Quincentennial Viva Florida Grant Final Report

Transcription

1 Quincentennial Viva Florida Grant Final Report EXIT SURVEY Native Plant Demonstration Garden at Pinellas UF/IFAS Extension, Largo, Pinellas County Please enter your 7 character Project Code: CHA1157 project manager contact information Name: Debbie Chayet Address: 14 South Ft. Harrison Ave., Clearwater, Florida dchayet@pinellascounty.org Phone Number: Cell Phone Number: Attendance Please report the number of Florida residents who visited your garden or facility. June December 2013: 50,000 Jan December 2014: 160,000 Please report the number of Non-Florida residents who visited your garden or facility. June December 2013: 15,000 Jan December 2014: 72,000 Please report the number of Florida residents who visited the native wildflower demonstration area. June December 2013: 7,500 Jan December 2014: 15,000 Please report the number of Non-Florida residents who visited the native wildflower demonstration area. June December 2013: 3,000 Jan December 2014: 12,000 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMs In the space provided below, please report any educational PROGRAMS offered that incorporate the native wildflower demonstration garden. Please include an estimate of the attendance for each program. Native Plant Society Tours-multiple with estimated 20 per tour; general public tours-multiple with estimated 5-10 per tour; girl scout tour with estimated 10 per tour; primary use by general public. Signs were already present on site outlining wildflowers. Were any educational or informational SIGNS installed that explain the wildflower demonstration garden and its environmental, historical and/or cultural significance? YES Were any educational or informational BROCHURES or PAMPHLETS created to explain the wildflower demonstration garden and its environmental, historical and/or cultural significance? NO wildflower display In 2014, the native wildflower demonstration garden planting was best described as: Extremely successful In 2014, the native wildflower display was best described as: Extremely showy Optional: Please provide any additional comments about the showiness of the wildflower display. Nice display of Liatris in fall, helianthus massings. Used small massings of purple lovegrass and Elliott s lovegrass and they provided an outstanding bloom display. If your planting was not successful, please explain why it failed (e.g. succumbed to weed pressure, accidental mowing, flooding, etc.), what you are doing to help re-establish it, and how you are educating the public about the failed planting. Lost a few garberia. Adjacent plants outcompeted for space and crowded them out. Replacement plants were installed in more open, sunny area. CHA1157 Page 1

2 media coverage Were any stories published in a newspaper or newsletter that described the wildflower demonstration garden, including information about the environmental, historical and/or cultural significance of Florida s native wildflowers? NO Was a story done by a local TV station that described the wildflower demonstration garden and included information about the environmental, historical and/or cultural significance of Florida s native wildflowers? NO Was a story published on a website that described the wildflower demonstration garden and included information about the environmental, historical and/or cultural significance of Florida s native wildflowers? YES If YES, please provide the following information: website Newsletter for Florida Botanical Gardens date posted approximate number of views Were any video stories posted on YouTube or other online video site that described the wildflower demonstration garden, including information about the environmental, historical and/or cultural significance of Florida s native wildflowers? NO Optional: If other outreach methods were used, please describe the results. Continual mention of gardens at introductory announcements of Pinellas Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society monthly meetings. Passed along information about gardens to other environmental contacts and listserves. impact The impact of your native wildflower demonstration garden is very important to the Foundation. The following questions evaluate how much and what type of information people learned from visiting the native wildflower demonstration planting and/or attending a native wildflower educational program at your garden. As a result of visiting your demonstration garden and/or attending related educational programming... How much information did they learn about landscape uses for native wildflowers and plants? 0-25% of Florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 26-50% of Florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 51-75% of Florida resident visitors Learned something new % of Florida resident visitors Learned something new 0-25% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 26-50% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 51-75% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information % of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information How much did they learn about the availability of native wildflowers and plants? 0-25% of Florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 26-50% of Florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 51-75% of Florida resident visitors Learned something new % of Florida resident visitors Learned something new 0-25% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 26-50% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 51-75% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information % of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information CHA1157 Page 2

