Volume 7, Issue 1Winter 2014

Florida Wildflower Foundation Quarterly Newsletterwww.FlaWildflowers.org

news from the FIELD

Page 4 Volume 7, Issue 1

Welcome new members (r) – renewal

Business/ContributorMartha Steuart (r)

Bruce Turley, Wilcox Nursery (r)Goddard Family

GeneralCandace Arnold (r) Jerry Fritz (r)

Harvey Goldstein (r) William JonesRosemary Mack (r) Jennifer MasonNancy McCormack Dixie TateArjan van der Vaart Richard Wunderlin

License Tag Dave Asaibene Carolyn Beckman Kiel (r)

Jan Blue Leigh Brooks (r)Joan Bryant (r) John Holecek

Francine Kienle Marlene Lindsay (r)Travis MacClendon Diana SageserMarilyn Smullen (r) Adda Wallace (r)

Susan WeyenethStudent/Senior

Gary McGraw Margaret Oglesby (r)Paulette Smith (r)

SustainingSea Oaks Property Owner Association (r)

CalendarThrough Feb. 14: “La

Florida: 500 Years in the Place of Flowers.” The photography display features 15 large formats by John Moran, one of Florida’s preeminent nature photographers. At Okeechobee County Courthouse, 304 NW 2nd St., Okeechobee. View the traveling exhibit’s full schedule at http://flawildflowers.org/resources/pdfs/pdf2012/Moran_Tour_Schedule.pdf.

Jan. 7: “Florida Wildflowers: A Comprehensive Guide”; 7 p.m., Beverly Hills Lions Club, 72 Civic Circle, Beverly Hills. Dr. Walter Taylor will give a presentation on his new book during a meeting of FNPS’ Citrus County chapter. Details: (352) 382-3365.

Jan. 13: “Florida Wildflowers: A Comprehensive Guide”; 7 p.m., Brevard Zoo, 8225 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne. Dr. Walter Taylor will give a presentation on his new book during a meeting of FNPS’ Conradina Chapter. Details: vince@vincelamb.com.

Jan. 28: Panhandle Wildflower Alliance meeting, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., FDOT Burns Building, Tallahassee. Learn about FDOT’s revamped Wildflower and Designated Natural Areas Program. Details: Eleanor Dietrich, eleanor43@aol.com. Download the meeting flyer at http://flawildflowers.org/resources/pdfs/2013/PWA_DOTProgram-LoRes.pdf.

Visit FlaWildflowers.org/news.php for full calendar and event details.

Join a movement that’s growing like wildflowers!

Your name (please print)

Address

City State Zip Code

Area code and phone number

Email

q New Member q Renewing MemberCheck one: __ Student/Senior, $15 __ Contributor/Business $100 __ General, $25 __ Sustaining, $250 __ License tag: I’m a State Wildflower license tag holder, which entitles me to a free membership (specify Tag No. and Expiration date)

Please make check payable to Florida Wildflower Foundation Inc.Send to:Florida Wildflower Foundation225 S. Swoope Ave., Suite 110, Maitland, FL 32751

or visit www.FlaWildflowers.org/membership.php

Show your Flower Power — get the plate!

Help preserve and conserve Florida’s native wildflowers and grasses by joining hundreds of other members who have raised $3 million for wildflowers over the past decade. Your membership and donations help seed highways, fund community and school plantings, create educational materials, support important research projects, and much more!

Become a Florida Wildflower Foundation member today to help ensure La Florida, or land of flowers, stays true to its name. Use the convenience of PayPal to join online at www.FlaWildflowers.org/membership.php, or mail this coupon with your check to the address below. Membership is free if you have a State Wildflower license plate.

Plant Profile: Wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis)Looking for butterfly plant that flowers spring through fall, grows in adverse conditions and

reseeds easily? Consider wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis). This ground-hugging native wildflower, found throughout Florida, grows 5 to 12 inches high.

