Newsletter of the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, Inc. October - November 2011

The

UnderstoryPresident's Message

by Alexa Wilcox-Huegel . . . . .State Grant for Wilde Property

by Jan Allyn. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Craig Huegel named Florida Habitat

Steward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nov. elections, proposed slate . . . . .In Memorium: John Beckner . . . . . .Fall Plant Festival and Sale. . . . . . . .Upcoming Meetings & Field Trips . . .Chapter Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Goldenrods,by Craig Huegel . . . . .Travelogue: Koreshan State Historic

Site by Dmytro Durbak. . . . . .Pinellas Chapter contacts . . . . . . . . .

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President's MessageBy: Alexa Wilcox-Huegel

“Cease being intimidated by the argument that aright action is impossible because it does not yieldmaximum profits, or that a wrong action is to becondoned because it pays.”

— Aldo Leopold (A Sand County Almanac)

Don’t you wish we could get this idea across to thepoliticians and policy makers of the world??

I imagine most of you have read the classic “A SandCounty Almanac” by Aldo Leopold. If you haven’t, Ihighly recommend it as one of the most enlightening,practical, and common sense explanations for the needfor conservation I have ever read. It is just as relevantnow as in the 1940’s when he wrote it. There are somany wise insights in his writings that I could quite easilyquote his whole book here. One thing that I findencouraging and frightening at the same time is this quote:“our bigger and better society is like ahypochondriac, so obsessed with its own economichealth as to have lost the capacity to remain healthy.The whole world is so greedy for more ‘bathtubs’that it has lost the stability necessary to build themor even to turn off the tap.”

The frightening part is that he wrote this in 1948. Now,here we are fighting once again (or is it ‘still’?) that wayof thinking. The encouraging part is that because of thework of writers such as Aldo Leopold, E.O. Wilson,Rachel Carson, and Archie Carr, in the 1940’s &1950’s, people became more aware of the need andreasons for conserving our natural resources andpreserving many of our natural areas, and we made somegreat strides in preservation. It is encouraging to knowthat if we speak out with a unified voice, some of thepolicy makers might listen. We hope.

Now, it is our turn to educate the current generation andthose who follow about WHY conservation andpreservation are so important. Aldo again states it best:“Civilization has so cluttered this elemental man-earthrelationship with gadgets and middlemen thatawareness of it is growing dim. We fancy that industrysupports us, forgetting what supports industry.”

I also love this quote from E.O. Wilson: “Perhaps thetime has come to cease calling it the ‘environmentalist’view, as though it were a lobbying effort outside themainstream of human activity, and to start calling itthe real-world view.” Without our natural worldfunctioning and restoring itself, we humans will end up asextinct as the dinosaurs of the past.

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What we (FNPS) do to encourage gardening with ournative plants is important, but it is only the tip of the iceberg.The roots of what we do must go much deeper than justadding natives to our home landscapes. We must getinvolved, write letters and e-mails in mass and let our voicesbe heard by the politicians and policy makers. We mustremind them of what is at stake. It isn’t about personalwealth or short-term financial gains; it is about keepingour state, and ultimately, our planet’s life support systemsfunctioning for the life of all of us.

Please read further about our upcoming programs andfield trips to some awesome sites, including camping atHighlands Hammock if you can, in October, or just comefor the day. Our December meeting is a special highlightof the year…. A Conservation Celebration joint meetingwith St. Pete Audubon (Dec 14th ) and many of ourother environmental groups and friends. (See flyer in thisnewsletter to share with your friends). Our Keynotespeaker this year will be Manley Fuller, President of theFlorida Wildlife Federation, an effective and long timeadvocate helping to preserve Florida’s natural areas.Manley will share with us ways we can be more effectivein helping to conserve and preserve our beautiful andfabulous state in these times.

Alexa

Pinellas County to Receive $3.3M forWilde Property ImprovementsBy: Jan Allyn

The Florida Communities Trust Governing Boardconvened on Thursday, August 25th at the MarjorieStoneman Douglas Building in Tallahassee where theyranked applications submitted during the Parks and OpenSpace Program’s 2011 Florida Forever grant fundingcycle. Just eight projects from communities throughoutthe state were selected to receive a combined total of$17.6 million in Florida Forever funds for their landacquisition efforts. Debbie Chayet, Grants Specialist forPinellas County, traveled to Tallahassee for the meetingand successfully made the County’s case for receivingfunds for the Wilde property on the northern edge ofBrooker Creek Preserve, acquired in 2009. The 871-acre property will provide a corridor for wildlife,connecting Brooker Creek Preserve with 1,000 acres in

Hillsborough County and with the Anclote River corridor.The property supports abundant wildlife and has a numberof different habitat types: oak hammock, cypress domes,marshes, pine flatwoods and sandhill. The Florida Foreverfunds will be used to add recreational amenities, to improveexisting habitat and to perform restoration of land thatwas formerly pasture and orange grove.

