[bcbirdclub] Fwd: March 2015 Newsletter
- From: Bill Dunson <wdunson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Margaret Dunson <mkdunson@xxxxxxxxxxx>, William Kvashay <wekvashay@xxxxxxxxx>, Jack and Nola Herring <nolajack1@xxxxxxxxx>, Dennis & Lynn Burnette <deburnette@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, Bob Perkins <perkybear@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Mason Kelsey <masonkelsey@xxxxxxxxx>, Edwina Driggers <ekdriggers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Victoria Mackey <mackeymv@xxxxxxxxx>, Gene Schepker <geneschepker@xxxxxxxxx>, Julien McCarthy <jbm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, Jim and Alice Keighton <brbirders@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Qualls Maura <mauraqualls@xxxxxxxxx>, Jim & Karen <karen16@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, SCOTT BURTON <citycrk@xxxxxxx>, Buchanan Bird Club <bcbirdclub@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2015 18:15:48 -0500
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Mangrove Chapter - Florida Native Plant Society
> <jimthomson4@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: February 18, 2015 at 6:00:57 PM EST
> To: wdunson@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: March 2015 Newsletter
> Reply-To: jimthomson4@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
>
> Plant Native Day - March 14, 2015
>
>
>
>
>
> Plant Native Day
> FLYER
>
> Dear Bill,
>
> A Message from Al Squires, Mangrove Chapter President:
>
> Our field trip to Sleeping Turtles South will leave from the South end at the
> parking lot on River Rd. and the entrance to Snook Haven.
>
> We are looking for your ideas for both field trips and programs. Email
> program ideas to Lois Cantwell birderlois@hotmail,.com or myself and field
> trip ideas for both summer (June to September) and the rest of the year to
> Denny Girard dennyg29@xxxxxxx or myself ahsquires@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
>
> Don't forget our "Plant Native" Day on March 14th. We will be looking for
> home grown plants, refreshments and help in parking, plantsales, greeters,
> book sales, and information resources. The time is 9:30 to 1:00 and we will
> need help setting up at about 8:15.
>
> We will have a new signs for our Demonstration Garden and our Rain Garden at
> Cedar Point E.P. in time for " Plant Native" Day.
>
> A special thanks for those who made last meeting a great success. Bill
> Dunson gave a great program on Local Edible and Medicinal Plants and The
> Levitts and the Carltons helped Denny celebrate his 87th birthday. We also
> had two new members join at the last meeting.
>
> Sincerely,
> Al Squires
>
> Photos from Native Plant Meeting - from Denny Girard
>
>
>
>
> VP's Corner - by Lois Cantwell
>
>
> Our February membership meeting was an absolute blast. Bill Dunson gave a
> wonderful talk on incredible edibles and medicinal uses of native plants,
> which was not only educational, but his candid commentary was most amusing.
> We ate it up, no pun intended. This was followed by a birthday tribute to
> Denny Girard, which included a skit done by Dave Clayton, who cleverly
> visited the internet and located the original newspaper account of Denny's
> 1928 birth announcement. Denny also read his latest poem "After Eighty".
>
> Charlie and Jayne Woodruff provided freshly brewed yaupon tea*, in keeping
> with the theme of edible natives. Made from both male and female yaupon
> hollies, they were delightful. Add to that a carrot cake and other goodies
> prepared by Mitch and Jean Leavitt and the evening was totally entertaining.
> Some 42 people departed with smiling faces and many took home raffled plants
> and Al's jellies as lovely parting gifts. I would like to note here that this
> is a good example of how many different members can contribute to our
> meetings in many ways. Don't be shy, if you have something educational,
> informative, or just plain fun to contribute, bring it.
>
> *See "Yaupon Redeemed", Palmetto, Vol. 31, Number 3, Page 9, 2014, The
> Quarterly Journal of the Florida Native Plant Society. Authored by Francis E.
> "Jack" Putz, professor of biology and forestry at the University of Florida.
>
> Note: to read current or back-issues of Palmetto journal or Sabal Minor FNPS
> newsletter, go to fnps.org website, click on Resources, click on the
> publication you are looking for. You can find previous issues and specific
> articles using instructions in the left side bar.
>
> Welcome New Members
>
> Dorothy Chaisson, Englewood
> Nancy Leipold, Venice
> William Mallet, North Port
> Sandy McDade, Englewood
>
> March Happenings
>
> Board of Directors Meeting: March 6, 2015. Cedar Point Environmental Center
> starting at 2:30 PM. Members welcome to attend.