The flower is similar to garden petunia, but that is where the similarity ends. Wild petunia can grow in sandy to moist soils and in sunny to shady conditions. The more sun, the more flowers this wonderful wildflower will produce. It also will come back after a winter freeze.

Nectar and pollen from the blue to violet flowers attract butterflies and bees. It is the host plant for the larva of the common buckeye (Junonia coenia) and white peacock (Anartia jatrophae) butterflies.

Wild petunia is a self seeder. The plant can also be propagated through cuttings and by dividing the plant after it is a couple of years old.For more information:• hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/shrub_

fact_sheets/ruecara.pdf• www.fnps.org/assets/pdf/pubs/ruellia_

caroliniensis_carolinawildpetunia.pdf• hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2011/12/

wild-petunia-ruellia-caroliniensis.html (Photo/Walter Taylor)

Enriching lives with Florida’s native wildflowers

INSIDEUF endowment recipient named .... 2

Panhandle Wildflower Alliance update ........................................ 3

Meet member Gary Henry ............. 3

Plant profile ................................... 4

New members ................................ 4

Calendar ........................................ 4

Do you love native Florida wildflowers? Do you have them in your yard or garden? If so, the Florida Wildflower Foundation wants to recognize your landscape. In February, the Foundation will roll out its new landscape recognition program: Wildflowers — Naturally! Celebrating Florida’s First Flowers.

Throughout history, flower gardens have inspired people of all ages to contemplate the beauty of nature. And in nature, flowers have their own displays based on ecology and regional climate. Many of our state’s native species adapt well to home or commercial landscapes and create natural habitat gardens with “real Florida” style. More people are discovering the pleasure that comes from growing native wildflowers – from their simple beauty to enjoying the butterflies, birds and other wildlife they draw.

Adapting wildflowers to a garden setting

Wildflowers – Naturally! Celebrating Florida’s First Flowers

Florida native wildflowers enhance the beauty and ecological value of any landscape. (Photo/Lisa Roberts)

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FloridaWildflowerFoundation Follow us on Twitter: @FlaWildflowers Read our blog: www.blogspost.com/FloridaWildflowerFoundation

In landscapes, Florida wildflowers:• Support pollinators that put food on our tables• Curb water use (right plant, right place)• Reduce water and air pollution• Provide wildlife habitat• Beautify communities• Help maintain a healthy environment

Dixie Tate joins Foundation staffPlease join us in welcoming Dixie Tate, who

joined the Florida Wildflower Foundation as annual fund manager in October. Dixie moved to Florida as a teen, giving her plenty of time to grow to love and appreciate the beauty of Florida’s outdoors.

“I am excited to be working with an organization that may seem on the surface to be all about pretty flowers — native wildflowers, that is — but in reality goes so much deeper than that. I have always believed that there is no finer job than promoting and seeking support for something you truly believe in, and I am delighted to be on board.”

Prior to joining the Foundation, Dixie was assistant manager at Ten Thousand Villages in Winter Park, a fair trade, nonprofit purveyor of handmade items from artisans in developing countries. Previous to that, she spent many years as an editor, writer and editorial board member at the Orlando Sentinel.

Dixie holds a master’s degree in liberal studies from Rollins College and taught humanities classes for several semesters at Valencia State College. She is a certified Florida Master Naturalist and a member of the Florida Wildflower Foundation and other environmental organizations.

requires a unique understanding of each plant’s growth habits and a willingness to create an environment similar to natural wildflower habitats. It takes a special gardener to see beauty and connectivity in seasonal changes required for regrowth and regeneration of wildflowers from year to year.

