It’s been about one and a half years that our “new” coastal native plant nursery has been up and running. Since we are growing from seeds that we collect, it has taken awhile. We now have several hundred plants ready (in 1 and 3 gallon sizes) to plant in one ofour habitat restoration/enhancement projects. These are plants such as seagrape , live oak , gumbo limbo, coontie, wild coffee, Florida privet, and others. We have a small area of our Palmer Point Park project that is waiting to be planted. We are also looking into planting a 2-3 acre spoil island near Venice, which was overrun by invasive Brazilian pepper. Sarasota County had that contracted out for removal and it was ground up. We will update you more in future issues. We want to thank the Sarasota Conservation Foundation for their generosity in letting us use of an area in their new Osprey Preserve for our plant nursery. The Grand Opening there is scheduled for Nov. 21. Come visit them and our nursery on that date. Family activities are planned.

If you’d like to help with our nursery or planting projects or need directions to the Preserve
call John Sarkozy at (941) 966-7308

Birthday Party -2009

This year marks the 200^th  anniversary Charles Darwin‘s birth and the 150^th year since the publication of “On the Origin of Species”.  Although he wasn’t aware of mutations (Mendel’s work went unnoticed for many years), he was fully aware of the work of animal breeders, the fossil record, and changes brought about by geographic isolation.

His main themes tied together life’s enormous diversity and core commonality.  All life is connected by common ancestry .  Species undergo random variation which is either sustained or lost in the struggle for existence and change evolves through natural selection.  The corollary to this, which has engendered considerable consternation in ecclesiastical circles, is that the direction of change is random and purposeless; ‘non-teleological’ in philosopher’s lingo.

From this beginning, followed by the rules of genetics, the elucidation of DNA, and the structure of the gene, a plethora of ideas and innovations have followed.

  The field of developmental biology- ‘evo-devo’, the evolution of developmental sequences- is presently in an explosive growth phase and full of surprises.  The conservation of body plans, nearly identical in a host of organisms that appear unrelated externally, led researchers to believe this was a universal attribute.  But it is not.  Work in the 1990’s found that, at the gene level, different mechanisms often lead to similar outcomes.

Belief  that evolution works strictly at the individual level is being challenged.  The notion of the ‘superorganism’ (eg.bees, ants, bacteria) and group natural selection are making news.

Ideas on how evolution should be incorporated into our view of life range from Dawkins atheism (The God Delusion), the Dalai Lama’s acceptance and revision of Buddhism to outright rejection and the creationism alternative.

Science is young and much of it is hard to grasp without a rigorous education.  Whether faith and reason can reconcile their differences is something only the future can tell-if we humans have a future.

The Need for Active Volunteers

As an all-volunteer group, we have a continuing need for people to help on existing projects and events as well as starting up new ones.  Some current activities are in jeopardy and some earlier activities have gone defunct because we don’t have the people to handle them .  Take a look below and see what you think might interest you;

Restoration work - First Saturday of the month, half a day either removing exotics or planting or nursery work - Call John for information (941) 966-7308.

Picnic - Twice a year probably at Blackburn Point or you choose the place.  Saturday. - Call Dave (941) 377-5459.

Exhibits - A few time a year; Earth Day for example - Prepare a new (simple)exhibit and get a core of volunteers to serve at the exhibit (usually outdoors).  Call Dave (941) 377-5459.

Marine Conservation Guru - Attend meetings of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, SWFMD Environmental Advisory Committee, ECOSWF, Charlotte Harbor NEP etc .  Follow what is happening what is happening on the marine scene.  Call Dave (941) 377-5459.

Do you have an idea for an activity and are you willing to develop it?  Call Dave at (941) 377-5459.

Think about finding a friend (or friends) to help you.  It will make sustaining an effort much easier.

Look forward to hearing from you.