M EET
E XECUTIVE
D IRECTOR K ARINA V EAUDRY
Long-timemember KarinaVeaudryhassigned onasthenewExecutive DirectorfortheFlorida NativePlantSociety.
Karinaearneda Bachelor’sdegreein LandscapeArchitecture fromtheUniversityof Floridaandhaspursued graduatecoursesinUrban andRegionalStudiesat FloridaStateUniversity. Herworkexperience includesmanagingdiverse projects,somewithbudgetstotaling$8,000,000.
Inbothcommercialandmunicipalprojects, sheadvocatestreepreservationandtheextensiveuse ofnativeplants.Masterplanningforparks,greenwaysandtrails,ecosystemfieldverification,andgrant andtechnicalwritingareallaspectsofhervariedskill set.Sheisalsoanactivepublicspeakerontopics suchasenvironmentaleducation,Florida’secosystems,waterconservation,nativeplantlandscape design,andtheimportanceofpreservingtrees andecosystemsduringconstruction.
Karinaactedasaninterpretiveguideand wetlandsandwildlifemonitorattheTheNature Conservancy’sDisneyWildernessPreserve,and aspastChairoftheUniversityofCentralFlorida ArboretumBoardofDirectors,wasinstrumental inthepreservationoftheArboretum.
Asanadvocatefornativeecosystempreservationandwaterconservation,Karinaalsoserveson theAmericanSocietyofLandscapeArchitecture SustainableCommunitiesCommittee,andtook partinthenationalTourdesTreesprogram whichpromotestheimportanceoftreesin urbancommunities.
In2005,KarinareceivedaGreenPalmetto awardforhereffortsincoordinatingthe2004 FloridaNativePlantSocietyannualconference andaFloridaSierraClubawardforhercontributionstoconservationeffortsinCentralFlorida.
Karina’s19yearsofvolunteerservicehave beeninvaluable,andherleadershipskillsprovide amuchneededassettohelpFNPSbecomean effectiveforceforconservationinFlorida.
FNPSLaunchesEstateGivingProgram TheFloridaNativePlantSocietyhasbeeninexistencefor26yearsandhasoperatedlargelythrough thecommitmentandlaborofitsvolunteers.ButasdevelopmentinFloridacontinuestoaccelerate, ourmissiontopreserve,conserveandrestorenativeplantsandnativeplantcommunitiesbecomes evenmorecritical.
FNPSneedstobecomeamoreeffectiveconservationandadvocacyorganization,andtofundour long-termgoalswe’veestablishedanEstateGivingProgram.TheprogramiscoordinatedbyFNPS’Vice PresidentofFinance,TravisMacClendon.Itcreatesamethodthatallowsdonorstocontributetothe futureoftheSocietybymakingFNPSabeneficiaryoftheirestates.
Someofthegoalsthatwehopetoachievewithadditionalfundingincludeafull-timeexecutive assistantandconferenceplanner;aworkingofficewherethebusinessofFNPSwouldbeconductedona full-timebasis,completewithasecretary;theplacementofmajoradvertisementsandpublicrelations campaignsacrossthestatetopromoteourmission;andanongoingprogramofrecruitmenttoincrease ourmembershipbase.AchievingthesegoalswillbroadenFNPS’outreachandencouragemorepeople toparticipateinouractivities.
FNPS’EstateGivingProgrammakesiteasytocontributegiftsofcash,stocksormutualfunds,and realestate.Youmayremaincompletelyanonymousifyouwish.Ifyouhavequestionsandwouldlike todiscussgivingoptionswithFNPS,norecordofanyinformationregardingyourplanswillbe maintained.SimplycontactTravisMacClendonbytelephoneat850-674-4408,ore-mailhimat travismac@wfeca.net.
TravisMacClendonsays“Youcanmakeadifferenceandestablishalastinglegacy.Ialreadyhave”
ONTHECOVER: Pinusserotina. PhotobyDr.FrancisE.Putz.Seearticleonpage4.
ThepurposeoftheFloridaNative PlantSociety istopreserve,conserve, andrestorethenativeplantsandnative plantcommunitiesofFlorida.
Officialdefinitionofnativeplant: Formostpurposes,thephrase Florida nativeplant referstothosespeciesoccurringwithinthestateboundariespriorto Europeancontact,accordingtothebest availablescientificandhistoricaldocumentation.Morespecifically,itincludesthose speciesunderstoodasindigenous,occurringinnaturalassociationsinhabitatsthat existedpriortosignificanthumanimpacts andalterationsofthelandscape.
Organization: Membersareorganized intoregionalchaptersthroughout Florida.EachchapterelectsaChapter Representativewhoservesasavoting memberoftheBoardofDirectorsandis responsibleforadvocatingthechapter’s needsandobjectives.See www.fnps.org
BoardofDirectors
ExecutiveOfficers
President –ShirleyDenton PastPresident –BobEgolf VicePresident,Admin. –JoanBausch VicePresident,Finance –TravisMacClendon Treasurer– SusanThompson Secretary– AmeéBaileySpeck
CommitteeChairs
Communications –CindyLiberton Conference –CharliePedersen Conservation –SuzanneKennedy Development –JoAnneTrebatoski Education –SteveJohnson Finance –TravisMacClendon GovernmentalPolicy –CynthiaPlockelman LandscapeAwards –MikeKenton Membership –Jim&TeddiBierly PublicLands –CharliePedersen Publications –EileenSzuchy Science –PaulSchmalzer
Directors-at-large LaurenDay (2006-2008) GeorgeKish (2006-2008) LaurelSchiller (2006-2008) DaphneLambright (2005-2007) PeterNeSmith (2005-2007) LynkaWoodbury (2005-2007)
Tocontactboardmembers: FNPSAdministrativeServices Phone:(321)271-6702 info@fnps.org•www.fnps.org
Tojoinorforinquiries: ContactyourlocalChapterRepresentative,or call,write,oremailFNPS,orvisitourwebsite. FloridaNativePlantSociety POBox278 MelbourneFL32902-0278 Phone:(321)271-6702 info@fnps.org•www.fnps.org
Webmaster –PaulRebman
ContractServices
ExecutiveDirector –KarinaVeaudry AccountingServices –Joslin&Hershkowitz AdministrativeServices –CammieDonaldson Editor,Palmetto –MarjorieShropshire Editor,SabalMinor –RosalindRowe
KarinaVeaudry
Palmetto Features 4DancingWithPines Whencontemplatingtheirlawns,gardens,overgrownpastures, anddegradedwoodlots,anincreasingnumberofFloridianswant torestoretheselandscapestoamorenaturalstate.Dr.JackPutz introducesustotheZenofrestorationinthisfirstofaseries.
8TheWildflowerGarden:PineHyacinth RufinoOsorioregardspinehyacinthasacharmingaddition tothewildflowergarden.Discoveritsbeautyinthewildand learnhowitcanbepropagatedinthegardenenvironment.
10AConversationWithDr.EllieWhitney Florida-basedwriterMichaelWisenbakerinterviews Dr.EllieWhitneyaboutherroleincreating PricelessFlorida, nowinitssecondprinting.
12IRememberRosemary NancyKohfeldsharesherdeepappreciationforFlorida’s RosemaryScrubinthisarticleaboutloveandloss.