The Wildflowers — Naturally! program will recognize gardens throughout the state that have areas dedicated to native wildflowers, flowering shrubs and trees. Recognized landscapes can help increase awareness of Florida native wildflowers, promote wildflower conservation across the state, and educate others about landscaping with Florida

natives. The $15 application fee will offset administrative expense, and the cost of compiling information about applicant

landscapes and creating educational materials.Gardens that will be considered for

recognition should be on residential or commercial property, cover at least 50 square feet, and be planted with a minimum of 75 percent Florida native wildflowers. Points are given for species diversity, longevity and regional species selection. Gardening practices that minimize human impact on the land and increase habitat value for resident

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Meet Nicholas Genna, first recipient of Gary Henry Endowment assistance at UF By Claudia Larsen

In fall 2013, University of Florida graduate student Nicholas Genna became the first student to receive a graduate assistantship from the Gary Henry Endowment for the Study of Florida Native Wildflowers.

The Florida Wildflower Foundation established the endowment in 2007 to provide funds for graduate students conducting full-time wildflower research. The endowment honors Henry, a founding Florida Wildflower Foundation board member who served as the Florida Department of Transportation’s landscape architect for many years and was instrumental in establishing the department’s roadside wildflower program. Henry also helped lead the effort to establish the State Wildflower license plate, which funds research, education and planting programs statewide.

Genna is studying under Dr. Hector Perez within the Department of Environmental Horticulture’s Plant Restoration and Conservation Horticulture Consortium on the university’s Gainesville campus. Genna talks about his background and interests: Why did you choose to do your study in plant restoration and conservation?I first met Dr. Perez while enrolled in his Plant Propagation course a year ago. He quickly became someone who I knew I had to get in touch with to explore possibilities after my undergraduate career. Our first meeting evolved into a tentative agreement to complete an undergraduate research project for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences honors program I was involved with. Dr. Perez and I are in the process of publishing the work I completed dealing with infected sea oats seeds. My undergraduate experience with sea oats, in combination with personal experience in South Florida, convinced me to pursue a career conserving and restoring native plant habitat. What is the outline for your work and timeline to complete it? Dr. Perez and I are in the process of discussing a project for my master’s degree dealing with seed mass and climate change. We would like to investigate whether seeds of larger mass within any given seed lot have a competitive advantage over seeds of smaller mass when germinating at higher temperatures. Higher average temperatures will likely become a reality as the world continues to warm due to global climate change.Have you lived in Florida very long? Where did you grow up?I was born and raised in a southern suburb of Miami, now called Cutler Bay. What do you admire the most about Florida?I admire the diversity of ecosystems Florida offers. I can kayak South Florida coastal mangroves in search of tailing permit, troll the east coast for large gamefish, hike an upland pine habitat in North Florida, and encounter glass lizards sunning on the trail, or even visit the Everglades and see one of the many alligators.

Is there anything you wish you could personally change in the state? I wish more of Old Florida existed, especially in areas where populations are larger in South Florida. I have always told others that if I settle down in South Florida, I would remove any nonnative vegetation and immediately plant a pine tree. I always get a kick out of the sign that says “welcome to the real Florida” when entering state parks. What is your experience with Florida native plants?Formerly, my sea oats project investigated the use of a biocide to control fungal disease (Alternaria blight) in sea oats seeds, which naturally occurs. Informally, I make an effort to identify and photograph native wildflowers while visiting one of the many parks in Gainesville. Currently, my favorite wildflower is groundsel tree (Baccharis halimifolia). This plant can be seen blooming in abundance at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Gainesville in the fall. How did you come to appreciate Florida plants and ecosystems?I came to appreciate Florida native plants and ecosystems after reading Priceless Florida by Ellie Whitney. Also, South Florida, not including the Everglades, has relatively little expansive natural habitat. My craving for native plants in South Florida landscapes and the inability to visit natural habitat in my neighborhood created a strong interest in me to discover what once grew in my back yard.Are there any particular habitats/ecosystems where wildflowers grow that draw your interest?No, I appreciate any and all wildflowers I may come across. I have to admit that it becomes challenging for me to drive in spring when there are many different wildflowers blooming on the roadsides. Why do you think studying seeds is important? Seed research is extremely important for the conservation and restoration of native plants due to the resulting genetic diversity that is achieved with sexual recombination. Genetic diversity can become a very important factor if targeted restoration areas have a dwindling gene pool or a barrier that prevents neighboring populations to communicate.

