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A monthly e-newsletter sharing our nature news and events
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Fall Flowers Walk at South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve with Denny and Al
Join Sarasota County volunteer guides, amateur botanists and Florida Native Plant Society members, Denny Girard and Al Squires as they lead you on a hunt for fall wild flowers on South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve. While guiding you through scrub, flatwoods, and coastal woodlands that border beautiful Lemon Bay, they will share information about native vegetation, searching for Florida scrub-jays that make their home on this preserve as well as keeping an eye out for nesting bald eagles.
Wednesday, November 4, 9-11 a.m. 
6200 Osprey Road, Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guides: Denny Girard and Al Squires,
Sarasota County volunteers
Registration info here for this event.
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What’s that?!? Plant and Animal ID Hike
Join Sarasota County Environmental Specialist and super sleuth, Jeff Weber, at Red Bug Slough Preserve, an urban natural area site, as he leads participants on an fun informative journey of discovery. Your trek will take you through pine flatwoods and oak hammocks highlighting both native and non-native plants and animals of the preserve.
Wednesday, November 4, 9-11 a.m. 
5200 Beneva Rd., Sarasota
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Jeff Weber, Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
Registration info here for this event.
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Phillippi Farmhouse Market – Now open!
Sponsor: Friends of Sarasota County Parks (FOSCP)
Local fruits, vegetables, herbs and plants for sale as well as local foods and artisan crafts. Enjoy live music and free parking. Plenty of volunteers ready to assist you. Pets on a leash are always welcome at the market.
Wednesday’s now through April, 2016 – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
5500 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
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Demonstration Garden Tours at Shamrock Park
Join the master gardener volunteers as they provide free demonstration garden tours and advice on Florida gardening. Meet at the central garden area near the Nature Center.
Thursday, November 5, 9 -10 a.m. 
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
No registrations necessary.For information call 941-861-5000.
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Autumn, but NOT in the “Poconos”
Ok, so visitors won’t see a landscape ablaze in fall color or even mountains, but this preserve is a slice of paradise you’ll find delightful. Join Jeff Weber, Sarasota County Environmental Specialist, to explore shady woodland trails beneath beautiful live oaks and cabbage palms and enjoy scenic vistas looking out over Shakett Creek. Nearby rookery islands are home to a variety of wading birds and the historic Pollyanna Inn once stood on this site.
Friday, November 6, 9-11 a.m.
189 Pocono Trail E., Nokomis
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Jeff Weber, Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
Registration info here for this event.
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Friday Morning Fitness Walks!
Join Sarasota County Park Naturalist Angela Kaiser for Friday morning fitness walks at Lemon Bay Park! Enjoy a brisk walk every Friday, along our 2 mile loop trail through Lemon Bay’s beautiful and picturesque Pine flatwoods. Walks will leave from the Arbor at the end of the parking lot promptly at 9 am. (Please Note: No walk on Nov. 27, Dec. 25 or Jan.1).
Friday’s now through May 27
November 6, 13, and 20 – 9 a.m. 
570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood
Guide: Angela Kaiser, Sarasota County Park Naturalist
No registrations necessary.
Just show up for great outdoor exercise and fun.
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Birding Diversity at the Carlton Reserve
Calling all birding enthusiasts! Be tantalized and wowed by the vast array of bird species and nature found at the beautiful Carlton Reserve. Join local birder, Charlie Sample, as he leads you on a birding nature journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to help document the multitude of bird species on the Carlton Reserve outback. You won’t be disappointed!
Saturday, November 7, 7:15 a.m.-1 p.m. 
1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway, Venice
Space limited to 14.
Guide: Charlie Sample,
Sarasota County Volunteer
Registration info here for this event.
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Land Management in an Urban Preserve
Join Jeff Weber, Sarasota County Environmental Specialist, who will identify a number of special challenges facing land managers in charge of managing sensitive, natural habitats in urbanized areas at Curry Creek Preserve, an urban natural area site. Learn about the innovative ways Sarasota County staff manages fire dependent habitats, mitigates wildfire danger, protects rare species and balances the needs of public recreation.