Pinesavanna.PhotobyAnneMalatesta
Departments 2MeetTheExecutiveDirector
2FNPSEstateGivingProgram
16FNPSChapters
ThePalmetto (ISSN0276-4164)Copyright2006,FloridaNativePlantSociety,allrightsreserved.Nopartofthecontentsofthismagazinemaybereproducedby anymeanswithoutwrittenconsentoftheeditor. ThePalmetto ispublishedfourtimesayearbytheFloridaNativePlantSociety(FNPS)asabenefittomembers. Theobservationsandopinionsexpressedinattributedcolumnsandarticlesarethoseoftherespectiveauthorsandshouldnotbeinterpretedasrepresentingtheofficial viewsoftheFloridaNativePlantSocietyortheeditor,exceptwhereotherwisestated.
EditorialContent: Wehaveacontinuinginterestinarticlesonspecificnativeplantspeciesandrelatedconservationtopics,aswellashigh-qualitybotanical illustrationsandphotographs.Contacttheeditorforsubmittalguidelines,deadlinesandotherinformation.
Editor: MarjorieShropshire,VisualKeyCreative,Inc. ● pucpuggy@bellsouth.net ● Telephone(772)232-1384 ● 855NEStokesTerrace,JensenBeachFL34957 Printedonrecycledcontentpaper
DancingWithPines PerilsandJoys ofEcosystem Restoration ByDr.FrancisE.Putz
Whencontemplatingtheir
lawns,gardens,overgrownpastures, anddegradedwoodlots,anincreasing numberofFloridianswanttorestore theselandscapestoamorenatural andecologicallyviablestate.
Somepeoplecommencethisprocessbyceasingto mowtheirlawn,whichdoesreducepollutionandallows somediversitytocreepin,butwillnotmiraculouslyresult inanysemblanceofanaturalecosystemandislikelyto annoytheneighbors.Plantingnativespeciesinmore-or-less traditionalgardensisamoresociallyacceptableway tostart,especiallyinwildlifefriendlyarrangements,but restoringentireecosystemstotheirhistoricalcondition isamuchmoresubstantialundertaking.
Thisarticleandseveraltofollowareintendedtohelp Florida’selitegroupof“backyardrestorationists” and“ecosystemgardeners.”Ifirstcoversomeofthebasics butsubsequentinstallmentsdiscussstartingpointsand successionaltrajectories,planting,burning,andtending operations.Manycommonproblemsarediscussed,but thefocusisasmuchonthephilosophicaldimensions ofecosystemrepair.Emphasisisonrestoringtheopencanopied,pine-dominated,fire-maintained,and incrediblyspecies-richsavannasthatoncegracedmost
ofourregion,butotherecosystemoptionsareconsidered aswell.Ifeelqualifiedtoprovideadviceonthistopic becauseduringmorethantwodecadesofactive restorationIhavemadelotsofmistakes,havefrequently setandjustasfrequentlychangedmygoals,andhave generallylearnedthehardway.AlthoughIofferno sure-firerecipes,myhopeisthatthesearticlesencourage otherstorisetotherestorationchallenge.
Giventhatappreciationofrestorationprojectsin progressrequiresarareaestheticsense,bepreparedto defendabandonmentofyourlawnmowerandreplacement ofyourflourishingfloweringcrepemyrtleswithscrubby lookingscrubplants(GobsterandHull2000).When questionedyoumightpointoutthathalfoftheagricultural chemicalsusedintheUSAareappliedtolawns(Bormann etal.2001)andthatoursandysoilspermitthe18-6-4with broadleafherbicidespreadonmonospecificswardsof exoticturfgrassestoleachrapidlyinto theaquifer,thuspollutingourtreasuredspringsand contaminatingourdrinkingwater.Ifyouarefeelingzany, youmightopinethatthelawnmaniagrippingyour interlocutorandmuchoftheUSAistheresultofa nefariousconspiracyinvolvinglawnseedandlawn chemicalcompanies,workinghandinhandwithlawn mowermanufacturers,incahootswithlawncareservice companies,advisedbyturfgrassdepartmentfacultyfrom landgrantuniversities,andallcoordinatedbygolfing associations(Jenkins1994,RobbinsandBirkenholz 2003).Afterthatdiatribe,theymightacknowledgethat althoughyourexternalcombustionapproachtoyard
Pinusserotina.
Figure1: RestorationistsinFloridacanselectfrom variationsonthethemesofscrub,pinesavanna(including flatwoodsandsandhills),andhardwoodhammock.
maintenanceissometimessmoky,itisquietandinvolvesnofossilfuelburning. Finally,ifpressed,itmighthelptoemphasizethatpinesavannasaremore threatenedthantropicalrainforests.Withnearly1,000peoplemovingtoFlorida everydayandevenlocalslackingasenseofplace,restorationmaybeahardsell, butisalwaysworththeeffort.
Beforeelaboratingonthevariousobjectivesor“referencestate”optionsfor yourrestorationcampaign,thesubjectofecologicalhumilityshouldfirstbe broached.Ecosystemsarecomplexandsoistheirrestoration;oncedestroyed, ecosystemscanneverbeentirelyrestored.Whileitisgenerallypossibletoreplant thedominantspecies,gettingtheecosystemtofunctionwithoutfurther interventionisnighonimpossible;toassumeotherwiserepresentsdangerous ecologicalarroganceinsofarasthisattitudecanbeusedbytheforcesofevilto justifyecosystemdestruction.Inthecaseofpinesavannarestoration,forexample, ifthesiteissufficientlyopen,thefirststepmightbetoplantpinetreesand wiregrass,butwhatabouttheother100plusotherplantspeciesthatconstitute mostsavannas,nottomentionallthepollinators,seeddispersers,seedpredators, pathogens,symbionts,andetc.?Andwhataboutthefrequentgrowingseasonfires neededtomaintaintheecosystem?
AlthoughIteachandpreachrestoration,myowneffortsremindmeoftenthat itiseasiersaidthandone.Formetherehasbeenasurpriseateverybendofthe restorationpath–thistimeitmightbenativevinesthatforunknownreasonsstart toproliferate,nexttimeitisdeerrubbingthevelvetofftheirantlersonthebestof theyoungpines,andtheninresponsetosomemysteriousstimulus,thesiteis overwhelmedbyanexoticherbpresumablygerminatingfromlong-dormantseeds. Alotcanbelearnedfromfixingwhatisbroken,butifit’sanecosystemthatis broken,donotexpecttohaveitrunningonitsown,atleastnotinthislifetime. Nevertheless,tryingtorestoreanaturalcommunityisanunequaledgardening experienceandthebestwaytolearntheecologyofourplace.