Legislative Session to Start Early Next YearBecause the decadal census has just been completed, it istime for states to reapportion voters into districts. Thepolitically-contentious redistricting process takes place inthe legislature, and to accommodate it the session willconvene in January (instead of the usual March) to get thejob done. Last year’s legislative term resulted incatastrophic changes to environmental and growth lawsin Florida, and all of us who care about such things mustbe vigilant next year and write to our legislators early andoften about our concerns. It’s easy to do if you have acomputer and email. Many legislators also use social mediaas well, so “friend” your representatives and keep in touchvia Facebook or Twitter, as well as by phone and email.Public outcry stopped the shenanigans with our state parksearlier this year and killed a few other horrible ideas, andif enough people are vocal about their concerns they caninfluence future decisions as well. It’s also important tofinancially support environmental groups who employ alobbyist, like Audubon of Florida, Florida WildlifeFederation, the Environmental Defense Fund, the NatureConservancy, 1000 Friends of Florida, the Trust for PublicLand and Sierra Club (FNPS no longer has a lobbyist,unfortunately, due to lack of funds).

But Will They Listen?A recent letter to Miss Manners really got my dander upthis week. A correspondent complained that s/heattempted to contact a member of the U.S. House ofRepresentatives via the official website, but the “contact”form (https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml)would not allow it unless the zip code provided was withinthe member’s district. This proved to be correct, andHouse policy. From the House website FAQs:

Can I send a message to a Member who does notrepresent my congressional district?

Congressional courtesy dictates that Representativesbe given the opportunity to assist their ownconstituents. The Write Your Representative servicedoes not allow for the processing of messages to aMember that does not represent t12.2

News release June 23, 2011:

Craig Huegel Ph.D.Named Florida Habitat Steward for 2011

by Florida Wildlife Federation

At the Florida Wildlife Federation's 74th Annual Conser-vation Awards Banquet, held June 11, 2011, at the Cha-teau Elan Hotel and Conference Center in Sebring, note-worthy Florida conservationists were recognized for theirachievements. For his outstanding contribution to helpingensure a sustainable future for Florida's habitats, the Fed-eration is proud to name Dr. Craig Huegel as its FloridaHabitat Steward for 2011.

A naturalist with extensive training and experience in wild-life and plant ecology, wild lands management and listed-species permitting, Dr. Craig Huegel is an ardent advo-cate for saving what remains of "the real Florida." As co-founder of the Urban Wildlife Cooperative Extension Pro-gram at the University of Florida, and Administrator ofthe Department of Environmental Management for PinellasCounty, he has worked extensively with local and countygovernments, state agencies, and the general public onissues related to comprehensive planning, growth man-agement and wildlife at the urban interface.

Dr. Huegel has received numerous accolades for conser-vation work and environmental education. He produceda popular series of 30-minute video programs on Florida'snative habitats and wildlife. Presently, he is a principal atEcological Services Associates, Inc., an environmentalconsulting business that provides a wide range of servicesto private, governmental and not-for-profit clients. Helectures and writes on a broad range of topics related toFlorida wildlife and wildlife habitat, particularly concen-trating on Central Florida.

Additionally, Dr. Huegel serves on the Board of BrookerCreek Preserve and has provided great service to theNative Plant Society. His teaching acumen reaches fromthe formal classroom setting to in-person education in thefield. Often mixing humor into his presentations, listenersgain knowledge of the natural world as well as having anenjoyable experience. With many publications to hiscredit, Dr. Huegel not only has a wealth of knowledge athis command, but he also knows how to share that knowl-edge well.

The Federation's annual selection of outstanding conser-vationists is one of the oldest in the state. Award winnersare selected from nominations made to the Federation'sboard of directors and are chosen for their dedicated ef-forts on behalf of Florida's fish and wildlife and nativehabitats.

