Plant Walk

Our first plant walk last month was a definite success! This month we will be doing the first loop of The Fern Trail at Governors Park on Thursday, July 22nd at 6pm. This will be a slow and easy walk, with very little elevation, but the ground will be uneven and unpaved.
These walks are open to the public, in and around the Tallahassee area, and aimed to be introductory guides to plant identification. The walks will be led and attended by Magnolia Chapter board members, who will assist attendees on plant identification and show them how to use field guides and iNaturalist to begin learning our how to identify plants.

We are so lucky to live in such a biodiverse area with abundant public lands to experience various native habitats. We hope these walks will be an introduction to appreciating these areas and how to access them, along with how to "see" and identify the plants you find. Please share these events with any friends or family that may be interested!

While these walks are designed to be inviting to plant novices, we of course welcome all levels of experience, and especially members that would like to attend and help lead and guide newcomers. We hope you can attend!

A few thing to mention:
- if it is lightly raining we will still go, but if there is heavy rain or storms predicted we will have to reschedule.
- please bring water or hydrate before - we will not be walking far, but we may be out for an hour or two. 
- We will be bringing some of our own field guides for ID, but you are welcome and encouraged to bring your own if you like them!
- We will need everyone to sign our usual waiver.
- As usual for exploring outdoors, I would recommend considering wearing:
long pants, closed-toed shoes, a hat, bug spray and sunscreen. This will not be an extensive outing, but it’s always best to be prepared.
- Some phone apps I would recommend and will mention on the walk, if you want to download ahead of time:
~ iNaturalist
~ Google maps
~ Merlin Bird ID (not plants but great for Bird ID if you’re interested in that!)

Hope you all can make it!

Co-Field Trip with FNPS Sarracenia Chapter

Meet and park on Redfish Lane
(off of Surf Rd/C-372, just South of Silver Acres Dr and  about 3 miles west of Ochlockonee Bay Bridge on US 98, and 6 miles southeast of Sopchoppy).

This bike ride will be easy-goin on this flat, paved path made for biking along Surf Road. Multiple stops will be made for observation of remarkable wildflowers and other native plants.

Participants will need their own bicycle and any gear they may require for safe riding, and drinking water. Meet and park on Redfish Lane (off of Surf Rd/C-372, just South of Silver Acres Dr and  about 3 miles west of Ochlockonee Bay Bridge on US 98, and 6 miles southeast of Sopchoppy).

Click here for Sarracenia Chapter's trail-user’s guide to Wildflower and Native Plant Highlights of the trail —a good primer for the ride.

Tomorrow, Friday July 16th Noon  ~ FNPS Lunch 'N Learn

Environmentalists and Native Plant Enthusiasts

Blooming Now  ~ Native Plant Highlight

Largeflower Milkweed
Asclepias connivens

One of Florida’s 21 native milkweed species, Large-Flowered Milkweed, Asclepias connivens, certainly lives up to its common name! This species is not easy to miss, despite its modest coloration. The very large, wide blooms are fairly easy to spot, even in the grassy, wet prairies where they are found across the state. Though they are usually 2-3ft tall, some individuals can reach over 4ft.

The hoods on this species are voluptuous, and softly curve in towards the gynostegium, which is a compound structure that includes the fused column of the stamens (male reproductive parts) and the heads of the styles (part of the female reproductive parts). 

These individuals were all seen in the Appalachicola National Forest in Liberty county.

New Logo Designs for Magnolia Chapter

We are excited to debut our new logos starring our native Ashe Magnolia! 


Created and designed by Tallahassee locals Amanda Roop & Jesse Taylor: Amanda.Kay.Ropp@gmail.com

Make a Difference... Volunteer opportunities...

Cross-Pollination... Other groups of interest...

Friends of the Apalachicola National Forest: Facebook

Sarracenia Chapter: Facebook

Hairstreak Chapter of NABA: Calendar : Facebook

Apalachee Audubon : Calendar