R ESTORATION D ESTINATIONS Thefirststepontheroadtorestorationisdecidingonadestination,thesort ofecosystemyouwishtoemergefromyourefforts.Selectingtheappropriate referencestatefromthepaletteofpossibilitiesischallengingbecausethereareso manychoicesandsomanyfactorsthatshouldbeconsidered.Atthebroadest,and disregardingthewettestoptions,restorationistsinFloridacanselectfromvariations onthethemesofscrub,pinesavanna(includingflatwoodsandsandhills),and hardwoodhammock(Fig.1;MyersandEwel1990).Factorstoconsiderin makingthisselectionincludecurrentvegetationcompositionandstructure,soil fertilityanddrainage,availabletimeandfunds,andtheneighborhoodinwhichthe restorationsiteislocated.Forexample,restoringpinesavannamightnotbethe bestchoiceforasmallsuburbanlotwithaclosedcanopyofhardwoodsina developmentwherethehomeowners’associationprohibitsopenfires,especiallyif
Sandhill,longunburned PhotosbyDr.AnneCox
PineFlatwoods
SandPineScrub
Historicalrange of pine savannas
youwantcontinuousshade,hatestumps,loathchainsaws,despise herbicides,anddonotnecessarilypreferfoxtogreysquirrels.Undersuch conditions,youmightbebetteroffenrichingthehammockwithgap plantingsandexoticspeciescontrol,evenifhistoricallytheareawas splendidsavanna.
ThemajoruplandecosystemsinFlorida–scrub,pinesavanna,and hammock–actuallyblendintooneanother,sharespecies,andcanreplace oneanotheronthesamesiteifthefireregimeisright(Whitneyetal. 2004).Scrub,sandpinedominatedandotherwise,developsmostlyon deepsandsandalwayswherefiresareinfrequentbutterrifyingwhenthey dooccur.Giventhedifficultyofreplicatingandthencontrollingthese stand-replacingfires,scrubrestorationismorefocusedonreplantingthe appropriatespeciesthanwithresumingthenaturaldisturbanceregime.At theotherextremeofsoilmoistureavailabilityandfertility,hardwood hammocksdonotburnreadily,donotrequirefirefortheirmaintenance, andmostlynowoccuronformersavannalandswherefireswere suppressed(Wareetal.1993).Hammockrestorationmostlyinvolves speciesreintroductions,exoticspeciescontrol,andfiresuppressionrather thanusingfireasamanagementtool.Pinesavannas,incontrast,are naturallymaintainedbyfrequentandconsequentlylowintensityfires. Althoughtherearehandychemicalandmechanicalfiresurrogates, controlledburnsaregenerallyusedinsavannamanagementaswellasfor hazardousfuelreduction(Winn1996).
Mybiastowardspinesavannaconservationandrestorationcanbe justifiedonthebasisoftheircurrentscarcity;overthepastcenturythe pinesavannashavebeenreducedtolessthan3%oftheirhistoricalrange. Imightalsomentiontheirfantasticfloristicdiversityaswellastheir gophertortoises,foxsquirrels,andredcockadedwoodpeckers,butmight aswelladmitthatIgenuinelylikecarryingoutcontrolledburns.Finally, itmaybeastretch,butcross-culturalcomparisonsofecosystem
Longleaf pine transitionwoodlands
Longleaf pine bluestem savannas
Longleaf pine wiregrasssavannas
Longleaf-slashpinewiregrass savannas
South Florida slashpine savannas
Subtropical
preferencesaswellasstudiesoftheevolutionaryhistoryofourspecies suggestthatsavannalovingisgenetic(Heerwagenetal.1993).
Whicheverecosystemoptionischosen,youalsoneedtoconsiderthe levelofecologicalpurityforwhichyouwhichtostrive.Ifyouwillsettle foroutwardappearancesandhammockisyourgoal,thendonotbother reducinglaureloakdominationandperhapsevenleavethatcamphortree alone.Andifitisthe“feel”ofasavannayouwant,thenjustthinthe loblollypines,burnthebahia,anddoyourbotanizingelsewhere.But ifeverysprigofcentipedegrassbothersyou,thenyoumightconsider seekingcounselingoratleastgetreadyforalonghaul.
W HERE H AVE A LLTHE P INE S AVANNAS G ONE ? Thefirstwrittendescriptionsofthecoastalplain,datingbackabout 500years,tellofvast,openlandscapeswithsparsecanopiesofpines, scatteredhardwoods,andaphenomenallyspecies-richgroundcoverof floweringplants.Thesavannasthatoncestretchedover12degreesof latitudeandfromTexasaroundtoVirginiaflourishedunderconditions rangingfromseasonallyfloodedflatwoodsinsub-tropicalFloridauponto thedistinctlynon-tropicalfoothillsoftheSmokyMountainsbutallwere frequentlyburnedandmostlygrewonnutrient-poorsoilsthatwereat leastseasonallysubjectedtoseveredrought(Fig2.–Mapofhistorical rangeofpinesavannas,redrawnfromPlattetal.;Plattetal.1998).Given thiswidegeographicalandecologicalrange,itisnotsurprisingthatpine savannasvaryagreatdealinstructure,speciescomposition,and dynamics.Evenuseoftheterm“savanna”todescribesomeofthese ecosystemsisquestionableinsofarassomemoreresemblepineforests,but whenfireswerefrequent,canopieswereopen,andsavannaruled.
ThedominantpinespeciesinmuchofFloridawaslongleaf (Pinuspalustris),butthecombinedeffectsofcenturiesofhogrooting, cattlegrazing,turpentinetapping,logging,andfinallyfiresuppression (usuallyinthatorder)substantiallyreducedtheabundanceofthisprince ofpines.Historically,loblollypine(P.taeda)wasmostlyrestrictedtorich alluvialsoilsbutisnowcommononabandonedagriculturallands.The caseofslashpine(P.elliottii)isabitmorecomplexbecausetherearetwo distinctvarieties.SouthofHighlandsCountyslashpineoccupiesawide rangeofhabitatsandbehavesmuchlikelongleafpine,whereastheNorth Floridavarietyisawetflatwoodstreefavoredbyforestersandplanted widely.Theotherwetflatwoodsspeciesispondpine(P.serotina),which occurswheredrainageisevenmoreseriouslyimpeded;unfortunately littleknownaboutthisspeciesortheecosystemitdominated,itisnever plantedandiscurrentlyscarce.Withduerespectfortheseotherspecies, Ipayparticularattentiontolongleafpinebutbelievethatmostofmy commentsalsopertaintothesouthernvarietyofslashpineandthe habitatsitdominates.Wetlandrestorationdeservesmoreattentionthan Icangive,butthehydrologyofmostbackyardrestorationsiteshasbeen disruptedbyditchinganddraining,renderingmootthegreattolerance ofslashandpondpineforsoilflooding.Finally,itishardlyworth dancingwiththeseotherpines(Fig.3).
S TARTING M ODESTLY Toavoidshockstoyoursystemandtoomanybadrepercussionsin yourneighborhood,Isuggestthatifyouaregoingtoconvertyourlawns andgardenstosomethingmorenatural,likeapinesavanna,youstart graduallyandperhapsoutofplainview.Considerasunny10x10foot areaofSt.Augustinegrassinthecornerofyourbackyard.Ifyour intentionistoreplacethatmono-specificswardofexoticturfgrasswith apatchofpinesavanna,thefirststepmightbekillingthegrass.Ashard asitistokeepalive,lawngrassissurprisinglyhardtokill.Ifyoueschew herbicidesinfavorofmusclepower,bereadyforhundredsoreven thousandsofweedstosproutfromformerlydormantseedsexposedby yourhoe.WhiledealingwiththeseweedsandLazarusgrassesoverthe nextseveralyears,youcanbetendingthe50-80plantedwiregrassplugs, promotingtheestablishmentandgrowthofthehalfdozenotherspecies youplantedfromseed,andencouragingthesurvivingbare-rootlongleaf pineseedlingstoemergefromthegrassstageandstartontheirwayupto thecanopy.Whilenativespeciestheoreticallyrequirelesscarethan introducedspecies,theoryandpracticedonotalwaysagreeonthisissue. Ifthissoundslikegardening,itis,butgardeningwithhundredsofnatives andgardeningwithecologicalnotjustaestheticoralimentarygoals.
