Nature Calls

With funding support from the Florida Forest Service, Lemon Bay Conservancy is hosting a free tree giveaway on Friday, April 26, 9am to noon, for homeowners in Englewood and surrounding areas in celebration of Arbor Day. A total of 50 trees in 3-gallon containers will be available, with a limit of one per household. Go to lemonbayconservancy.org to see available tree species and for information on registering to receive a tree. Tree pick-up will be at the Lemon Bay Wildflower Preserve, 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd.

Mangrove Chapter FNPS Activities
 The mission of the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) is to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. The Mangrove Chapter serves Charlotte County and southern Sarasota County. Visit them online at mangrove.fnpschapters.org. For more information, contact them at [email protected].

Myakka State Forest Walk
Join the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and Dr. Bill Dunson for a guided nature walk at Myakka State Forest, main entrance, 2555 South River Road, on Thursday, April 18, 9 to 11am. Following the 1.5-mile Gordon Smith Trail, participants will observe spring flowers and discuss factors influencing the ecology of the sub-climax pine flatwoods. Close examination of near pristine natural wetland and its circular zones of vegetation will be highlighted. Meet in the parking lot about one mile east of River Rd. The State Forest has a $2 entry fee to be paid online. All are welcome. For additional information contact [email protected].

Oscar Scherer Park Walk
Join the Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and Dr. Mary Davis for a guided walk at Oscar Scherer State Park, 1843 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey, on Friday, April 26, 9 to 11am. Mary will talk about the mosaic of plant communities that are characteristic of this SW Florida flatwoods ecoregion and the management challenges in providing habitat for the endemic Florida Scrub Jay. Meet at the Nature Center at the end of the entrance road. There is a $5 fee per vehicle to enter the park. All are welcome. For more information, contact [email protected].

Shamrock Park Walk
Join the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, and Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society on Friday, May 10, 9 to 11am, as member Dr. Mary Davis leads a walk at Shamrock Park and Nature Center, located at 3099 Shamrock Drive, Venice. Mary will talk about coastal scrub habitat, the ecology of plants and animals living in this harsh environment, and management challenges of maintaining habitat for the Florida endemic Scrub Jay in today’s landscape. Meet at the Visitor Center. This event is free, and all are welcome. For additional information, contact [email protected].

Chapter Meeting
The Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will host an “iNaturalist Demonstration and Practice” program led by club president, Dr. Ava Lasseter, during the Chapter meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 1pm, at Lemon Bay Park, 570 Bay Park Blvd. Bring your smart phones and portable devices as time will be offered for an in-field experience. BYOPicnic social at 12:15pm. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact mangrovechapter
@fnps.org.

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) Activities
 On these casual walks with CHEC volunteers, you will search for and learn about plants, animals, fungi and more, that live in Charlotte County preserves. Prepare for each walk with plenty of water, insect repellent, sunscreen, and clothing that will protect you from insects and plants. Advance registration is required. Go to CHECflorida.org for a complete program calendar and registration links. For more information on programs, please call 941•475•0769 or email [email protected].

Lemon Bay Earth Day
Celebrate Earth Day with CHEC during a free family fun event with guided hikes, crafts, games, bounce house, animal encounters, local conservation projects exhibit, youth led activities, and environmental keynote speakers. The event will take place at Cedar Point Environmental Park, 2300 Placida Road, on Saturday, April 20, 10am to 2pm. This event will feature support for different local, environmental, and conservation projects. There will be a fabulous door prize raffle and more. Come early for a guided walk of the park at 9am. To register for the walk, go to checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. Parking will be available at Cedar Point and across the street at Oyster Creek Environmental Park. For more information, please call 941•475•0769 or email [email protected].

Amberjack Environmental Park
Join CHEC on a guided walk through the scrub and pine flatwoods of 225-acre Amberjack Environmental Park on Monday, April 22 at 9am. Meet at 6250 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., where the street dead ends. To register, fill out the form online at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. 

