Key West Botanical

Garden

Oct 27: Screaming Green Halloween Dec 8 & 9: "Gardenfest, The Green Market"

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A Message from the President: Mary Chandler

"One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time"

Andre Gide

Welcome to this issue of our Newsletter! We welcome your readership, support and involvement in the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden.

I was fortunate enough to visit a Botanical Garden in Bordeaux, France last month. It was an interesting display in a very formal format. Areas were paved around beds that featured plants grouped by family and then by genus.

I was interested to note their collection of palms and other tropical species.

Upcoming Calendar Events — Mark Your Calendar

Officers President: Mary Chandler Vice President: Nancy Griffin Treasurer: Rick Harty Secretary: Stephen Ragusea, Psy. D. Board of Directors Carole DeHart Vicki Grant Dave Hubbert Leyla Nedin Otto Paier Christina Regante General Manager: Misha McRAE Manager of Education Program: Heidi Seidel Committee Chairs: Ethics Committee: Stephen Ragusea, Psy. D. Executive Committee: Mary Chandler Fund Raising Committee: Christina Regante Finance Committee: Rick Harty Garden Guardians: Audrey Thompson & Susie Reutling Newsletter Editor & Photographer: Beryn Harty Nominating Committee: Rick Harty Public Relations Committee: Pat Cummings Site Committee: Mary Chandler Visitors’ Center Coordinator: Carole DeHart Photography by Beryn Harty unless otherwise noted

Upcoming Events 1

Message from the President 1 - 2

Message from the General Manager 3

Education Department Update 4

Florida Keys Birding & Wildlife Festival 5

Key West Tara Mandala 6

Facebook Users: Friend the Garden 6

Yoga & Self Actualization Classes 7

Screaming Green Halloween 8

Student Volunteers at the Garden 9

Beryn’s Flowering Flora 10

Blooming & Fruiting 11

Beryn’s Birds at the Garden 12

Butterflies, Butterflies & Butterflies 13

Beryn’s Interesting Creature: Lined Tree Snail 14

More Interesting Creatures : Lady Beetles & Jumping Spiders

15

Invasive Exotic Alert 16

Name That Fruit 16

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

A Message from the President: Mary Chandler

It’s always a surprise to me to see tropical specimens in these higher latitudes in Europe! At 44 degrees north, Bordeaux is on the same latitude as our northern states and Canada. Certainly there’s no possible way that these specimens would survive in this latitude in North America.

The reason is a global climatic phenomenon that is near and dear to our small island, the Gulf Stream. As anyone who’s been in a boat offshore on the Atlantic side knows, the Gulf Stream is a powerful current. It’s transporting over 30 million cubic meters per second through the Florida straits before it gains volume south of Newfoundland. This warming current is, in part, what makes the tropical specimens survive in the northern latitudes of Europe.

Thanks and again reminders on writing reviews and voting for the garden:

Write a review at http://www.tripadvisor.com and vote at Bestoftheroad.com!

As always, thank you for your past support! We welcome your donations at any time. Go to our website at http://www.kwbgs.org/page.asp?p=donate to make your donation.

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A Message from the General Manager: Misha D. McRAE

September 2012 was a busy month at your botanical Garden. Not just to keep it growing, but in keeping it going. This involved interviews, planning 3 events, garden clean-up, the Education Department new term, maintenance issues,

thank you letters, grant research, facility rentals, and a couple of training sessions to help me keep with the times.

The garden continues to grow in response to the rainy season. The Guardian ranks are always slim during these summer months and the added growth has kept us very busy. We are always aware of all that needs to be done, but when the US Fish and Wildlife Rangers came by to meet about the

Birding and Wildlife Festival, they were quick to comment on how beautiful the garden looked. That was truly a pride booster! I thank all of you who continue to contribute your time and effort in

keeping the garden growing. Your efforts do get noticed. We look forward to our returning snow-bird volunteers to provide us your assistance and give us some repose.

Susie Reutling, Betty Desbiens and the Guardians have kept the Nursery growing as well. Over 150 species of native plants are being nurtured along with 8 species of endangered plants being propagated for transplanting in the garden and the community by this group. Their efforts need to be recognized and commended. Word about the program has gotten out. We are proud to announce 20+ Horace O’Bryant middle school children have joined the program to learn about the nursery,

plants and work in the garden. If you are interested in knowing what you can do to help protect and expand our list of endangered plants, please contact the office.

The final week of the 14th Annual Birding and Wildlife Festival was concluded at the Botanical Garden hosting two birding tours led by our own Nancy Griffin and Constance Miller, one butterfly tour provided by Hank and Mary-Anne Pool from the Miami Chapter of the North American Butterfly

Association and ending with an enjoyable and informative visual presentation (co-sponsored by the Botanical Garden, the local Audubon Society and the Key West Wildlife Refuge) by world renowned aviary photographers Dick Fortune and Sara Lopez. We thank Fran Ford from the Audubon Society and Tom Sweets from the Wildlife Refuge for donating the wine and cheese for the pre-presentation social. It was a beautiful evening, a great turn out of wonderful guests and a visual and personable

presentation. I thank Emily Sipe, Tricia Consiglio, Nancy Griffin and Carole DeHart for being on hand to assist throughout the event. I could not have done it without you.