T HE Z ENOF R ESTORATION ThereisaZenofrestorationthatderivesinpartfromthefactthatno onecantellyouexactlyhowtore-createapinesavanna,apatchofscrub, orahardwoodhammock.Itisimpossibletospecifyexactlyhowthe restoredecosystemsshouldlook,whatspeciestheyshouldcontain,orhow theyshouldfunctionecologically.Giventhevarietyoffactorsthat influencethem,Platonicformsoftheseecosystemshavesimplynot developed.Therestorationchallengeismadeevengreaterbythescarcity ofwellmaintainedsitesuponwhichrestorationgoalscanbemodeled (butseeWhitneyetal.2004forsomesuggestions).Furthermore, speciesnativetoFloridaarelittlestudiedecologicallyandevenlesswell knownhorticulturally.
Yourrestoredecosystemshouldbewhatyouwantittobe.Largeor small,diverseorsimple,firemaintainedorhandweeded,yourassistance inecosystemrecoveryshouldbevenerated.Guidebooksforrestoring otherecosystemsgenerallyadvisesettinggoals,developingspecific managementplans,structuringtimetables,andmonitoringprogress (PackardandMutel1997).Iwouldgivethesameadvicewithafew modificationsappropriatefortheSouth;keepyourgoalssomewhatvague oratleastletyourmanagementplanchangewithexperience,keepyour timetableflexible,letyourlandscapeaestheticevolve,andcelebratethe successfulestablishmentofeachnewspeciesasyourlaborhealstheland andengendersaheightenedsenseofplace. ❂
Figure3: Theauthor’sdaughterwaltzingwithayounglongleafpine.
Tolearnmoreaboutgardeningwithnativeplants,jointheonlinelist-serve, GrowingNative. Gotowww.groups.yahoo.com/group/growingnative tojoin.
Clematisbaldwinii isanattractive,easilygrown,andfrequently encounteredperennialwildflowernativetocentralandsouthern Florida.Theexquisite,pendentflowersarebornewellabovetheplant onalong,leaflessstalk(technicallyreferredtoasapeduncle)andcan appearatanytimeoftheyear;however,flowersoccurmostfrequently whenevertherehasbeenaperiodofmild,rainyweather,especiallyin thespringandautumn.Thedaintyflowersvaryfrompalestlavenderto aduskyrose-purpleandarefollowedbyashowyclusterofabout2-3 dozenseedlikefruits,eachofwhichisprovidedwithalongsilkytail thataidsindispersalbythewind.Theseclustersofsilky-tailedfruitsare attractiveinandofthemselvesandacquireagoldenluminescent appearancewhenbacklitbythesun.
AllotherclematisspeciesoccurringinFloridaarestragglingvines thatclimbbywayoftheirtwiningleafstalks(petioles). Clematis baldwinii isuniqueamongFloridaclematisinitsmoreorlesserect growthhabit.Inthisrespect,itmorecloselyresemblesordinary perennialwildflowersthanitdoesotherFloridaspeciesofClematis.It isfurtherdistinguishedbyitsflowers,whichareheldwellabovethe plant.Infact,thistraitnotonlydistinguishesitfromotherFlorida speciesofClematis,itisasingulartraitthatdistinguishesitfromall otherspeciesofClematisintheUnitedStates.
Cultivationandpropagationtechniques
Cultivationpresentsnoproblemssolongastheplantsare providedwithevenlymoistbutwell-drainedsoilinfullsunorvery lightshade.Althoughoftenfoundgrowinginwhatappeartoberather poorsandysoilsinthewild,theplantsareattheirbestingarden settingswhenprovidedwithrichsoilshighinorganicmatter.If subjectedtoextendedperiodsofhot,dryconditions,theplantswillgo dormant.Fortunately,theyresproutreadilyonceconditionsaremore totheirliking.SeedlingsaregreatlyrelishedbysnailsalthoughIhave yettoseeamatureplantafflictedwithpestsofanykind.
Clematisbaldwinii maybepropagatedfromcuttingsand informationonthevegetativepropagationofClematisisreadily availablebothinbooksandontheInternet.Informationongrowingit fromseedishardertocomeby,whichisashamesinceitisbest propagatedfromseed.AlthoughClematisseedcantakeaslongastwo yearstogerminate, Clematisbaldwinii seedtendstogerminatemuch sooner,especiallywhenthefollowingtreatmentisused.
First,the“tails”shouldbecutofffromeachsingle-seededfruit. Thentheseedlikefruitsaresoakedinacupofwaterforaboutfour days.Duringthisperiod,itisimportantthatbacteriaandfunginot beallowedtocloudthewaterandthewatershouldbechanged frequently.Thefruitsarethensowednormallyinapotfilledwith agoodpottingmix.Thesoilinthepotshouldbekeptmoistandunder cool,butnotfreezing,temperatures.
Maximumgerminationoccursduringcoolweather.Ifseedsowing beginstoolateinthespring,theseedsmaylaydormantallsummer. UndermyconditionsinsouthernFlorida,seedsaresownintheheart ofwinter(DecemberorJanuary)andusuallygerminateatratesof
about80percentwithin30-60days.Theyoung,tenderlittleplantsare afavoritetreatforsnailsandasinglelargesnailcandevourseveral dozenseedlingsinonenight.Oncetheplantsreachafewinchesin height,theyaremuchmoreresistanttosnailsandcanbeplantedinthe ground.Theyoungplantsshouldneverbeallowedtodryoutand,if providedwithgoodgrowingconditions,themajoritywillbeginto flowerwithin8to12months.
Clematisbaldwinii inthegarden Inspiteofbeingeasilygrown,freefrompests,possessingbeautiful flowers,andbearinginterestingfruits, Clematisbaldwinii isextremely rareincommerceandishardtocomebyatnativeplantnurseries.The principalreasonisthatthisisaplantthatisusuallyunattractivewhen growninapot.Likemanynativewildflowers, Clematisbaldwinii investsmuchtimeandenergydevelopingastrongrootsystem.Thus, youngplantsremainsmallforalongtimeandnothingmuchseemsto happenaboveground.Additionally,thebrittlestemstendtosnapso thatoften,most,ifnotall,ofthestemsinthepotarelyingflatrather thanerect.Suchplantsareperfectlyhealthyand,whenplantedinthe ground,acquireamorenaturalandattractivegrowthhabit. Unfortunately,evensophisticatednativeplantgardenerswillpassup thechancetopurchasethisspeciesbecauseoftheexpectationthatthe plantsshouldlookperfect.ThisisregrettableandI,forone,nevermiss anopportunitytopurchase Clematisbaldwinii sinceIneverknow whenanotheropportunitytopurchasetheplantwillpresentitself.