>
> Next Meeting: March 10, 2015, 7:00 PM, Lemon Bay Park, 570 Bay Park Blvd,
> Englewood. Please join us for an "Update on What's Happening in Sarasota
> County Parks". Our guest speaker is Chris Meyer from the county's Natural
> Resources division, who has developed and managed several of Sarasota
> County's nature parks. These include the Joseph Property in Englewood, Myakka
> Islands Point in Port Charlotte and the most recently opened Scherer Thaxton
> Preserve, a 287-acre parcel with a 5-acre lake in Nokomis. Chris is well
> versed on the flora and fauna of these parks and will give us insight as to
> the status of the parks he is currently managing. For more information on
> Sarasota County Parks, go to scgov.net.
>
> "Plant Native" Day, March 14, 9:30 AM-1:00 PM, Cedar Point Environmental
> Park, 2300 Placida Rd, Englewood, FL. The theme of this year's event is "How
> to Create a Rain Garden". Please print out the event flyer featured elsewhere
> in this newsletter for details and to share with friends, neighbors and
> posting at local businesses. PND details are also posted on our website. I
> will email the membership with a sign-up list for helpers for the event
> (set-up, parking, greeters, hospitality, take-down). Also, we need your
> home-grown natives, so please pot up what you can and drop them off at Cedar
> Point Park: Monday AM (9th) while we are working in the garden(9 to 11 AM),
> Friday afternoon (13th) while we are setting up (2 to 4 PM), or early the
> morning of the event.
> Next Field Trip: March 28, 9:00 AM, Scherer-Thaxton Environmental Park, 13125
> Honore Ave. Nokomis. Scherer-Thaxton Preserve is one of Sarasota's newest
> parks. It consists of 287 acres of pine flatwoods, depressional wetlands,
> and mesic hammocks. The park is adjacent to and on the east side of Oscar
> Scherer State Park. Birds of interest may include scrub jays and
> swallow-tail kites. Since this is a new park, we may be surprised at what
> plants will be seen.
> DIRECTIONS: From the south, take US41N to MacIntosh Rd, Turn right onto
> Central Sarasota Pkwy, turn right onto Honore Ave, go south until the
> entrance to the park is reached on the right. FURTHER INFORMATION: Call
> Denny Girard at 941-474-1492, or email him at dennyg29@xxxxxxx.
>
> Yard Tours: March 15, 9 AM, kayakers in our group can visit Bill and Margaret
> Dunson's yard on Manasota Key, with an unusual twist. You will reach their
> yard by kayaking from Middle Beach (5.5 miles round trip) led by Charlie
> Woodruff and land at their dock/beach. In addition to their yard which has
> been managed for wildlife for 20 years, the Dunson's have a newly purchased
> lot next door which is being actively planted after removal of a trailer.
> There are more than 150 species of plants (about half native) which are
> primarily chosen for winter/spring blooms attractive to butterflies and
> birds, fruit, cover and larval caterpillar food. This is sponsored by Sierra
> Club and reservations are required. Call 276-233-6364 or email
> wdunson@xxxxxxxxxxx.
>
> March 25, 9:30 AM, we will visit Kathleen Rohrer's natural garden on Boca
> Grande, a quarter acre with a mix of planned natives and native volunteers,
> Florida-friendly's and some non-invasive exotics. From there we head to Elsie
> Bracken's place, a small early 1900's bungalow with a nice garden filled with
> lots of orchids. Last stop is a small pocket park, Sam Murphy Park, planted
> predominantly with a mix of Florida-friendly plants and some natives. There
> is a large fountain and pool with lots of shade and some lawn areas. This
> will serve to compare several types of gardens, illustrating different
> approaches to utilizing the landscape. Afterward, folks can do lunch in the
> village and visit the quaint shops. People who sign up for this trip will
> receive detailed directions via email a week before the tour. Email
> birderlois@xxxxxxxxxxx to sign up.
>
> Bobbi's Fishing Camp
> As part of CHEC's summer camp series, two week-long fishing camps to teach
> kids about safe and environmentally friendly fishing are being planned. If
> you or anyone you know has any knowledge of fishing (knot-tying, cast
> netting, rods and reels, tackle, anatomy, etc.), please contact Bobbie
> Rodgers at the Cedar Point Environmental Center. 941-475-0769. FWC will come
> to the center and do a training session with all volunteers who offer to
> assist.