All of this is possible only with your support. Your contribution is vital to our success and we thank you for it. Notices about the annual Halloween event, ‘Screaming Green Halloween’, have been sent.

Show your support by sponsoring a candy booth. Promptly renew your membership when your notice is received and feel free to contact me at the office if you would like to do more.

Keep it green and remember, it is a great day for the garden.

Education Newsletter Article August 2012: Heidi Seidel

The Education Department is off to a great start for the 2012-2013 school year! October has been a busy month preparing for the many programs being offered

throughout the year to students pre-kindergarten through high school. The Education Department is flourishing.

The Education Department started the month hiring a new teacher, Nichole Wolfe, to join the Education team. Nichole grew up in north Florida and graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Agriculture and Life Science. She moved to Key West in August 2007 and loves living on an island. She has a total of three years local teaching

experience. Two of the years she was teaching elementary science at Sigsbee school and one year of middle school science at Horace O’ Bryant school. Nichole shares, “Teaching is

my passion. I am very excited to be back in the educational field and love all the hands-on interactive experiences the Garden has to offer.”

Melinda Cassis is also back this year to help in the Education Department. Melinda joined our team last year and has proven to be a well-rounded, team player eager and willing to help out in any capacity.

Melinda will be teaching classes as well as helping coordinate our special educational events. Melinda has lived in the keys for twenty years and has two children attending Sugarloaf school. Melinda says, “I am

thrilled to be back at the Garden this year! I think this program is so important and influential for children of all ages in our community. I am glad I can contribute and be a part of it.”

Please be sure to introduce yourself to Nichole and Melinda if you see them at the Garden and join me in welcoming the two of them to our Garden family. Additionally, I would like to thank Misha, Rick, and Susie for helping with the Education Department’s first week orientation. These valuable members of

our Garden helped introduce our new teachers to the Garden community, our mission, and the nursery.

Saturdays have been a very busy day of the week for the last month. We have become “the place to be” for middle school students! We have had a group of 8th grade students from Horace O’ Bryant school

participating in our Saturday Science program. During Saturday Science students have been studying the interactions of plants and animals in the Garden and completing descriptive research and observations. In addition, we have had 7th Grade Horace O’ Bryant students participating in our Garden Companions

service learning program. These student volunteers are companions to the Garden as well as companions to our Garden Guardians volunteer group. Susie has been doing a tremendous job engaging these students in plant propagation projects, learning about our local ecosystems, and even weeding at the chugs exhibit. Please be sure to thank Susie and these hard- working students if you see them busy

learning and beautifying the Garden!

If you are interested in helping with any of the Education Department programs please contact me at heidiseidel@hotmail.com or call 305-849-8733.

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Birds, Butterflies and Nature Photographers, Oh My! By Emily Sipe

On Friday, September 28th, and Saturday, September 29th, 2012, the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden had the pleasure of hosting several events as part of the 14th Annual Birding & Wildlife Festival. A “Birds in the Forest” birding and garden tour was given on both Friday and Saturday by the Gardens very own Docents, Nancy Griffin and Constance Miller. On Saturday afternoon we hosted a “Butterflies in the Forest” butterfly tour led by the Miami Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association. Thanks to US Fish and Wildlife, The Key West Audubon Society and the Key West Wildlife Center, the Garden was able to host a wine and cheese reception on Saturday evening for award winning nature photographers, Dick Fortune and Sara Lopez of Through the Lens Gallery, just prior to their presentation “Capturing Birds and Wildlife, Through the Lens.” In addition to being able to view their amazing photos, Dick Fortune and Sara Lopez were very welcoming and all too happy to provide the stories and locations behind their photographs and great information on how to get some of those amazing shots yourself. Whether you were a beginner or a novice, everyone walked away excited and knowing a little bit more about nature photography. Birders and enthusiasts from near and far visited the Garden for these events and we were glad to have them with us. Thank you to those who attended. A special thanks to all our volunteers who assisted, as well as, US Fish and Wildlife, The Key West Audubon Society and the Key West Wildlife Center for their contributions and for making this a great success for the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Gardens.

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Nancy Griffin and Constance Miller Conduct Birding and Garden Tour

Misha McRAE Introduces Sara Lopez during Social

Key West Tara Mandala

Key West Tara Mandala is a Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Sangha that meets weekly in the Nature Chapel.

Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. Classes taught by Ellen Booth Church (Yeshe Choepel) include instruction

in meditation and the philosophy of Buddhism.

Schedule of current classes can be found on our website: www.KeyWestTaraMandala.org. Questions call 607-351 1325

Community Activities The Key West Botanical Garden keeps growing as your Community Center promoting good health through group activities and classes provided at the

KWTFBG. Be part of it.

