Celebrate National Native Plant Month with the latest issue of The Palmetto!
This issue has something for everyone - André Michaux's orchid discoveries, 2025 FNPS Landscape Award winners, and more! Browse this issue and the full archive at issuu.com/fnps.
🌿 April is National Native Plant Month & we're celebrating all month long!
🌳 More than 17K native plant species grow in the US.
‼️ Habitat loss, invasive species, & extreme weather events are driving species decline.
🌸 But we can help reverse it. Join us and help protect FL native plants!
Update: the item was pulled from the agenda but the council members agreed to a workshop. The fight continues.
Tonight the Volusia County Council will consider harmful changes to the Volusia Forever program - we support maintaining the program's integrity. Read the letter in full here: irp.cdn-website.com/ea562199/fil...
thank you!
if you haven’t contacted your Senator or Representative yet on this issue please do so now! Find your Senator here (buff.ly/qvLtxUg ) and your Representative here (buff.ly/47GWxoL ).
Your calls and emails to your Senators and members of the Senate Rules Committee worked! Blue Ribbon Projects was TP’d today by Senate President Ben Albritton on the floor. We still need a final push to kill this bill -
Check out the full action alert for more details: buff.ly/6yfPPT0
SB1066 has already cleared every other hurdle, including resounding votes of support by three different Senate committees. The 2026 legislative session is nearly over, and there is a chance SB1066 will not be put to a vote unless Albritton understands that it is a priority for the people of Florida.
Please contact Senator Albritton today to encourage him to allow a vote on Ocklawaha Restoration (SB 1066) . He has two phone numbers - please try both: (850) 487-5027 or (850) 487-5229 and a quick email would also be effective - albritton.ben@flsenate.gov.
Congratulations to Dr. Weston Testo on receiving the Dr. Barbara Grigg Grant! His research will investigate the evolutionary origins and conservation status of Asplenium plenum, a rare fern found only in Florida's limestone grottoes. 🎉 #FloridaNativePlants #Botany #ConservationScience
Do you know someone who deserves recognition for their work for Florida's native plants?
Nominations are open for FNPS service awards, due May 15, 2026. Let's make sure the people and chapters doing incredible work for Florida's native plants get the recognition they deserve! buff.ly/S1PPpB1
Yes, quite.
Thank you!
Please call and email the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Rules Committee - phone numbers and emails are at our full action alert: www.fnps.org/ecoaction-al...
🔥 It's really happening, we're finally getting to hear about fire in the rocklands with Owen Schneider of Temple U. Join us this Friday at noon EST for a deep dive into plant flammability, fire behavior, and environmental conditions on Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park.
🚨 FNPS opposes Section 6 of CS/HB 433, which allows Florida Forever conservation lands to be sold for agriculture without confirming their lack of conservation value. An RFLPP easement on these lands is insufficient compared to permanent protection. It passed the senate - the House is our last hope.
For the first time since the "super" ghost orchid was discovered at Audubon #Florida's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary nearly 20 years ago, the plant failed to flower at all. www.wusf.org/environment/... via @wusf.org
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone who loves and cares about Florida's native plants. We love and appreciate you so we made you a few Valentine's Day cards to send to your loved ones.
💚 Peggy Lantz has left us all one final valentine. 💚
She thanked you, the membership, for “the fine organization you have made of FNPS” and encouraged us to “Keep going!” What a beautiful reminder that FNPS has been built by its members. Today, we honor her love for FNPS and we will keep going.
Your voice matters - this particular comment period ends tonight, so don't delay in dashing out a quick note supporting the 'NO BUILD' option.
Use the blue comment button in the right-hand column of this webpage: buff.ly/rr5ChCj
📢 A new toll road through Hardee County and the heart of the Florida Wildlife Corridor in south central Florida is being proposed that would harm rare plants and their natural communities as well well-established collaborative conservation planning efforts.
(772) 510-0120 | John.Snyder@myfloridahouse.gov
buff.ly/4goSa9k
Today we sent an email urging Martin County's State Representative John Snyder to support full funding of Florida Forever. We encourage all Floridians, but particularly Martin County residents, to call and email Rep. Snyder to express their support for Florida Forever funding.
Miss our livestream last week? No worries, it's available now on our YouTube Channel 📺
Johanna Freeman discussed her research on keystone pollinator plants of sandhills and how this might inform priorities for producers trying to bring new groundcover restoration species into commercial production
SB 718 (McClain) "Water Management" - Prohibits local governments from enacting water quality or quantity protections, pollution prevention, or wetlands protections.
For more details about each bill and for links to easily find your senator/rep check out: buff.ly/8tbn17h
SB 686 (McClain) / HB 691 (Botana) "Agricultural Enclaves" - any piece of ag land of a certain size (>1,280 acres) that's bordered by development (75%) is automatically developable.
SB 354 (McClain) / HB 299 (Melo) "Blue Ribbon Projects" - Zoning / land use / and comprehensive planning regulations all DO NOT APPLY to any development project larger than 10,000 acres (> 15 square miles) as long as 60% is reserved for agriculture, recreation, and/or utilities development.