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Native plants offer beauty, value and ease of care.
Beauty: The sensuous curves of the Gumbo Limbo, the golden shimmer of the two-toned Satin Leaf trees and the wonderful flower color and shape of the Jamaican Caper just begin to touch on the wonder of the native plants of Florida. Remember that Ponce de León named this peninsula "Florida" for its flowers, long before we imported the many exotic plants we find in our landscapes today.
Value: Native plants are the foundation of our ecosystem. They provide food and shelter for our wildlife, help filter our water supply and cool our communities. In our landscape they help to connect us with the natural processes of South Florida and encourage our sense of place. In spite of their value, we have eliminated over 90% of the Pine Rock Ridge forest in South Florida -- originally the largest dry land ecosystem in this area. South Florida is home to 68 species of Federally endangered or threatened wildlife and plants and the state lists 298 south Florida plants (Lake Okeechobee and south) as threatened or endangered.
Ease of care: Native plants are adapted to the soils, rain patterns, temperatures and pests of South Florida. By replacing exotic plants in our in our landscapes with natives, we are able to conserve water, reduce fertilizer & pesticide use and attract birds and butterflies to our gardens.
The Florida Native Plant Society elaborates further on this issue on their website.
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The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) is a non-profit organization formed in 1980 to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida and the use of Florida native plants in landscaping.
While some members are botanical, environmental or nursery professionals, most of us are just "regular" people who enjoy nature or gardening.
The Dade Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society (DCFNPS) is one of more than 20 chapters around the state and includes residents of Monroe County.
Our chapter activities include:
- Monthly meetings where we learn, share plants, and meet friends.
- The monthly newsletter, Tillandsia, with announcements of activities and articles about native plants and the South Florida environment
- Monthly field trips for "botanizing" and enjoying South Florida's environment.
- Visits to members' native plant gardens.
- Public events to teach others about the beauty and value of native plants and plant communities. The highlight of the year is the DCFNPS "Native Plant Day" in March, where we invite the public to a day of educational programs, walks, displays and plant sales. We also participate in the Fairchild Tropical Garden Ramble and other events with displays and plant sales.
- Presentation of awards to outstanding science fair projects.
We would like to meet you, so please come to one our Dade Chapter meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month (except August and December). All meetings except in June are held at Fairchild Tropical Garden at 7:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public. In June, DCFNPS members are invited on our regular meeting night to visit the garden of a chapter member to see native plant landscaping and to socialize. Feel free to contact us for more information. Please see the contact information in our newsletter.
While most FNPS activities are provided by the local chapters, the state organization holds the state conference each spring (hosted by a different chapter each year - the Dade Chapter in 2000!); publishes the quarterly FNPS magazine, The Palmetto, and books; awards research grants funded by the FNPS endowment fund; and presents awards to outstanding native plant landscaping and restoration projects. Please see the FNPS web site for more information about FNPS , its activities and other chapters.
FNPS and DCFNPS are non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.
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Florida Native Plant Society membership (including a chapter membership) is $25 per year for individuals (other categories are available). Membership forms may be downloaded from the FNPS web site, or contact FNPS Membership Services, PO Box 278, Melbourne FL 32902-0278 (phone 321-271-6702 or info@fnps.org ). You may also call the Dade Chapter at 305-255-6404 for faster service or join at one of our monthly meetings.
Members of other chapters sometimes wish to receive the Dade Chapter newsletter as well as their local chapter's. Non-Dade residents may subscribe to the Dade chapter newsletter for $5 (please request a form from DCFNPS).
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Some of the following nurseries are wholesale nurseries which will also sell retail. However, they may not be able to quickly attend to walk-in customers, so be sure call ahead. To locate additional nurseries in Florida, contact the Association of Florida Native Nurseries (1-877-353-2366 toll free) or on the Web at http://www.afnn.org/.
* Alexander Landscaping & Plant Farm. Davie. 954-472-5039.
* Casey's Corner Nursery and Landscaping. Homestead. 305-248-7284.
* Florida Keys Native Nursery. Plantation Key. 305-852-2636.
* Kelly's Tropicals. Homestead. 786-444-7714.
* Native Tree Nursery - wholesale only. Goulds. 305-247-4499.
* Plant Creations. Homestead. 305-248-8147.
* Richard Lyons Nursery. Goulds. 305-251-6293.
* Runway Growers. Ft. Lauderdale. 954-584-0269.
* Veber's Jungle Garden. Homestead. 305-242-9500.
Please ask your neighborhood garden center to carry natives ! Numerous other wholesale nurseries carry some natives and are a source for retail nurseries or landscape professionals. Please call the Florida Nursery and Growers Association (FNGA) for more information. Some nurseries with natives are members of the Association of Florida Native Nurseries (AFNN) or call 877-FLA-AFNN (352-2366).
Also look for these sales and other special events. Many of these events and others are announced in the Dade Chapter FNPS newsletter on this web site, so check it often!
* Native Plant Day (Dade County) usually in March. Call the Florida Native Plant Society at 305-255-6404 or visit http://dade.fnpschapters.org.
* Native Plant Fair (Lower Keys) usually in March. Call The Nature Conservancy at (305) 745-8402 x104.
* Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (South Dade): The Ramble (November), spring sale (April), and Members Day for FTBG members (Oct.). Call 305-667-1651 for dates or the web at http://www.fairchildgarden.org/.
* Tropical Audubon Society (5530 Sunset Dr., South Miami): Plant sales several times/year Call 305-667-7337 or visit http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/.
* Secret Woods Nature Center (Broward County). Special events. 954-791-1030.
* The Gifford Arboretum picnic (Univ. of Miami) in December (limited selection and quantity). 305-284-5364.
* Tropical Ag Fiesta (South Miami-Dade) - summer.
* Redlands Natural Arts Festival (Fruit and Spice Park) - January
* Or attend DCFNPS meetings in Dade County or the Keys and win in the plant raffle -- the best way to get unusual plants!
* Bales of pine needles for mulching pinelands and wildflower gardens, melaleuca mulch, etc.: Bushel Stop (Broward, 954-434-1729).
11/5/2007