FANN forms Rare Plants Team

A new rare plant endowment fund effort has drawn the interest of three FANN members: Jane Thompson of Indian Trails Native Nursery in Lake Worth, Terry Godts of Green Isle Gardens Nursery in Groveland and Dara Dobson of 7 Pines Native Nursery in Defuniak Springs. FANN thanks Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) for their invitation to be part of the review team.

This endowment startup project is being spearheaded by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, FNPS and other Florida conservation partners. Such an endowment may be able to raise grant funds for the propagation of rare plant species. FANN thanks Jane Thompson, owner of Indian Trails Native Nursery in Lake Worth, for volunteering to be our official representative in the endowment’s formation and development.

In her request to volunteer, Jane stated that she is “deeply connected with and disturbed by the continued loss of both flora and fauna.” As FANN’s representative, Jane will participate as a reviewer in endowment startup meetings, providing input from the perspective of Florida native plant growers and environmental professionals, and keep FANN up to date on the status of the endowment. Let’s hope that all of our rare plants, not just the ones already designated as endangered, can get some help down the road.

Green Isle Gardens Nursery grows several rare plant species of Central Florida sandhill and scrub habitat. 7 Pines Native Nursery grows several rare plant species of Florida’s Panhandle region. With their three nurseries distributed across North, Central and South Florida, FANN’s Rare Plants Team should be able to provide good information to our conservation partners regarding the commercial propagation of rare plants. Thanks Jane, Terry & Dara for volunteering.