New MemberShreeram Krishnaswami

Craig Huegel, center, withManley Fuller and Jim Schuette

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November Elections: ProposedOfficers and Board of Directors

for 2012

It is that time of year when we present ourmembership with a slate of officers to guide usthrough the 2012 year. The nominatingcommittee proposes the following:

President: Jan AllynVice President: Mary JacksonSecretary: TBATreasurer: Cindy SmithChapter Representative: Debbie Chayet

Directors at Large: Mary Ann Beekman, TiffanyCuster, Andrew Karpinski, TBA

In Memorium: John BecknerBy: Fran Palmeri, Serenoa Chapter FNPS

Botanist John Beckner, 79, died of congestive heartfailure August 22 in Sarasota, Florida. A teacher, re-searcher and writer, he specialized in plant taxonomyand ecology. Over a long career, he worked at theUniversity of Florida Herbarium at Gainesville, Uni-versity of South Florida, University of Miami, PinellasTechnical Institute, Eckerd College, Ringling Collegeof Art and Design and Marie Selby Botanical Gar-dens, where he was curator of the Orchid Identifica-tion Center.

An internationally recognized orchid expert, Becknerbecame interested in them growing up in St Peters-burg where his first job was in an orchid nursery. Hewas an accredited judge of the American Orchid So-ciety judge for more than forty years and a founder ofthe Orchid Conservation Committee, Inc. At OrchidShows and Exhibits he built dozens of exhibits andeducational projects for public showing. Platantherax beckneri, an orchid, and two other species of plantsare named in his honor.

A researcher with a prodigious memory, he wrote morethan 100 scientific and popular publications on his var-ied interests. His latest article “Walter’s Orchids” writtenwith longtime friend and colleague Daniel B. Ward,appears in the current issue of the “Journal of Bo-tanical Research Institute of Texas”. His exten-sive library along with his papers, are now housedat the University of Florida.

He was most happy out exploring Florida’s wildplaces. Over the years, he botanized all 67 coun-ties in the state, keeping meticulous field notes.In1982 he described a very rare endemic, scrublupine (Lupinus aridorum mcfarlin ex Beckner).

A field trip with John Beckner—and he led many ofthem --was an adventure, in which he encouraged par-ticipants to be “observers, explorers and inquisitors”.Showing ecologist Stuart Pimm around theFakahatchee Strand Preserve, he and park biologistMike Owen discovered a new species of orchid.

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He gardened throughout his life and designed yards,gardens and parks. In recent years he maintained aplot at Sarasota’s Orange Blossom Community Gar-dens where he also gave talks and was instrumental ingetting a shade house installed.

Active in horticultural and conservation groups, in-cluding the Florida Native Plant Society and SierraClub, he initiated a world orchid conservation con-ference in 1997 (with John Atwood).

John Beckner once observed, “Florida in only abouta hundred years, has become one of the most envi-ronmentally ruined regions on the planet. Conserva-tion efforts are needed everywhere and for most ofthe native biota.” With his death, Florida has lost afriend.

A celebration of John Beckner’s life sponsored bythe Orange Blossom Community Garden willbe held on Sunday, October 23, 2011 from2 to 4 at the Sarasota Garden Club,

1131 Boulevard of the Arts,Sarasota, Florida 34236.

Calopogon pallidusPale grasspink orchid

FALL Wildflower Festival& Plant Sale Fundraiser

Saturday, October 8, 20119:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Wilcox Nursery12501 Indian Rocks Rd, Largo

727-595-2073

Sponsored by:Florida Native Plant Society

Pinellas Chapter

Event will include:Ø Native plant specialists to advise and assist with plant choicesØ Educational information about gardening with natives, plants to avoid,

attracting wildlife to your landscapeØ Educational LecturesØ Information on composting, use of Rain barrels, best mulch for you siteØ Native Plants books for sale;Ø Nature photography prints by Christina Evans, professional photographerØ Nature inspired ceramics and art to enhance your outdoor spacedØ Information on installing ponds or water features to enhance your yard

and attract wildlife to your landscape.Ø Potted Herbs for your ‘Kitchen Garden”; Farm Fresh produceØ Special & unique selection of ‘hard to find’ native wildflowers

Volunteers Needed!There are many jobs to do, even if you are not a ‘native plant expert’, so ifyou are willing to volunteer for a 2-3 hour period of time, (or all day)Please contact Mary Ann Beekman @ mbeekman@tampabay.rr.com