Tuesday, November 10, 9-11 a.m. 
1500 Pinebrook Rd., Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Jeff Weber, Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
Registration info here for this event.
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Florida Native Plant Society (Mangrove Chapter)
Public Speaker Series
Tuesday, November 10, 7-9 p.m.
What a Master Gardener Learns about Native Plants
Speaker: Vickie Lowe
Classroom
570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood
For more information email:
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Fun, Fascinating Facts about Plants!
Did you know that sea purslane has been used to clean stagnant waters? Have you heard the legend that inspired the name of Spanish moss? Join Florida Master Naturalist Tina Sebastian for a leisurely walk and discover fascinating facts about the plants that grow there.
Friday, November 13 or 20, 9-11:00 a.m. 
5472 Kenisco Rd., Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Tina Sebastian,
Sarasota County volunteer
Registration info here for this event.
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Family Bike Adventures at the Carlton Reserve
Got bikes? It’s perfect weather to grab the whole family to join guides David Reynolds and Gary Vasbinder for an off-road wilderness bicycle ride through the beautiful Carlton Reserve. Expect to see lots of wildlife! Must be able to ride an off-road type bicycle.
Sunday, November 15, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. 
1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway, Venice
Space limited to 12
Guides: David Reynolds and Gary Vasbinder
To register for this event, please call David Reynolds at941-412-5575 or Gary Vasbinder at 941-893-7729 directlyfor registration and meeting place.
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Palates and Palettes:
Farm to Fork Benefit Dinner
Farm to Fork Dinner is a unique fundraiser that will benefit the renovation of the historic Keith Farmhouse. The farmhouse was the first building erected on the estate in 1916 and will be restored as an interpretive center, open to the public.
Chef Paul Mattison, working with the Phillippi Chapter of the Friends of Sarasota County Parks, will provide a delicious dinner featuring local agriculture and fine wines. Live music from the 1916’s Farmhouse era and on, will be provided by Sal Garcia.
Sarasota’s Light Chasers, plein air painting artists, will be painting during the cocktail hour. You will have a chance to purchase their paintings right off the easel with a portion of their sales donated to the restoration work.
Sunday, November 15, 4:30-8:30 p.m. 
5500 S. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota
Fee For more information or how to purchase tickets, please contact: Priscilla Brown, pbrown@scgov.net, or call941-218-0166 (texting unavailable).
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Hike the Unique Circus Hammock
Join Sarasota County volunteers, amateur botanists and Florida Native Plant Society members, Denny Girard & Al Squires as they walk Sarasota’s Circus Hammock leading you on a hike through a unique urban preserve under a canopy of oaks, red maple, hackberry, and American elm.
Wednesday, November 18, 9-11 a.m. 
4572 17th St., Sarasota
Space limited to 20.
Guides: Denny Girard and Al Squires,
Sarasota County volunteers
Registration info here for this event.
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Searching for Spiders at Sleeping Turtles Preserve North
Hike along Sleeping Turtles Preserve North’s meandering canopied river trails with Sarasota County Environmental Specialist David Cavanaugh and Parks Naturalist Ray Vinson. They will guide you to find fascinating diversity of arachnids and their webs. Learn about the many types of spiders in Florida’s Oak Hammocks and Pine Flatwoods.
Wednesday, November 18, 9-11 a.m. 
3462 Border Road, Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guides: Ray Vinson and David Cavanaugh, Sarasota County Park Naturalist and Environmental Specialist
Registration info here for this event.
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Monthly Rain Barrel Workshop and Sales
Learn how the use of rain barrels can conserve water, save money by reducing the use of potable water in landscapes (lower utility bills), and reduce stormwater runoff by storing and diverting runoff from impervious surfaces (roofs). Practical tips on the construction and installation will be provided. Rain barrels for sale for $37 each, includes tax and spigot assembly. Cash or check accepted.
