Garden Center & Educational Programs FY 2021-22 SCCF Annual Report

from FY 2021-22 SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) Annual Report

Youth Education/Sanibel Sea School - FY 2021-22 SCCF Annual Report

Native Landscapes & Garden Center

New Gardens Flourish as Plantings Mature

The Native Landscapes & Garden Center at the Bailey Homestead Preserve continues to be a gathering place for celebrating the virtues and wonders of native plants. This year, the demonstration gardens continued to expand as plants matured and new plantings were installed. A welcome garden near the windmill is a beautiful new addition that can be seen when arriving via the Shipley Trail, and pollinators are enjoying the wetland wildflower garden as it continues to fill in since its initial planting last summer. Many of our trees, first installed in 2015, are starting to provide a shady respite, and empty spaces are getting smaller with each passing month.

Along with wildlife, many residents are discovering the benefits of native plants. Over 80 Landscaping for Wildlife consultations were conducted this year. New families and long-time residents alike appreciated recommendations for native plantings and plant identification through this free service offered to SCCF members. Additional wildlife habitat and healthier soils are being built piece-by-piece throughout Southwest Florida, thanks to the more than 12,000 plants and 3,000 bags of mulch, pine straw, and soil sold by the Garden Center the past year.

In addition to the everyday activities of welcoming visitors to the Bailey Homestead Preserve, educating guests about native plants and sustainable gardening, the Native Landscapes & Garden Center broke ground on the Ruth Brooks Propagation Facility. We look forward to an increased capacity for growing and propagating native plants after moving into the facility, planned for the fall of 2022. This year also continued our annual partnership with the Sanibel-Captiva Art League in hosting “Natives in the Garden,” which featured whimsical creations by local artists placed around the demonstration gardens.

We look forward to continue growing with you next season.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: Reconnecting Through Nature

New faces and old friends were able to once again connect in person at our educational events in 2021-2022. After a season of virtual programming in 2020-2021 due to the pandemic, being out in nature together was a refreshing experience. Walking tours at the Bailey Homestead and Erick Lindblad Preserve allowed visitors to get up close to our lands and learn about SCCF’s mission. The botanical-based Weeds ‘n’ Seeds walks showed participants the diversity of our islands’ flora.

Evening lectures, including the seasonal Evenings at the Homestead series, covered a wide range of topics, such as SCCF’s partnership with the University of Florida Center for Coastal Solutions, a sendoff for former SCCF CEO Ryan Orgera, and a two-part lecture on understanding the importance of SCCF’s research in the greater Everglades ecosystem. The 4 th annual Paul McCarthy Memorial Lecture featured world-famed ocean explorer Robert Ballard, best known for his discovery of the Titanic shipwreck. Partnerships with the Everglades Foundation and Conservancy of Southwest Florida were featured through a panel discussion at the annual Everglades Update, which explained key Everglades restoration projects and the development of the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual.

Other programs included a unique partnership with the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and The News-Press, which teamed up to co-produce an exhibit titled “Red, Blue, Green: An Introduction to Water Quality in Southwest Florida.” A book reading by authors Anne McCrary Sullivan and Holly Gentzen delighted audiences with stories from the Everglades. Plant enthusiasts learned how to use an online plant database developed by SCCF to identify species, and the public heard about the dangers of rodenticides to wildlife through a new educational campaign.