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A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Florida Division of Con-sumer Services by calling toll-free within the state (800-435-7352, reg. no. CH4271). Registration does notimply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state. (FDACS/DPI Cert. #47222877)

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Program: Wednesday, October 5Time: Meeting begins at 7:00 pm with announcements,plant auction and snacks. Speaker starts at 7:45pm.Location: Pinellas County Extension, 12520 UlmertonRd., Largo.Speaker: Katy Roberts (former Pinellas FNPS Presi-dent).Topic: Florida’s Edible (and NOT so edible) Plants, andhow they can be used. Katy Roberts will speak aboutFlorida's incredible wild edibles (and those that are notso edible) and will weave the talk around the book of thattitle by Richard J. Deurling and Peggy S. Lantz. It is aneasy read and understandable for beginners. Plants havedefenses and a person needs to know what is, and is not,consumable. Katy's talk will focus on native plants thathave food or ethnobotanical uses, with an emphasis onpreparation. Katy will bring some edible plants for auc-tion, and some yaupon holly tea for tasting.

October Field Trip: Saturday, Oct. 22You must sign up for all Field Trips — see info below.Location: Tiger Creek Preserve, with camping optionTimes: 10:00am at the site ( Directions below) or . . .Carpooling: Meet at 6:45 a.m. at the Perkins PancakeHouse, Gulf to Bay & US 19 intersection, northeast corner,just across from Clearwater Mall. We will leave promptlyat 7:00.

Description: Named after the pristine blackwater streamthat forms its spine, this beautiful preserve containshardwood swamps, hammocks, scrubby flatwoods, pineflatwoods, sandhill and longleaf pine/wiregrass habitat. It'sa land that must be burned in order to survive, and onewhere some animals literally swim through ancient whitesands. Tiger Creek Preserve is a critical link in a networkof preserves designed to protect what is left of the LakeWales Ridge ecosystem. The oldest physical feature ofpeninsular Florida, the Ridge is a national hotspot ofbiological diversity and Tiger Creek Preserve is home tounique and rare plants and wildlife. (Click link for photos:http://www. nature.org/photosmultimedia/tiger-creek-slideshow.xml.)Directions: From the North on State Highway 27: Goapproximately four miles south of the intersection withHighway 60 in Lake Wales. Turn left onto County Road640 (at the stoplight, look for a sign for Babson Park andWebber College; Fatboy’s BBQ is on the corner.) Go 2

miles to SR 17 (Scenic Highway) and turn right. Gothrough Babson Park. At the top of the hill, turn left at N.Lake Moody Road. At the stop sign, turn left onto MurrayRoad. Go 2 miles and take a left onto Pfundstein Road.The George Cooley Trail is 100 yards on the left. To visitthe Highlands Trail, continue on Pfundstein Road and turnleft at The Nature Conservancy sign. There is a HikerParking area just ahead on the right. If you wish to visitthe office, take the gravel drive past the Hiker Parkingsign. Go through the open gate to a Visitor Parking sign.Keep left for parking.

Camping option: Those who want to camp can joinAndy Karpinski at Highlands Hammock State Park. Hehas already booked site 38 for Friday and Saturday nights.You are responsible for booking your own site. Andyrecommends sites 37 through 46, which are all in the sameloop. You must book through ReserveAmerica, online athttp://floridastateparks.reserveamerica.com or call 800)326-3521 or TDD (888) 433-0287 to book sites. Youmay share sites, with up to eight people, two tents, andtwo vehicles per site. Andy has room to share with twomore tents and one vehicle on his site. Sites areapproximately $24 a night, including tax (cheaper forseniors over 65).

Contact Andy at ak@stonemarmot.com to let him knowyou are camping. Use “Tiger Creek Camping” as yoursubject so the email isn’t labeled spam. Let him know ifyou have a site and if you are looking to share, when youplan to arrive and leave, and how many in your party.Those camping will probably do another hike on Sunday.When you book your site, directions will be given to theCampground. Be sure to let Andy know you will bejoining us, and which site you are in. We will plan acampfire on Saturday night. Every brings their own meals/food but we will choose a site and gather together.

