March into our Parks

Birds, bugs, full moon walks, nature strolls, things for kids of every age to do in our diverse and wonderful parks this month.
  A monthly e-newsletter sharing our nature news and events.
Phillippi Farmhouse Market – 8th Season!
Sponsor: Friends of Sarasota County Parks (FOSCP)

 

It’s back! Enjoy local fruits, vegetables, herbs and plants for sale as well as local foods and artisan crafts. Experience live music and free parking. Plenty of volunteers ready to assist you. Pets on a leash are alwayswelcome at the market.
During market hours, enjoy FREE, narrated historical tours of the Edson
Keith Mansion starting at 10 a.m. The tour includes the history of the early beginnings of the Sarasota Community.
Wednesdays through April 26, 2017
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
5500 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
All welcome!
For more information on the Phillippi Farmhouse Market
or how to become a vendor:
 
Englewood Farmer’s Market
on Historic Dearborn Street

Sponsors: Friends of Sarasota County Parks (FOSCP) and The Englewood Community Redevelopment Area (CRA)

LOCAL & ORGANIC PRODUCE – FRESH SEAFOOD – HONEY FRESH BREAD – NEW YORK BAGELS – GLUTEN FREE BAKERY – EXOTIC PLANTS – BONSAI TREES – FRESH PASTA – FRESH HERBS – HOMEMADE GRANOLA – BEEF JERKY – HOMEMADE JAMS – ORCHIDS – FLORIDA CITRUS – HOMEMADE SALSA & GUACAMOLE – KETTLE CORN – ARTISAN CHEESES – BBQ – SPANISH PAELLA   LIVE MUSIC AND MUCH MUCH MORE!!!
Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Historic Dearborn Street,
Englewood
All welcome!
 
For more information call
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, March 2,  9 – 10 a.m.
Demonstration Garden area
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
 
No registration needed.
All welcome!
Take a Woodland Stroll on the Pocono
Join Sarasota County Environmental Specialist, Jeff Weber, as he leads you on a leisurely stroll through the shady woodlands at Pocono Trail Preserve in Nokomis. Enjoy the beautiful live oak and cabbage palm hammocks, occasional glimpses of wading birds along the shoreline, and learn about the history of this interesting area.
Thursday, March 2,  9 – 11 a.m.   
189 Pocono Trail East, Nokomis
Space limited to 15.
Guide: Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
 
Register here for this event. 
The Secret World of Night Time Pollinators
Moths are more numerous then butterflies, and along with bats, they are the pollinators of the night. Many moths are beautiful and some downright bizarre. Join us for a look into their secret world and forever see the night differently
 
Friday, March 3, 10 – 11 a.m.
570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood
Free
 
No registration needed. All welcome!
Fitness in the Park: Fit as a Fiddle for 50-plus
Looking for an opportunity to get a little fresh air, meet new people and get healthier and stronger? Join us for a walk to improve health, balance and overall fitness. Enjoy the exercise stations (especially for walkers 50-plus) along the trail. This is a gentle workout and not for advanced fitness buffs. The goal: to strengthen muscles, help minimize the risk of falls, instill a sense of well-being and quality of life through exercise and companionship. Wear comfortable athletic shoes and sun protection and/or hat and bring water. Be prepared to walk 1 – 2 miles on paved and relatively even unpaved trails.
Fridays, March  3, 10, 17, 24 , 31 
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
4000 Honore Ave., Sarasota
Space unlimited
Guide: Sarasota County Staff
Register here for this event. 
Looking for the Virginia Willow at Curry Creek
Explore with Sarasota County volunteer guides, amateur botanists and Florida Native Plant Society members, Denny Girard and Al Squires. Search Curry Creek Preserve’s east entrance for the small native, deciduous shrub, Itea virginica, commonly known as Virginia willow. Found in swamps, stream banks, wet hammocks, or floodplain forests, the search just may lead to other discoveries about the botany found along Curry Creek.

Wednesday, March 8, 9 – 11 a.m. 
East entrance
1500 Pinebrook Rd., Venice
Space limited to 20

Guide: Volunteers Denny Girard and

Al Squires
Register here for this event. 
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!
Fridays, March 10 & 24,  9 – 11 a.m.
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Sarasota County Volunteers and
Park Naturalist
Register here for this event. 
From the Manasota to Pollyanna and Beyond 
Join local history buff and Sarasota County volunteer Nancy Eaton, at Pocono Trail Preserve, to discover the interesting history of the preserve and the surrounding towns of Venice and Nokomis. Learn about people of the Manasota Culture, the interesting stories of local pioneers, including Dr. Fred Albee and the luxury hotel known at the Pollyanna Inn that once stood on this site. Along the way, enjoy the beautiful live oak and cabbage palm hammocks and occasional glimpses of Shakett Creek as you learn about the history of this interesting area.
Friday, March 10,  9 -11 a.m.  
189 Pocono Trail East, Nokomis
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
 
Register 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, March 11, 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.
Full Moon Walk at Red Bug Slough
Join a Sarasota County Environmental Specialist at Red Bug Slough Preserve for a special twilight hike to experience the mystery and intrigue of our natural areas after dark. Look and listen for the sights and sounds of early evening critters and learn about interesting legends and tales surrounding the full moon and other fascinating lunar phenomena. Please be sure to bring a flashlight and insect spray. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

.

