are protected.
DATE: Saturday, June 22
Meeting: 9:00 am
We will have our meeting in the preserve’s Welcome Center with breakfast refreshments available.
Field Trip: 10:00 am
Our field trip will be in conjunction with one of the preserve’s ongoing events Talk and Tour. At least four of our members will be stationed around the preserve to talk about what is blooming and the Flatwoods in general. This event will be included in the Heartwood newsletter and we will have some handouts available at the Welcome Center.
Pine Flatwoods are dominated by longleaf pine, one of the most important trees in upland communities of the Southeastern US. Other important plants are wiregrass, saw palmetto, many wildflowers and small shrubs. Wildlife found here includes gopher tortoises, bobwhite quail, Sherman’s fox squirrel, Florida wild turkey and white-tailed deer.
Prescribed Fires are performed to keep the longleaf forest healthy. The results of regular fire in a longleaf community are amazing. Grasses and shrubs sprout within days of a burn and many plants, such as wiregrass, only go to seed following a burn.
May, 2024 Chapter Meeting
Date: MAY 14
Title/Topic: Ecosphere Restoration Institute - Our Mission, Accomplishments, and Future Initiatives
This non-profit was founded in 2003, primarily to formulate public/private/partnerships to implement meaningful habitat restoration/preservation efforts in valuable locations. To date, we have facilitated 30 projects that have restored more than 550 acres of critical habitats and enhanced over 3,800 acres. In addition, we have fostered dozens of living shoreline projects restoring over 4 miles of eroded coastlines. Our expertise in building innovative partnerships has secured $10 million in grants and $11 million in matching funds involving participants ranging from federal agencies, regional/local governments, and large industries to small businesses, community groups and citizen-volunteers. We will highlight several representative projects and discuss lessons learned and future initiatives, including our latest collaboration portal: Eco Alliance.
Presenter: Tom Ries is a nationally known ecologist with more than 40 years of experience restoring natural systems in the SE. His work has garnered numerous environmental awards and resulted in the restoration of more than 3,800 acres of wetlands and coastal communities. He is a recognized expert in nature-based shoreline stabilization techniques, having implemented over 53 living shorelines in the Tampa Bay region.
Tom graduated from the University of South Florida with degrees in Biology and Geology.
Past Chapter Meetings
MARCH 12
Title/Topic: Climate Change: Global Negotiations, Local Impacts
This presentation and discussion will start at the global scale with The Paris Agreement, the landmark agreement on climate change, that was adopted by 196 countries in 2015. The presentation will focus on how the Paris Agreement works and the extent to which biodiversity and natural systems are protected in the process. We will also discuss the Race to Resilience, the global campaign to increase the climate resilience of 4 billion people by 2030. The second part of the presentation and discussion will focus on ways the changing climate and atmosphere impact ecosystems, with an emphasis on plants.
Presenter: René Wiesner Brown, PhD, is an environmental biologist focused on land conservation and climate change. As the Senior Director of Habitat Restoration for the nonprofit Ecosphere Restoration Institute, she is involved in habitat restoration projects around Tampa Bay and in seagrass restoration around the State. She is a Civil Society Delegate of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and an appointed member of the Expert Review Group of the UN’s Race to Resilience. She is also the President of the Tampa Bay Conservancy and a Vice Chair of the Florida Wildlife Federation
Date: FEB 13
Title/Topic: USF Botanical Gardens: Past, Present and Future
The University of South Florida Botanical Gardens consists of 16 acres of gardens and greenbelt on the Tampa campus of USF. It maintains a living collection of more than 3,000 plants, animals and natural habitats. The Gardens also support ongoing research and serves as a living classroom for education. This presentation touches on the history of the Gardens and the plans for improvements/changes. There is now a focus on native plants and a significant number of native species have been added.
Presenter: Craig Huegel, who became the new USF Botanical Garden Director in August 2022, has a rather broad professional background in west-central Florida starting in 1987. He co-founded the Urban Wildlife Cooperative Extension program at the University of Florida and then became the first manager of Pinellas County’s Brooker Creek Preserve for 12 years. Since then, he has worked as an environmental consultant, started his own consulting company, and taught biology at St. Petersburg and Tampa College.
Craig has an M.S. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin and a PhD in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University. He also has loved and grown plants since early childhood and manages a small native wildflower nursery out of his home called Hawthorn Hill. Craig has authored six books on native plants and wildlife and writes two popular blogs related to plants and gardening.
Date: JAN 9. (Cancelled due to weather)
Title/Topic: Colt Creek State Park
Colt Creek State Park includes more than 5,000 acres of native Central Florida habitat located in Polk County just over the Pasco County line. It’s composed of longleaf pine flatwoods, lakes, creeks and cypress domes. It is home to many species of native plants and animals including threatened species like the gopher tortoise and the Sherman’s fox squirrel. This presentation is a brief overview of Colt Creek State Park showcasing the park facilities and amenities, prominent plants and animals and things to do at the park.
