GOOD TASTING AT HERBFESTSaturday, Feb. 16, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be a busy time at Extension’s Market in the Park.Vendors will be selling herbs that are good for cook-ing and looking. Food demonstrations will be in the tent; Monica Brandies will talk about using herbs in cooking; and Allen Cordell will offer growing hints. There will be another speaker yet to be determined.Botanical Bounty will feature herbal products.

PEOPLE AND PLANTS, A-ZBy Dianne Wheatley-Giliotti, Chair, FBGF

The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation, Inc. (FBGF) provides support for the Florida Botanical Gardens (FBG) through the gift shop, member-ships, donations and memori-als. The FBGF actively promotes awareness of the Gardens to Tampa Bay area residents and visitors.The FBGF serves as a source for volunteers desiring not only to keep the gardens growing but also wanting to propel the gardens into a signature aesthetic and educational destination. Yes, a cadre of volunteers is crucial to the Florida Botanical Gardens’ success; particularly when local governments are operating under increasingly mandated fi scal constraints. The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation, Inc. board is currently fi lling open board positions. We particularly need people with legal, accounting and marketing skills. The board meets the second Wednesday of the month from 9-10:30 a.m. in the Gardenia Room of the Extension building at the Florida Botanical Gardens campus on Ulmerton Road. Please visit us so that you can decide for yourself how you might contribute to the Foundation board and ultimately to The FBG.The Florida Botanical Gardens provides myriad op-portunities to volunteer: you could assist with re-cord-keeping, do some garden maintenance, control invasive plants, or even assist in teaching youth and adult classes in sustainability practices, tour guides and much more, on a scheduled or ad hoc basis. You can have a fulfi lling experience for yourself while helping to further the Garden’s mission of sus-tainability and education for a diverse audience. Visit www.fl bg.org/volunteer.html to learn more.If you cannot volunteer your time and talents; or if your budget doesn’t allow for a donation to the FBGF, we understand. But do enrich your life by frequently visiting the gardens to enjoy the season-al offerings. This winter, make time to explore the butterfl y or bromeliad gardens or the wedding gar-den. Enjoy aloe, beautyberry, China pinks or walk-ing iris in bloom. There is no fee to visit our Florida Botanical Gardens.

REMEMBER SOMEONEBrick pavers in the Palm Garden are a great way to acknowledge family and friends, to say thanks for the memories, for being a friend, or thanks for life. Recently, pavers have been ordered by:June Doyle in memory of Jeff DoyleGail Rasmussen in memory of Nels RasmussenSylvia and Will Cesanek for each other

COMMISSION LIAISON CHANGESFor the past year Commissioner Bob Stewart has served as our County Commission representative. We appreciate the guidance he offered and wish him well with his new assignments.Our new county commission representative is Commissioner Ken Welch – he was born in St. Petersburg, attended local schools and gradu-ated from Lakewood Senior High School in 1981. He earned a B.A. degree in accounting from the University of South Florida and a M.B.A. from Florida A&M University.Commissioner Welch’s corporate work experience includes 14 years as a disbursements auditor, se-nior fi nancial accountant and fi nancial systems ad-

