Florida Native Plant Society Blog

I could not think of a better native wildflower to feature in February than Yellow Jessamine,  Gelsemium sempervirens  . After reading Roger Hammer's sinister portrayal of this "pretty and evil” native, your appreciation for its lovely flower and fragrance will be restored by the poem “Yellow Jessamine” written by Constance Fenimore Woolson in 1874. Thank you to Peg Urban, who brought this poem to my attention when she remembered it from a past issue of the Palmetto .    CAROLINA JESSAMINE Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) W.T. Aiton Gelsemium Family (Gelsemiaceae) text and photos by Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter Carolina Jessamine, by Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter This twining vine has stems to 20' long with light green, lanceolate leaves from 1"–3" long and ½"–¾" wide. The fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers are about 1½" long and are typically present from January into April. Look for it in deciduous forests south...

by Devon Higginbotham / Poem by Donna Bollenbach Suncoast Native Plant Society The Passionflower...it looks like it must be from another planet. _D Higginbotham The first time I saw a passion flower, with its bizarre, lavender zigzaggy petals and yellow-star stamens, my immediate thought was it must be from another planet. It looks like no other flower shape — daisy, tulip or rose. Not only is it spectacular to behold but it’s huge, measuring about 4 inches across, and it smells like a sorority house on formal night. I had to have one! Sometimes called the maypop or May apple, this perennial vine is native to Florida and the southeastern United States. It grows well in zones seven to 10, climbing on fences trellises or as a ground cover in sunny locations. It spreads underground, sending out shoots some distance from the parent plant. It is attractive to zebra longwing and gulf fritillary larvae, which keep it in check. Thus, supplying your garden with a steady ...

An Essay by Devon Higginbotham and A Poem by Donna Bollenbach Cayo Costa, a Native  Journey  by Devon Higginbotham          West of Fort Myers, past the shopping malls, gas stations and fast food restaurants, is a place constantly shifting, and yet, frozen in time. Cayo Costa is a barrier island off the coast of southwest Florida, an hour by ferry from the hamlet of Bokeelia, accessible only by boat. It is a state park, one of 161 in our great state, and this one has camping, cabins for rent, miles of empty beaches, hiking trails, plenty of wildlife and native vegetation but no electricity, hot dog stands or hot water.  This is one place where you don’t want to forget anything.  Donna Bollenbach To get there, several concessions offer daily round-trip transport for around $45, camping gear included. We took the Tropic Star ferry, whic...