Hernando Chapter Florida Native Plant Society

05/09/2026

🚨How to Advocate for More Funding for Florida Forever 🚨
DEADLINE: TUES, May 12, 2026

🌳AT MINIMUM:
Use this EASY 60-SECOND FORM from the 1000 Friends of Florida to email your own state Senator & Representative.
https://takeaction.io/1000fof/urge-lawmakers-to-fully-fund-florida-forever/

🐦CALL the Chairmen & Members of the Budget Commission (contact info below)
If you call after hours (nights, weekends) you can leave a message like this:
🦋My name is ###. I am a Florida resident and registered voter.
I urge Senator/Representative ### to increase funding for Florida Forever in this year’s budget. Please allocate at least $100 million, ideally $300 million, for this important program. Thank you!
OR
🦋My name is ###. I am a Florida resident and registered voter.
I urge Representative ### to push for more funding for Florida Forever in this year’s budget. I’m upset that Florida’s Representatives have proposed ZERO funding for this important program. Please do all you can to increase funding for Florida Forever to at least $100 million, preferably $300 million, in the 2026-2027 budget.
PLUS
🦋My name is ###. I am a Florida resident and registered voter.
I urge Senator ### to push for more funding for Florida Forever in this year’s budget. The $35 million proposed by the Senate is grossly inadequate.
Please do all you can to increase funding for Florida Forever to at least $100 million, preferably $300 million, in the 2026-2027 budget.

🐦EMAIL the Chairmen & Members of the Budget Committee (contact info below)
Possible Subject Lines for Your Email:
🐊Fully Fund Florida Forever
🐊Ensure At Least $100 Million for Florida Forever
🐊Award $300 Million to Florida Forever for 2026-2027
🐊Increase Funding for Florida Forever in Final 2026-2027 Budget
Possible Email:
🐢I am a Florida resident and registered voter. I care deeply about preserving our natural heritage. Please allocate more funding for Florida Forever than is proposed
This important program deserves at least $100 million – and ideally $300 million – each year. I urge you to increase funding for Florida Forever in the final 2026-2027 budget.
OR
🐢I am a Florida resident and registered voter. I care deeply about preserving our natural heritage. I’m upset that the House has proposed ZERO funding and the Senate has allocated only $35 million in new funding for Florida Forever. I’m also disappointed that the Senate has restricted this funding to conservation easements, not the fee-simple acquisitions that add new state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas to Florida's public lands.
As you work to reconcile the two chambers' budget proposals, I urge you to increase funding for Florida Forever to at least $100 million and to fund land acquisitions, not just easements.
OR
Here’s an email prepared by 1000 Friends of Florida . . .
🐢Please restore full funding for Florida Forever in the final state budget.
State leaders committed to providing at least $100 million annually for this vital land conservation program. The current Senate and House proposals fall far short of that commitment. Florida Forever protects drinking water, wildlife habitat, and public lands that benefit communities across our state. I respectfully urge you to ensure the final budget includes at least $100 million for the program.
Thank you for your consideration.

🤓CONTACT INFORMATION for Budget Commission Members
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/View_Page.pl?File=index_css.html&Tab=committees&Directory=committees/joint/JLBC/

🤓JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMISSION
HOUSE Members
Chair: Representative Lawrence McClure (R) (850) 717-5068
▪ Representative Robert Alexander “Alex” Andrade (R) (850) 717-5002
▪ Representative Demi Busatta (R) (850) 717-5114
▪ Representative Jason Shoaf (R) (850) 717-5007
▪ Representative John Snyder (R) (850) 717-5086
▪ Representative Allison Tant (D) (850) 717-5009
▪ Representative Marie Paule Woodson (D) (850) 717-5105

SENATE Members
Chair: Senator Ed Hooper (R) (850) 487-5021
▪ Senator Lori Berman (D) (850) 487-5026
▪ Senator Jim Boyd (R) (850) 487-5020
▪ Senator Jason Brodeur (R) (850) 487-5010
▪ Senator Gayle Harrell (R) (850) 487-5031
▪ Senator Kathleen Passidomo (R) (850) 487-5028
▪ Senator Darryl Ervin Rouson (D) (850) 487-5016

🤓EMAIL Your Own Legislators As Well
Use this link to find & contact your Florida Senator & Representative
https://dos.fl.gov/elections/contacts/elected-officials/

🤓Also CALL/EMAIL
Senate President Ben Albritton (850) 487- 5027 https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S27
House Speaker Daniel Perez (850) 717-5000
https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/custom/contactmember.aspx?MemberId=4690&LegislativeTermId=91

05/09/2026

04/25/2026

Hernando County Florida Native Plant Society spring plant sale is in full swing.

Come join us!