ministrator for Florida Power Corporation (Progress Energy).In November 2000, he was elected to the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners, representing District 7. In addition to his duties as a county com-missioner, Welch serves on the board of directors of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC), FAC Finance and Audit Committee, Pinellas County Information Technology Board, County Commission representative to the Juvenile Welfare Board, the Pinellas Homeless Leadership Network and the St. Petersburg College board of trustees. Ken and his wife Donna have two daughters.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO FILL THESE POSITIONSYouth and FamiliesVolunteers offer management of formal and informal activities throughout the gardens for children and families.Time: Ongoing and fl exible. Qualifi cations: Interest in children and family pro-grams; background check required. Teaching AssistantVolunteer assists program instructors with set-up, handouts and clean-up, on request of the instructor. Botanical Garden classes in adult education take place at the Extension Welcome Center and in the gardens. Volunteers assisting with the smooth op-eration of these classes can enjoy a waived fee for any class they wish to attend.Time: Varies with class schedule. Qualifi cations: Great job for students Summer Camp Activity AssistantsVolunteers assist and contribute to the planning and implementation of summer camp activities. The Botanical Gardens hosts visits by local summer camps and provide nature-based activities. Time: Summer weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Qualifi cations: Experience with children very helpful. Great experience for students and junior volunteers; background check required. Record-keepingThe role of any Botanical Garden is to serve as a teaching institution, using its living collection of cul-tivated and wild plants. Record-keeping is a vital function of the Botanical Gardens team. Volunteers take part in photography, labeling, database work, inventory of the collections, verifi cations and a host of other tasks.Time: Flexible and ongoingQualifi cations: Meticulous attention to detail, com-puter literacy, appreciation of records. Conservation and SustainabilityMcKay Creek Greenway VolunteersVolunteers assist in monitoring natural areas and controlling exotic invasive plants by means of a va-riety of tasks. This is part of the Garden’s ongoing conservation effort to maintain the diversity of native plant species.Time: Ongoing and fl exible.Qualifi cations: Ability to work outdoors in all weath-er, alone or in small groups. May require lifting of up to 50 lbs.

CHILDREN’S TRAIL ADVANCESHi, I need a nameGreetings kids of all ages, I need your help. I am nameless “critter” and I need a name! My job is to help you fi nd all of the fun that goes along with our new Children’s Trail that will open with great fanfare in the coming months. You will fi nd me on kid-friendly trail markers in the Gardens, on activity sheets and handouts, and on our web site.As a reward for successfully naming me, my “par-ents” will give you a $50 gift certifi cate to the Botanical Bounty gift shop located in the Welcome Center at the gardens.Please mail your suggested “critter” names) to The Children’s Trail Committee, The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL, 33774 together with your name, address, and telephone number before April 1, 2008. Or, drop off your suggested “critter” names), together with your name, address, and telephone number when you visit the Botanical Bounty gift shop.The Children’s trail committee will determine the winning name.

Greetings kids of all ages, I need your help.

Bulletin of the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation, Inc

Volume 2 Winter 2008

Editor: Ruth Davies

Bulletin of The Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation, Inc.12520 Ulmerton Rd.Largo, FL 33774

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGEPAIDCLEARWATER, FLPERMIT 1464

Barbara Parks Brenda MillerBrigitte Schweizer Carolyn DerricoClare Spensley Doris Kessing-LopezGeorge Lacey Jane NortonJanet Jones Jin CavanaughJo Marie Kochiss Judith JonesKen Storms La Rita JacobsLauren Hoover Leanne GilesLee Gleaton Marilyn WiltMary Russell Melana ToroNicola McConnell Pam Langan & Tim HuffPeggy (Margaret J.) Vincent

Phyllis Powell

Rebecca Carr Sally PerryScott Powers Susan McEwenWilliam Edwards William Uhler

NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS

MEMBERSHIPBy Mary Ellen Warner

Many renewals are coming due now. If you re-ceived a reminder letter, you can return your re-newal payment by mail to FBGF, personally to Mary Ellen Warner or Mary Crowe at the Extension of-fi ce or simply turn it in at the Botanical Bounty Gift Shop. We are happy to greet our new members who signed up at our membership table at the December “Friday Nights and Garden Lights” Events. Look for our membership table at HerbFest, Saturday, Feb. 16th.

BOARD RESIGNATIONIt is with regret that the Foundation board accept-ed the resignation of R. Bruce McManus, M.B.A, JD at its January meet-ing. He and his wife, Audrey, are charter mem-bers of FBG Foundation. Bruce has been a guid-ing force since the ger-mination of the idea of a botanical garden. As part of his work as Chair of the Foundation’s Development Committee, Bruce was instrumental in creating the University of Florida Bushnell center for Urban Sustainability here at the FBG. Bruce’s in-volvement and pro bono legal guidance and advice including assistance with the creation of our bylaws, and articles of incorporation are greatly appreci-ated.