November Program: Wednesday, November 2Time: 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 for set up)Location: Pinellas County Extension, 12520 UlmertonRd., LargoProgram: Annual Pot Luck Social. This is our annualmeeting to elect new officers and board of directors, andacknowledge the special contributions of some of ourmembers. Enjoy a relaxing evening with friends as wehave a pictorial review of the wonderful natural placeswe have gone and the things we have done during theprevious year.

Upcoming Meetings and Field Trips

November Field Trip: Myakka State ParkYou must sign up for all Field Trips — see info below.Date: Sat., November 5Location: The park is located 9 miles east of I-75 at:13208 State Road 72, Sarasota.For detailed directions: http://www.myakkariver.org/index.php/park-info/park-location.Time, meeting at Site: 10:00 am meet at main entranceof the Park, (they have a wonderful gift shop run by theFriends of Myakka group)and we will drive to the trailfrom there. Please note, there is a fee of $6.00/car for upto 8 people.To carpool: Meet at 8:00 am at Home Depot (22ndAvenue entrance) off 22nd Ave. St. Pete. We will leavepromptly at 8:15 am.

Description: This is the perfect time of year to see someof Florida’s beautiful grasses and fall wildflowers at a dryprairie. We will drive past some of the sturdy & rusticcabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps duringthe depression of the 1930’s (What a brilliant idea topay unemployed people to work improving our parks atthe time when the parks could not afford to maintainthemselves.! ) These cabins can be rented for camping(though you must book quite far in advance forweekends.). They are equipped with beds, a small kitchen& bathroom, and have a charcoal grill outdoors.Bring: Comfortable hiking shoes, hiking stick if youwish. Hat, beverage, snack or lunch. Binoculars &camera if desired.Camping is available for those who wish to stay over.

Consevation Celebration: Wed., Dec. 14, 2011Annual Joint meeting with St. Petersburg Audubon.

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Chapter DirectoryJan Allyn

jallyn@tampabay.rr.com 399-1022Mary Ann Beekman

mbeekman@aol.comFrank Brandt

fbrandt135@gmail.comDebbie Chayet

dchayet@verizon.netTiffany Custer

salteegrl@yahoo.com 727-244-1909Dr. Craig Huegel

Huegelc55@aol.com 422-6583Marie Hughes

521-1261Mary Jackson

maryjack99@aol.com 542-1138Andrew Karpinski

ak@stonemarmot.comGinny Nelson

Grn22srm6@yahoo.com 953-9782Cindy Peacock

rpeacock5@tampabay.rr.com 787-4031 Cathy Quindiagan

CQuindiaga@aol.com 327-7573Katy Roberts

kroberts@ij.net 7270726-1455Cindy Smith

CSmith55@tampabay.rr.comMichael Stallings

813-235-5944Bruce Turley

wnursery@tampabay.rr.com 595-2073Cathy Vogelsong cathybirdsong@tampabay.rr.com 518-1026Alexa Wilcox-Huegel

alexa776@tampabay.rr.com 422-4792Jane Williams 447-7394

Jwilli56@tampabay.rr.com 447-7394

Myakka State Park,prairie and pines

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GoldenrodsBy: Craig Huegel

Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) are members of the asterfamily and almost universally present across Florida andthe rest of North America. The genus is also representedin other parts of the world; from Mexico and SouthAmerica to parts of Eurasia. North American specieshave been introduced into Europe for landscape purposesand a few have become established as pest plants there.They are universally admired for their showy goldenblooms and their ability to attract a vast array of pollinatinginsects, and they are sometimes reviled for their ability tothrive and spread in places they are not welcome. In thepast, they were blamed for hay fever, but that issue hasbeen resolved. We now know that it is solely the pollenof ragweeds (Artemesia spp.) that cause those symptomseach fall.

Goldenrods occur in nearly every habitat type in Florida,except fully inundated systems, and they are usuallycommon in those places where they are present. Twentyunique species have been recorded in Florida, and manycan be found in west-central portions of the state. Theyare sometimes difficult to distinguish from each other, butif you take a close look at each, take note of the habitatthey are growing in, and take in the overall size and natureof the plant, it is really not that hard. The following arespecies sometimes offered for sale by members ofFANN; the Florida Association of Native Nurseries.Since all goldenrods bloom in late summer and fall, theyare also species you may notice as you hike our naturalareas this time of year.