Presenter: Heather Coleman
As the Park Services Specialist at Colt Creek State Park, Heather is the volunteer coordinator and interpretive chairperson for the park. Heather was born and raised in Kissimmee, Florida and graduated from Florida Southern College in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. She started volunteering at Colt Creek State Park and worked her way up to where she is now - sharing her passion for the Park and the outdoors. When she is not working, Heather likes to spend time with her husband, one year old baby, and family exploring the real Florida either hiking, biking, or paddle boarding.
November Chapter Meeting
Nov. 14, 2023
Title/Topic: Chronicling the Development of a Native Wildflower Garden
VISTA Gardens is a community garden in the Carrolwood area of N. Tampa where members grow vegetables and flowers for their families and neighbors. The Wildflower Garden serves as a landscape demonstration garden and is one of several native plant and pollinator gardens that surround 65 raised garden beds. This presentation will show progress photos beginning with site and soil preparation and ending with current images of a garden that now covers 1,900 square feet of public land. You will hear about challenges presented by soil conditions on a disturbed site and see images of many native plants that highlight 12 “lessons learned” in the planting and care of Florida native plants. Currently, a dedicated group of wildflower gardeners and community volunteers maintains nearly 500 Florida native plants of 83 varieties. NOTE: Extra gardening or native plant books you could donate to VISTA's Little Free Library would be appreciated.
Presenter: Roberta Owens, M.Ed., focused on professional and program development, communication, and creativity during her 40+ year career in Early Childhood Education. She relocated to Florida in 2016 excited about gardening year around and joined a community garden, VISTA Gardens, near her home. Having learned the importance of companion planting to successful vegetable gardening, it became a mission to develop native plant gardens surrounding the raised beds to attract beneficial insects and wildlife. Roberta managed VISTA’s development of the Wildflower Garden, one of 12 Viva Florida Landscape Demonstration grants awarded by the Florida Wildflower Foundation in 2021 and designed by Bruce Turley, Past President of the Pinellas Chapter of FNPS.
December Holiday Gathering
Saturday, Dec. 9 9:30am - 2pm
Crews Lake Wilderness Park - Pavilion 2
16739 Crews Lake Dr, Spring Hill, FL 34610
Lunch will be catered (paid for by our Chapter)
Spouses, partners, family are welcome.
We need to know the number coming before Mon., Dec. 4
Contact Rebecca Dance; rstarrdance@aol.com (813) 368-9041
Lunch: Will start at 11:30 am with the Raffle to follow. Lunch and bottled water will be provided.
Walks: Come earlier (9:30 am or later) if you would like to walk some of the trails in the park. There are no park rangers available but we will have a map for you to explore the variety of habitats; sandhills, scrubby flatwoods, cypress domes, oak hammocks, and the shore of Crews Lake.
Raffle Reminder: Last year’s raffle was a big success so we’re having it again. If you have raffle items contact Mary Ellen at 727 264-8701 or mefgotoh@aol.com. and she will make every effort to get the item(s) from you. If you are bringing items to the Gathering, Mary Ellen needs them by 9:45 am that morning, Dec. 9.
Items for sale: (Credit cards, check or cash)
* Pat Kelly's calendars, cards & prints
* Native Plant & Landscaping Books
October Chapter Meeting
Title/Topic: Florida's Carnivorous Plants
When: Tuesday, October 10th @ 7pm
Where: Heritage Park Community Center, Land O Lakes
Details: Learn about Florida's endemic carnivorous plants! Florida has dozens of native species of carnivorous plants – more than any other state in the United States. These plants use appealing scents, leaves, and sticky fluids to trap and imprison insects. Learn the evolution, people, and natural history of this area to discover why Florida is a hotspot of carnivorous plants.
BONUS: Kenny's book "Florida's Carnivorous Plants" and a selection of carnivorous plants will be available for purchase after the talk!
Presenter: Kenny Coogan has a Master’s Degree in Global Sustainability and is passionate about Florida’s wildlife and plants. Coogan is an active member with the International Carnivorous Plant Society, serving as the Education Director. He now runs a successful carnivorous plant nursery in Tampa, Florida.
September 12 Chapter Meeting and Movie
Title/Topic: Pulse on Florida Native Plant Society - Current Activities & Future Projects
When: Tuesday, August 8th @ 7pm
Where: Heritage Park Community Center, Land O Lakes
Details: Lynda will talk about working through the complexities of the FNPS infrastructure with the goal to improve current processes while crafting plans for the future. Her work with FNPS is to seek out opportunities for growth in order to make a greater and positive impact on Florida’s fragile environment.
Presenter: Lynda Davis, Executive Director of FNPS
Originally from the UK, Lynda now lives in Tampa with her husband and teenage son and is a member of her local Suncoast Chapter. Prior to joining FNPS, she led and advised many non-profit organizations in both Europe and the USA, all of which have faced complex challenges with a desire to do more with their limited resources. She enjoys exploring Florida’s parks with her camera, kayaking through mangroves and restoring her historic home.