Linda Snook, CPA,CFPTM

Tax and Financial Plannning*MS TaxationSabala Plaza Offi ce (727)517-390014100 Walsingham Rd #33 Fax (727)517-3979Largo, FL 33774 snookcpa@tampabay.rr.com

www.myhdvest.com/snookcpa

*Linda Snook, CPA, CFP - Securities offered through HD Vest Investment ServicesSM, Member: SIPC.Advisory Services offered through HD Vest Advisory ServicesSM, non-bank subsidiaries of Wells Fargo & Company, 6333 North State Highway 161, 4th Floor, Irving, TX 75038. (972)870-6000.

Linda Snook has graciously undertaken the writing of checks and bookkeeping for the Foundation. She is professional, organized and a delight to work with. Jim creates the layout for the newsletter.

R. Bruce McManus, M.B.A, JD

Mother Natures Doris Zander and Janie Howell greeted visitors and posed for photos on December 14th and 21st.

LOVE AND DEDICATION ARE IN FBGBy Linda Culhane

On any given day, while visiting the gardens, you are likely to see some of these dedicated workers. Mondays include the greenhouse crew, while Susan Bauman has taken on the extra duties of watering the containers; in the pond area dodging the live al-ligators are Irene Costello, Bruce Robertson, Jim Wolfinger and Richard Berube, with John Kingsbury and crew in the vegetable gardens.Tuesdays include the herb gardens under Allen’s tutelage, while Lillian Wolfinger and Dorothy Whitley get “stuck” in the bromeliads. And, as always the ever-faithful Banana Boys and girls are in the tropi-cal fruit garden.Wednesdays find the MGs going native with team leader Jean Field. Their latest project is a MG-made pergola - Bob Kay sawing, Mindy Bickey sanding and Linda Barnett staining.Thursday finds the largest group taking directions from Bob Albanese working very hard in the land-scape. Friday is also a busy day, as Barb Orr tends to the containers, Sam Skemp, Mary Crowe and

UNIQUE CLASSES OFFEREDFlowering Plant Identification IClasses will be in February on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon – ($50 Public) (10% discount for FBG mem-bers and FMNs) • The month-long course will cover: • Identifying major groups of plants • What characteristics are necessary to notice when

collecting information about an unknown specimenHow to use plant identification tools and what re-sources are available to help. Hands-on techniques help clarify basic themesTextbook and all study materials are provided. The class will provide the basic tools and knowledge necessary to correctly identify cultivated plants.Participants will be taught to recognize and identify basic plant morphology, to navigate various taxo-nomic glossaries, correct and efficient use of a di-chotomous key and an understanding of phylogeny familiarity with at least four common plant familiesPlant Identification II This is a continuation of Plant Identification I, and examines the theme in greater depth. All study ma-terials are provided.In May the class will be taught on Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon ($50 Public) (10% discount for FBG Members and FMNs).The class will offer the ability to recognize 10 plant families; creation of a family-characteristic notebook, with sketches and pressed specimens for reference. Participants will be taught the creation of a plant family outline for three plant families. Contact James Stevenson at 582-2581

FRIDAY TIDY GROUP TO FORMBy James Stevenson

The Florida Botanical Gardens at Pinellas County Extension is looking to set up a new team of garden volunteers. This group would work Fridays to tidy up the gardens for the weekend visitors. The tasks would be many and varied with an opportunity to learn all about the gardens, plants and techniques to keep things running smoothly.Participants will work alongside staff and other vol-unteers. If you love the outdoors, working as a team or alone in the tranquility of a large garden and want to make a difference in Pinellas County, please get in touch.Participants must be able to perform a variety of physical tasks including kneeling, bending, climbing ladders, lifting up to 50 lbs. and sustain physical ac-tivity for a morning or afternoon shift (or both). Call James Stevenson, Extension Public Education Specialist, on 582-2581 for more information.

