If you enjoy a good walk and appreciate the beauty of Florida's native flora and fauna, then you should become acquainted with The Florida Trail. Six hundred miles of this proposed 1200-mile hiking trail that will extend the length and breadth of Florida already exists.
The Florida Trail is the dream of a group of hiking enthusiasts from all over the state, who began fifteen years ago to carve it out of the Florida backwoods. They have put together bits and pieces of land, some owned privately, other sections belonging to either State or Federal governments, to make it. The sections of the trail owned by the government, such as the parts through the Ocala National Forest or Wekiwa Springs State Park, are open to the public. Those portions of the trail owned privately however, are open only to members of the Florida Trail Association, who must carry their membership card with them on hikes through these areas.
The trail is laid out, cut, maintained, and accurately mapped by volunteers.
Of interestto membersof the Florida Native Plant Society is the fact that the trail traverses many sections of the state rich in native plants.
The present southern terminus of the trail is the Tamiami Trail in Dade County. Here the trail traverseslarge wet areas of dwarf pond cypress covered with tillandsia, as well as drier areasof cabbage palm, pine, and saw
The trail continues north on the dike system running east of Conservation Area #1. Along the dike one can see pickerel weed, Myrsine, Myrica, Sagitcontinuednextpage
Two hikers on the Florida Trail through the Tosohatchee. Photo courtesy Florida Trail Association
in beige S,M,L. project Consizes Native Ave.,
byJosephA. Cascio
(This article has been extrapolated from two long letters to The Palmetto in response to Terry Mock's article in the last issue: "Which Comes First: Supply 0; Demand?")
Demand comes first, anywhere in the world except South Florida. Here, in Plant Hardiness Zone Ten-B, Demand comes second - not to Supply, but to Education.
To create a demand, the designer must desire to use the material, either for his/her own home, or for a client's space. The choice is made on a knowledge of the plant characteristics, and an ability to visualize the plant in its position within the design.
All who design successfully know the process of plant selection: knowing the conditions - such as wind, water, temperature, and light - that determine the habitat in which certain plants will thrive naturally; then carefully selecting a palette of plant materials that best thrive in this habitat. The designer begins with a knowledge or a reference source to all plants available or potentially available; eliminates all plants not suitable to the project habitats; and creates a design by refining the palette with characteristics of texture, form, color, and habit of growth.
find - the characteristics of the available endemic plants?
I've been designing with native plants for twenty years, and I know them well; unfortunately, none that I know are native to South Florida, with the exception of the red maple and many of the ferns. (And because I know its characteristics, I never choose to use the red maple.)
So what does one do who knows nothing? They can join the clubs, attend the meetings and workshops, walk the woods with naturalists and taxonomists, study the arboretums and nurseries, read the books, drive the neighborhoods in search of the natives "in use" to see where they grow and how they look in composition with others. This is fine for those of us who can spend our weekends in this pursuit, but most design offices would not support such unstructured educational efforts essential to firsthand knowledge of natives.
experiment, becauseit is important to those of uswho want to do top quality, long lastingdesignsof muted taste; plus, it isfun, and the people involved in native plants are the best.
Many of us, however, have neither
perhaps, and amended by careful review of experts, but the finished product satisfiesthe need and goal of one individual, rather than trying to satisfy the needsand goals of many.
into either butter or sour milk by the time of the American Society of LandscapeArchitects meetingon Captiva in April, and I hope others will usethis as a deadline aswell. If a whole bale of written material, slides,bibliographies, etc.,fromallzonesof Floridacouldbe
plants into the curriculum this fall, and begin a continuing education course for licensed landscape architects and designers,soon after.
an economically sound pace.
Even with the education and the deficulties in convincing developers and designers to use plants indigenous to their site for the final landscape planting. They c'omplain that materials are either too small or in too limited quantities. This is true, but it need not be.
supply:
ventory price listsof native materialsin any size; for a method by which designers might arrange a contract to vance of delivery; and a list of native plantsthey would like to grow if there
From this information, landscape designers can structure the contract for their client'-sneeds and develop a format for involvement between designer, client, and plant broker. These ideas are as yet untested, but a means of solving current supply protime before supplies are needed.
by Greg Bretz
Florida is on the way to almost anywhereasfar asthe birdsareconcerned. Or else it's home. Becauseof this, birds can fill your yard year 'round if you plant the things they like aswell ashaving bird feedersand bird
food-producing trees, shrubs, and vineswill attract a wide variety of finefeathered friends.