>
> Recap of Palm (Knight/Don Pedro) Island Tour
>
> Twenty-two of us ferried over to the island on February 4th to meet our hosts
> and golf cart drivers. Any more of us and we might have been considered a
> flash mob. I can see it now-a photo on the cover of the Englewood Review-the
> mad botanizers circling the native plant berm at the landing, muttering Latin
> names and shaking our walking sticks. But, I digress. Once we boarded our
> modes of transportation, we circled past the Fire House to look at the
> natural area that has matured nicely in the 3 years since we last toured this
> area. A past member, Sarah Fahlmark, who has since moved back to Illinois,
> took great care of the lot while she was a resident. The entrance arch, built
> from large pieces of driftwood, is still there. Bob Horswill stepped through
> and beckoned us to join him for a walk-about.
>
>
>
>
> Our next destination was the Preserve, accessible via the golf carts, as no
> cars are permitted. We stopped in front of Tony Yacovetti's place. He owns
> the Sandhill Grower's Nursery in Arcadia and talked about the many varieties
> of plants that were used to fill his landscape. He acquired a lot of his
> plants through bartering with other growers, buying up what was left of
> someone's booth after a plant workshop and is also trying out some plants
> that are not necessarily native to the area. A variety of trees, understory
> shrubs, grasses and wildflowers were observed and discussed in the 45 minutes
> or so that we spent, including looking at the septic-leach field, which was
> overplanted with a variety of ground covers. Pine straw was used as mulch
> throughout the planted areas.
>
> Kjell Plotkin led our entourage to an area that was being prepared for
> building a gopher tortoise habitat, starting with the addition of a large
> berm as a foundation for planting native vegetation that they like to eat.
> They add or utilize any existing fixed object, like a large rock, tree stump,
> pilings, etc. for the tortoises to dig their burrows against. They often get
> their sand from construction crews who are building a new home or digging out
> an area for a pool. The berms become landscape elements, keeping the forage
> handy for the tortoise inhabitants.
>
> Bill and Margaret Dunson had met us on their bikes, so they took us by their
> lot on Kettle Harbor, which is on high ground and had been overgrown with
> Brazilian pepper. They have a boardwalk and dock, which brought us out to the
> harbor for a view of the water. While walking around the lot, Bill challenged
> us to figure out which of the plants that we were in the process of
> identifying might have arisen from the soil being disturbed as opposed to
> growing there naturally. He pointed out how the left versus the right sides
> of the lot had varied vegetation, and speculated on how it grew up that way.
>
> Mike Riley met us at his home site where we advanced to his back yard to view
> a mature gopher tortoise habitat that he had created after removing a 30-foot
> coconut palm, saving the stump as a starting point. The surrounding berm was
> about 50 feet in circumference. Several wooden beams and some driven pilings
> added to the mix. From there the garden took on a life of its own as coco
> plum, gaillardia, beach dune sunflower, railroad vine, chalky bluestem, muhly
> grass, love grass and perennial peanut were added. Various yard ornaments
> give it a finished look. A small gopher tortoise took up residence within
> just a few weeks of construction, it was well worth the effort.
> Our final destination was the Horswill residence. Merrill had gone home
> during the previous stop to make everything ready for a very lovely luncheon.
> Bob gave us a brief tour of the grounds in the meantime. He had made some
> changes to the landscape, all in all a wonderful tangle of natives providing
> a natural habitat. We savored a luscious lunch, comfortable conversation and
> enjoyed the marvelous view from their kitchen and living room. What a lovely
> end to a marvelous tour!
>
>
>
> Poem from Denny Girard
>
> AFTER EIGHTY
>
> When you pass the eighty mark
> Everything slows up.
> The legs are not as limber
> And it's difficult to stand up.
> It's harder to move,
> And you walk like a snail.
> Your hearing becomes faulty
> And "What's that you say"
> Is your conversational limit.
> Pills by the handfuls
> Take the place of regular meals.
> Your eyes always water
> And so does your nose.
> But don't get me wrong
> With this list of negatives.
> It's still a lot better
>
> Article from Bill Dunson
>
>
> You do not normally expect to see native flowers blooming in winter, but this
> can happen in Florida after fires release nutrients and expose the soil to
> light. Although winter is not the natural time for most fires, which would
> have normally occurred after summer lightning, a prescribed burn about two
> months ago in Myakka State Forest led to an explosion of flower production.