A LIVING PALETTE AND PUBLIC ART AT THE FLORIDA BOTANICAL GARDENSBy Dianne Wheatley-Giliotti

The Pinellas County Cultural Affairs Department issued a Call-to-Artists inviting Florida artists to submit qualifications and a proposal for a commu-nity-based project that focuses on environmental sustainability. This permanent artwork will become a feature at the Florida Botanical Gardens.Entries for this $45,000 award were due Jan. 14, 2008. Artists were encouraged to consider the unique native plants in their design as used in the natural and formal gardens in FBG as well as the promotion of sustainable environmental practices. The term Sustainability is used to suggest a posi-tive relationship between the built environment and nature.Guidance for each submittal were: to have the art-ist engage or interact directly with the public and to have an artwork theme that reflects the concept of environment.An artist selection panel will review all concept pro-posals and will select three finalists for final review in March 2008. Finalists will be invited to submit, in person, final project proposals. Each finalist will earn a $500 honorarium.The Artist Selection Panel includes one member of the Public Art and Design Committee of the Pinellas County Cultural Affairs Department, two arts pro-fessionals, one representative from the county and one community representative. The final award is scheduled for June 2008. Be sure to look for the in-stallation of the selected piece and plan to attend community-based workshops and public lectures or activities related to the winning exhibition.

FRIDAY NIGHTS AND GARDEN LIGHTSBy Ann Shimp

Holidays at the Florida Botanical Gardens were all about the lights in the Illuminated Gardens and fun in the form of refreshments, musical entertainment and other activities at the Friday Nights and Garden Lights events. The events sponsored by the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation began on the first Friday Night in December and continued on the two succeeding Friday nights, ending on Dec.21.The events featured entertainment, refreshments, photos with Santa or Mother Nature and children’s activities. Attendance increased from a little over 800 people on the first night to more than 2,000 people on the last Friday night.Thanks to our sponsors; Regions Bank Clearwater branch (our main sponsor), and Isla del Sol branch, Amplex Wholesale Plants, Larry Larson’s Topsoil, The Carpet Store, Belleair Palms, Dixie Trailer, Wilcox Nursery and several FBG members, for making this treat possible for the public.Credit for the success of these Friday night events must be given to the diverse group of volunteers from FBG, Master Gardeners, HCE, 4H, and National Honor Society youth from Seminole High School. A total of 34 adults and 50 youth, includ-ing 46 from the National Honor Society and 4 from 4H gave their time to the event. Many volunteers worked more than one night and several worked all three nights.FBGF is optimistically looking forward to seeing holi-day lights in the Gardens and sponsoring the Friday Nights and Garden Lights event in 2008. The com-mittee is in the process of evaluating the event and starting the process of applying for a grant from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. We hope to be able to continue exposure of our crown jewel to residents and visitors.

SPECIAL THANKS TO NHSVOLUNTEERSAt dusk on each night of Friday Nights and Garden Lights a cadre of youth volunteers, descended on the Florida Botanical Gardens. These volun-teers, members of the National Honor Society at Seminole High School, were there to earn some

of the 12 hours of volunteer service needed each se-mester. They were led by President Becky Vasquez and our initial contact Richard Livingstone who is a youth volunteer

in the 4H youth mentor program at Extension.Their assignments included a myriad of tasks in-cluding setting up and taking down tables and chairs, serving refreshments, selling lighted star necklaces, handing out programs or counting guests. These teens, approximatey 30 each night, were the backbone of the volunteers and were friendly, hard working and commited to the event.The Friday Nights and Gardent Lights committee was greatly impressed with these exceptional teens and are looking forward to working with them at fu-ture events.

AWESOME!!!

