The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) is dedicated to restoring battered land and bringing it back to life. This is done by planting native vegetation, thinning out overgrown trees, reactivating fire, and eliminating invasive species. These efforts help to save butterflies and other pollinators, as well as bring back wildlife. The Viva Florida Landscape Demonstration grants provide funding for public projects that showcase the beauty of Florida natives while demonstrating their uses.
For over 70 years, FNPS has been delivering self-sufficient plants and landscapes to residents, organizations, and communities in the Tampa Bay area. The Florida Wildflower Foundation works across the state to increase the presence of native wildflowers along highways. These projects can be a great way to collaborate and contribute to the long-term survival of some of Florida's rarest species. Creating a garden or landscape with native plants requires more than just digging a hole in the ground and sticking a plant in it.
For more information on native and invasive plants, contact the Lee County Master Gardener Program through the University of Florida. Roads and other large scale projects can sometimes affect native plant communities, including those with rare species. Some chapters of FNPS offer free, one-on-one consultations with landowners and homeowners to help eliminate problem species and replace them with native species. FNPS also participates in the legislative process and speaks out on regulations that encourage the careful evaluation of new crops, especially biofuel crops, that are being considered for planting.
