Biophilia Institute, 2372 Twin Flower Lane Sanford, Orlando, FL (2026)

06/05/2026

Learning by doing: The path to conservation!

Every June 5th, World Environment Day—established by the UN in 1972— With more than 42,000 species threatened with extinction, millions of tons of plastic flooding our oceans every year, and alarming ecosystem degradation, passivity is not an option. Faced with this challenge, action is fundamental: learning by doing means valuing in order to conserve. This pedagogical approach transforms theoretical awareness into empirical experience, allowing each local sustainable action to generate a measurable and significant ecological impact.

This methodology connects directly with the premise of ecologist Baba Dioum: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what teaches us.” Promoting environmental literacy and a systemic understanding of biodiversity is the path to ensuring its conservation. Choose active participation today: take a proactive role in your community and collaborate in the restoration of our planet.

“We continue working alongside communities: connecting, educating, and conserving.” Biophilia Institute.

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06/04/2026

Happy June, Environment Month!

We invite you to read and subscribe to our monthly newsletter, a space dedicated to sharing the results and progress of our latest initiatives. Get firsthand access to the advancements and innovations that are shaping the future of our current projects.

Connect with us:
- Email us at: [email protected]
- Visit our website: www.biophiliaweb.org
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Join the conversation and transform vision into environmental action!

“We continue working alongside communities: connecting, educating, and conserving.” Biophilia Institute.

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06/01/2026

Groveview Park: New Roots for the Araguaney Project in Sanford

Last Friday, May 29, as part of the celebration of National Tree Day in Venezuela, we brought the Araguaney Project to Groveview Park in the city of Sanford. Sanford thus became the fourth city in Central Florida to join this initiative led by the organization Venezuela Libre News and supported by advocates for democracy, civil society, and the Biophilia Institute.

This fourth planting was hosted and coordinated by the organization “Venezuelans in Sanford” . Thanks to their established leadership in the area, we were able to count on the participation of city officials, religious leaders, a Venezuelan folk group, residents, and a large representation of the local Venezuelan community. They all came together to plant the Tabebuia aurea tree, selected for its great adaptability and its close relationship with the araguaney (Handroanthus chrysanthus), Venezuela’s national tree since 1948.

This project transcends the environmental sphere: it is a living monument erected from exile. Through it, the Venezuelan community synergistically merges its cultural identity, a deep sense of gratitude toward the host society, and a firm message of freedom, transforming urban forestry into a vehicle for historical memory and the promotion of democratic values.

We invite you to participate in our next planting event this Friday, June 5—in celebration of World Environment Day—in the city of Leesburg, FL, which will become the fifth city participating in our project.

“We continue working alongside communities: connecting, educating, and conserving.” Biophilia Institute.

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05/27/2026

Experiential Learning at Ruby's Garden: Children Connect with Science and Biodiversity.

On Wednesday, May 20th, we implemented an educational workshop focused on restoring planter boxes with pollinator plants at Ruby's Garden in Orlando. The activity featured the participation of children from the Engelwood Neighborhood Center's after-school program, who engaged in an active learning process through planter maintenance, seed selection, substrate preparation, and direct sowing.

Beyond the practical component, the session examined the ethnobotanical value and ecological potential of the species incorporated into the ornamental design. This experimental approach stimulates STEM education, cultivating critical thinking in children regarding the scientific value of urban biodiversity. This initiative is part of our strategic alliance with the Engelwood Neighborhood Center, aimed at generating a measurable impact on the intergenerational well-being of the Orlando community.

“We continue working alongside communities: connecting, educating, and conserving.” Biophilia Institute.

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05/25/2026

Venezuelan roots: The Araguaney project expands to Lake Nona!

On May 22nd, accompanied by renowned Venezuelan cartoonist Rayma as a special guest, we brought the Araguaney Project to the city of Lake Nona, making it the third city in Central Florida to join this initiative. Led by the organization Venezuela Libre News and supported by advocates for democracy, civil society, and the Biophilia Institute, this project transcends the environmental sphere: it is a living monument erected from exile. Through it, the Venezuelan community synergistically merges its cultural identity, a deep sense of gratitude towards the host society, and a firm message of freedom, transforming urban forestry into a vehicle for historical memory and the promotion of democratic values.

From a technical and sustainability perspective, we planted the silver Trumpet tree (Tabebuia aurea), selected for its great adaptability to Florida and its close family relationship with the Araguaney (Handroanthus chrysanthus), Venezuela's national tree since 1948. Both species belong to the Bignoniaceae family, which explains their striking morphological similarity. Thus, Tabebuia aurea serves as a perfect functional and visual equivalent of the Araguaney: both feature a spectacular and massive trumpet-shaped yellow bloom that completely covers the canopy during the dry season. This effort not only fosters local urban biodiversity but also connects scientific innovation with the cultural roots of our diaspora.