Thetype of birds you want to attract and the amount of space you have to
typeswith someof the speciesof birds that may be attracted to them:
TREES-Trees,largeor small,flowered or seeded, are needed for bird habitat.
Pines (Pinus spp.) - chickadee, nuthatch, tufted titmouse, brown thrasher, blue jay, pine warbler, pine siskin.
Mulberry (Morus rubra) - cardinal, thrushes, orioles (northern and orchard), vireos, yellow-billed cuckoo. cedar waxwing, tanagers (summer and scarlet), woodpeckers, and a large number of warblers.
Red cedar (juniperus silicico/a)robin, mockingbird, blue jay, catbird, bluebird, and cedar waxwing.
My favorite tree for attracting birds is the silk oak, but unfortunately, it's not
migrating birds are attracted to the blooms and to the insects that frequent the blooms. I have had as many
at one time. Other birds I have recorded in this tree arecatbirds, red-headed woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, black-throated blue warblers, Cape May warblers, and redstarts.
vide both food and cover for birds. Amongthemorepopularvarietiesthat
honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefo/ia), wild grape (Vitis spp.), and greenbrier (Smilax spp.). feed upon ingbird, waxwing, titmouse, all bright orange, or pink blossoms - at-
is the coral jasmine. During the spring
regular visitorstothisvineonourback porch.
These trees, shrubs, and vines only scratch the surfaceof the number and types that can be planted for the birds. The greater variety you have in your variety of birds you will find in your yard. There is great fun and satisfaction in trying different and unusual plantsto seewhat birds will like them. You will alsofind it fun to keeptrack of garden by your efforts.
SPEC.
Regional Botanist in the Endangered Species Program for the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, is looking for amateur tacted concerning their knowledge of the locations of particular rarespecies. and the threats facing particular speciesbeing considered for inclusion on the EndangeredSpeciesList. If you
Robinson at the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 75SpringStreet,S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303-3376.
WANTED:
Articles of interest to readers of The Palmetto are needed: articles on legislation, endangered species, landscaping with native plants, selling them, saving them, finding them, protecting them, conserving energy with them, and especially propagating them. Also articles on early Florida botanists.
If you have ideas, but words fail you, your information and with your expertise. Send to: The Palmetto, Peggy Lantz, Editor, Rt. 3, Box 437, Orlando 32811, 305/299-1472.
c.~EE"PE
percentage of the Everglades to sheet flow in order to restore the hydrocycle and insure sufficient rainfall in the future.
by Terrance Mock
The need for increased use of native vegetation was a major theme of the first South Florida Water Symposium held in Palm Beach, january 11th and 12th.
Top leaders in the fields of environmental protection, land development, public utilities, agriculture,
notes on the extent of Florida's current water crisis and to suggest solutions to the problem. Agreement on which proposed remedy offered the best
the situation can no longer be ignored.
Nathaniel P. Reed,former Secretary of the Interior and a current member of the Board of Governors for the South Florida Water Management
will have no future options. According to Reed,our entire economy depends on readily available cheap water, and "the southern portion of our state is drying up!" His suggested actions included the acquisition of additional floodplains and headwaters, and the restoration of the Kissimmee River.
As deputy executive director of the South Florida Management District, john R. Wodraska was clearly on a hotseat attempting to explain his agency's role in managing a resource that has gone from abundance to scarcity
managing an area, which is made up of 15,000square miles of land with an assessedvaluation of $111 billion, are tremendous and there does not ap-
everyone.Hisstatisticsweresobering: in a one in 700 year drought, which is
Okeechobee is a foot and a haJf below
do not get significant rainfall soon, phasedwater restrictionsoutlined on a newly designed water use formula will
will apply to all landowners within the District's boundaries, and - should conditionseverwarranta 60%reduc-
Arthur R.Marshall,who isoneofthe tists in the state, lectured on our
systemsare basedon cheap fossilfuels and abundant rainfall. Our level of technology hasgone beyond the level of our ability to provide resourcesto
south Florida's water is rainfall, and annual rainfall has been decreasing over the past 30 years due to channelization which alters the evaporation rate and therefore the entire hydrocycle. Marshall's opinion is that
Steve Mayberry, director of economic development for the Florida Department of Commerce, indicated that Florida could expect to have its industrial development and growth limited because of water shortages.
outspoken in his opinion that "South Florida Water Management is not the solution, they are the problem!" The simple solution to our problem is to "start filling in the ditches."
