Fun Facts - Butterfly Counts - June 2023

 

It really does take a Village

Thank you to the Brisco Family Trust for your generous donation of more than 50 pollinator, Florida Friendly and Native plants for the Conner Park Butterfly Garden and ecosystem.

March 28, 2023 Planting Day - Brisco Family Trust's Donation of more than 50 plants.

After Hurricane Ian, coastal Collier County was reeling from the damage of more than 5' feet of storm surge, in homes, swallowing vehicles, carrying personal and household items blocks from where they were secured prior to the storm.  Our volunteers were among the many who lost homes, cars, or had significant damages to their dwellings and businesses, but they persevered.  

Conner Park is a passive walking park, adjacent the Parking Lot that serves Bluebill Beach Access located at the corner of Bluebill Ave and Vanderbilt Drive.  In 2021 the Volunteer Garden Program worked with Collier County Parks and Recreation's maintenance staff to replant the Conner Park garden as a pollinator garden, making it CCPR's third pollinator garden (at the time.)   

Since then, our volunteer gardeners have been moving caterpillars to other Park gardens to accommodate 

Fun Facts - Butterfly Counts - Collier County Parks

 

Save the Date 
Next Butterfly Count
June 24, 2023

Conner - On it's way to recovery

 

Conner Butterfly Garden is coming back

December 3, 2022

THEN

February 15, 2023

NOW

Although I have been watching this garden since the hurricane and have visited about every other week, I was still surprised by the resiliency of nature and the abundance of volunteer seedlings.

Some of the native plants that were originally in the garden are in overdrive coming back up. We are seeing Scorpion Tail, Blanket Flower, Salvia, Yellow Top, Porterweed and Beach Sundune flower. We even have enough now to share with some of the other Collier County Butterfly Gardens.

We still have some major plants that are still missing and likely will not reseed on their own. The team is working to get replacement plants order and in the ground in the next few weeks.

We have a couple of garden friends who have scatter in some Zinna, Cosmos and other annual seeds and they have joined the party, although they might find it tough during our summer heat, we will leave them in place. 

12 Health Benefits of Volunteering

 This article was posted by our Volunteer Management Software Company through their Blog.    Click here to read the entire article on their site. 

Clam Pass Trail Blazers 2023

 Clam Pass 465 Seagate Drive, Naples, FL

The Clam Pass Trail Blazers are a team of naturalist and environmentally conscious citizens.  They work hard to keep Clam Pass Beautiful, keep the trails maintained, remove exotic plants, place signage for the community to identify plants, trees and shrubs of Clam Pass.   They support the natural habitats of Clam Pass Beach, the ecosystems of the natural areas, and the wildlife that calls Clam Pass home. 

Since Hurricane Ian, the Clam Pass Trail Blazers have done some major heavy lifting,  removing horticultural debris from the parking lot, mangroves, trails and nature areas around and under the board walk.  They have cleared out a significant amount of storm debris from the mangroves and are currently working to clear the nature trails for visitors to explore and enjoy, post hurricane.

This team meets every Wednesday morning for about 2 hours.  If you are looking to make a major environmental impact, grow your social circle with like minded people, and enjoy working in nature, and want to make an important and measurable difference, you can join this amazing team.   

The Clam Pass Trail Team is looking to add new members.  

If you are interested call 239-252-4033 for more information.  

2023 Educational Garden Workshop - UF/IFAS Extension Collier County

 

For more information on this series visit: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/events/?location=collier