BOTANICAL BOUNTY NEWSOur Botanical Bounty gift shop enjoyed some flatter-ing media attention of the holidays with two different articles in the press, and with good reason. While most other area shops celebrate sand, surf and sun, we specialize exclusively in the unparalleled beau-ty of nature and in our gorgeous Florida Botanical Gardens. Gardening books, botanical apparel, crys-tal and ceramic vases, unique note cards and hand-crafted botanical jewelry are just a few of our select items. FBG memberships may also be purchased in the shop.Did you know that The Florida Botanical Gardens are the #2 attraction in Pinellas, just behind love-ly, natural Fort De Soto? Folks just love nature, trees, flowers and wildlife and they’re all here at the Botanical Gardens. We look forward to you next visit!

BOUQUETSBy Ruth Davies

December’s Illuminated Lights in the gardens was a special bouquet to residents and visitors. Albertson’s gifted the county to help defray costs and volunteers stepped up to decorate.Personally, it gave me great pleasure to accept the thanks and smiles from the visitors; some made cash donations.The volunteers shined even brighter than the smiles around us. What a crew! They even had to clean up in the rain one evening. Board members raised funds and offered their own time and talent.By the brightness of the smiles and lights, it was all worth the effort. Thank you all. What could be better than celebrating the holiday season with several thousand other people celebrat-ing Friday Nights and Garden Lights!On three Friday nights in December, cider and hot chocolate with cookies and greetings from volun-teers were served to garden visitors.A special bouquet to Ann ShimpSpearheading the volunteer effort was Ann Shimp. Tables, to tasty food, to headcount tabulations were on her organization chart. Besides Foundation vol-unteers, she rallied National Honor Society students from Seminole High School. These teens were the legs and backbone of the evenings; were respon-sible, cheerful ambassadors and a delight to work with.The musicians set up on the palm plaza and played to an appreciative crowd and even received job of-fers. Volunteers helped visitors to have a lighted star to call their own.

ODE TO MASTER GARDENERSBy Linda Culhane

While not exactly a poet, I hope this poem (a remake of the love poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning) shows that the Master Gardeners do love the Florida Botanical Gardens. We show this through our long hours of blood, sweat and some-times tears.

How do we work for thee? Let me count the ways.We work for thee in the tropical walk, the containers, the butterfly gardensIn the rose gardens, the topiaries, and the herb gardenOur shovels can dig, when feeling not so light To the ends of the bed and even when the sun is not so bright. We work for thee too through all kinds of pain,Most quiet need, by sun and some days of rain.We work for thee freely, as men (and women) strive for right;We work for thee purely, not just to receive your praise.We work for thee with a passion that will amazeOur hands work quickly and our results are profuse. We work for thee with a love not recluseWith sweat on our brow!---we apply our talent,With smiles, and tears, through all our life!---and, only by our devotionDo we work for thee with little commotion.

crew trims and fertilizes the roses in the wedding garden, and John Kingsbury and crew brewing a compost pile. We even have our own resident artist, Jessica Foster, designing and painting the wall mu-ral in the fruit garden when she’s not watering pots.Saturdays see Marcel Pincince and Patrick Mann caring for 75 roses in 4 gardens and volunteering for special projectsThese are but a few of the many hands that are now working in The Florida Botanical Gardens. There are many volunteers not mentioned in the various areas of the gardens. You are the greatest and are appre-ciated.

FRIDAY NIGHTS AND GARDEN LIGHTS VOLUNTEERSAnn Shimp--Chair Extraordinaire

Ann Mevers Judy YatesBarbara Goss Lana FlickingerBarbara Kirkconnell Loraine FaustBarbara Orr Mary CroweBrian Field MaryEllen WarnerBobbie Jones Mike LylesCarla Levesque Monique NoujaimCindy Peacock Natalie OliverDebbie Ostrander Pat and Daisy

ConnolleyDianne and Lionel Giliotti Raylena CatherDoris Zander Ruth DaviesGail Rasmussen Sue RichardsonJanie Howell Vernon BryantJean Field Vickie and Lanny

JacksonJim Shimp Vivian HaickenPinellas County Park Department Rangers Dale, Beth, Patty, Pattie, Jeanne, Calvin and Ed who were assigned to the events

Lori Hafer and her band Music of your Life performed a medley of holiday music on December 7th.