Eugenia Chapter Starts 2025 with Business, Education, and Pleasure

Eugenia Chapter’s January 16, 2025 meeting started with a lively auction of plants and garden-related items generously supplied by our attendees.  Hotly bid items included a 5’ gumbo limbo tree, an unusually shaped log for mounting air plants, and a copy of one of the “bibles” of native plant enthusiasts, A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants by Rufino Osorio.

Linda Hart was the lucky winner of our “Make Sure You Sign In” drawing.  This meeting’s give away plant was a coontie (Zamia integrifolia), donated by Carla and Charlie Flournoy.

FNPS members voted by acclamation to accept the following officers for the Eugenia Board:

President:          Carol Thomas  

Vice-President:  Peggy Perkins

Secretary:          Carla Flournoy

Treasurer:          Fran Robinson

Outgoing President, Judy Avril, was recognized with a big round of applause for her 25 years of service to Eugenia Chapter.  While not present to receive it, EC gave her a decorative clay pot inscribed with her service recognition.

The star of the meeting was Wendy Swindell, Assistant Director Parks & Conservation for Indian River County.  Instead of just speaking about the restoration work done at Jones Pier, she also updated the audience on other county conservation lands projects, comprising 12,000 acres acquired through the Environmental Lands Acquisition Program: Hallstrom Farmstead, South Prong Slough, and Lost Tree Islands.

Invasive species are one of the biggest issues to deal with in trying to restore these lands back to a native plant habitat.  In addition, more careful planning is giving to trying to create more resilient landscapes that are better equipped to handle storms and changing weather conditions, particularly rising water.

Wendy explained how county residents can nominate land parcels for the ELAP to consider for acquisition.  You can read about the process by viewing the Environmental Lands Program Guide available at www.IndianRiver.gov/Conservation.  This site also showcases the wonderful lands that are available for public use so we can get out and enjoy Indian River County’s native lands.