How do you research the biology of wildflower seeds?It can be researched in many ways. A few include studying germination competition between native wildflowers and invasive species, germination timing and what triggers certain seeds to germinate, or what drives certain seeds to express a degree of dormancy that must be overcome in order to germinate. What does an investigation of seed viability entail?A viable seed contains an embryo that is metabolically alive. Seed viability can be tested by simply germinating a random sample of seeds. However, a resulting low germination percentage may be due to dormancy rather than nonviable seeds. Another method, which I used with sea oats, is the tetrazolium test. Seeds are soaked in a solution of tetrazolium chloride, which turns embryo tissue red if metabolically active. This test is extremely informative for an investigator because one can visually see which areas of a seed embryo are viable and which are not viable. Have you authored any publications or articles on wildflowers?No, but Dr. Perez and I are in the last steps of finalizing a paper I wrote regarding my undergraduate research with sea oats. I am very excited about the prospect of submitting my work to a journal soon for publication. With so many different wildflowers, how do you decide which wildflower species to concentrate on?I asked Dr. Perez the same question. Time is a huge challenge when completing a graduate degree. Therefore, we will most likely focus on a species whose seed is available in absolute abundance. This prevents me from encountering a shortage of material, possibly extending the amount of time it would take to complete my degree. Should endemic species of Florida wildflowers receive priority in research?That’s a great question. People tend to choose favorites with species that are easily recognizable or in great abundance. However, each and every wildflower that exists within an ecosystem plays a unique role. Therefore, I would hope that we wouldn’t assign priority to any species solely because they are endemic unless that single endemic species plays an absolute critical role to the success of a particular habitat. Do you think your work in the laboratory can improve grower success in wildflower production?Yes. For example, my undergraduate work involved exploring an avenue to treat sea oats seeds infected with fungus in hopes of increasing germination when seeds are planted in a natural environment. This information can assist a grower that is experiencing low germination due to fungal decay with sea oats or possibly even other species.

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(Wildflowers, continued from page 1)

and migrating insects, birds and animals earn additional points during the application review.

If your garden qualifies for recognition, you will receive a certificate to frame or keep in your garden journal. You’ll also be eligible to order a colorful aluminum sign to display in your garden so you can tell everyone you “work with nature” by using practices that support both Florida’s wildflowers and wildlife. Up to three outstanding applicants per year will be recognized at the Foundation’s annual Florida Wildflower Symposium.

If you have native wildflowers in your yard or garden, you’ll want to apply and be recognized! With your help, we can celebrate these gardens and illustrate a unique way to create beautiful corridors that sustain wildlife and pollinators.

Visit www.FlaWildflowers.org to read our definition of a Florida wildflower. On the Planting page, you’ll also find planning and planting tips, guides to help you identify which species are appropriate for your region, and information on where to buy native wildflowers and seeds.

Member profile: Gary HenryGary Henry is a longtime

wildflower enthusiast and member of the Florida Wildflower Foundation board. Why does he support the Foundation and its work?

“For quite a few years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many people who love the natural beauty of Florida and treasure all that is unique about the state. Those of us who support the Florida Wildflower Foundation have worked hard to educate others about the value and importance of wildflowers to the environment and to mankind, but we still have a lot of work to do. We cannot educate ourselves and others without proper research and knowledge, and that is my endeavor in being a member of the Florida Wildflower Foundation.

