Life Explorers Speaker Series: Explore Mead Garden’s Native Plants

1300 South Denning Drive,Winter Park FL 32789

02 December, 2022

Description

Mead Botanical Garden Life Explorers Speaker SeriesThe Life Explorers Speaker Series will feature programs for adults interested in expanding and sharing their knowledge on a variety of environmental and cultural topics. An inside look into Florida’s native plants and the way these species contribute to our ecological balance is on tap for the December 2nd Life Explorer’s Series presentation at Mead Botanical Garden. Local native plant expert and environmental consultant Catherine Bowman will share her vast knowledge of the native Florida plants that have been discovered at Mead Botanical Garden and used as a guide for species that can be re-introduced and cultivated in special communities for Mead Botanical Garden.There is so much to learn about these unique native plants that many of us are fortunate to have right in our own backyards. Find out all you can about the flourishing native plant gardens at Mead by attending this FREE program on Friday, December 2 from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Azalea Lodge. Topic: Explore Mead Botanical Garden’s Native Plants—Learn More About These Florida TreasuresGuest speaker: Catherine BowmanDate: Friday, December 2nd Doors Open: 9:45 A.MProgram Start Time: 10-11:30 A.M.Location: Azaela Lodge, Mead Botanical Garden 1300 S. Denning Drive Winter Park, FLCost: FREE***Light refreshments and coffee are available and there is time for questions and group discussion after the presentation. About the Guest Speaker:Ms. Bowman ’s career in ecology focusing on native Florida plants began while she studied at the University of Central Florida, graduating with a degree in botany. She has worked as an ecological consultant for Lotspeich and Associates, Inc., which later became the multi-disciplinary firm GAI Consultants. In 2013 she and partner Ron Blair founded the consulting firm Bowman and Blair Ecololgy and Design, Inc. Among many specialties, the firm conducts habitat analyses, land use planning design and management, and strives to integrate significant natural habitat and environmental features into their site plans. Bowman is also a Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Gopher Tortoise Agent and works to develop property surveys to protect the endangered species from development, as well as relocating tortoises to safety. She is on the Board of Mead Botanical Garden and is the committee chair of the Native Plant Society’s Tarflower Chapter at the garden. Like a plant detective, she has been instrumental in identifying uncommon native trees, shrubs, and vines naturally occurring in Mead Botanical Garden and has worked to re- introduce many other native plant species. Most visitors to Mead Botanical Garden are attracted initially to the Legacy Garden with flowering plants like bromeliads, begonias, cycads and flowering trees and bushes. Bowman will share her insights into what she calls the “accidental” legacy garden, the restored native plant communities that are interesting and beautiful in their special way. They are drought-tolerant and can flourish without pesticides or fertilizers. These Florida natives conserve water, reduce pollution, create wildlife habitats and help prevent soil erosion. They are indeed valuable to local landscape environments with their naturally environmentally-friendly qualities. In addition to enhancing the native plant populations at Mead Botanical Gardens, Bowman’s work has also helped create safe havens for the gopher tortoise population with the establishment of special habitat areas to protect the young tortoise hatchlings from dangerous wildlife predators that lurk in the area as well as man-made dangers like cars. There is a thriving tortoise community in the gardens today thanks to these efforts. The bird community in Mead Botanical Garden has also prospered from the native plant development because the plants attract insects that are particularly delicious to the birds in the area. They create a pesticide-free source of food for the birds, another link in the ecological chain that keeps the community thriving.