Saturday, November 21, 10-11 a.m. 
5200 Beneva Rd., Sarasota
Contact: David Pouso, Environmental
To register for this free class go to Eventbrite.
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Land Management in an Urban Setting
Join Jeff Weber, Sarasota County Environmental Specialist,as he identifies and shares a number of special challenges facing land managers who are in charge of managing sensitive, natural habitats at Red Bug Slough Preserve, an urban natural area site. Learn about the innovative ways Sarasota County staff manages fire dependent habitats, mitigate wildfire danger, protect rare species and balance the needs of public recreation.
Monday, November 30, 9-11 a.m.
5200 Beneva Rd., Sarasota
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Jeff Weber, Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
Registration info here for this event.
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Register before November 3rd for Early Bird Rate!
10th Annual Sustainable Communities Workshop “Learning from our Past, Charting our Future”
Reflecting on 10 years of sustainability actions and discussions, this workshop includes the release of a Sustainability Assessment Report and engagement sessions with identification of future priorities.
Morning keynote speaker: Kaid Benfield, senior counsel for environmental startegies at PlaceMakers LLC, a nationally acclaimed author, planner, longtime leader of the smart growth movement, and co-founder of the LEED for Neighborhood Development program.
Afternoon keynote speaker: Jon Thaxton, the Director of Community Investment at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and former Sarasota County Commissioner, and an acknowledged leader in growth management, environmental preservation, water conservation, and transportation planning.
Thursday, December 3, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 
Event and Conference Center
4740 Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota
Fee- Registration fee includes continental breakfast, lunch and afternoon break refreshments. Early Bird registration is $30 before November 3, 2015. Late registration is $40 per person from November 4, 2015 until December 3, 2015. The student rate is $20.
Register here for this event.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Archaeological Event
Mark your calendars!
Dr. Uzi Baram, New College Archaeology professor, Sarasota County archaeologists Ryan Murphy and Steve Koski, Florida Public Archaeological Network staff, Time Sifters and USF graduate archaeological students will be probing and possibly excavating the Prodie Midden located on the grounds. The public is invited to observe.
Monday and Tuesday,
January 4 and 5
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
5500 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
For more information,
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SAVE THE DATE!
Fire Fest! 2016
Mark your calendars! Bring the family to see a first-hand look at how prescribed burns protect our communities and property from wildfires, maintaining Florida’s natural ecosystems for present and future generations. Lots of exhibitors, animals and demonstrations for your family to enjoy. Free Event for the whole family!
- Prescribed Burn Demos – Live!
- Special guest speaker
- Fire equipment on display
- Helicopter water drops
- Guided nature walks
- Kids games
- Free food and more!
Saturday, January 30, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway, Venice
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Attention Photographers:Do you have a beautiful bird photo to share?
The Herald Tribune is seekingbeautiful bird photographsto share on their on-line gallery.
The Herald Tribune staff just may include
your photo in this wonderful on-line bird gallery. |
Registration Process for Nature Events
Look for ‘View Activities’ (if you already have an account), orSIGN UP HERE (if you need to open up a
new household account).
Attached here are directions to help you set up an account to sign up for a free nature event.
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Please remember the 3 R’s.
Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle, when visiting your parks and environmental lands!
Please use appropriate containers for recycles and trash.
When visiting a preserve or environmental land where there are limited trash receptacles, please remember to ‘Pack it in. Pack it out.’ Leave nothing but your footprints.
Thank you for caring.
For more information on the three R’s for your home and business, visitSarasota County Solid Waste for useful information.
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 About Us Sarasota County
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources
1660 Ringling Boulevard
Sarasota, Florida 34236
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Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, religion, or genetic information. Persons with disabilities who require assistance or alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), or who wish to file a complaint, should contact: Sarasota County ADA/ Civil Rights Coordinator, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, Florida 34236, Phone: 941-861-5000, TTY: 7-1-1 or 1-800-955-8771, Email: adacoordinator@scgov.net
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