“Growing up, I was fixated on flowers. It didn’t matter what they were: If they caught my eye, I was interested. Spending summers during high school working in a nursery had the biggest impact on my future. Plants! Five years studying landscape architecture at the University of Florida galvanized my interest. But it wasn’t until I began working at the Florida Department of Transportation that I had a true education. There was an effort to use the plants that were available in the industry and required the least maintenance. Unfortunately, back in the early ‘70s, besides exotic tropicals, which required some care to

survive or to look decent in our public places, there weren’t many choices.

“About that time I was assigned FDOT’s Wildflower Program. We tried all kinds of species that were available nationwide, but they were tremendously unsuccessful. It wasn’t until a research project was funded that we learned the major problems: We were using non-native seed and planting out of season. The more I was challenged by my superiors and the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, the more focused I became

on trying to make the program a success. “The Wildflower Program was one of the most

rewarding programs I worked on; it became a personal interest that continued into retirement. Seeing a roadside or field covered in a fabulous display has never ceased to thrill me. To me, the creation of the Florida Wildflower Foundation was the best way to continue the program for the future and increase our knowledge of our native species and encourage public involvement.”

What wildflowers are growing in your yard?Senecio glabellus (Butterweed). A great January

bloomer!What do you think is the biggest threat to

Florida’s native wildflowers?Development.What is your favorite wildflower?Gaillardia pulchella (Blanketflower). Very showy

and spreads if allowed.

Panhandle Wildflower Alliance makes strides to protect roadside speciesThe Panhandle Wildflower Alliance —

a group formed in 2012 with a meeting of wildflower enthusiasts from Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties—has expanded during the last several months to include members from Calhoun, Gulf, and Jackson counties in the Florida Department of Transportation’s District 3.

In 2012, the Florida Wildflower Foundation contracted with Applied Sustainability Enterprises to promote wildflower tourism in the Panhandle — home of the state’s most profuse roadside floral displays. ASE quickly organized the PWA and encouraged members to work with their cities and counties to protect roadside wildflowers while increasing awareness of wildflower eco-tourism opportunities. To illustrate those opportunities, ASE’s Pam Portwood and Diane Delaney recently conducted a four-day tour for travel writers that included time with wildflower experts in Apalachicola National Forest. The trip resulted in widespread articles that noted the beauty of the area’s flora.

“The importance of the Alliance and its grassroots work cannot be understated,” said Lisa Roberts, the Foundation’s executive director. “The group is concentrating its efforts along roadsides because collectively they are — besides being important habitats — the keystone of

wildflower tourism. People love visiting beautiful places, and there’s nothing more beautiful than gorgeous roadside displays of native wildflowers in bloom.”

The Foundation also developed and hosts an Alliance web page (http://flawildflowers.org/fpwa.php), through which individuals may join the PWA, post comments on roadside observations, and post news and alerts via the group list-serv. In addition, the Foundation created and monitors the Panhandle Wildflower Alliance Facebook group page, which more than 100 people have joined.

Seeing tremendous potential in FDOT’s positive response to requests to maintain roadside wildflowers, the Foundation engaged Eleanor

Dietrich, Tallahassee, last July to serve as a liaison between the PWA and FDOT. Not only has she represented the PWA in discussions concerning the strengthening of the department’s Wildflower Program (which is expected to soon include Designated Natural Areas along roadsides), Eleanor has ridden with District 3 maintenance personnel to point out areas where mowing practices could be altered to preserve plants and produce more flowers.

Conversations with District 3’s maintenance department, specifically with Chad Williams, have allowed PWA members to interact in very positive and helpful ways. The district

also recently hired a Landscape Projects Manager, Dustie Moss, who will implement the Wildflower and Natural Areas Program procedures. The revamped program is expected to become active in early 2014. To introduce it to PWA members and others, the Foundation is organizing a PWA meeting Jan. 28 at the FDOT offices in Tallahassee. Visit http://www.flawildflowers.org/news.php#70 to view the meeting announcement and agenda.

The PWA also is bringing together scientists with expertise in natural areas, plants and land management, who will be resources to FDOT — both at the state and District 3 level — for implementing the procedures.