Volume 24 Number 4 APRIL 2007

Cane Toad, © Stephen Johnson

The Florida Native Plant Society was organized in 1980 to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. For more information about the Florida Native Plant Society, please visit our web site: www.fnps.org

TheSuncoastGrapevineNewsletter of the Suncoast Native Plant Society, Inc.

www.ficus.usf.edu/orgs/suncoastwww.fnps.org/chapters/suncoast

Photo: Shawna Himelright

April 18, 2007 7:00 pm

Hillsborough Extension Office

Attracting Birds to Your Backyard Presented by Greg and Shirley Williams

Nothing adds to the enjoyment of our landscapes quite like birds singing, eating, bathing, and nesting right outside our door. The birds that inhabit our yards will be determined in part by the plants we choose. Our April speakers, Greg and Shirley Williams, will tell us how to maximize our yard’s potential as a wildlife habitat by our careful selection of plants.

Greg and Shirley Williams are owners of Wild Birds Unlimited, a nature store in Tampa devoted to the hobbies of backyard bird feeding, gardening, and the enjoyment of nature. The store is a community resource, providing educational talks to schools, civic groups, libraries, etc., and in-store events. They work closely with local environmental organizations and wildlife rehabilitators to further promote community awareness. Join us at our April meeting when Greg and Shirley will give a photographic presentation and discussion on Attracting Birds to Your Backyard, and will bring examples of feeders, nesting boxes, and more.

Submitted by Mary Miller

Editors Note: Wild Birds Unlimited has an extensive website devoted to

birds, bird watching and other nature topics:

http://www.wbu.com/ .

Enjoy!

Tread Softly

Pink Sundews

Thanks to Debbie and Jon Butts, and

Cliff Brown for providing the refreshments at

March’s meeting. If you would like to contribute refreshments for an upcoming meeting, please contact Joann

Hoffman at 671-2131.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WHAT: Earth Day Tampa Bay

WHEN: 11 am to 4 pm Sunday, April 22 WHERE: Lowry Park, Sligh Ave in Tampa

The annual Earth Day Tampa Bay festival will feature more than 50 exhibitors offering products, information and demonstrations on ways to help you create a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. This year's theme

is Let's Cool It! Global Warming is Our Responsibility with special exhibits on energy efficiency. Come check out a hybrid car display and

alternative fuel vehicles. A special children's activity area will keep young ones busy, along with live music and entertainment throughout

the day. Exhibitors will feature information on wildlife, home and garden, arts and crafts, natural and organic products, community

organizations, and much more. Admission and parking are free!

For more information contact Rheda Weeks at (813) 926-5659 or rheda1@juno.com .

This event is organized by Tampa Bay Sierra Club and sponsored by the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County and the Tampa Tribune.

FISH HAWK CREEK PRESERVE The Fish Hawk Creek Preserve, an ELAPP site, is located on Boyette Road near Riverview in SE Hillsborough County. In March 2007, through The Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP)’s, ‘Give a Day for the Bay’, funding and volunteer resources were provided to Hillsborough County’s Parks, Recreation, Conservation (PRC) department and the Hillsborough County Invasive Species Council (HCISC) for a native planting at Fish Hawk. This former pasture land was recently burned and was replanted with pine trees, palmettos and sedge/rush type plants for the lower areas. Walking through this burned area is very interesting because some of the burnt plants were already sprouting back from the fire. Additionally, the trail impressions left in the ground from the many cows that used to graze the ranch were more readily seen and as well as the current gopher tortoise burrows. There were approximately 40 volunteers, many of them hard working students from nearby Joe E. Newsome High School and the federal government’s Americorps program. Suncoast Native Plant Society member Jennifer Roberts help coordinate this event and chapter member Marielle Smith designed the ‘thank you’ gift T-shirt.

DON’T MISS THE BOAT!

Next month ‘Give a Day for the Bay’ event will be held on May 19. This is a sea oat planting on historic Egmont Key. Boat reservations are required; please contact Nanette O’ Hare at Nanette@tbep.org or by phone at 727-893 2765. Visit: http://www.tbep.org/ Please note: SNPS member Deborah Tharp also participated last month at the Mosiac Park exotic plant removal event.

Submitted by Mike Fite

MEMBERSHIP

New Allen Burdett

Mary Dorr Kristina Herz Lucy Shaw

Michael Sutton Wendy Valle

Shawn Wilson

Rejoined or Renewed Debra Backes

John and Janelle Borden Cliff Brown Debbie Butts

John and Ginger Griffin Jane Halil

Yvette Killian Diane Stevens

Debi Tharp Betty Wargo

Rene Wiesner Brown Diane Willis

Harriett Wright

Suncoast Calendar To submit information to the Calendar, email Mary Miller: limpkin1945@verizon.net

Programs for 2007 ♣ January 17 – Charlie Pedersen: Public Land Partnership Committee ♣ February 21 – Francia Smith: Come Into My Parlor: Spiders ♣ March 21 – Cyndi Marks: World of Bats ♣ April 18 – Shirley & Greg Williams: Attracting Birds to Your Garden ♣ May 16 – Jeff Norcini: Seed Biology and Production ♣ June 20 – Ray & Pat Ashton: Upland Habitats ♣ July 18 – Jim Egan: The Role of Mangroves in Storm Destruction *Potluck dinner meeting with Audubon and Sierra Clubs.