Monday, March 13, 8 -9:30 p.m.  
5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
 
Register here for this event. 
Exploring Relationships between Plants and Animals
Join a Sarasota County Environmental Secialist at Curry Creek Preserve, East entrance, to learn more about how animals and plants interact, both in favorable and unfavorable ways. We’ll explore some of nature’s mutually beneficial relationships, interesting self defense mechanisms and other tactics plants and animals use to survive and thrive. Along the way, watch for interesting wildlife and enjoy the natural beauty of our preserves.
Friday, March 17,  9 – 11 a.m.
East entrance
1500 Pinebrook Rd., Venice
Space limited to 20
Guide: Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
Register here for this event. 
 

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 will be for sale for $37 each, includes tax and spigot assembly. Cash or check accepted.

Saturday, March 18, 10 – 11 a.m.
6050 Longwood Run Blvd., Sarasota
Contact: David Pouso, Sarasota County Environmental Specialist, 941-861-5000

 

To register for this free class go to Eventbrite.
Family Bike Adventures at the Beautiful
Carlton Reserve
Got bikes? It’s perfect weather to grab the whole family to join Sarasota County and Carlton Reserve volunteer guides David Reynolds and Gary Vasbinder for an off-road wilderness bicycle ride through the beautiful T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve (Carlton Reserve). Ride time will be approximately 1 to 2 hours. Expect to see lots of wildlife!
Sunday, March 19, 10 – 11 a.m. 
1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway, Venice
Space limited to 12
Guide: Sarasota County and Carlton Reserve volunteer guides David Reynolds and Gary Vasbinder.

Contact David Reynolds at 9
41-412-5575 or Gary Vasbinder at
941-893-7729 directly to register
and for meeting location.
So We Can’t Burn…Now What?
Join a Sarasota County Environmental Specialist at Red Bug Slough Preserve to hear about creative and innovative strategies land managers use when the suburbs are our neighbors. Learn about special management practices and some of the unique challenges involved with managing these sites. Participants will learn about methods used to manage fire dependent habitats, techniques to mitigate wildfire danger and how staff protects rare species and habitats while balancing the needs of public recreation.
Monday, March 20, 9 – 11 a.m. 
5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota
Space limited to 20.
Guides: Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
 
Register here for this event. 
The Search for Blue Lupine at South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve
 
Join Sarasota County volunteer guides, amateur botanists and Florida Native Plant Society members, Denny Girard and Al Squires, on a search for the beautiful blooms of sky blue Lupine. Lupinus diffusus is a deer and swallowtail butterflies’ favorite! During your walk on South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve, Kenisco Road entrance, they will share information about native wild flowers and vegetation, and Florida scrub-jays that make their home on this preserve.
Wednesday, March 22,  9 – 11 a.m.
5472 Kenisco Road, Venice
Space limited to 20
Guide: Volunteers Denny Girard and Al Squires
 
Register here for this event.
 
Crayola Critters! A Little Naturalist Event
for Preschoolers
Shamrock Park is home to diverse wildlife and habits. Come learn about birds, butterflies and reptiles through Crayola Critters preschool programs. Bring your child (age 3-5 years) to join Master Naturalists and connect with nature in fun, creative ways! Bring a snack to enjoy afterward.
Our March event theme is Reptiles! Check your upcoming newsletters for April and May themes.
 
Friday, March 24,  1 – 2 p.m.
Demonstration Garden area
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
 
Advance registration is required.
Please call Shamrock Park Naturalist at 941-404-6336 to reserve a spot.
Birding Diversity at T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve
Calling all birding enthusiasts! Be tantalized and wowed by the vast array of bird species and nature found at the beautiful T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve (Carlton Reserve). Join Sarasota County volunteer guide 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. You won’t be disappointed!
 
Saturday, March 25 
7:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway, Venice
Space limited to 12
Guide: Sarasota County Volunteer
Charlie Sample
Register here for this event. 
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 Event

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 and 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, pthistle@scgov.net
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