Clematisbaldwinii isbestusedinlargegroupsinthegardenand itshouldbekeptawayfromlargerandtallerplants,whichcaneasily overshadowitssubtlecharms.Thestrong,sturdyrootsystemgivesit muchresiliencyingardensettingsaswellastheabilitytotemporarily tolerateadverseconditions.Itsmainweaknessasagardenplantisthat, withinayearortwo,itcanbecomeanunkemptmassofoldstemsand, forbestappearance,itshouldbeperiodicallycuttothegroundandthe oldstemsremoved.
Thebell-like,pendentflowersof Clematisbaldwinii vaguely resemblelargerversionsofthependent,bell-likeflowersofhyacinths andhasleadtothecommonname,“pine-hyacinth.”Ofcourse, Clematisbaldwinii isnotatallrelatedtothetruegardenhyacinth, Hyacinthusorientalis ,abulbousplantwithsweetlyscented flowersnativetotheeasternMediterranean,partsoftheMiddleEast, andTurkey. ❂
©RufinoOsorio2006.Allrightsreserved.
AbouttheAuthor: RufinoOsorioistheauthorof AGardener’s GuidetoFlorida’sNativePlants (UniversityPressofFlorida,2001). Rufinoalsocreatedandmoderatestheonlinelist-serve, GrowingNative (www.groups.yahoo.com/group/growingnative)
WhatmotivatedyoutotakeontheHerculeantask ofbeingtheleadauthorof PricelessFlorida?
AConversation withDr.EllieWhitney Florida-basedwriterMichaelWisenbaker interviewsDr.EllieWhitneyaboutherrole increating PRICELESS FLORIDA.
PricelessFlorida:NaturalEcosystemsandNativeSpecies was releasedin2004andalreadyinitssecondprinting.Itprovides acompellingreadonFlorida’snativeplantsandanimalsand theenvironmentsinwhichtheylive,andincludeschapters coveringeverynaturalareafoundwithintheSunshineState. PricelessFlorida revealshowsoils,rocks,waterandlandforms cometogethertoshapeFlorida’sfloraandfaunaandviceversa. Italsohighlightshowsomeoftheworld’smostendangered speciesandecosystemsdependonourcarefulstewardship.
Frustrationandagreatfeelingofsadness.LikemostFlorida residents,I’moriginallyfrom“someplaceelse”–inmycase,NewYork City.ButIwasn’tacityperson;Ilovedtheout-of-doorsandliving things.I’dmajoredinbiologyincollegeandgraduateschool,andI’d spentsummersintheVermontandNewHampshirewoods,the AdirondackMountains,atthebeach,andintheGermanandSwiss Alps.So,Ihadbothbooklearningandoutdoorexperiencesthat instilledinmealoveofthenaturalworldandwilderness.
ThenIgotplunkeddowninFloridain1970becausemyhusband tookajobhere.Ifeltverymuchoutofplace,andforyears,Ifeltcut offfromallthebeautifulnaturalplacesIrememberedelsewhere.Except foroccasionaltripstothebeachandwatchingthebirdsthatvisitedour feeders,IsawnothingnaturalhereinFlorida,andcertainlynoplace wild.Thefeelingofbeingcutofffromnaturewaslikeloneliness:I wantedasenseofconnectionwiththeearth,andcouldn’tfindithere.
ThatchangedwhenItookaseriesofcoursesatFloridaState Universitycalled“ExploringFlorida’sWilderness”taughtbyBruce MeansandAnneRudloe.Eachcourseinvolvedabouteighteveningsof lecturesandeightall-dayfieldtripstonorthFlorida’sforests,swamps, streams,marshes,andestuaries.Thosecoursesmetadeepneedinme. Ibegantounderstandwhatthenaturalworldreallyislike.Ishouldsay “worlds,”really,becauseeachtypeofecosystemisaworldinitself:asalt marsh,apinegrassland,aseagrassbed,eachhasitsownenormously diversepopulationsofinteractinglivingthings.
Therewerefourcoursesinthe“Exploring”series,butItookthem sixtimes.IrepeatedtwoofthembecauseIsimplycouldn’tgetenough ofthefieldtripsintofascinatingplacesaboutwhichmyearlierbook learninghadtaughtmenothing.Aftertheendofeachcourse,I’d grieve,asaweekendwouldapproachandI’dhavenofieldtriptolook forwardto.
Thewritingof PricelessFlorida beganbyaccident.Whenthe wildernesscourseswereover,Ibegantoorganizemynotes.(It’shardto takelegiblenoteswhenyou’restandinguptoyourarmpitsinamucky swampandholdingyourclipboardupoveryourhead.)AsIworkedat that,Idiscoveredthereweregreatgapsinmyunderstandingofthe ecosystemswe’dvisited.ThenIbecameapest,overandoveragain askingmyteachers,BruceandAnne,toexplainthingsIhadn’t understood.Theypatientlyansweredmyendlessquestions.Theyeven readmyattemptsatputtingmyunderstandingonpaperandsetme straightwhereIwaswrong.Onethingledtoanother,andbeforetoo manyyearshadgoneby,Ihadsomethinglikeabook.
Asthebookprogressedfromdrafttodraft,otherfactorsbesides theneedforconnectionbecamemotivatorsthatkeptmegoing. Igainedasatisfyingsenseofmasteryoversomeofthematerial;thatfelt good.Also,thesubjectswerefascinatingandinspiring.Inanagewhen everyoneisbemoaningthewayswehumansareruiningsomanyparts oftheplanet,Iwasprivilegedtobeimmersedinnatural,unspoiled areas.Peoplewhoreadpartsofthebookseemedtoenjoyit.AndIhad asensethatthebookmightbeimportanttomanypeoplewho,like myself,werenewtoFloridaandoutoftouchwithnature.
Whatwasthehardestthingaboutwritingthebook?
Twoaspectswereespeciallydifficult.Decidinghowtoorganizeand presentalltheecosystemsofFloridawasachallenge.Iconsultedmany authoritiesandreferencesandmadeabouttwoyears’worthoffalsestarts beforesettlingonTheNatureConservancy’sschemeusedbytheFlorida NaturalAreasInventory.
Theotherthingthatwashardwasthatnoneofus,andnooneelse, wasanexpertinalltheareaswecovered.Floridaisahuge,verydiverse state.PeoplewhoknowsouthFlorida’secosystemswellmayknowvery littleaboutnorthFloridaandviceversa.Theeastcoastisverydifferent fromthewestcoast.Andecologistseachtendtospecializeinuplands,or wetlands,oraquaticorcoastalecosystems;theycan’tknowitall.Too, ecologyitselfisanextremelycomplexsubject,encompassingasitdoesso manyotherdisciplinesinitssynthesis–geology,paleontology,botany, zoology,microbiology,chemistry,meteorology,oceanography,andmany more.Iguessyoucouldsaywewerefools,rushinginwhereanysensible personwouldfeartotread.
Stateboundariesarenotnaturalboundariessowhydidn’tyou chooseabiogeographicregionratherthanFlorida’sstate boundariestodefinethescopeofthebook?
Becausepeopleidentifywiththeirstate,notwiththeirbiogeographic region.Andtheyfeeltheyowntheirstate.Floridianscantakeprideinthe naturalwondersofFlorida,andoncetheyunderstandwhattreasureswe havehere,theymaywellwanttobebetterstewardsofthisplace.Then, too,manydecisionsaboutthestate’slandsandwatersaremadebythe peopleofthestate.