Saturday April 25th till noon.
Russell Street Park
Brooksville

Tickseed
Blue eyed grass
Dwarf fire bush
Black eyed Susan
Upland twinflower
Swamp twinflower
Rosinweed
Giant ironweed
Railroad vine
And more

04/22/2026

Help iNaturalist.org and Florida Cities (Alachua Co, Polk Co., Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Miami) complete the City Nature Challenge (CNC), a four-day global nature event happening April 24–27.

From iNaturalist - This weekend, more than 100,000 people across 60+ countries will step outside and photograph the wild nature around them — birds, bugs, fungi, and more. It’s the City Nature Challenge (CNC), a four-day global nature event happening April 24–27, and we’d love for you to join in.

Learn more
This year, the CNC is focused on documenting as many *WILD* species as possible — not just the total number of observations. Every photo you take could add another species to the global record and help scientists better understand and protect biodiversity.

The 2026 Dates

*April 24–27: Get outside and make observations!
*April 28–May 10: Help identify species.
*May 13: Results announced!

How to participate

Go outside in one of these Florida cities or counties: Alachua Co, Polk Co., Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Miami. Take photos of wild plants and animals, and share them on iNaturalist. If not, join the Global Project, and your observations still count. Everyone can participate, no matter where in the world you are!

Help identify observations

Can’t get outside, or want to contribute in another way? Helping identify organisms for others is just as important. During and after the observation window, thousands of photos from around the world will need IDs — and you don’t have to be an expert to help!

More info at https://www.citynaturechallenge.org/participate.

Sharing a Denver Botanical Gardens Video for those of you who would prefer to watch a video instead of read this 'book'. 🤩

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18jfwj5jtC/

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day!

This year's slogan,"Our Power, Our Planet," certainly captures the problem and the solution in the same breath.

We believe adding more native plants to your landscape is one good way to commemorate Earth Day. Come pick out some native plants at our Spring plant sale (see our Facebook event).
- Russell Street Park in Brooksville
- Saturday, April 25th 2026 from 9am to 12pm.
Favorite plants sell out fast some come early.

04/01/2026

April is National Native Plant Month!

Did you know…
- The U.S. is home to 17,000+ native plant species
- Florida has ~3,200–3,500 native plant species
- And right here in Hernando County we have hundreds of native species supporting our springs, rivers, and wildlife.

Native plants aren’t just “nice landscaping”—they:
💧 Filter and protect our water
🦋 Support pollinators, birds, and wildlife
🌎 Build resilience in a changing climate

We’re celebrating ALL MONTH LONG!

Whether you're a seasoned native plant enthusiast or just curious where to start—this is your invitation to join the movement.

👉 Learn more locally: HCFNPS.org
👉 Explore statewide: FNPS.org

Stay tuned for our April Native Plant Sale announcement!

Let’s grow something meaningful—right here in Hernando County 🌱

03/30/2026

Celebrate Native Plant Month at Ecofest!

Join us for Ecofest: A Tide for a Cause—a fun, community-focused event centered on sustainability, creativity, and caring for our environment.

📅 Saturday, April 11
📍 Tidal Brewing Company
⏰ Starting at 12 PM
🍺Check out the VIP tickets!

This event brings together local organizations, small businesses, and eco-minded folks for a day of connection and inspiration. It’s a great opportunity to learn, share, and support efforts that make our community—and our landscapes—more resilient.

As part of Native Plant Month, we’ll be there sharing information about Florida native plants and how even small changes in your yard can make a big impact for wildlife and water resources.

👉 Learn more: Ecofest Event Details

Come out, say hello, and celebrate all things local, sustainable, and native!

Plant the Change with us at Ecofest! 🌱🍻

On April 11th, we're hosting the second annual Ecofest at Tidal Brewing Co. from 12 PM to 4 PM. This event celebrates the incredible organizations working to keep the Nature Coast thriving.

By purchasing a Plant the Change Bundle, you're not just getting exclusive perks—you’re directly supporting the Hernando Chapter of the and their mission to champion Florida’s native plants and their habitats.

This $30 bundle includes:
- 1 drink of choice (beer, cider, wine, or hard seltzer)
- Florida Native Plant seeds
- Ecofest sticker bundle
- Locally made plant marker
- Biodegradable planter pots
- 100% cotton mesh grocery bag
- Eco-friendly freebies from our attending organizations

Purchase yours today and be part of the impact!

Get your bundle now: https://rootscc.short.gy/plant-the-change

03/30/2026

March Gifts from The Garden
Native Demonstration Garden
@ the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens, Spring Hill, Florida
Yellow Anise or Anisetree; Star Anise (Illicium parviflorum)
By Janet Grabowski

As I am writing this article, the plants in the Garden, with a few exceptions, are just beginning to emerge from their winter diapause. Therefore, this month I decided to highlight one of our evergreen shrubs, yellow anise (lllicium parviflorum), which has had attractive bright to olive green leaves all winter long. The alternate, oval-shaped leaves are 3.5-5.5 inches in length, 1-2 inches wide, and have a leathery texture. They are a lighter green color on the undersides and dotted with pale glands. The leaf margins are generally entire but may be undulate.