Canada goldenrod (S. canadensis var. scabra; syn.altissima) occurs throughout the northern third of Floridaand in scattered locations in central and south-centralcounties. This species is far more common north of usand was one of the stalwarts of the fall flora where Ionce resided in Wisconsin. Canada goldenrod is a robustspecies that can reach 6 feet in height by its late summer/early fall blooming season. It also suckers aggressivelyand tends to form large swaths of erect stems in a virtualmonoculture. For this purpose, it is not an easywildflower for the home landscape, but an excellent choicefor an open field restoration. In my mind, this specieslooks and acts most similar to pinebarren goldenrod (S.fistulosa), described immediately below. Its

inflorescence is a bit more regular and its leaves moreelliptical and slightly toothed. Our variety has grayish greenfoliage and stems that are rough to the touch because ofstiff hairs. Canada goldenrod is most abundant in openfields and pastures.

Pinebarren goldenrod (S. fistulosa) is one of the mostcommon goldenrods to be found in Pinellas County, thoughit is found throughout the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Asits name implies, it is common to pine flatwoods and otherupland sites (including weedy fields). Because it suckersaggressively, it forms large extensive colonies and becauseit is robust, these colonies are easily noticed. Pinebarrengoldenrod reaches a mature height of 4-5 feet by mid-summer and begins to bloom in early fall. Its bright yellowflowers occur in broad open panicles that fall in all directionsfrom the main stalk. Its leaves are also distinctive; theyare somewhat lance-shaped, with a sharp point and smallteeth along the leaf margins. If you see large colonies ofrather tall goldenrods in an open field setting in early fall,they are very likely pinebarren goldenrod.

Pinebarren goldenrodSolidago fistulosa

Canada goldenrodS. canadensisPhoto by Wilbur H. Duncan,Univ. of GA

Photos by the authorunless noted.

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Chapman’s goldenrod (S. odora var. chapmanii) is thesouthern half of Florida’s version of sweet goldenrod(Solidago odora var. odora); a species in the northernhalf of Florida and elsewhere renowned for its heavilyaromatic foliage and value in herbal teas. The problemthis far south is that our variety (i.e. variety chapmanii) isnearly lacking in those aromatic oils. If you are hiking innorth Florida and encounter this species, pick a leaf andsmell it – better yet, give it a taste. Chapman’s goldenrodis very common in a wide variety of upland habitats.Unlike pinebarren goldenrod, it does not form densecolonies and it is neither very tall nor aggressive.Chapman’s goldenrod rarely stands taller than 2-3 feetand individuals are normally spaced a foot or more apart.Blooming occurs in early summer and is almost alwayscompleted before pinebarren goldenrod kicks in. Theleaves tend to be wider and more oval also. I findChapman’s goldenrod frequently in mesic to xericpinelands.

Downy ragged goldenrod (S. petiolaris) occurs in northFlorida to about Gainesville. It also occurs in open habitatsthroughout much of the southern half of the U.S. This is apoorly described species in the literature, but an attractivegoldenrod that has good potential as a landscape species.Micanopy Wildflowers, owned by Claudia Larsen, iscurrently propagating it and I have been experimentingwith it in my home landscape. Downy ragged goldenrod,as its common name implies, has distinctive foliage that isa bit “downy” in appearance. Each leaf is oval in shape,without noticeable teeth, and a bit wrinkled – like in awild coffee. Unlike some in this group, it does not suckeraggressively and it rarely stands much taller than 3-4 feet.

Rough-stem /Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (S. rugosa var.aspera) is another north Florida species that is far morecommon to states to our immediate north. In those states,it is one of the most widely grown goldenrod for the homelandscape and one cultivar, “Fireworks”, shows up onnumerous nursery offerings and lists of “must have” plants.It is not currently offered by Florida native nurseries,however, to the best of my knowledge. I include here,only for completeness and because I hope it eventuallymakes it into our trade. Rough-stem goldenrod is a well-behaved species that does not sucker extensively nor growtoo tall. As its common and Latin names suggest, thefoliage is rough to the touch. The leaves are oval,noticeably toothed and wrinkled, and the flower headsare on arching stems.

Seaside goldenrod (S. sempervirens) is most abundantalong our coastlines, but occurs in a wide variety ofuplands interior to the coast. It also is widely used as alandscape ornamental - so its seed can spread fromwildflower gardens and plants can establish from them.