> Members of the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society walked
> the Gordon Smith Trail on Feb. 12 and enjoyed seeing a remarkable profusion
> of winter blooms. The habitat there is a combination of mesic and hydric pine
> flatwoods with occasional shallow, gently sloping natural wetlands.
>
> Since the soils in this area are predominantly sterile, acidic quartz sands
> eroded from the Alabama and Georgia mountains, fires mobilize scarce
> nutrients that were held in the existing plants and litter, stimulating other
> plants to grow and bloom. It reminds me of the famous early spring flush of
> wildflowers in northern woodlands which seem timed to catch sunlight before
> the tree leaves have fully emerged. The scarcity of nutrients also favors
> plants that are carnivorous and can derive essential metabolites from animal
> flesh. Three species of such remarkable carnivores (remember the movie
> "Little Shop of Horrors" ) in bloom were the Yellow Butterwort, the Horned
> Bladderwort and the Sundew. Each of these animal-eaters has a different
> mechanism to catch their prey. The Butterwort has sticky leaves, the
> Bladderwort has tiny traps on its roots, and the Sundew has sticky droplets
> on the ends of its leaves, all of which ensnare small creatures. Thus
> nitrogen, phosphorus and minerals can be obtained which otherwise are not
> only scarce in the soil but subject to severe competition among plants.
>
> A very striking flower we saw was the Sabatia or Marsh Pink. Its five pink
> petals surround a yellow center bordered by red. This central design is
> thought to serve as a "bulls eye" to guide insects to the nectar reward and
> thus to cross pollinate the flowers. It might surprise you to know that the
> Marsh Pink is related to Gentians.
>
> An unusual flower we found was the Pine Hyacinth or leather flower, a type of
> pinewoods Clematis in the Buttercup family. It is only found in Florida and
> has a very strange seed pod structure consisting of long hairy filaments
> which bear no resemblance to the flower. Its bluish color suggests that it is
> particularly attractive to bumblebees as pollinators.
>
> Close to the Pine Hyacinth we found a number of Procession Flowers with a
> very different pinkish color and shape.These are a type of milkwort which
> have several close relatives in wet pine flatwoods such as Bachelor's
> Buttons, Drumheads and Candy Root. These thrive in sandy soils and some
> species have bright orange flowers.
>
> A large and spectacular yellow flower in the edge of a wetland was the
> Sneezeweed, Helenium. It is another of those "dyc" plants, the darn yellow
> composites that can be difficult to identify. The composites or asters are
> an amazing family of plants whose "flower" is actually made up of hundreds of
> individual flowers that comprise both the apparent petals (ray flowers) and
> the central area of disc flowers. The ray flowers do not usually reproduce
> but contribute to the fitness of their relatives in the disc which produce
> large numbers of seeds. This "socialistic" strategy of flower structure is
> extremely successful and highly evolved in comparison with simple primitive
> flowers such as the magnolias.
>
> So a walk in the woods and fields this time of year need not be without the
> chance to see wonderful flowers. Look for places where fire has occurred and
> follow the changes in vegetation over time and you will be richly rewarded by
> a profusion of interesting flowers.
>
> Bill Dunson
>
> PHOTOS
>
> Gordon Smith Trail
>
> Bladderwort
>
> Procession flower
>
> Butterwort
>
> Sundew
>
> Pine hyacinth
>
> Sneezeweed
>
> Sabatia
> _____________________________
> _________________________
> Photos from Prairie Shell Creek Preserve walk - January 31, 2015.
> Provided by John Holyland
>
>
> Pink Sundew
>
> Rock Rose
>
> Pennyroyal
>
> Yellow Buttons
>
> Book Signing and Talk, New Publication:
> Saturday, February 7
> 11 a.m.
> in the classroom of the Calusa Heritage Trail, 13810 Waterfront Drive,
> Pineland.