Dalton Yancey, general manager of
reported that agricultural water users have already cut consumption considerably and they feel that urban areas should conserve more. This opinion was seconded by Charles lee, Vice President of the Florida Audubon Society, who said that the political power and demand of urban areas will shut down agriculture if current trends continue.
ling factor for growth in Florida. he mentioned that serious consideration was being given drastic measures such as the construction of an aqueduct from North Florida springs to South Florida.
Victoria Tschinkel, Secretary of Florida's Department of Environmental Regulation focused on sewage facilities. She noted that there is a tremendous shortfall developing for facilities. Much fresh water is being continued page9
MINUTES MEETING
University of Florida, Gainesville, on January 30, 1982. The meeting convenedat 9:20A.M.with Bitl Par-
$9,992.55
4,081.24
subsidy: 3,500.00
Balance: $2,411.31
reimbursement for club-related expenses incurred by chapters, officers and district directors. Please continue to keep good records and hang on to all of your receipts. The following chapters petition-
FNPS
Botanical Society, a Chapter of FNPS; the Gainesville Chapter of FNPS;the South Brevard Chapter Chapter of FNPS.
COMMITTEEREPORTS
Propagation
Byrd, 1842 Ibis Ln, Sanibel 33957, 813/472-2866.
to speak at the April 23-24 conference of the American Society of Landscape Architects to be held at
Workman, Chuck Salter, and Joyce Gann.
namental Horticulture, announced Trees, and Native Shrubs of North press and will be available for "Slide Shows" address.)
Informational Resources - Carol Lotspeich, Lotspeich and Assoc... P.O. Box 12, Winter Park 32789, 305/423-0600.
Announcements: Dr. Whittier
continues to add to the extensive bibliography of literature pertaining to the native flora of Florida. The committee's goal is to sell copies of the bibliography at the Spring Conference.
Mrs. Alyene Hays. will set up slide files for use by FNPS members. Please contact her if
"Slide Show" item for more information and address.)
Conservation - Bill Ackerman, 4311 Ohio Ave., Tampa 33616, 813/985-7402.
Announcements: Hal Scott, a consultant for the phosphate min., ing industry, envisions a cooperative relationship between FNPS and site reclamation project officials.
Action Taken by Board: Hester Wagner moved that the Conservation Committee take as its primary task the drafting of a guiding policy statement that can be adapted to local situations in the event that a position is needed, and that the general policy statement follow those used by the United Nations. Motion carried.
(See item "Conservation, FNPS, and You" for more information on this.)
Finance - Terry Mock, Palm Beach Native Nursery, 2930 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach 33409, 305/686-0578.
Announcements: Dr. Grace Iver-
native plants available if anyone wants to make T-shirt silkscreens with them.
Considerable discussion followed concerning possible fundraising efforts.
Announcements: The Palmetto August, and November. The respective deadlines for submitting material for publication are January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15.
Action Taken by the Board: Dick Workman moved that The Palmet.
to be copyrighted. Seconded by Chuck Salter. Motion carried. Wayne King moved that corporate or organizational members of FNPS must request and may be granted permission to advertise the FNPS logo, and this information is to appear on the membership form. Motion carried.
5456
Parker Dr., Ft. Myers, 33907, 813/481-4676.Noreport.
Action Taken by Board: Dan Ward moved that the president appoint a co-chairperson of this comtington appointed Ms. Ella Clark of Stuart.
HS/PP Bldg., Univ. of Fla., Gainesville, 32611, 904/392-1831.
Announcements: Members of
outlined. (See "Science Committee Report':)
appoint a chairperson.
Other Business - Dr. Wayne King announced that the Museum and pleased to host the spring con-
The Board voted to not allow
through announcements in The Palmetto that encourage membership response.