Chapman's goldenrodS. odora var. chapmanii

Seaside goldenrodS. sempervirens

Rough-stem goldenrodS. rugosa

Downy ragged goldenrodS. petiolaris

Twisted-leaf goldenrodS. tortifolius

This is one of the easiest goldenrods to distinguish. Forone, it is the only evergreen goldenrod present in ourarea. Its large, strap-like leaves are present year-round.Blooming tends to occur in the fall, on stalks that canrise 6-8 feet above ground elevation. This is a veryrobust species. It can make a stunning statement in anexpansive setting or prove too large and overwhelmingfor smaller ones. Seaside goldenrod does not suckeras aggressively as some, but it often spreads quicklythrough a landscape by seed.

Wand goldenrod (S. stricta) is another goldenrod thatis hard to misidentify. It’s Latin and common namescome from its flower stalk that is almost like a blazingstar; normally a single wand of tightly clustered brightyellow blooms. Wand goldenrod is diminutive duringmuch of the year. Its basal leaves are thin and elongated.The flower stalk rarely stands taller than about 2-3 feet,and flowering occurs in late fall. Like Chapman’sgoldenrod, it does not form dense colonies, and individualplants are often several feet apart from each other. Thisgoldenrod prefers slightly moister soils than the othersdescribed above and is most likely to be seen in openfields and savannas that get wet during the rainy season.I love the way this species looks in a landscape, but it isonly infrequently offered by commercial sources. TheNatives, owned by the Bissets in central Polk County,often propagate wand goldenrod.

Twisted-leaf goldenrod (S. tortifolia) is anothercommon goldenrod; found most often in dry uplandsthroughout Florida. It is a robust species that can reachheights of 5-6 feet and it can form extensive colonies inlocations where it is well adapted. Its Latin and commonnames point to one feature that makes its identificationsimpler: many of its willow-like leaves are twisted, notflat like the others. Blooming occurs during the fallmonths. The flowers are on arching stems. Twisted-leafgoldenrod is only very rarely propagated by commercialsources.

As you walk about the natural lands of Florida in thefall, you cannot help but notice blooming goldenrods.Take a closer look at the species you encounter, takenote of where they are growing, their bloom time, andtheir basic habit and I bet you will come to identify them– at least most of the time.

FNPS 2012 Endowment Grant ResearchAwards and Conservation Grant Awards

The Florida Native Plant Society maintains an EndowmentResearch Grant program for the purpose of funding re-search on native plants. These are small grants ($1500 orless), awarded for a 1-year period, and intended to sup-port research that forwards the mission of the Florida Na-tive Plant Society which is "to promote the preservation,conservation, and restoration of the native plants and na-tive plant communities of Florida."

FNPS Conservation Grants support applied native plantconservation projects in Florida. These are small grants($1500 or less) awarded for a 1-year period. Examples ofprojects that this grant supports are on-the-ground nativeplant community restoration, land acquisition, and habitatenhancement. To qualify for a Conservation Grant, the pro-posed project must be sponsored by an FNPS Chapter.

Application guidelines and details are on the FNPS Website (www.fnps.org), click on ‘Awards and Grants’. Ques-tions regarding the grant programs should be sent toinfo@fnps.org. Application deadline for the 2012 Awardsis March 2, 2012. Awards will be announced at the May2012 Annual Conference in Plant City. Awardees do nothave to be present at the Conference to receive award.

Wand goldenrodS. stricta

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Florida State Parks Travelogue: KoreshanState Historic Site

By: Dmytro Durbak, supplemented by information on theFlorida State Parks website

Koreshan Settlement is in the Florida Koreshan HistoricSite, along the Estero River in Lee County, near Ft Meyers.It was a religious society founded by Dr. Cyrus Teed ofNew York State, and later of Chicago. Koresh is Hebrewfor Cyrus. In 1894 Koreshanians bought property inFlorida and established a commune south of Fort Myers,and under their jurisdiction. Around 1906, Koreshaniansdecided to separate from Fort Myers and establish thetownship of Estero. Unhappy about losing a substantialchunk of tax money, local civic leaders in Fort Myers hadTeed arrested. He was soon released with apologies, butduring his incarceration he was severely pistol whippedby Marshal Sanchez, suffering injuries from which he neverrecovered, and he died in 1908.