Bayshore Live Oak Park
Join CHEC on a guided walk through the 80-acre Bayshore Live Oak Park on Wednesday, April 24 at 9am. Historical figures and beautiful views characterize this park located along the Charlotte Harbor at 23157 Bayshore Road, Port Charlotte. Meet in the parking lot by the playground. To register, fill out the form online at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. 

Tippecanoe II Preserve Walk
Join CHEC for a guided walk through Tippecanoe II Mitigation Preserve on Saturday, April 27 at 9am. This 182-acre preserve is home to several families of the threatened Florida scrub jay. Meet in the parking lot at 16259 Joppa Avenue, Port Charlotte. To register, fill out the form online at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. 

Lemon Bay Conservancy News
The free guided nature walks and activities shown below are sponsored by Lemon Bay Conservancy and will be held at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve, 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., Englewood. Please come prepared for a hike. The preserve can be “buggy” this time of year. Consider wearing long sleeves and long pants. Water, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and hiking shoes are recommended. Some people like to bring a walking pole. Binoculars are useful for observing more distant birds and other animals. Website: lemonbayconservancy.org.

Birding & Nature Walk
Join Charlie Woodruff and Jayne Dean for an early morning walk on Friday, April 19, 8 to 10:30am, at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve, 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd. The second half of April is prime bird migration season, so some uncommon birds may be seen, along with the many species commonly present at the preserve. Hats and hiking shoes are suggested, along with sunscreen and bug repellant. You may want to bring along your binoculars and/or your camera. Spring is a beautiful time to see a wide variety of plants and wildlife at the preserve.

Plant a Free Tree
With funding support from the Florida Forest Service, Lemon Bay Conservancy is hosting a free tree giveaway on Friday, April 26, 9am to noon, for homeowners in Englewood and surrounding areas, in celebration of Arbor Day. A total of 50 trees in 3-gallon containers will be available, with a limit of one per household. Go to lemonbayconservancy.org to see available tree species and for information on registering to receive a tree. Tree pick-up will be at the preserve, 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd.

Wildflower Preserve Walk
The public is invited to join LBC for a guided walk through Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve on Friday, May 3, 8:30-10:30am. Participants will be fully immersed as they learn and encounter the ever-changing natural sights at the preserve. Organizer: Susy d’Hont. Please wear closed toe walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, water, camera and binoculars. No reservations needed.

Venice Audubon Society News
The Venice Area Audubon Society serves south Sarasota County and offers activities, educational programs, birding field trips, and provides support for birds and wildlife with a pollinator garden & native plants at the Venice Area Audubon Rookery Park, located at 4002 S. Tamiami Trail via Annex Road, Venice. New members are welcome. Learn more at veniceaudubon.org or email [email protected].

Oscar Scherer Weekly Bird Walks
Venice Area Audubon Society offers a guided bird walk at Oscar Scherer State Park every Thursday at 8:30am. Oscar Scherer State Park, 1843 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey, is a wildlife haven surrounded by suburban development and is noted for scrub jays and bald eagles and other birds and wildlife. Parking fee is $5 per car. The trails are sandy. Walks cover about two miles and take about two hours. Registration is appreciated but not required at veniceaudubon.org.

Friday Sunset Rookery Walks
Join other birders for a 45 to 60-minute docent-led sunset walk around the Venice Audubon Rookery Pond at 4006 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice. The short, trail/path walk (approx. 1/3 mile) is held on Friday evenings. Time varies according to sunset – see the website calendar for start time. Birds featured will be nesting great blue heron, double-crested cormorant, anhinga, white ibis, and purple martins. Alligators patrol the pond and, at the end of the walk, you may be able to see the park’s resident bats begin their nightly feeding. Registration is not required but appreciated at veniceaudubon.org.

Wellen Park Grand Lake Field Trip
In January, Grand Lake at Wellen Park served up 51 species at a VAAS walk. No guarantees, but the walk will be an enjoyable, slow-paced 2+ miles stroll on a level, hard-packed shell & concrete walkway around the lake. Meet in the Foxtail Coffee House courtyard at 8am on Monday, April 22nd. The coffee house is located at 19795 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice. Registration at veniceaudubon.org is appreciated.