Ihaveafonddreamthatsomedayeverystatewillhaveabooklike thisandeveryonewhoresidesinthestatewillhaveto/wanttolearnwhat’s init.Doctorswhotreatthehumanbodyfirsthavetolearnitspartsand howtheyworktomaintainlife.Shouldn’twewhoexertimpactsonour state’secosystemsfirsthavetolearnwhattheyare,howtheywork,and whattheydoforus?
Fromstarttofinish,howlongdidittaketocompletethebook?
Ittooksixteenyears.Imadeafirst,tentativeoutlineforthebookin thespringof1988.Thefinaldraftwasacceptedforpublicationinthe springof2004.
Howinvolvedwereyourcoauthors,Drs.MeansandRudloe?
Veryinvolved.Bruceservedasourexpertonupland,wetland,and freshwateraquaticecosystemsHeallowedmetofreelyadaptpartsofallhis otherpublications,andhereadandcritiquedeverypartofthemanuscript manytimes.Anneservedasourexpertonmarineandestuarineecosystems. Shewroteseveralchaptersandpartsofchaptersandrereadand corrected thefinaldraft.
EllieWhitney grewupinNewYorkCity,was educatedatHarvardandWashingtonuniversities, andhaslivedinTallahasseesince1970.Shehas taughtatFloridaStateandFloridaA&Muniversities andhasauthoredsometwodozencollegetextbooks onhealthandrelatedtopics.Shecontributedweekly columnsonenvironmentalmatterstothe Tallahassee Democrat from1990to1995andshehasspentsome 35yearsexploringoutdoorFloridaand studyingitsecology.
BruceMeans grewupinAlaska,hasaPh.D.in biologyfromFloridaStateUniversity,andispresident oftheCoastalPlainsInstituteandLandConservancy, anonprofitcenterforresearchandeducationonthe ecologyofthesoutheasternU.S.CoastalPlain.For morethan20yearshehastaughtFSUfieldclasses ontheecologyofFlorida.Hehasledecotoursonfour continentsandhasmorethan220publishedscientific andpopulararticles,someofwhichhaveappeared withhisphotographsin NaturalHistory,National Wildlife,InternationalWildlife,BBCWildlife,Fauna, andothermagazines.Hestarsinsix National GeographicExplorer documentaryfilms.
AnneRudloe hasaPh.D.inbiologyfromFlorida StateUniversity.SheandherhusbandJackRudloe liveinPanacea,Florida,wheretheyhaveruntheGulf SpecimenMarineLaboratory(GSML)since1963. GSMLsupplieslivemarineanimalstoacademic scientists,andsince1990hasalsoservedasan independentnonprofitenvironmentaleducation center.TheRudloesteachthepublicaboutcoastal ecosystemsandbiologicaldiversitythroughlive exhibits.Approximately16,000visitorsparticipate inGSML’seducationalprogramseachyear. AnneRudloe’swritinghasappearedin National Geographic,Smithsonian magazine,andnumerous scientificjournals.
EricJadaszewski wasbornandraisedinrural Floridawherehestudiedhorticultureandcommercial art.HeownedanativeplantnurseryinFloridafor 16years,andnowlivesinruralNewHampshire whereheownsandrunsaretailgardencenter withanemphasisonnativeplants.
byNancyKohfeldt
IRememberRosemary AsIstoodlookingattheswathofremaining40footsandpines(Pinusclausa),thedeveloperseagerlyawaited myanswer.Thequestionwas,“Wouldmyregulatoryagency(NaturalResources)allowtheremovalofthelarge (greaterthan10”diameteratbreastheight)standingpinesandthepinesthathadfallenduringthehurricane”? Couldthesandpinesbereplacedbysomethingprettier,perhaps,liveoak(Quercusvirginiana)orasmallertreelike queenpalm(Arecastrumromanzoffianum,aka:Cocosplumosa)?Ofcoursetheywouldirrigatetheinnatelyxeric areasothingswouldgrow.Also,theundergrowthhadtoberemovedto“cleanup”thatmessynaturalvegetation. Myquestionwas,“WhatcouldbemorebeautifulthanFloridascrub?”
Turningawayfromthepines,Ilookedattheremainsofasmallrosemary(Ceratiolaericoides)baldall aroundme.Therosemarywasaremarkablepartofthesandpineassociationwhichheldthemonstersandpine treesinquestion.Asthediscussioncontinued,mymindreturnedtoafamiliarplaceandrememberedtherosemary phaseofFloridascrub.Quietly,Ireflected...
Asmyscrubbootshitthestarkwhitesugarsandinthedeadof aFloridasummer,Ibeganmyresearch.Icouldalwaystellwhenitwas hotterthan100degrees.Theintenseheatpressedagainstmyfaceandthe distanceshimmered.Mypasty,whiteskinburnedfromthesun.Sunblock meltedoffmyfaceatarapidrate.Myfrozenwaterwasalreadymelting. Goodthing,ifIdidn’tdrinkfrequentlyI’dbegintogetirritableandthe daywouldbelost.Peelingoffmyequipmentgavesomerelieftotheheat. Pickingupmypinandreel,acoursewasdecidedformyvegetation sampling.Idecidedtogostraightthroughthemiddleofthelongestpoint oftherosemary(C.ericoides)Bald.Thenameofthisparticularrosemary baldwasAnne’sBald.Thenamealwaysmademesmile.Annewasn’t reallybaldshehadjustspentalotoftimedoingresearchhere.Then, Idroppedmytransectlineandbegantolocatemystratifiedrandom points.Itfeltgood,thefirstlineoftheday.
WhatIknewaboutFloridascrubwasthatduetothenatureofits beginnings,itislikenootherecosysteminthesoutheasternUnitedStates. Floridavegetationdevelopedfarfromglaciersandencroachingice advance,thus,thevegetationhadremained,withonlymoderateshifts inspeciescomposition,fortensofthousandsofyears(Watts,1994). Floridascrubiscomprisedofremnantsanddunesleftoverfromatime whenpartsofFloridaweresubmergedbeneathtidalwaters.Asthewater receded,throughtime,moundsofsandwereleftwherethewaveshad lappedancientshorelines.Purewhitequartz(sugar)sandremained, depletedofnutrientsfromconstantwashingsandabletoretainlittle moisturebecauseofitsporosity.Asaresult,theheatadapted,water preservingvegetationthatexistedontheseridgesdevelopeddifferently thaninother,lessxericpartsofFlorida.
Thelargestandbestknownscrubridgeformsabackboneforthe Floridapeninsula.Onthisridge,knownastheLakeWalesRidge,for aperiodofthreeyears,Ibecamemesmerizedwiththeuniquevegetation anditsabilitytoreproduceandsurvivesuchaharshenvironment.Florida scrubrangesfromdensethicketsofscrubbyflatwoodstomoreopen, occasionallybareareasofFloridarosemary(C.ericoides)(Abrahamsonet al.1984).Thedominantvegetationconsistsofshrubbyevergreenoaks likesandliveoak(Quercusgeminata),Chapman’soak(Q.chapmannii), myrtleoak(Q.myrtifolia),andscruboak(Q.inopina).Theseoakshave curvedleavesand/orwaxycoatstohelpthemavoidwaterlossinthehigh temperaturesthatoccurintheFloridascrub.Manyshrubsfromthe heath/blueberryfamilysuchasrustylyonia(Lyoniaferruginea)andlowbushblueberry(Vacciniummyrsinites)flourishintheacidconditions ofthesterilesand.Slashpine(Pinuselliotii var.densa)andsandpine (Pinusclausa)existinsomeshrublandareasbutarecompletelyabsentin others.Floridarosemaryisoftenfoundinthehigherelevationsofsugar sandareas.ItisamemberoftherelativelysmallCrowberryfamilyandcan beeasilyidentifiedbyitsheathlikeshrubform,itsacicularbranchesand, pungentodor.Herbaceousplantspeciesdonotdominateinshrublands; however,theypersistandsometimesflourishinopenspaces.