In late spring, yellow anise plants produce small, inconspicuous flowers singly or in small groups in the leaf axils. (Note: parviflorum means small-flowered.) The nodding, bell shaped flowers are borne on fleshy stalks and have a delicate fragrance. Each flower has from 11 to 16 greenish-yellow tepals, 6-7 stamens and 11-14 pistils. The flowers are pollinated by small insects, primarily flies.

Yellow anise is a member of the star anise family (Schisandraceae) which is a small family of tropical and sub-tropical woody plants (formerly this species was placed in the mono-generic family the Illiciaceae). It is a slow growing shrub to small tree with a rounded habit that can reach up to 20 feet in height and 10 to 15 feet in width. Its stems will often root where they touch the ground, leading to a dense multi-stemmed clump.

It is a state endangered plant species, endemic to seven central Florida counties where it can be found growing in hydric hammocks, along spring-fed streams, in swamps, and other moist areas.

Although its native range is limited, it is available in the Florida native nursery trade and has been planted more widely in the state. It is adapted for use in shady to partly sunny areas; the leaves will become yellowish when plants are exposed to more sun. Plants growing in full shade become more open. Yellow anise prefers sandy, acidic soils that remain moist to moderately dry. This shrub can be used in the landscape as hedges and borders for screening, in woodland gardens and as a specimen plant. It tolerates pruning, but it is best to use hand clippers rather than hedge shears that damage the large leaves. ‘Florida Sunshine’ is a cultivar of yellow anise with yellow leaves.

The leaves and all parts of this plant have a distinct licorice fragrance when crushed, which gave rise to the common name “anise”. However, do not mistake its fruits for the spice anise derived from its Asian relative Chinese star anise (Illicium verum), because all parts of this plant are toxic.

Further information about yellow anise can be found at these sites:

https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-illicium-parviflorum/ - Florida Wildflower Foundation
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pascoco/2025/07/15/exploring-floridas-natives-star-anise/ – UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County
https://www.fnps.org/plant/illicium-parviflorum .tab=0 – FNPS Plant Database
https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP278 – IFAS Pub -278/FP278

03/21/2026

Come see us at Welcome Back Song Birds event at Chinsegut Conservation Center. We have plants on display. Native plants feed caterpillars - caterpillars feed baby birds. Native grasses and trees are used for bird nests. Fruits and seeds are bird food.

01/29/2026

Hernando Chapter Florida Native Plant Society Selects Mascot Species

Each Florida Native Plant Society Chapter was asked to adopt a Florida native plant as their "Mascot." It will be no surprise to our members we selected the Cooley's Waterwillow (Justicia cooleyi) to represent us.

The endemic and endangered Cooley’s water-willow (Justicia cooleyi AKA Justicia pringlei) grows only in Florida, and has been vouchered in Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Lake and Jackson counties. It is typically found in mesic forests. Where conditions are right, Cooley's water-willow thrives and naturalizes. It spreads by seed to make a nice ground cover in semi-shady to shady areas. It blooms sporadically from spring to fall. The shade garden at the Florida Native Plant Demonstration Garden features a naturalized bed where the Cooley's water-willow thrives.

Although some plant scientists suggested J. cooleyi should be lumped with similar species, the unique genetics of this plant have been analyzed and verified by the Center for Plant Conservation at Bok Tower Gardens.

For more information on Cooley’s water-willow:
Florida Native Plant Society - https://www.fnps.org/plant/justicia-pringlei .tab=0

11/23/2025

Our Citrus County neighbors will be participating in a restoration effort at Crystal River State Park.

🌲 Crystal River Preserve State Park Needs Our Community’s Help! 🌱
Crystal River Preserve State Park is launching a restoration project — and they’re looking for volunteers to help make it a success!

Their community planting event is scheduled for December 5 & 6, and they’re hoping to gather a strong team of volunteers to help get lots of wiregrass and longleaf pine seedlings in the ground. If you’d like to support this effort, call 814-590-4452 or email [email protected]
to get involved.

Volunteers have played a huge role in past restoration work at the Preserve. Many of the longleaf pines planted years ago by volunteers have now bolted out of the “grass stage” and are well on their way to becoming part of the overstory — an exciting reminder of the impact community members can make.

📞 Questions?
Contact the park team at 814-590-4452 or [email protected]

Join Parks and Recreation in supporting this important restoration effort and help keep our local ecosystems thriving! 🌿