Stars at Red Bug – August in our Parks
A monthly e-newsletter sharing our nature news and events
Demonstration Garden Tours at Shamrock Park
Master gardener volunteers will be giving free demonstration garden tours and advice on Florida gardening. Meet at the central garden area near the Nature Center.
Thursday, August 6, 9 -10 a.m.  
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
No registrations necessary.For information call 941-861-5000. 

Walk the Scrub Lands along Caspersen Beach

with Denny and Al

 

Enjoy a leisurely stroll amateur botanists and Florida Native Plant Society members, Denny Girard & Al Squires. Denny and Al will lead you on a search for summer plants along the scrub land trails that meander near freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangrove areas, and tidal flats. Along the way as you search for plants in the coastal scrub area, enjoy the views of the Intracoastal Waterway.

 

Wednesday, August 12, 9-11 a.m. 

4100 Harbor Drive, Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guides: Denny Girard and Al Squires, Sarasota County volunteers
Register here for this event.

Come out Extra Early and Stargaze!

 

Be sure to get to bed extra early on August 12 so you can rise early on Thursday morning to check out the Perseid Meteor Shower and other celestial objects visible in the early morning sky with Jeff Weber. If conditions are optimal, participants may see a number of bright meteors streaking quickly through the early morning sky. As the event concludes, the crescent moon will rise above the eastern horizon just before daybreak. An amazing way to start the day!

 

Thursday, August 13, 5-6:30 a.m.  

5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota
Space limited to 20.
Guides: Jeff Weber, Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
Register here for this event.

Monthly Rain Barrel Workshop and Sales 

                              

Saturday, August 15, 10-11 a.m.    
3951 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice
Contact: David Pouso,
Environmental Specialist

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. 

To register for this free class go to Eventbrite.
UF/IFAS Extension
 Project Learning Tree Educator Training

Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning, interdisciplinary environmental education program. PLT provides supplementary education curriculum materials to enhance classroom curricula, after school programs, summer camp sessions, and community events (e.g., Earth Day or Florida Forestry Day).

 Why you should take this workshop:

  • Receive the Pre K-8 Activity Guide with 96 activities
  • Experience activities you can implement right away
  • Become eligible to apply for education grants
  • Activities are correlated to National and State Standards

*$25 Registration fee covers the cost of your curriculum guide which you will receive on the day of the training. Lunch will be provided; please list any specific dietary concerns in the notes section when you register.

 

Saturday, August 15, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Classroom
570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood
For more information call 941-861-9900.
Click here to register through EventBrite.
 
What’s Blooming, Buzzing and Hatching
at Shamrock Park?
Ever wonder where wildflowers bloom – and when? How many kinds of butterflies and dragonflies live here? Or which eggs, like the gopher tortoise’s, may be hatching? And when do Florida scrub-jays learn to fly? Join park naturalist Brooke Elias on ‘fourth Thursday’s (endingOctober 22) on a stroll to explore the annual rhythms and cycles of Shamrock Park. Meet on the deck of the Nature Center building.
Thursday, August 27, 9 -11 a.m.  
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
Space limited to 20.
Guide: Brooke Elias, Sarasota County Park Naturalist
Register here for this event.  
SAVE THE DATE:
Nora Patterson Bay Island Park Renaming Dedication
Help celebrate as we rename Bay Island Park to Nora Patterson Bay Island Parkhonoring Sarasota County’s former commissioner Nora Patterson for her many years of community service. A short ceremony at the park will be featuring local dignitaries and staff.
Friday, September 18, 10 a.m.
946 Siesta Drive, Siesta Key, Sarasota
For more information, call or email Debby Zeilman at 941-861-5000 or dzeilman@scgov.net.
SAVE THE DATE:
National Public Lands Day (NPLD)
Helping Hands for America’s Lands – A national volunteer effort to help improve your parks.
Locally, volunteers are needed to spruce up Woodmere Park in Venice. Choose from a great range of needed activities.
Saturday, September 26, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
3951 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice
Space limited to 30.
For more information on NPLD throughout the nation, go tohttp://www.publiclandsday.org
For more information or to register for Woodmere Park, call or email Debby Zeilman at 941-861-5000 or dzeilman@scgov.net.
SAVE THE DATE:
Florida Native Plant Society (Mangrove Chapter)
Public Speaker Series
Don’t miss these!
Local experts will conduct presentations on a range of topics that you are sure to enjoy.
Tuesday, October 13, 7-9 p.m.
Identification of Various Species of Goldenrod
Speakers: Al Squires & Denny Girard
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 call 941-861-5000.
 
Attention All Photographers:

Do you have a beautiful bird photo to share?

 

Here is a deal for you!

The Herald Tribune is seeking

beautiful bird photographs

to share on their on-line gallery..

Send your best pictures tophoto@heraldtribune.com and 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.
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
 

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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