Fireisacommondisturbanceinthescrubecosystem.Lightning strikesfromseasonalthunderstormsignitescrubvegetationandcause frequenttoinfrequentwildfires.Therefore,fireplaysakeyroleinscrub
vegetation’ssurvivalstrategy.Someplants(i.e.scruboaks)simplyresprout afterfirewhileotherspeciesdieandpersistbyregeneratingthroughsoil seedbanks(i.e.Floridarosemary).Somespeciesareabletobothresprout andreseedthemselves(i.e.sawpalmetto, Serenoarepens).Variousplant populationsincreaseordecreasebetweenfires.Forexample,(Highlands scrubSt.John’s-wort, Hypericumcumulicola)populationsdeclineas thetimesincefireincreases(Quintana-Ascencioetal.2003).Thesame canbesaidforwedge-leavedbuttonsnakeroot(Eryngiumcuneifolium) (Mengesetal.,2004).
ForsomeFloridascrubplantspecies,aflushofseedgermination occurssoonafterfire(Whelan1988).Forexample,LakePlacidscrub mint(Dicerandrafrutescens)iskilledduringfireandreturnsbygerminatingseedsinthesoil.Seedlingsappeartodowellafterfireandmostof thepopulation’sgrowthisseenwithinthefollowing10years(Menges 1992).Theannual,Carter’smustard(Wareacarteri)isalsostronglytied tofire,withanexplosionofgerminationintheyearsfollowingfireand rapidlydecreasinggerminationand/orincreasingseedlingmortalityeach yearthereafter(MengesandGordon1996).Forthesespecies,fireplays acriticalroleintheirprocreation.Theseseeds’geneticprowessinthe faceofdisturbancesparkedmycuriosityandledmetostudythe germinationstrategiesofseveralscrubspecies.
AphenomenonthataffectsthegerminationofFlorida’sscrubseeds isallelopathy.Allelopathyistheabilitysomeplantshavetorelease chemicals(allelochemicals)anddetergerminationorgrowthofanother plant.Aplantcanemitachemicalthatisharmfultotheplants surroundingit.Floridarosemaryscrub(partofFloridascrubwhere rosemaryisfound)producesallelochemicalswhichcanbeharmfultothe germinationofseeds.Arecentstudyshowsthatthegerminationof rosemaryscrubspecialists Eryngiumcuneifolium and Hypericum cumulicola wasreducedwhentheirseedswereexposedtoRosemary leachate(HunterandMenges2002).
AninterestingseedbankisfoundinFlorida’srosemaryscruborthe rosemaryphaseofsandpinescrubasdescribedbyAbrahamsonetalin 1984.Itisaffectedbyfirewithintervalestimationsof10-100years (Meyers1990)tonarrowerintervalestimationsof15-25years(Menges 1999).Whenfireoccursmanyspeciesrecoverbyrecruitingseedlings (MengesandKohfeldt,1995)fromsoilseedbanks.Severalspecies, Ceratiolaericoides,Calaminthaashei,Eryngiumcuneifolium,Hypericum cumulicola,Lecheadeckertii, and Lecheacernua produceseedsthatcan remaindormantformorethanoneyear,thusformingasoilseedbank (KohfeldtandMengesunpublisheddata).Rosemaryscrub’sseedbank consistsofmanyrareandendemicobligateandfacultativeseederspecies. Atleastelevenotherspeciesarepost-fireobligateseeders(i.e.,theirmeans ofseedlingrecruitmentarethroughseedgermination)(Mengesand Kohfeldt,1995).
Thedominantshrubofrosemaryscrub, Ceratiolaericoides,isan obligateseeder.Firekillstheadultplantandseedsinthesoilgerminate shortlythereafter(Johnson1982).Rosemarygerminationhasalsobeen seeninareasthathavebeenmechanicallyscraped.Usingsandpaperto scrapetheseedsspeedsgerminationofFloridarosemary(Johnson1986).
AConversationwithDr.EllieWhitney Howdifficultwasitforthethreeofyou,nottomentionthemanyeditors,photographersandothers,toputtogetherthismagnumopus?
Itwasabigjob,butIwouldn’tcallitdifficult.Itook responsibilityforputtingitalltogetherintoaseamlesswhole,andfor obtainingtheservicesofseveraleditorsinsuccession,eachofwhom contributedexcellentideasandcriticisms.BruceandAnnecontributed manyphotographsandItraveledthestateformorethanayearto collectphotosfromsomeninetyotherphotographers.Ialsotookon thetaskofdoingthelayoutandcomposition,arrangingthepagesas youseetheminthefinalversion.Iwasluckytohaveamplefreetime. Iretiredearlyfromoutsidefull-timeworkandIlivealone.
Whatprimaryaudiencedoyouhopetoreachbeyond theenvironmentalcommunitywith PricelessFlorida?
I’msureeveryauthorwouldliketothinkthat“everybody”should readtheirbook,andIamnoexception.Ibelievethelandsandwaters andnaturalcommunitiesamongwhichwelivearevitallyimportantto ourwell-beingandhealth.Ibelievethatbesides“environmentalists,” legislators,planners,attorneys,judges,hunters,fishermen,schoolteachers,economists,developers,builders,preachers,writers,photographers, artists,andpeopleofmanyotherstripeswouldbenefitfromgainingthe perspectiveonourenvironmentthatthisbookoffers.AndIbelieve theywouldfindthesubjectbeautifulandpleasing.
Knowingwhatyouknowfromalreadyhavingcreated thisbook,whatwouldyoudodifferentlyifyouwere startingfromscratch?
Thatquestionmakesmelaugh.HadIknownthatitwouldtake afullsixteenyearsoutofmylife,Imighthavehesitatedtotakeiton atall!ButI’mgladIdidn'tknow,becausetherewardofseeingitprint makesalltheeffortworthwhile.
Someoneelsemightknowofabetterwaytogoaboutattempting atasklikethis,butIdon’t.Ifabookoracourseisnotalreadythereto teachyouasubject,thenyouprettymuchhavetobeginbymaking somethingupoutofwholecloth.Ofcourseyouresearchtheavailable
PineSavannaRestoration literature,buttoputtogetherabigpicture,youhavetodosome synthesizing,andyou’reboundtomakemistakes.Atleast,though,you endupwithsomethingyoucanshowsomeoneandaskforcriticism. Thenyouhavetodoitover.Iwentthroughthatdozensoftimeswith everypartofthisbook–asortofsuccessive-approximationprocess. Buthowelsecanyoudosomethingnoonehasdonebefore?