The meeting adjourned at 1:30
Dorie Karl, Secretary
Following the meeting and lunch at the Reitz Union cafeteria, a large group of Board members mock, escorted by Dan Ward, who area of broad-leaved hardwoods. This area could be large or small, of higher ground", as it frequently
responsible for spreading information on the local level.
is in south Florida.
We drove along a narrow sandy two-rut road through the woods with bushes scraping the cars, deep into the hammock. Then we left the cars and walked farther to the edge of the ravine where Blues Creek disappeared into the cleft. Blues Creek is the southern most station for sensitive plant (Onoclea
peered into - numerous sinkholes
flock of vultures and one red-tailed hawk circled overhead, waiting for us to get lost in the gathering
the print of a - what? - a panther?
Dan had made a list of plants that he had found on the trail, and the hikers searched for and found Similax hispida and smallii, native cane (Arundinaria holly (Ilex opaca), Sabat minor, maples, oaks, magnolias. walteri or floridana) were in bloom and the partridge berry (Mitchella repens) was in berry.
A beautiful walk. Take it in May at the Conference if you missed it at the Board meeting.
FNPS, AN D YOU Board Meeting of
chairman of the Conservation Committee, was charged with formulating a general conservation policy based on the World Conservation Strategy. The World Strategy has been prepared by the International Union for Conserva-
Anyone in the Society, however, would be encouraged to write directly concerning local, state, national, or global plantrelated issues. Conservation is everyone's business. Get involved. Contact Bill at 4311 Ave., Tampa 33616, (days) 813/837-5893, (eves) 813/985-7402.
SCIENCE
The Science Committee's State-
the Board Meeting, as follows: Compile and disseminate information concerning Florida native plants, either in The Palmet. to or as separate original publications or reviews where and when appropriate. Assist the Board of Directors by providing specific information or answers to questions concerning conservation or other issues relevant to Florida native plants, when requested.
. Identify and recommend research projects for graduate students or others worthy of financial support by the Society to the Board of Directors. Grant proposals for such projects are to be screened directly by this committee.
Bijan Dehgan
Orlando
around the state. Therefore it is essential that local directors appoint Conservation Contact Per-
mediately. Bill will disseminate information to each contact person concerning conservation issues. The contact person would then be
Nature provided a beautiful fall day for the second meeting of the Central Chapter, on Dec. 5, 1981.
met that Saturday morning with picnic lunches at the Ecology Bldg. at Turkey lake Park in southwest Orlando. Sam Hopkins had a check list of native plants of the Park,and with Bob Ropeof the Orlando ParksDept., led the group over the board walk through the sink hole area, pointing out trees and shrubs. later Bob showed slides of the Park's design and planting with native plants, followed by a visit to the Cracker Farm. The next meeting of the Chapter
Alyene Hays has put together a slide show of pictures she has taken of Florida plants. She says "I'm strictly an amateur botanist," but she is showing them and giving talks to local groups, and is willing to dosofor FNPSChapters,forexpenses. She has about 80 slides of plants in Central Florida, and other
some future date, she will have a set of slides that she will be willing to send out, put together from her "second choice" slides, but for now her program includes her best selection and she goes with them. If any of you have some "second choice" slides that you would be put together a slide bank, catalog them, and prepare a mail-out program. Please put appropriate info (plant, location, name and address) on the slide - Alyene will send you a receipt - and send to Alyene Hays, 528 Cathcart Ave., Orlando 32803,305/425-1642.
David Hall also has put together
Trees, and one on the Native Shrubs of North and Central membership use soon. Write David ticulture, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, 904/392-1813.
of Central Florida to visit areas of the campus. Meet at the Biological Sciences Bldg., Feb. 20, at 9:30 for more information.