>
> The Plant World of the Calusa: A View from Pineland
> Written and Illustrated by Martha Kendall
> Randell Research Center, Popular Series no. 1, 2015
> vii + 66 pages, full-color, bibliography and index, softcover, $24.95
>
> The Calusa were among the most powerful, complex, and artistic Native
> Americans. If we try to imagine their world without plants, we quickly
> realize it would have been impossible without them. In this volume, Martha
> Kendall takes the list of plants identified by archaeologists from Pineland's
> ancient deposits and shows how each might have been used based on information
> from throughout the Western hemisphere. Vivid descriptions and watercolor
> images combine in a delightful and entertaining way. In her talk Kendall will
> highlight the knowledge we have gained about many of the featured plants and
> sign copies of her book. All proceeds from sale of the book benefit the
> Randell Research Center endowment. The RRC does not receive operational funds
> from the county, city, state, or university. Donations, sales and endowment
> funds support all preservation and teaching activities. Cindy Bear,
> Coordinator, Programs and Services
> Randell Research Center, Calusa Heritage Trail, P.O. Box 608, Pineland, FL
> 33945. Phone: (239)283-6168
>
>
> What's Up in the Garden? by Lois Cantwell
>
> Whisk Broom Ferns, which I had mistakenly listed in the non-native section of
> my plant list for my yard tour in January. It was pointed out by Dave and
> Bill that they are indeed native to the area. Psilotum species lack roots,
> the stem is partially underground, and the tiny scale-like leaves alternate.
> Stems are twisted, wiry and repeatedly forked. Three-lobed sporangia, yellow
> when ripe, are borne on the upper parts of branches. The plant grows to a
> height of 6 to 18 inches. They are typically found on humus and logs (and
> beneath many of the palm trees in our yards) through tropical and
> sub-tropical regions, ranging as far north as South Carolina. I tend to let
> them grow wherever they pop up, lending a feathery green texture to the
> landscape in contrast to the other vegetation. Very pretty when they are
> "blooming".
>
> Whisk Broom Fern
>
> Another plant identification that I got mixed up about was which species of
> Oak tree I have on the north side of my house. The left brain somehow
> confused the right brain when Bill said it was a Laurel oak, and I wrote
> Myrtle in my notes. So it became an educational opportunity to look up the
> differences between them.
>
> Laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) is native to moist forest soils throughout
> the state north of the Everglades, is adaptable and fast growing. Mine
> started out as a "stick in a bucket" 7 years ago and looks to be about 30
> feet tall now. They are deciduous trees (my first clue), have straight trunks
> with dark grayish bark, leaves linear, with some wider in the middle and
> tapering toward each end, thus appearing somewhat diamond shaped. Acorns are
> rounded, about 1 inch long. Some taxonomists refer to the Laurel oak as
> Diamond oak to distinguish it from a narrower leafed upland species, Q.
> hemisphaerica. Others lump them together as one variable species.
>
> Myrtle oaks (Q. myrtifolia) are evergreen, round-crowned, shrubby trees that
> rarely exceed 30 feet in height and like deep sandy soils from north to south
> Florida, including coastal dunes. It frequently forms thickets from root
> suckering. They have small round glossy leaves, margins entire or lobed and
> revolute, that are leathery and stiff. The small round acorns are a half inch
> or less in size. Not being an especially attractive specimen tree, it lends
> itself to a mixed-woodland setting, providing dense cover for wildlife.
>
> Sources: "Non-Flowering Plants", A Golden Guide, Floyd S. Shuttleworth &
> Herbert S. Zim, 1967; "The Trees of Florida", Gil Nelson; "Native Plant
> Landscaping for Florida Wildlife", Craig Huegel.
>
> Monarchs and OE Disease
>
> Yes, the saga continues. I think I have written something about this topic at
> least once a season for the last 3 years. In a recent article, which Bill
> Dunson shared in January, a few more findings come to light regarding the use
> of tropical milkweed in the southern United States. Studies have proven that
> there is a connection between tropical milkweed and increasing OE
> (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha) disease, especially among the monarch
> population that does not migrate to central Mexico in the winter. Since the
> non-native Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) doesn't die back in
> winter, they have no reason to go elsewhere. We know about that, but there
> are more interesting implications related to this phenomenon.
>
> Here is a synopsis: If contaminated (native) milkweed dies back in winter,
> butterflies returning in spring would start over with new, clean milkweed. If
> the monarchs aren't migrating and the tropical milkweed isn't dying off, OE
> never goes away. For monarchs returning from Mexico in the spring, passing
> through areas with "bad" milkweed still present, eggs may be laid on infected
> milkweed while they are here or they may mate with infected butterflies.
> Infecting the returning monarchs is the last thing we want, since the general
> monarch population is in low numbers now. Larger numbers of infected monarchs
> will have an outsized effect on overall population numbers.
>
> Migration accomplishes two things. It culls out the infected monarchs that
> are much weaker and don't live long enough to reach their final destination.
