We're arranging CEUs (Continuing Education Credits) for the 2012 Conference. If there are specific credits that you need and that you think FNPS could help with, please contact marci.wilcox@gmail.com. 

When you use GoodShop.com, a percentage of nearly every sale will be donated to the FNPS and there’s also coupon offers. GoodShop includes all name brand stores and more. Also, each time you complete an internet search at home and work through GoodSearch, a donation goes to FNPS.  Goto the FNPS home page: http://www.fnps.org .    Click on the GoodShop icon in the upper right corner and when on the GoodShop page, scroll to the bottom and download the GoodSearch toolbar. (The box says “Never miss a donation”).  Click “download toolbar” and follow instructions. Choose FNPS-Melbourne, FL as your charity of choice. Then shop away and contribute to FNPS at the same time.   It’s easy and simple to use. Spread the word to your friends, colleagues and family members 

FNPS has finalized its first Annual Report. Click here to download (a 4 meg pdf file). If you wish to print this file, you can download a high resolution version (13.8 meg). 

FNPS members recenly received my annual fund letter (Download) describing my childhood adventures in South Florida's outdoors – memorable experiences made possible thanks to preserved lands and my parents' initiative. This heritage led to my love of Florida's nature and my support of organizations like FNPS, which works every day, through grassroots volunteer members, to preserve, conserve and restore the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. I hope you share my gratitude and will consider a donation to the society (Donate Now by Clicking Here). We appreciate any contribution of any size, and donations are fully tax deductible. ----- Steve Woodmanse  

FEBRUARY 1, 2012 deadline to submit abstracts for twenty-minute science research presentations on native plants and native plant communities as part of FNPS annual conference.    Please click here for additional detail.

The Florida Wildflower Foundation is producing a Coreopsis brochure and is seeking high resolution close-up flower images of: C. integrifolia, C. leavenworthii, C. major, C. nuecensis, C. pubescens, C. tinctoria, C. tripteris Please email images to Jeff Norcini 

on March 1, 2012.  This is a $1,000.00 max educational grant sponsored by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council.     Please click here for additional detail.

Dr. Paul D. Pratt, USDA/ARS Invasive Plant Research Lab, is looking for native populations of plants in Rubiaceae family, where he can collect seed, take cuttings or dig up the whole plant where appropriate and permitted. Dr. Pratt is working on a biological control project targeting Paederia foetida (Skunk vine). They have a couple of promising arthropods that are natural enemies, but need to make sure they do not attack our native flora. He is looking for the following species: Diodia teres, Galium tinctorium, Pentodon pentandrus, Spermacoce prostrate, Spermacoce keyensis, Stenaria nigricans var. floridana and Oldenlandiopsis callitrichoides. Contact him at (954) 475-6549. 

The Florida Native Plant Society maintains an Endowment Research Grant program for the purpose of funding research on native plants.  These are small grants ($1500 or less), awarded for a 1-year period, and intended to support research that forwards the mission of the Florida Native Plant Society which is "to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida."FNPS Conservation Grants support applied native plant conservation projects in Florida. These are small grants ($1500 or less) awarded for a 1-year period. Examples of projects that this grant supports are on-the-ground native plant community restoration, land acquisition, and habitat enhancement.  To qualify for a Conservation Grant, the proposed project must be sponsored by an FNPS Chapter.Application deadline for the 2012 Awards is March 2, 2012.  Awards will be announced at the May 2012 Annual Conference in Plant City. Awardees do not have to be present at the Conference to receive award.Details and applications for the awards can be found on these pages: Conservation Awards & Endowment Research Awards 

Florida Meetings are Wednesday, January 11th and Thursday, January 12th.    Please click here for additional detail.

The Florida Wildflower Foundation launched an online research literature database of Florida wildflowers today that draws together findings on more than 260 species.  Funds for the project were provided by the Florida State Wildflower license plate.    Please click here for additional detail.

The FNPS blog(www.fnpsblog.org), one of our most successful outreach programs, covers a wide range of topics: native plant profiles, FNPS chapter field trips & other chapter activities, reviews of parks and conservation areas, landscaping with native plants, preservation of Florida’s wild spaces, and so much more. Posts are written by members from across the state. Now you can sign up to receive an email when new posts are published. Just type in your email in the box and hit the Submit button. 

Clck HERE to view the merchandise for sale that supports FNPS and FNPS Chapters. 

This Plant Expedition is designed especially for Florida Native Plant Society Members and there are only FOUR spots remaining. If you are interested in the January 14-26, 2012 Trip, please contact Aventuras Naturales  at tours@aventurasnaturales.org or 954.603.2907  The Itinerary is available by clicking HERE. 

Farm Bill Actions to Address Forest Pests and FNPS President, Steve Woodmansee, approves the Florida Native Plant Society signing on to a letter to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to support this initiative. In adopting the 2008 Farm Bill, the Congress included Title X, Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, Section 10201, Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention, and Section 10202, National Clean Plant Network. The funds of Section 10201 have been allocated to six goal areas, as follows: • Enhance plant pest/disease analysis and survey • Target domestic inspection activities at vulnerable points in the safeguarding continuum • Enhance and strengthen pest identification and technology • Safeguard nursery production • Conduct outreach and education to increase public understanding, acceptance, and support of plant pest and disease eradication and control efforts • Enhance mitigation capabilities Read the letters by clicking HERE 

Download the document HERE