South Brevard
The South Brevard Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, which organized September 5, 1981, with three members, has 20 paid members as of Feb. 1, 1982-
(Don't you just love statistics?) The three original members - Hester Wagner, President, June Golder, Treasurer, and Margaret Hames, Secretary, with the help of Harold continued next page
Mildred Sias
Coburn, did the first survey for the vegetative list in the newly created Bay. Margaret Hames co-ordinated
ficers and is overseeing the addi-
by a larger group. Margaret, Bonnie Arbuckle, and others provide lectures and conduct walking
clubs. Weona Cleveland has compiled a slide program which
munities from the dune area inland to the wetlands. In December, Hester Wagner organized a group trip to Fairchild Gardens. She also provided botanical decorations when the League of Women Voters held a water conservation program: centerpiece of ferns and asters, plus individual favors of Forestiera segregata seedlings from her own yard. Every person in attendance took home a native plant.
training session for guides in the
Melbourne; originally a 4-hour course, it has become a monthly extended session under Bonnie Arbuckle's leadership. Regular meetings of the chapter consist of walks through Brevard's many
walks will take us through
Teate's Nature Center (April), Bull
Deseret Ranch (March 20). We invite interested central Floridians to join us for this last one. Meet at the Holopaw Service Station on 17-92 at 9:30 A.M. sharp. Pack a lunch and plan to spend the day.
minimize disturbance, leaving at
9:45. For confirmation of details, call Hester Wagner, 305/723-3219, after March 17.
Our lo-o-o-ngterm goal is to list every plant growing in south Brevard county. Of course, this is an unreasonable ambition, but if
wouldn't be doing any of these things. Jim Gann, vice-president, catalog, probably over the next 20 years!
Gainesville
BRAZILIAN
Bartlett
Frances Alsobrook reports that Lewis Yarlett spoke to the group at the December meeting, showing slides and discussing native
David Hall will speak on North Florida native plants. They also ing at the Annual Conference,
Gainesville.
Greg Bretz is president of the Orange County Audubon Chapter.
Joe Cascio is senior landscape ar-
Jernigan in Miami.
yard for a hobby and hashundreds of seedlings as well as full-grown palms.
Society Inc., an international organization.
Sherry and Paul Cummings manage The Tree Gallery in Palm Beach, and Trail Association.
Maybe the articlein the lastissueof mings, on the destructive exotic Brazilian pepper, hit a nerve. Whether soredbythe KiwanisClub,who isof-
(Your editor also knows of an Orlando readerof Palmettowho hascut down the peppers in his yard since reading that article.)
Terry Mock is president of Palm Finance Chairman of FNPS.
Dorie Karl, secretary of FNPS, is the staff botanist for Wilderness Country Club in Naples.
Mitzi Tremmel is a programmeranalyst for Florida Savingsand loan. Drawing is a hobby, with hopes for making it a profession.
byGertrudeW. Cole
Eleven species of palms are native to Florida, and Saba! etonia is found naturally nowhere else in the world. Its habitat is the sand scrub and dry pinelands of central Florida, from Lake County to, and including, Broward County.
Its s-shaped stem (trunk) is below the surface and only rarely erect to but a few feet.
The leaves of S. etonia are very definitely costopalmate. That is to say that the petiole, or leaf stem, extends into the fan-shaped leaf as a curved
Saba! minor, the only palm with which S.etonia might be confused, show no midrib and no threads.) Like all other Sabals,S. etonia has no teeth on the
from young Serenoarepens, the saw
and short, usually lies along the ground. It does not extend above the
leaves as in S.minor.
The fruit - round, black, and about a half inch in diameter - ripens beginning in September and hangs on into january. The seeds are brown and flat on both top and bottom.
S. etonia is adapted to full sun and cold and drought. Because it grows naturally in sandy soil, it must have ~ood drainage if used in home land-
lends itself well to a delightful place in the landscape. Saveit where you can. This palm is difficult to transplant
seed. This writer always removes the fleshor black shellfrom the seed,then soaksit in warm water for at leastthree days before planting them. Plant them in a medium such as Pro-Mix, or equal keep it damp.
Should you be golfing on the golf course near lake lotela in Highlands County, and hit a ball into the scrub, go in search. You'll soon find yourself
Forgetyour ball; enjoy etonia's beauty.
References:
Cultivated Palms, a special issue of the American Horticultural Magazine, Jan., 1961. Out of print.
Palms of the World, by JamesC. McCurrach
Palmsof South Florida, George B.Stevenson, paperback (The last two may be obtained from Fairchild Tropical Garden bookstore in Miami.)
