Sarasota Manatee EcoFlora Project Conference May 26th and Crowley Museum Bioblitz May 18th
Hello EcoFlora Participants and Partners!
In celebration of over three successful years, the Sarasota-Manatee EcoFlora project team will be hosting a free conference at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus. We invite you to join our staff and local experts for a series of presentations on the achievements of this project.
The giant airplant Tillandsia utriculata seen here in a massive group along this live oak trunk preparing to flower. One of our longest projects the Epiflora of the United States and Canada focuses on epiphytes like airplants and many orchids.
In addition, we will be recognizing the top participants in the Sarasota-Manatee EcoFlora project. The success of the project would not have been possible without you. To date, there have been over 45,000 observations of 1,195 different species. This will be a great opportunity to meet and reconnect with your fellow EcoFlora participants and learn more about the local impacts of the project.
Orchids are a Selby specialty and they inhabit a wide range of habitats. The Spring Ladies' Tresses Spiranthes vernalis occupies grasslands and open pine flatwoods in Florida and the American South. These species benefit from fire and are short lived bloomers!
The conference will be held on Friday, May 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. and coffee will be available. Lunch will also be provided. As part of the event, there will be a behind-the-scenes tour of the gardens so be prepared to be both indoors and outdoors. Please use the conference registration link below or on the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens website. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you are unable to attend the conference or can't get enough EcoFlora and hiking please check out our bioblitzes including the upcoming hike at Crowley Museum and Nature Center May 18th!
