Serving it Up with Parks and Recreation |
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Celebrate Florida Native Plant Month
By Andee Naccarato, President of Naples Native Plants
Did you know that October is Florida Native Plant Month? Although we benefit from the presence of Florida native plants year-round, October is the perfect time to celebrate them. With the rainy season winding down, many native wildflowers burst into colorful blooms before releasing seeds for the next generation. Cooler weather motivates many of us to spend more time exploring natural plant communities and tending our gardens.
Collier County’s Parks offer plenty of opportunities to view and appreciate Florida native plants. Surround yourself with native pines, cypress, and other trees along nature trails at North Collier Regional Park and Sugden Regional Park. Both of these Parks (plus Conner Park) also boast beautiful butterfly gardens lovingly cared for by Collier County Volunteers.
Florida native host plants are very important to the success of these butterfly gardens. Butterflies search out their specific host plants for laying eggs and feeding their caterpillars. Native plants are most closely aligned with the needs of our native butterflies.
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One superb native host plant for any butterfly garden is the corkystem passionvine. The flowers may be small and easily overlooked by people, but the leaves attract three kinds of butterflies for egg laying. These “passionvine butterflies” are the Gulf Fritillary, Julia, and Zebra Heliconian (Florida’s state butterfly). Who could pass up attracting three kinds of butterflies for the price of one native host plant?
If you are ready to add native plants to your property in honor of Florida Native Plant Month, mark your calendars for a native plant sale happening on Saturday, October 23rd , 9:00am-1:00pm in the parking lot of Naples Botanical Garden (4820 Bayshore Drive; no admission required). Meet members of the Florida Native Plant Society who can recommend native plants for your home landscape and provide native landscaping brochures. Email Naplesnativeplants@fnps.org for more information.
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If you'd like to volunteer in a garden, please contact Connie Nagele (Lead Volunteer) at: CNageleart@gmail.com
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Photo taken in North Collier Regional Park Garden on September 27, 2021. |
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October 15th - 17th - Turn Up The Pink Pickleball Tournament
- East Naples Community Park 9am start time daily
- Volunteer with us, inform players of what court they will be on, ensure players have their score cards when they report to court
October 22nd - Halloween Trunk or Treat
- Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park 6pm - 9pm
- Volunteer and have fun at the first event at this brand new park!
October 29th - Boo-Tacular Halloween Event
- North Collier Regional Park 6pm - 9pm
- Volunteer to help with games, contests, prizes or the hunted trail
November 5th - Volunteer Fair
- North Collier Regional Park 1pm-3pm
November 6th - Diggity Dog Festival
- Golden Gate Community Park
- Volunteer with us for furry fun
November 6th - Butterfly Counts
- Conner Park
- Sugden Regional Park
- North Collier Regional Park
November 13th & 14th - Naples Yard and Garden Show
- University Extension Office, 14700 Immokalee Road, Naples, FL. 34105
- Volunteer at our Parks and Recreation table
December 4th - Snow Fest 2021
- Golden Gate Community Park
- Volunteer with us for this annual community event
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Positions are open for regular volunteers in our pollinator gardens at:
Conner Park - 492 Bluebill Drive
North Collier Regional Park - 15000 Livingston Road
Sugden Regional Park - 4284 Avalon Drive
Each garden has a set day each week, to volunteer for a couple hours. Days/times differ by garden.
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Fall Sports - RecPlex, North Collier Regional Park |
Basketball score keepers are needed for game days. Will you join us on Fridays or Saturdays this season to keep score and cheer on our kids?
For more information call: 239-252-4033
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Kids Night Out
- Friday, October 15 - 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
- Friday, November 12 - 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
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Friday, December 17 - 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
- Cost: $10
- Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park, 11565 Tamiami Trail E.
Kids get a great night out and parents get a night off! Leave the kids with us for a couple hours of games, activities, dinner and a movie!
This night will be a Pajama themed evening. We encourage children to wear pajamas for this evening of themed games and activities.
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5th Grade Dance
- Friday, November 19 - 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
- Cost: $10
- Max A Hasse Jr. Community Park, 3390 Golden Gate Blvd. W.
Dance the night away at our Elementary School dance. Tickets on sale two weeks prior to dance. Includes pizza and a drink.
239-252-4200
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Fall Carnival
- Thursday, November 4 - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Cost: FREE
- Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park, 11565Tamiami Trail E.
Full scale Carnival for the whole family to attend!
Thursday - Friday - 6:00 p.m.. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday - 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sunday - 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
239-252-3527
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Digity Dog Festival
- Saturday, November 6 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Cost: FREE
- Golden Gate Community Park, 3300 Santa Barbara Blvd.
This will be a 4 hour event with local dog vendors to showcase and educate people on their different products/services and also demo's that will be performed in the dog park area. We will have food trucks, DJ and raffles to keep everyone entertained. The event will take place Saturday November 6th, 2021 from 9:00am-1:00pm
239-252-6128
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Have you checked out your volunteer portal yet? You may sign up for volunteer opportunities from the comfort and convenience of your smart phone, tablet or computer.
We are posting new volunteer opportunities regularly. Log in to the volunteer portal and look for the Help Wanted button to see the calendar of opportunities.
Your login credentials are the e-mail address you have on file with us, and you will use password "1008". You will be prompted to change the password when you log in for the first time. If you have any trouble accessing your account please call me at 239-252-4033.
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