Go Outside and Play in August!

Tour the gardens at Shamrock Park, explore submerged habitats at Lemon Bay, attend the grand opening of the BMX Park — in short, go outside and play!

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Our monthly e-newsletter sharing our nature news and events.
Demonstration Garden Tour at Shamrock Park
 
Join the master gardener volunteers as they provide free demonstration garden tours and advice on Florida gardening.
Meet at the central Demonstration Garden near the Nature Center.

Thursday, August 4, 9 a.m.
Demonstration Garden area
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
 
No registrations needed.
All welcome! 
Seasons and Serendipity Stroll at Shamrock Park

Florida does have seasons, not just for hurricanes and warm vs. hotter weather.

Join Sarasota County Volunteer Master Naturalists and Shamrock Park Staff to stroll the trails, relying on changing seasons to bring us new flowers and birds’ nests, insects and animal activity. A little serendipity will find things in unexpected places!
Friday, August 12, 8 – 10 a.m.
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Sarasota County Volunteer Master Naturalists and Sarasota County Staff
Registration info here for this event. 
Join the Lemon Bay F.I.S.H. Project

 

Calling all F.I.S.H. – Folks Interested in Submerged Habitats!
Get a little wet, have a little fun and learn a lot!
Join American Littoral Society Biologist, Chuck Idelberger, on a search for marine life in Lemon Bay. Using hand and seine nets, you will search shallow waters and seagrass beds, observing, collecting, and discussing the natural history of some of the many interesting fishes and other animals that inhabit the bay.
Saturday, August 13, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.    
570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood
Space is unlimited.
Guide:  Chuck Idelberger, American
Littoral Society Biologist
For registration, please call Chuck Idelberger directly at 941-488-8998.
Native Plants for Wildlife: Walk and Talk

 

Join local experts for a free walk and talk about our native plants in our Florida ecosystem. At the end of this walk-and-talk you will learn: the importance of incorporating native plants in your urban landscape; how to identify some native plants and their food/shelter value for wildlife; how to identify invasive plants; and be able to make informed decisions about the use of native plants in your urban landscape. It’s the ‘roots to shoots’ approach to using plants around you.
Saturday, August 13, 9 – 11 a.m.    
570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood
Space limited to 20.
Guide:  Wilma Holley, Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension Staff
 Register through Eventbrite for this event or contact UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County at 941-861-9900 or email them atsarasota@ifas.ufl.edu.

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, August 20, 10 – 11 a.m.
3951 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice
Contact: David Pouso, Sarasota CountyEnvironmental Specialist, 941-861-5000

 

To register for this free class go to Eventbrite.
Seasons and Serendipity Stroll at Shamrock Park

Florida does have seasons, not just for hurricanes and warm vs. hotter weather.

Join Sarasota County Volunteer Master Naturalists and Shamrock Park Staff to stroll the trails, relying on changing seasons to bring us new flowers and birds’ nests, insects and animal activity. A little serendipity will find things in unexpected places!
Friday, August 26, 8 – 10 a.m.
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Sarasota County Volunteer Master Naturalists and Sarasota County Staff
Registration info here for this event. 
You’re Invited!
Grand Opening Celebration of 17th Street BMX Park!
Join us as we celebrate the grand opening of the 17th Street BMX Park in Sarasota.
After a short presentation and ribbon cutting, there will be events and refreshments for the whole family to enjoy!
 
Saturday, August 27, 10 a.m.
17th Street BMX Park
1590 North Tuttle Avenue
Sarasota
 
  
No registration needed.
Families welcome!
Save the date! 
Help Celebrate the 23rd Annual National Public Lands Day this year at Pinecraft Park!
Sarasota County has thousands of acres of land available to the public for hiking, exploration, passive recreation and other activities. These lands are also home to hundreds of protected and endangered species of animals and plants.
In honor of the 23rd. Annual National Public Lands Day, Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources staff will host a volunteer event to spruce up Pinecraft Park this year by pulling exotic plants, pruning trails and removing litter.
Saturday, September 24, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1420 Gilbert Avenue
Sarasota
Space limited to 40.
Hosts: Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Staff
More information regarding registration will arrive shortly.
Debby Zeilman at 941-861-5000.
For more nature based events for you and your family, please be sure to visit the links on the right column of this newsletter.

Go outside

and play!
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 a ‘household’ account to sign up for a free nature event.
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.
About Us
Sarasota County
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources
1660 Ringling Boulevard
Sarasota, Florida 34236
941-861-5000, dzeilman@scgov.net 
 
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Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at www.scgov.net/ADA.Persons with disabilities, who require assistance or wish to file a complaint, should contact the Sarasota County ADA/Civil Rights Coordinator by mail at 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, Florida 34236 or by phone at 941-861-5000.