Florida Native Plant Society meeting

The Mangrove Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society starts off their seasonal meetings on October 11, 2016 at 7:00 PM, Lemon Bay Park, 570 Bay Park Blvd in Englewood. Guest speaker, Ralph Mitchell, Director and Horticultural Agent for the Charlotte County Extension Service since 2000, will talk about “Beneficial Organisms in the Garden.” In addition to gardening and penning a weekly column for the Englewood Sun, Ralph has a keen interest in natural history and archaeology. The Master Gardener Speakers Bureau (UF/IFAS) is the sponsor for this presentation. The Mangrove Chapter is one of 37 FNPS Chapters throughout Florida and meets the second Tuesday of each month from October through May. At each meeting a program on natural history, landscaping with native plants, or other similar topic is presented. Wildflower field trips are scheduled every last Saturday of the month (except in December) with walkers meeting at designated locations at 9:00 a.m. Meetings, field trips and special events are free and all are welcome. For more information about Mangrove Chapter activities and events, please visit mangrove.fnpschapters.org. FNPS is a nonprofit organization whose mission is the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native communities of Florida.