Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society

10/18/2026

🐊 🌼WHAT MAKES FLORIDA WILD? 🌼🐊
AND HOW CAN WE HELP PROTECT IT?

Florida is home to amazing native plants, fascinating animals, and unique ecosystems where it all connects. From wildflowers and butterflies to native trees and the wildlife that depends on them, there's SO MUCH to discover right in our own backyard!

And guess what? You don't have to be an expert to be part of it. Just bring your curiosity!

🦋 FLORIDA’S FINEST: A PARTICIPATORY WILDLIFE CONVERSATION 🌼

Featuring our friend Amaris Engler Mokhortov — conservation ecologist, Florida naturalist, public speaker, and wildlife conservation advocate!🦸🏼‍♀️

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2026
6:30–8:45PMish
UF/IFAS Mounts Botanical Garden Auditorium
West Palm Beach, FL

We’re talking about what makes Florida’s wildlife extraordinary, why our native species matter, and how we can help protect the biodiversity that makes our home so special.

And the best part? This is a conversation, not just a lecture! Come curious, bring your questions, and share your perspective.

🌱 COME FOR THE WILDLIFE. STAY FOR THE COMMUNITY! 🌱

Here’s what you can look forward to:
🦋 Meet other nature lovers, plant people, wildlife enthusiasts, and conservation-minded folks.
🦋 Discover native plants and get ideas for creating your own wildlife-friendly garden.
🦋 Ask questions, swap stories, share ideas, and make new friends.
🦋 Enjoy snacks, good conversations, and a welcoming atmosphere.
🦋 Stick around for our native plant drawing. You might just leave with a new plant for your collection!

💚 NEVER BEEN TO AN FNPS MEETING? YOU’RE INVITED! 💚

Whether you're a student, young professional, first-time gardener, wildlife enthusiast, or someone who just wants to learn more about the natural world around you, YOU BELONG HERE.

You don't need a garden. You don't need to know every plant by name. You don't need to be an expert.

Just bring your curiosity!

Conservation isn't only about protecting nature out there. It's about building a community of people who care enough to make a difference, one conversation, one native plant, and one small action at a time.

🌿 FREE TO ATTEND 🌿 OPEN TO EVERYONE 🌿 BRING YOUR FRIENDS 🌿 SNACKS INCLUDED!

YOUR NEW FAVORITE NATURE COMMUNITY MIGHT BE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK! 🧝🏽‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧝🏾

Save the date, tag your nature-loving friend, share this post, and come spend an evening celebrating Florida's wild side with us. We can't wait to meet you!

More info in the comments!

Florida wildlife photos by Wally Jones

Mokhortov

10/18/2026

Ecologists have come up with a new solution in South Florida’s ongoing work to remove invasive Burmese pythons.

10/17/2026

🔥 JUST 1 DAY TO GO! 🔥

Tomorrow's the big day: the 20th FireFest at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Saturday 1-9 PM! 🎉

✅ Know before you go:

🚗 Park entry is $6 per vehicle (2-8 people), and free with an annual state park pass

🚙 Carpool! Parking fills up fast

💵 Bring cash to speed up entry

🎟️ Last chance for swamp buggy and bounce house tickets: friendsofjdsp.org/collections/firefest-tickets

👕 Grab 20th-anniversary FireFest gear: friendsofjdsp.org/collections/firefest-merch

Come find the Friends of JDSP booth and say hi! 💚

🔥 Thank you to our Incident Commander sponsors: Florida Power & Light, GE Architecture, Garcia, Gleneagles Country Club, and Michele and Craig Williamson!

10/17/2026

10/17/2026

Director Elizabeth Kibbey (14:12 Min) FLORIDA
FEFF 2026 Oct 16-25 Virtual Florida Environmental Film Festival

RSVP FREE: https://www.thefeff.org/florida-environmental-film-festival-events

Our online film festival will showcase films from local and international filmmakers, all of whom address environmental issues that could impact Florida and the rest of the world.

All films are available all day from OCT 16-25 only, for the duration of the festival.
RSVP for free: https://www.thefeff.org/florida-environmental-film-festival-events



BURROWED
Director Elizabeth Kibbey (14:12 Min) FLORIDA
Burrowed is a short documentary that follows the researchers and students working to protect Florida’s native gopher tortoises at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. Often overlooked, the gopher tortoise is a keystone species that digs burrows to provide shelter for more than 350 other species. But despite their ecological importance, these tortoises face pressure from habitat loss and development.
The film follows a biology professor, Jeff Goessling from Eckerd College

10/17/2026

You’re invited to discover all about fireflies, straight from the experts! 🪲💡

Join us this month for a free, three-day virtual symposium on firefly research and conservation in the United States and Canada! Each day of the symposium will consist of five to six presentations, and opportunities for networking and discussion.

Presentation topics include firefly biology, community science, conservation and management, firefly tourism, and educational programming.

This event is intended for everyone interested in fireflies and their conservation in the US and Canada, including conservation practitioners, agency biologists, environmental educators, community scientists, academic researchers, and firefly enthusiasts.

OCT 27 to OCT 29
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM MT
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM CT
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

The event is free! You can register and view the schedule now ➡️ https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/6GFrtHL

📺 Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar. The webinar will be recorded and available on our YouTube channel ➡️ xerces.org/youtube

This symposium and the Firefly Atlas are supported by the BAND Foundation.

10/15/2026

10/15/2026

What does the Everglades sound like? What stories can it tell through a photograph?

Join The Everglades Foundation for the John & Nancy Marshall Everglades Symposium: Sights & Sounds of the Everglades, featuring photographer and filmmaker Anthony Sleiman and Ecologist and 24-25 ForEverglades Fellow Charley Vance. Discover the beauty, science, and wonder of this extraordinary ecosystem through visual storytelling and firsthand experiences.

📅 November 12, 2026 | 4:30–6:30 PM
📍 Palm Beach Atlantic University - PBA

Register Here: https://bit.ly/47grUQz