We invite you to participate in our next tree planting event this Friday, May 29th at 6:00 pm, celebrating National Tree Day in Venezuela. We are joined by our partner organization, “Venezolanos en Sanford” who have made it possible for this beautiful city to become the fourth participant in our project.

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“We continue working alongside communities: connecting, educating, and conserving.” Biophilia Institute.

05/21/2026

Amid flowers and vegetables: Seniors celebrate Mother’s Day in the garden.

Today, Wednesday, May 20th, we celebrated Mother’s Day with the participation of senior citizens from our community in a day of transplanting flowering plants and harvesting vegetables at Ruby’s Garden, located in the Engelwood Community Center in Orlando.

During the activity, participants selected and transplanted flowering plants into pots to take home. They also harvested vegetables for the same purpose. Additionally, they shared medicinal recipes for plants with these properties found in the garden, which we will document to share with future visitors.

This initiative will allow us to share and disseminate traditional healing knowledge from different cultures, based on the plants in the garden, thus consolidating a valuable experience in preventative, cultural, and natural health. This action is part of our alliance with the Engelwood Neighborhood Center in the city of Orlando, promoting a citizen science model that integrates agroecology and food sovereignty, transforming local spaces into centers of resilience and community learning.

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05/18/2026

Growing Together: Art and biodiversity for “Amor al Prójimo” in Apopka.

This past Sunday, May 17th, we joined the “Growing Together” event, an initiative led by the organization “Crecemos Todos”, to benefit the “Amor al Prójimo” community in Apopka. The main activity was the creation of a community mural, designed by the artist Deivi Sanchez, conceived to bring together residents and participants from various organizations in its creation.

Beyond its artistic value, this gathering represented a symbol of unity, identity, and solidarity. At Biophilia Institute, we contributed by donating and planting—along with the neighbors—31 flowering plants of various colors, thus integrating the beauty of the mural with a pollinator garden designed for the well-being of the entire local community.

We thank Crecemos Todos and Casa de Venezuela for inviting us to be part of this initiative, the entire Amor al Prójimo community for their warm welcome, and all the organizations that joined efforts in this community action!

art live

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05/13/2026

From seed to canopy: Tree propagation strategies in Azalea Park.

With the participation of residents and volunteers in the Azalea Park community of Orlando, we have conducted seed collection drives, gathering over 700 seeds from local trees. This urban forestry initiative aims to strengthen the community’s connection with the species that surround them by collecting botanical material (seeds) from trees such as the Orchid Tree, Oak, Royal Poinciana, Bald Cypress, White Oak, Florida Cherry, Yellow Tabebuia, Dahoon Holly, and Red Maple, among others, for subsequent propagation in our community greenhouse and nursery.

This experience allows us to observe the viability of the collected species, ensuring efficient propagation for future reforestation efforts. By involving the community in the selection, collection, and propagation of these tree varieties, we ensure the preservation of a tree canopy capable of mitigating the harsh climate of Central Florida, transforming the community effort into a strategic biodiversity reserve. These actions are part of the project: “Bosque Comunitario de la Fe: Un corredor ecológico urbano en la Florida Central”, led by Christ the King Episcopal Church and the Hispanic Access Foundation, with support from Fundación Renacer, the Biophilia Institute, Corpus Care, and Calao Corp.

05/08/2026

The forest as a germplasm bank: Transplanting tree species in Azalea Park

This Thursday, May 7th, we began propagation efforts using the transplanting technique for forest and fruit tree species in the Azalea Park forest. Thanks to the collaboration of community members, we were able to access the heart of the forest to identify and select young specimens of native species, as well as others highly adaptable to the ecosystem. These plants were carefully extracted and placed in pots for safekeeping in the yards of these residents, who will act as guardians during the critical post-transplant stress phase, prior to their final transfer to the nursery.

This strategy allows us to use the community forest as an active germplasm bank, taking advantage of the natural regeneration of the species through an assisted migration process. This work is vital for expanding and strengthening the tree cover in the area. This technique is expected to propagate at least 320 plants, within the framework of the project “Bosque Comunitario de la Fe: Un Corredor EcológicUrbano en la Florida Central”, led by Christ the King Episcopal Church in Orlando, FL and Hispanic Access Foundation in partnership with Biophilia Institute, Renacer Foundation, Corpus Care, and Calao Corp

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