Strolling into May: Springtime Fun in Sarasota’s Parks
  A monthly e-newsletter sharing our nature news and events.
Update: The May 26th stroll at Shamrock Park has been cancelled.
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.

Monday, May 1,  9 – 11 a.m.   
189 Pocono Trail East, Nokomis
Space limited to 15
Guide: Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
 
Register here for this event. 
Late Spring Wildflower Walk
Join a Sarasota County Environmental Specialist Preserve on a hike through pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods and oak hammocks to see what’s blooming at Curry Creek Preserve. A number of spring/early summer wildflowers and many other interesting plants grow along the trails, making for a delightful and educational trek through the preserve.

Tuesday May 2,  9 – 11 a.m. 
East entrance
1500 Pinebrook Rd., Venice
Space limited to 20
Guide: Sarasota County Environmental
Specialist.
Register here for this event. 
Trash to Treasure: Welcome to Rothenbach Park
 
Join a Sarasota County Parks Naturalist for a nature walk at Rothenbach Park. Learn about the history of the site and the interesting blend of uses that make this site unique. Discuss the native plants and animals that live at Rothenbach Park, and the techniques employed by the County to protect and preserve the habitat. Participants should meet at the pavilion and be prepared to walk approximately 2 ¾ miles along paved trails.
Wednesday, May 3,  9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
8650 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota
Space limited to 20
 
Register here for this event.
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, May 4,  9 – 10 a.m.
Demonstration Garden area
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
 
No registration needed.
All welcome!
Exploring Relationships between Plants and Animals
Join a Sarasota County Environmental Specialist at Red Bug Slough Preserve 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.
Thursday, May 4,  9 – 11 a.m.  
5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota
Space limited to 20
Guide: Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
 
Register here for this event. 
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. (Through May)
Historic Dearborn Street,
Englewood
All welcome!
 
For more information call
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.
Friday’s, May  5, 12, 19, 26 
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
4000 Honore Ave., Sarasota
Space unlimited
Guide: Sarasota County Staff
No registrations are needed
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, May 6
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. 
A Walk Around the Lake at Sleeping Turtles Preserve South
 
Explore the south end of Sleeping Turtles Preserve South enjoying the preserve’s meandering lake trails canopied by old live oaks and pines with Sarasota County volunteer guides and Florida Native Plant Society members, Al Squires and Denny Girard. Join us for an early spring trek searching for early blooming plants. Your search may find Psychotria nervosa, better known as Wild coffee, a Florida native shrub with its white blossoms, early blooming pawpaws and both kinds of Lyonia. Who knows what kinds of native wildflowers will be blooming for you to identify!
Wednesday, May 10,  9 – 11 a.m.
2800 N. River Road, Venice
Space limited to 20
Guide: Volunteers Denny Girard and Al Squires
 
Register here for this event. 
So We Can’t Burn…Now What?
Join a Sarasota County Environmental Specialist at Curry Creek 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.
Wednesday, May 10, 9 -11 a.m.  
Curry Creek Preserve EAST Entrance
1500 Pinebrook Rd., Venice
Space limited to 20
Guide: Sarasota County Environmental Specialist
 
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!
Friday, May 12,  9 – 11 a.m.
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
Space limited to 20
Guide: Sarasota County Volunteers and
Park Naturalist
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, May 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.
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 May event theme is Butterflies!
 
Friday, May  19,  1 – 2 p.m.
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
 
Advance registration is required.
Please call Shamrock Park Naturalist at 941-404-6336 to reserve a spot.

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, May 20, 10 – 11 a.m.
1300 S. River Road, Englewood
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, May 21,  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
941-412-5575 or Gary Vasbinder at
941-893-7729 directly to register
and for meeting location.
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, May 26,  9 – 11 a.m.
3900 Shamrock Dr., Venice
Space limited to 20
Guide: Sarasota County Volunteers and
Park Naturalist
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 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 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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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.