Koreshanians were completely different from all otherreligious movements of that period. Theywere well-educated and wealthyprofessional people. After Teed’s death,they were governed by the PlanetaryCourt made up of women. They traveledand were visited – Thomas Edison was afrequent guest. They built an Art Hall fortheatrical productions, lectures, andmusical events open to the public and theydrew large audiences.Koreshanians were businessoriented and not adverse tomaking profit. They owned asmall sailing ship, Ada, forcommercial travel and freight, aswell as for commercial andsport fishing. They built a three-story General Store, the onlystop between Fort Myers andNaples. It also housed theEstero Post Office, RiverviewRestaurant, and Mobil Oil gas station.Koreshanians practiced cutting edgetechnology. They had state of the artmachine shops, and an electrical powerstation that was in use until Florida Powerand Light arrived in 1946. But, despite

their education and modern business ideas, Koreshanianshad eccentric religious views. They believed that theuniverse existed within a giant hollow sphere. They designedand later commissioned the Pullman Coach Works tomake a special surveying instrument to prove it. Theexperiment was held in 1897 on Naples beach using 2.5miles of the beach and the sloop Ada, 4.5 miles away.Using a powerful telescope they determined that theearth’s horizon curved up “proving” their theory.

Koreshanians also owned the Mound Key, a man-madeisland at the mouth of the Estero river. It was built fromshells in 100 BC - 500 AD, is 31 feet high and is believedto have been the capital of the Calusa nation. We aregoing to kayak to the Mound Key on our next visit to thepark. It is about 3.5 miles down-river from the camp. Thelast Koreshanian donated the property and the MoundKey to the State of Florida in 1961. Today, visitors canfish, picnic, boat, and hike along the Estero River. A boatramp and canoe rentals are available. Visitors can takeself-guided tours of the settlement or a ranger-guided tour.For overnight stays, the park has a full-facility campground.

Campers can enjoy campfire programsevery Saturday night from January throughMarch. Located on U.S. 41 at CorkscrewRoad. Koreshan State Historic Site offers60 campsites, all with electricity and water,a picnic table and fire ring. Twelve sites aredesignated tent camping only and locatednext to the Estero River. Four paved ADAcampsites are available. Sites have avegetation buffer between them for privacy.Fire wood and ice are available for campersat the ranger station.(Beginning with the July-August 2011 is-sue of the Understory, we began a regu-lar column on Florida's State Park sys-tem, designed to encourage all of us to

visit these gems of real Florida. Ifyou wish to contribute a column fora future issue, please send it toCraig at: Huegelc55@aol.com)

From top, wild pine, cable bridge overthe Estero River, and muscadine grape.Photos by Dmytro Durbak.

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Pinellas Chapter

FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

P.O. Box 1661Pinellas Park, FL 33780-1661

Pinellas Chapter web address:http://pinellas.fnpschapters.org

FNPS Bloghttp://fnpsblog.blogspot.org/

ContactsOfficers:President: Alexa Wilcox-HuegelVice-President: Mary JacksonSecretary: Jan AllynTreasurer: Jane WilliamsChapter Representative: Debbie ChayetPast President: Bill Bilodeau

Board of Directors Members-at-Large:Mary Ann Beekman, Frank Brandt, Tiffany Custer,Andrew Karpinski, Ginny Nelson, Cindy Smith

2011 Committee Chairs/ Coordinators:Advocacy /Conservation: Jan AllynDisplays: Marie Hughes Field Trips: Dr. Craig Huegel Hospitality/ Info Greeter - Meetings: Andy KarpinskiMembership: Cathy Quindiagan Newsletter Editor: Dr. Craig Huegel Co-editor/Publisher/ Artist: Cathy Vogelsong Programs/ Special Events: Alexa Wilcox-Huegel

See Directory of phone numbersand e-mail addresses on page 7

Publicity: Cindy Smith Refreshment/Hospitality Coordinator:

Mary Ann Beekman & Ginny Nelson Sales/Merchandise: Jane Williams & Jan Allyn Scholarships: Cindy Peacock Speakers Bureau: Mary Jackson Volunteer Coordinator: Mary Ann Beekman Web Master/Pinellas News: Jan Allyn Interim Committees:Budget Committee: Jane WilliamS, Chairperson Plants Sales: Tiffany Custer, Chairperson & Bruce Turley Landscape Tour :

Mary Jackson & Michael Stallings, Co-chairsNominating Committee: Ginny Nelson, Cathy Quindiagan,

& Alexa Wilcox-HuegelDecember Conservation Celebration:

Cindy Peacock & Katy Roberts

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