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Thank you for support of the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden and its programs. Now, will you be our friend?

In our continuing efforts to get the word out about this beautiful garden that you support, we have a Facebook Page about the garden. In connection with the newsletter and garden e-mail notices, the Facebook page allows you and our visitors to monitor recent news, activities, share pictures and interact with what is going on at the garden.

Visit the Garden's Facebook page, become a friend and post your comments. Tell us you like the Face page for the Garden thumbs up by connecting to

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Key-West-Tropical-Forest-Botanical-Garden/138759202827352.

Then share the site with your friends and make the Key West Botanical Garden Facebook page a regularly visited site to put your comments on the wall.

We thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely, Misha D. McRAE, General Manager

YOGA IN THE GARDEN Hatha yoga for all bodies is offered in the Garden Tuesdays & Thursdays 10 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. NEW! "Yogalates" Sundays 9 a.m. in the Nature Chapel. "Yogalates" is a floor series and a balancing series of yoga mixed with pilates for core strengthening and increased flexibility; for

increased body awareness, better posture and overall health, peace and patience. Marci Rose, instructor Drop in $15. Call 305-304-5635 or visit www.yogakeywest.org for more info Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/yogakeywest

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Reflections

at

Desbiens

Pond

Student Volunteers at the Garden by Misha D. McRAE On September 8, 2012, Key West Botanical Garden Guardian Team Leader Josefina Reif was on hand to work with Key West High School student Oscar Rojas and HOB students Mairen Alzamora, Cesia Mendez, Keylin Castro and Meilyn Perez who come to volunteer and learn

more about the garden. As part of their schools Community Service Program, these students will learn the value of conservation, how to protect our endangered plants and animal and the importance of native habitat. Their first project was the completion of

‘Concert Corner’, a permanent piece of interactive art by Richard Cooke, which consists of recycled materials that make musical instruments. Oscar Rojas has been a guardian since

May 2012 and has had his hands in all areas of the garden. Our thanks go out to these wonderful students and our staff for their contribution.

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2 0 1 2 Beryn’s Flowering Flora

Get your exercise by walking in the Garden!

Then you can see what’s blooming and fruiting

for yourself!

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Beryn’s Birds Recently Seen Enjoying the Garden

Email me your garden bird shots for inclusion in an upcoming newsletter!

Beryn - nstaafl@aol.com

Beryn’s Butterflies, Butterflies, Butterflies & More Butterflies! O C T O B E R 2 0 1 2 P A G E 1 3

Egg

New Caterpillar

Middle Stage (Instar) Caterpillar after

Molting (old skin / integument is at right)

Late Stage (Instar) Caterpillar (Note increased length of three pairs of antennae and new red

color in striping pattern)

Another Molt (note

longer antennae)

Getting Ready to Pupate Brand New Green Crysalis

Green Crysalis Turns Black

Shortly Before Hatching

Wings Visible Through Black Crysalis Just

Before Hatching

Meet Our Local Royalty

Life Stages of a Queen Butterfly

Beryn’s Interesting Creature for the Month:

Lined Tree Snail - Drymaeus multilineatus

This is one of our native terrestrial snails,. Keep a sharp eye out for them. They can be seen on trunks and leaves of plants in our hammocks. Like a number of our other native species, they are eaten by the invasive Iguanas which are mistakenly

thought by many people to be herbavores / vegetarians.

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Mrs Semaphore Cactus asks:

More Interesting Creatures

Do you remember the Carolina Sphinx Moth and Io Moth caterpillars from the August newsletter? Well, they’ve both hatched !

AnD YET More Creatures TO ENJOY

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The Key West Tropical Forest

& Botanical Garden

5210 College Road Key West, FL 33040

305-296-1504

kwbgs@kwbgs.org

Name That Fruit

Win one of Beryn’s Floral Guides. Be the first to email her at NSTAAFL@aol.com with its name.

Last month’s mystery fruit was the Inkberry

This one is fruiting right now!

Membership can now be paid on the website              

via credit card. 

Just go to our website, www.kwbgs.org  ‐   You’ll 

see the link on the right side of the Home page. 

Invasive Exotic Alert: Beach Naupaka / Beach Inkberry

Scaevola taccada scaevola This rapidly growing plant with shiny green

leaves has unusual flowers which appear as though they have been cut in half. Both salt and drought tolerant, it quickly outgrows many of our native

species, including its close relative, the native Inkberry, Scaevola plumieri.

The two species are easily differentiated. The native has thick, leathery leaves which are quite flat and dark purple / black berries. The invasive exotic has longer, thinner leaves which tend to have re-curved margins (edges which bend back towards the stem,

and it has white berries.

Aspiring Journalist

& / or Photographer

Sought for

Non-Profit

Newsletter

I’m looking for someone

who’s ready to step up and

take over creating our

monthly newsletter,

so I can focus on other

projects.

Anyone interested?

Contact me at

nstaafl@aol.com

Beryn <:o)

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Come Out and Enjoy Your Garden

Invasive Exotic Native