Itseemsinefficient,butIthinkmostauthorswouldagreethat ‘writing’ismostlyaprocessof‘rewriting.’
Doyoubelievethat PricelessFlorida willchange thewaythepublicthinksaboutourstate’s fragilenaturalcommunities?
Ihopeso.Ihopethey'llbemoreproudandprotectiveofwhat wehavehere.
Generallyspeaking,areyousanguineaboutFlorida’s futureinthe21stCenturyandbeyond?
SometimesIam,Mike,andsometimesI’mnot.I’velived longenough,now(67years),tohaveseenmanyapparentlyhopeless casescomeoutwell,eventhoughIcouldn’tseehowthatwaspossible atthetime.InthecaseofFlorida’secosystems,italldependsonhow muchwevaluethem.I’vehearditsaidthatweloveonlywhatwe understandandwevalueonlywhatwelove.Ifweunderstandwhat treasureswehavehere,wewilllovethem,wewillvaluethem,and wewilltakecareofthem. ❂
PricelessFlorida:Natural EcosystemsandNativeSpecies
WrittenbyEllieWhitney,D.BruceMeansandAnneRudloe. IllustratedbyEricJadaszewski. PineapplePress,Sarasota,Florida.432pages,800photographs. ISBN:1-56164-309-2(hardback);1-56164-308-4(paperback).
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR: Dr.FrancisE.“Jack”Putzconductsresearchandteachescoursesonecosystemmanagementbutthengoeshometohis100acres andlesssuccessfullypracticeswhathepreaches.HeisthePrinceBernhardProfessorofInternationalConservationatUtrechtUniversityinTheNetherlands andaProfessorofBotanyattheUniversityofFlorida,Gainesville,Florida32611-8526.
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KellertandE.O.Wilson,editors,TheBiophiliaHypothesis.Island Press,Washington,D.C.
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Platt,W.J.1998.Southeasternpinesavannas.Pages23-51In, R.C.Anderson,J.S.Fralish,andJ.R.Baskin(editors).Savannas, Barrens,andRockOutcropCommunitiesofNorthAmerica. CambridgeUniversityPress,Cambridge,UK.
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Helpusgrowintothefuture LeavealastinglegacybyparticipatingintheFlorida NativePlantSocietyEstateGivingProgram.Yourgiftof cash,stocks,mutualfundsorrealestatewillhelpus achieveourmissiontopreserve, conserveandrestorenativeplants andnativeplantcommunities foryearstocome.
Increasedlight,scarification,orothermechanismsnotassociatedwithfire mayalsobestimuliforrosemaryseedgermination.
Iheardmynameandreluctantlyturnedbacktothediscussion.I camebacktothepresentstillinscrubbootsandfieldclothes.Somethings neverchange.Iwasoutofplace(inappearanceaswellasopinion)nextto thepressedshirtsanddressshoesstandingnexttome.Theanswertothe developerswasthatalthoughtheuprightsandpinesformedanaturally vegetatedbufferforthefutureresidentsofthesubdivisionandtheywere greaterthan10”diameteratbreastheight,removingthemwouldbe allowable.Theremovalofthedownedpineswasalsoallowedbymy agency.Theecologicalcontributions(i.e.critterandseedlingcover,heat sink,soilconservation,etc.)ofthedownedtreeswouldneveroccur.
Ipulledoutmyinspectionreportandnotedthedateofthemeeting andwhoattended.Asalways,tonoavail,Inotedmyagency’ssuggestions andadirective.Letthedownedanduprightsandpinesremain.Then, the15footwide,100footlongstretchofsandpinescrubcouldremain andregeneratenaturally.WiththestrokeofmypenIwascausingtheloss ofthisincrediblyancient,beautifulecosystem.Nolawgovernedthe protectionofthisFloridascrublandwhichIhadknownandlovedforas longasIcouldremember.AfterIsignedmyreport,Iturned,myscrub bootshitthestarkwhitesugarsandinthedeadofaFloridasummerand Irememberedthebeautyofrosemary. ❂
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travismac@wfeca.net
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Johnson,A.F.1986.RecipeforgrowingFloridarosemary.Mainingredient:patience!Palmetto6(1):5. Johnson,A.F.andW.G.Abrahamson,1990.ANoteontheFireResponsesofSpeciesinRosemary ScrubsontheSouthernLakeWalesRidge.FloridaScientist,53:139-143.
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Menges,E.S.,1992.Habitatpreferencesandresponsetodisturbancefor Dicerandrafrutescens, aLakeWalesRidge(Florida)endemicplant.BulletinoftheTorreyBotanicalClub,119;308-313 Menges,E.S.andN.M.Kohfeldt.1995.LifehistorystrategiesofFloridascrubplantsinrelationtofire. BulletinoftheTorreyBotanicalClub122:282-297.
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FNPSChapters& Representatives Forchaptercontactinformation,pleasevisit http://www.fnps.org/pages/chapters/chaptermap.php
1.Broward .........................MollyTaylor&JackLange..............................................jl_phoenix@comcast.net
2.Citrus ..............................TeddiBierly......................................................................jbierly@tampabay.rr.com
3.Coccoloba ......................MarkMiller....................................................director@fnps-coccolocachpater.org
4.Cocoplum .......................JoanBausch.....................................................................................jclb@gate.net
5.Conradina .......................ReneeShaffer.................................................................shaffer_m@bellsouth.net
6.Dade ...............................LynkaWoodbury....................................................lwoodbury@fairchildgarden.org
7.Eugenia ..........................SueThompson....................................................................sue@pa-services.com
8.Heartland .......................KeelyPesch..........................................................................kpesch@earthlink.net
9.Hernando ........................JimClayton......................................................................geoska10@hotmail.com
10.LakeBeautyberry ..........RonaldPlakke............................................................................flplakke@aol.com 11.LakelasMint ..................RoyceSisson.................................................................roycesisson@hotmail.com 12.LiveOak .........................RandyHarelson.................................................................rharelson@earthlink.net 13.LongleafPine .................AmyHines.................................................................amy@sidestreamsports.com 14.Lyonia ..............................RayJarrett..............................................................................sjarrett1@cfl.rr.com 15.Magnolia ........................NiaWellendorf.............................................................snwellendorf@earthlink.net 16.Mangrove .......................John&ChristineHolyland.....................................christineholyland@comcast.net 17.Naples ............................DuaneRepp......................................................................dlrmanrjr@earthlink.net 18.NatureCoast ..................SusanVaughn..........................................................................vaughn_s@firn.edu 19.PalmBeach ....................CynthiaPlockelman......................................................cplockle@mindspring.com 20.Pawpaw .........................PaulRebmann..................................................................wildflpaul@earthlink.net 21.PaynesPrairie ................ErickSmith..................................................................................edsmith@ufl.edu 22.Pinellas DebbieChayet&RayWunderlichIII.....dchayet@verizon.net;rayrunner@yahoo.com 23.SeaRocket ....................PaulaBerntson.......................................................................jepasm.3@juno.com 24.Serenoa ..........................MikeKenton......................................................michael.kenton@co.manatee.fl.us 25.SouthRidge ...................NormanCook.........................................................................seedman@ispvip.biz 26.Suncoast .......................GeorgeKish......................................................................gkish@tampabay.rr.com 27.Tarflower ........................GreggWalker...........................................................................asligregg@aol.com
