The highlight of our year was the 1st place award for the "Coastal Cedar Hammock Restoration" Project at the Water Club on Longboat Key.
This award was presented by the Florida Native Plant Society to Laurel Schiller at the FNPS Conference in May of this year. Over 1,700 trees and shrubs were planted over a period of eighteen months. Hope everybody read the write-up in SHT (front page). If not, a framed copy hangs proudly in our office.
We also recently heard that a project the Nursery designed and planted won the Englewood Chamber of Commerce Beautification Award for July. The Auditorium at Lemon Bay High School was planted with Weeping Yaupon Holly, Silver Buttonwood, Dwarf Yaupon Holly and Coontie.

The "City Tempo" Magazine in their November/December edition are featuring some of our landscapes. Look for great photographs.
Since the last newsletter in March, we have made great strides in making the Nursery more retail friendly. The front entrance and property perimeter along Myakka Road have been completely cleared of exotic species and replanted with native trees and shrubs. The new sign on Myakka Road has been landscaped, and the pond (newly revealed) has been planted with Pickerel Weed, Arrowhead and Water Lilies. More will be added later in the year. The entrance road has been planted with wetland trees and shrubs, Bald Cypress, Dahoon Holly, Swamp Dogwood, Cordgrass, to name a few.. There are new signs within the Nursery, both directional and informational. Fencing has been added to our perimeter area and internal pastures. We have increased our shelled area, which has enlarged our parking area and improved mobility around the Nursery -No more wading through muddy grass to look at the plants! More improvements on the way.

Melaleuca Mulch continues to sell extremely well. Customers tell us that it retains water and therefore negates the need for extra watering. It is very slow to decompose, does not float away and looks good. People come from far and wide - Punta Gorda to Palmetto " to earn their two bonus points to heaven!"

Our Web-Site is up and running, www.floridanativeplants.com
The site is being continuously updated. We would appreciate your comments. Don't forget we now also take Credit Cards.