The Lake Beautyberry Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society's mission is to champion Florida's native plants and their habitats and is proud to serve Lake County.
Our meeting location is at the W. T. Bland Library in Mount Dora. There is plenty of parking, access to the library services before and after meetings, outdoor features, such as the Butterfly Garden, Pavilion, and Forest Preserve hiking trails, and, of course, downtown amenities. We meet on the 3rd Sunday of alternating months starting in January.
In addition:
• Need a plant ID? Bring it to the meeting.
• Have any growing tips from your experience you can share?
• Ask any questions about native plants or planting.
• Bring some healthy native plants from your yard to share.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
March 15, Saturday, 8:30am
Forest Preserve Guided Walk and Talk—Florida Black Bears
1995 N Donnelly Street, Mount Dora
(behind library parking lot)
This month’s topic is very important as our area continues to grow in population displacing our native Black Bear. Black bears are shy and reclusive. They use various means to express their emotions including vocalizations, body language, and scent marking. They are mainly solitary, except when females have dependent cubs or during mating season. Although they are solitary mammals, they are not territorial and typically do not defend their range from other bears, but will defend a food source from other bears. Learn more. Free and open to the public.
March 22, Saturday, 10am
Nunan Butterfly Garden Monthly Tour
“Creating a Wildlife Habitat”
W.T. Bland Library, 1995 N Donnelly Street, Mount Dora
While walking through the garden, learn about the native and Florida-friendly plants along with all the wildlife they support, guided by knowledgeable volunteers at Nunan Butterfly Garden. Photo credit: Tim Shortt/Florida Today
March 22, Saturday, 8am-10am, Coral Ardisia Removal Workday
Forest Preserve, W.T. Bland Library, 1995 N Donnelly Street, Mount Dora
Please join us at the trailhead (look for the ‘Forest Preserve Work Day’ sign) and bring your work gloves, shovel, and garden clippers for this work day in the forest, with volunteers on hand to demonstrate proper removal techniques. Meet time is 8am at the entrance at the Forest Preserve located behind the library parking lot. W.T. Bland Library, 1995 N Donnelly Street, Mount Dora.
NEXT CHAPTER MEETING
March 16, Sunday, 1:30 PM, “Native Edible Plants”
W.T. Bland Library, 1995 N Donnelly Street, Mount Dora
Speaker, Don Philpott, co-author of A Beginner’s Guide to Edible Florida will share where to find these plants and how to use them. Florida’s climate provides a year-round supply of wild foods—tender leaves that can be used in salads or cooked as greens. Nuts, seeds, and berries eaten as trailside snacks, and roots that can substitute for potatoes or be ground to produce flour. Free. Open to the Public.
A six-part Botany in Context Webinar Series with Jim Folsom, PhD.
**This is a Florida Wildflower Foundation sponsored event**
All classes are on Wednesdays at 2 PM.
- Part 1: Basic Wildflower Botany – December 11 **Recording now available**
- Part 2: 10 BIG IDEAS Regarding Plants – January 15 **Recording now available**
- Part 3: Coming to Terms with Plant Names – February 19 **Recording now available**
- Part 4: Getting Familiar with Plant Families – April 16
- Part 5: Botanical Jargon – May 21
- Part 6: Using Keys to Florida Plants – June 18
CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND REGISTRATION
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Florida Native Plant Society's 43rd Conference
"Seeds For Tomorrow"
April 2-6, 2025 at the UF Hilton 1714 SW 34th St, Gainesville
Click here for more information about the Seeds of Tomorrow conference.
We are still looking for several volunteer positions! Consider supporting the chapter through your participation.
Outreach Coordinator. An organizer. Does this sound like you? We get requests to participate in community events and give presentations. It’s helpful to have this function centralized, a log with dates and who’s participating, recruit member volunteers, continue communication throughout event, keep Board or person to give the presentation informed.
Amanda Martin - Prune Your Native Plants: How, Why and When It Matters the Most: https://www.flawildflowers.org/231115-webinar-prune-your-native-plants/
Sara Burke - How to Start a Backyard Revolution https://www.flawildflowers.org/231011-webinar-backyard-revolution/
Emily Bell - Photographing Wildflowers for Beginners https://www.flawildflowers.org/231213-webinar-photographing-wildflowers
The Lake Beautyberry Chapter meets on the third Sunday of every other month (odd months) at the W.T. Bland Library in Mount Dora.