Field Trips and Events

April 14 & 15: USF Spring Plant Festival. Suncoast Native Plant Society will be selling native plants. April 19 – 22: Annual FNPS Conference: Conservation Cures by Yards & Miles, Gainesville. Register online at http://www.fnps.org April 22: 11am to 4pm; Earth Day Tampa Bay at Lowry Park. See advertisement, opposite page. April 28: 8am; Field trip to Flatwoods Park to identify native plants and to view nesting bluebirds. Contact Troy Springer at (813) 707-1524. May 19: 11am; Crystal Springs Preserve - Landscaping Your Yard for Wildlife Workshop I. Taught by Debbie Butts, Suncoast Native Plant Society, and Rob Heath, Tampa Audubon. June 2: 11am; Hillsborough Cooperative Extension Office – Landscaping Your Yard for Wildlife Workshop II. Taught by Debbie Butts, Suncoast Native Plant Society and Rob Heath, Tampa Audubon. October 13 & 14: USF Fall Plant Festival. Suncoast Native Plant Society will be selling native plants.

Volunteer Opportunities

The USF BotanicalGardens have many opportunities for you to become involved.

Some of them include ferns, herbs, and of course NATIVE PLANTS!

We have the perfect place in the Garden for you. Please call Kim Hutton at 813-974-2329 or email

khutton@cas.usf.edu

PLANT PROFILE Common name: St. Andrew’s Wort Botanical name: Hypericum hyperocoides (L.) Crantz Synonyms: St. Andrew’s Cross Family: Clusiaceae Zone: 8 - 10 Plant Habit: Erect, woody shrub Habitat: Wet or moist pine flatwoods Size: 2 ft. (h) x 2 ft. (w) Leaves: Linear to oblong, less than 2 inches long Bloom: Pale yellow, less than 1 inch across Flowering time: Summer to early Fall Fruit: Brown capsule containing many seeds in winter Bark: Reddish brown Distribution: Throughout Florida Growing conditions Light: Full sun to part shade Water: Moist to wet Soil: Prefers acidic, organic; will adapt to most soils Propagation: Seed Motility: Slowly by seeds in moist areas Maintenance: None Availability: Native plant nurseries Comments: Good choice as under story plant under pines for summer blooms. References: Nelson, G. 2003. Florida’s Best Native Landscape Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Osorio, R. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Wunderlin, R.P. 2003. Guide to Vascular Plants of Florida, Second Edition. University Press of Florida, Gainesville,

FL. Wunderlin, R.P. and B.F. Hansen. 2005. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (http://plantatlas.usf.edu/). Information compiled by George R. Kish Photos by Roger Hammer, Allen Boatman, Frank Soltes, Dan Tenaglia

Your Prescription Drugs and the Environment

Most of us are told to finish all of our prescribed medication from a young age. Most of us are also aware that some medications don’t fix the ailment, have side effects worse than the ailment, or cause allergic reactions in the patient... which occasionally leaves a drug or two permanent residents in our cabinets. The age-old solution to this problem was to flush the straggler down the commode. For those of us with municipal sewer systems, the pills would be well on their way in a sea of gray water to the nearest wastewater treatment plant, which may or may not be capable of removing the pharmaceutical contents. Those of us with septic tanks may be potentially releasing the active chemicals into our own lawns, and even worse—our own drinking wells. Either way, we’re now learning that disposal of medications can have devastating effects on our fresh water supply. What to do? The Department of Environmental Protection is officially suggesting that used or outdated pills be ruined somehow: mixed with kitty litter, secured in glue, mixed with flour, etc. and disposed of in the garbage. This “pill ruining” technique is suggested to help reduce the chance that pets, children, or potential drug re-users will find the medications tempting. Most garbage in Hillsborough County is hauled to a Class I landfill—meaning that the disposal area is lined to prevent groundwater contamination. For more information on this topic, please visit: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/quick_topics/publications/shw/meds DEPMedicationDisposalFlyer111706Final.pdf - Ed.

Make check payable to FNPS. Detach and mail to: Suncoast Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society, Inc P.O. Box 1158 Seffner, FL 33583-1158

Plant Raffle Guidelines

≈ Please sign the raffle donor sheet and record

the number of plants you donated. ≈ Before the start of the raffle, we will offer first

choice of a plant on the raffle table to our speaker, followed by plant donors in the order of the number of plants donated.

≈ After these selections have been made, we will begin the raffle.

Remember, you get a free plant before the raffle begins when you donate plants for the

raffle.