3 Environmental significance of native wildflowers and plants? 0-25% of Florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 26-50% of Florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 51-75% of Florida resident visitors Learned something new % of Florida resident visitors Learned something new 0-25% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 26-50% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 51-75% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information % of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information Historical significance of native wildflowers and plants? 0-25% of Florida resident visitors Learned something new 26-50% of Florida resident visitors Learned something new 51-75% of Florida resident visitors Learned something new % of Florida resident visitors Learned something new 0-25% of non-florida resident visitors Learned something new 26-50% of non-florida resident visitors Learned something new 51-75% of non-florida resident visitors Learned something new % of non-florida resident visitors Learned something new Cultural significance of native wildflowers and plants? 0-25% of Florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 26-50% of Florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 51-75% of Florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information % of Florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 0-25% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 26-50% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information 51-75% of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information % of non-florida resident visitors Learned a great deal of new information The following questions evaluate how likely visitors are to start planting native wildflowers in their landscape OR include more native wildflowers in their landscape as a result of visiting the native wildflower demonstration planting and/or attending a native wildflower educational program. How many homeowners are you aware of that established a new native wildflower garden, landscape bed, or meadow? 1-5 visitors are planning to establish a new native wildflower garden, landscape bed, or meadow? 6-10 visitors are strongly considering establishing a new native wildflower garden, landscape bed, or meadow? 6-10 are considering establishing a new native wildflower garden, landscape bed, or meadow? 6-10 visitors How likely were visitors or attendees BETWEEN JUNE 2013 and DECEMBER 2013 to plant native wildflowers in their garden or landscape? 0-25% of Florida resident visitors Very likely 26-50% of Florida resident visitors Very likely 51-75% of Florida resident visitors Moderately likely % of Florida resident visitors Moderately likely How likely were visitors or attendees BETWEEN JANUARY 2014 and JUNE 2014 to plant native wildflowers in their garden or landscape? 0-25% of Florida resident visitors Very likely 26-50% of Florida resident visitors Very likely 51-75% of Florida resident visitors Moderately likely % of Florida resident visitors Moderately likely How likely were visitors or attendees BETWEEN JULY 2014 and DECEMBER 2014 to plant native wildflowers in their garden or landscape? 0-25% of Florida resident visitors Moderately likely 26-50% of Florida resident visitors Moderately likely 51-75% of Florida resident visitors Moderately likely % of Florida resident visitors Moderately likely CHA1157 Page 3

4 FUTURE Please provide as much information as is known regarding educational programming and materials planned for 2015 and relating to or incorporating the demonstration garden. A group of volunteers continues to work on the garden every Wednesday and interacts with the public at that time. The lead volunteer will continue to schedule tours as requested for groups. Please provide as much information as is known regarding the planned maintenance schedule for Indicate whether maintenance will be provided by volunteers, staff, or a combination of both. The majority of the maintenance will be provided by a group of 4-7 volunteers who work at the site a minimum of one day per week. They perform a wide range of maintenance duties including weeding, checking the drip irrigation system, mulching the pathway, pruning, spreading seed and other activities.. CHA1157 Page 4

5 PHOTOS Quincentennial Viva Florida Grant Final Report Native Plant Demonstration Garden at Pinellas UF/IFAS Extension, Largo, Pinellas County SIte prep (July 2013) Mulch path (July 2013) Planting (July 2013) Planting (July 2013) Finished planting (July 2013) Finished planting (July 2013) CHA1157 Page 5