> Secondly, it gives the monarchs a chance to leave behind contaminated
> milkweed plants, which die off during the winter (with the exception of our
> tropical variety). So, what do we do? In a perfect world, we plant only
> native milkweed, which unfortunately is not readily available. But, because
> so many gardeners plant tropical milkweed (partly because they think they are
> helping the butterflies), they should be encouraged to cut their plants back
> every few weeks during the winter, which would put a stop to the destructive
> winter-breeding trend.
> The typical mindset of the average gardener may be that they want to see
> these butterflies in the winter months, and the fact that we have such nice
> weather here most of the time. Its "summer-like" to them, so why not attract
> the monarchs no matter what the calendar says. Unfortunately, they know not
> what they do. Old habits die hard and it will be an uphill battle. Source:
> "Plan to save monarch butterflies backfires", Lizzie Wade, Science Magazine,
> January 13, 2015.
>
> God and Sod (Some of you may have seen this on the internet over the years).
>
> God: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What is going on down
> there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and
> stuff I started eons ago? It was a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. The
> plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon.
> Their nectar attracts butterflies, honey bees and songbirds. It should be a
> vast garden of colors by now. All I see are these large green rectangles.
> St. Francis: It's the tribes that settled there, the Suburbanites. They
> started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them
> and replace them with grass.
> God: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract
> butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to
> temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
> St. Francis: Apparently so. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it
> green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other
> plant that crops up.
> God: The spring rains and warm weather makes grass grow really fast. That
> must make the Suburbanites happy.
> St. Francis: Apparently not. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it.
> God: They cut it? Do they then bale it for their livestock?
> St. Francis: Not exactly. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
> God: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
> St. Francis: No, sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
> God: Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow, then
> cut it off and pay to dispose of it?
> St. Francis: Yes, Sir.
> God: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on
> the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a
> lot of work.
> St. Francis: You aren't going to believe this. When the grass stops growing,
> they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it. They continue to mow it
> and pay to get rid of it.
> God: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer
> stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring
> to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the
> ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect
> the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.
> St. Francis: You better sit down. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle.
> As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have
> them hauled away.
> God: No! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to
> keep the soil moist and loose?
> St. Francis: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something
> called mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
> God: And where do they get this mulch?
> St. Francis: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
> God: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're
> in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?
> St. Catherine: "Dumb and Dumber", Lord. It's a story about...
> God: Never mind. I think I just heard that story from St. Francis.
>
>
>
> A TASTE OF MYAKKA
> Crowley Museum and Nature Center
> March 7th
> 9 am to 6 pm
> FREE ADMISSION
>
> Early Florida pioneers hunted and foraged wild foods. Without wild foods,
> they would not survive. When they managed land, they kept a portion for wild
> plants and animals. John Crowley settled our land in the mid 1800's. The
> Crowley family practiced "Use Half; and Keep Half" land management.
>
> Come out to Crowley's First Annual "A Taste of Myakka" event and learn about
> historical methods of raising animal and vegetable foods as well as methods
> of hunting and gathering. Also learn about sustainable farming and land
> conservation.
>
> Enjoy an old fashioned cane grinding by the Hardy family and watch the kettle
> boil down the syrup while you savor wild hog sausage and pancakes beginning
> at 9 am to 11 am. From Noon to 3:30 pm enjoy Myakka harvested venison,
> alligator, wild hog, frog legs and also try samplings of unusual wild hunted
> and fished foods such as armadillo, brim, opossum, turtle, and other exotic
> meats. *Observe blacksmithing and other pioneer crafting demonstrations, try
> your hand at archery, and listen to local country and gospel music.
> Includes admission to Crowley
> Explore the Pioneering History of Old Florida
> Museum * Historic Buildings * Homestead
> Scenic Boardwalk * Children's Discovery Trail
> Working Farm with Cracker Cows, Chickens
>
>
> 1 Mile from Myakka State Park North entrance
>
> *Animal foods are ethically harvested in the wild.
> All animal products sold by Crowley museum are humanely raised.
>
> Mangrove Chapter
> Email: fnpsmangrovechapter@xxxxxxxxx
> Mailing Address:
> Mangrove Chapter
> Florida Native Plant Society
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> Englewood, Florida 34295-1153
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> Mangrove Chapter Florida Native Plant Society | P.O. Box 5197 | Englewood |
> FL | 34224-1153
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- » [bcbirdclub] Fwd: March 2015 Newsletter - Bill Dunson