Plant Raffle Donors for March:

James Wheeler, Fred Mulholland, Mike Fite, Harriett Wright

Membership in the Florida Native Plant Society enables you to receive their wonderful quarterly magazine The Palmetto. Joining the FNPS also entitles you to membership privileges in the Suncoast Chapter of the FNPS, Inc. and a subscription to their monthly newsletter The Suncoast Grapevine. Contact the membership chair, George Kish at (813) 920-0853

Check pertinent category:

Individual $30 Not-for-profit Full time student $15 organization $50 Library subscription $15 Business or Family or household $40 corporate $100 Contributing $50 Supporting $100 Donor $250

Florida Native Plant Society Membership Application

New Member Renewal How would you like your newsletter delivered? Email Regular Mail Name _______________________________________________________ Business name or organization _______________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________ City, State and Zip _______________________________________________ Home phone ____________________ Work phone _____________________

Cypress Point Park, © Mike Fite Mike Fite

How can compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) be

“environmentally friendly” if they contain mercury?

CFLs consume about 75 percent less electricity than incandescent light bulbs, and therefore can reduce energy demand – and harmful emissions – from power plants. If every American household replaced just one incandescent light bulb with a CFL, the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency estimates that we would reduce global warming emissions equal to taking nearly 800,000 cars off the road. The lower energy demand of CFLs also translates into lower electricity costs for consumers. One drawback to CFLs is that they use a small amount of mercury (about five milligrams) to generate light. However, this pales in comparison with the amount produced by the largest source of U.S. mercury emissions: the coal-burning power plants that produce 52 percent of our nation’s power. For example, the average existing coal-fired power plant emits 13.6 milligrams of mercury to power a typical incandescent bulb, but only 3.3 milligrams for a CFL. The reduction in mercury emissions achieved by burning less coal exceeds the five milligrams of mercury inside a CFL. And unlike coal-fired power plants, which emit mercury directly into the atmosphere (where it most affects our health), the mercury in CFLs can be contained as long as you dispose of them properly. (All fluorescent bulbs are considered hazardous waste and should be handled according to local regulations). To learn more about energy-efficient lighting, visit the Energy Star website at www.energystar.gov. Article of interest submitted by Mike Fite and reprinted from Earthwise, the quarterly newsletter of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Why Kill a Tree to Grow a Flower? Why Kill a Tree to Read a Newsletter?

I know. I love getting mail with my name on it—there’s something comforting about seeing my name in print on a label, seeing a fresh stamp affixed to an inviting publication—something nice about knowing you’re reading a true community newsletter, in print, in your hands. And it’s not a bill. Or junk mail. But—for the last time, we’re asking—if you’d like to make the switch to an electronic version of the newsletter, you’ll get to see everything in COLOR. And it’ll take up less space around your house. And it will save the Chapter money. And, mlvpat@verizon.net will get the pleasure of hearing from you when you make the switch. Please consider it. –Ed

Suncoast Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society, Inc. P.O. Box 1158 Seffner, FL 33583-1158

Please deliver to:

Newsletter Submissions Deadline for the next issue:

MAY 4 Please send articles and original

artwork for The Suncoast Grapevine to Shawna Himelright, by the

deadline of this month. Text should be in MS Word; graphics should be in a standard graphic format (.jpg, .bmp,

.gif). Previously published artwork should be accompanied by a letter of

permission from the original publisher.

Email… shimelright@plantcitygov.com

Meeting Locations Suncoast Native Plant Society, Inc. meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Hillsborough Extension office

in Seffner.

SNPS Web Address: www.fnps.org/chapters/

suncoast

Grapevine Subscription

You may subscribe to the Suncoast Grapevine (not

including membership in the SNPS or the FNPS) for $10 per year. Contact George Kish at

920-0853. Please be sure to indicate whether you’d like your newsletter delivered electronically or through

regular mail.

DIRECTIONS TO:

Hillsborough County Extension

5339 County Road 579, Seffner.

Take I-4 to Exit 10 (just East

of I-75). Go South for two blocks. The office is at the corner of Old Hillsborough Road, and County Road

579.

Activities & Committee Chairs

Field Trips Troy Springer 707-1524 Publications

Dick Wunderlin 977-6484 George Kish 920-0853

Librarian Vikki Sinclair 989-2896 Membership

George Kish 920-0853 Newsletter Editor Shawna Himelright 757-9289 Mike Fite, Assistant 977-0892 Programs and Publicity

Mary Miller 960-8132 Refreshments

JoAnn Hoffman 671-2131 Education Betty Wargo 237-1509 Book Sales

Sally Sun 935-1312 USF Plant Sale

Sally Sun 935-1312 USF Botanical Garden Liaison Vacant Chapter Representative George Kish 920-0853 Webmaster Pat Clouser 662-7222

Officers & Board of Directors

President Harriett Wright 908-9398

Vice-president Mary Miller 960-8132

Secretary JoAnn Hoffman 671-2131 Treasurer John Miller 960-8132

Board Members Mike Fite 977-0892

JoAnn Hoffman 671-2131 Mary Miller 960-8132 Shawna Himelright 757-9289 Troy Springer 707-1524 Harriett Wright 908-9398

James Wheeler 571-5865

Club logo: “Beach Sunflower” Helianthus debilis