6 Yellowtop corner (October 2014) CHA1157 Page 6

7 Quincentennial Viva Florida Grant Final Report FINAL REPORT Native Plant Demonstration Garden at Pinellas UF/IFAS Extension, Largo, Pinellas County PINELLAS EXTENSION VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER DEMONSTRATION GARDEN FINAL REPORT 1. Design Plan: Please see attached as-built for completed design plan. 2. Final Plant List: Note that the as-built may not match the final plant list exactly. The as-built was sketched based on species visible during the late summer/early fall. Some of the spring species may not have been evident during this time and may be present on the plant list but not noted in the as-built. SPECIES Asclepias verticillata Berlandiera subacaulis Carphephorus corymbosus Carphephorus odoratissimus Carphephorus paniculatus Coreopsis lanceolata Dyschoriste angustifolia Eragrostis elliottii Eragrostis spectabilis Flaveria linearis Gaillardia pulchella Helianthus carnosus Helianthus debilis Heliotropium polyphyllum Liatris gracilis Liatris savannensis Liatris spicata Palafoxia feayi Penstemon multiflorus Pityopsis graminifolia Rudbeckia hirta Rudbeckia triloba Ruellia caroliniensis Salvia coccinea Salvia lyrata Scutellaria integrifolia Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Symphyotrichum georgianum Solidago odora Zamia pumila COMMON NAME Greeneyes Florida paintbrush Vanillaleaf Deertongue Lanceleaf coreopsis Twinflower Elliott's lovegrass Purple lovegrass Narrowleaf yellowtop Blanketflower Flatwoods sunflower Dune sunflower Pineland heliotrope Blazing star Savanna blazing star Blazing star Beardtongue Silkgrass Black-eyed Susan Brown-eyed Susan Wild petunia Scarlet sage Lyreleaf sage Skullcap Trailing porterweed Georgia aster Goldenrod Coontie 3. Construction Methods: All construction on this project was performed with Parks & Conservation Resources Department (PCR) staff, Extension staff and assorted volunteers. Volunteer representation included Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Pinellas Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society, Audubon Society, Florida Botanical Garden volunteers and other environmental groups. Construction was multiple phased and took place over a period of several months. Phase I involved the removal of weedy turf in the planting area. This was accomplished via several treatments of herbicide with several week intervals in between to allow for germination of new weed seeds. Phase II involved the installation of roughly 50+/- cubic yards of recycled wood chip mulch spread over the planting area. This was done in February 2013 to minimize any further weeds and to add organics to the soil. A small front end loader was used to haul the recycled mulch to the site. Since unanticipated construction to the adjacent building delayed planting of the wildflowers, this approach helped reduce weed development and provided aesthetic appeal until planting commenced. Phase III involved another herbicide treatment, hand weeding to remove pesky torpedo grass and more passage of time due to construction on the nearby building. Phase IV, ultimately, mass planting of the wildflowers by volunteers. This commenced in April The mulch path in the native garden was formed. The first of two large plantings was performed on April 24, This planting of 230 plants included twinflower, Ruellia and transplanted scarlet sage. Additionally, a border of Coontie was installed along the sidewalk edge. These were donated by the Parks & Conservation Resources Department (PCR). Six volunteers and two staff installed plants over 2 ½ hours that morning. This proceeded quickly as PCR staff dug holes for the planting with a small auger. Volunteers hand watered the plants at this point as the drip irrigation system had not yet been installed. The second large plant installation took place July 10, On this date, the majority of the wildflowers (over 600+) were installed. A color coded system was set up to assist with making sure the correct plant species was installed in the correct location. Colored irrigation flags were set out on the ground to specify which species of wildflowers were to be installed at that location. A corresponding colored flag was located with the plant. Volunteers just matched the flags. Additionally, colored photo layouts were given to volunteers that showed what the young plants looked like without flowers so volunteers could tell them apart. This planting had 8 volunteers and two staff to install a large number of small plants. Holes were again dug by auger. The plant installation went very quickly. Plants were in the ground in less than 2 hours. Two volunteers stayed behind and performed some site clean-up and soil smoothing to make the planting area look nice. They also watered in the plants with hoses. After the wildflowers were installed, two PCR staff installed drip irrigation to ensure sufficient watering for establishment. This involved laying a grid of hoses through the plants and connecting to the main irrigation valves. The hoses were covered with a light layer of mulch to minimize evaporation. Once the irrigation system was installed, volunteers monitored the system for leaks and appropriate water distribution. Supplemental irrigation was then provided for plant establishment and as necessary only during severe drought period. Periodic replacement plants were installed as some died off during drought and irrigation line breaks. The Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society donated funds for the replacement plants. Nameplate signs and stakes to hold the nameplates were donated by the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation (FBG). Appropriate botanic and common names were etched into the nameplates with a specialized machine owned by FBG. All this work was performed as in-kind volunteer activity for the project by a member of FBG. The survey for use with educational tours was then developed and a good faith effort at scheduling educational tours was made. 4. Maintenance Schedule for Year: The maintenance schedule that has been ongoing for the past year will continue to be followed into the near future. A group of volunteers, comprised of Pinellas Native Plant Society members, Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, have a set schedule of meeting every Wednesday morning to work in the entire native plant demonstration area, inclusive of the wildflower area. Volunteers arrive in the morning, anywhere from 8:30 to 9 a.m. and work until early afternoon, weather dependent. They weed the entire site, prune seasonally and as needed, check for irrigation issues, refresh mulch, deadhead plants, collect and distribute seeds, monitor for pests and perform all other needed maintenance. The area is also kept clean of trash. The size of the volunteer group ranges from 3 upwards to 5 or 6 participants weekly. A lead volunteer heads the team and is in contact with the project manager regarding the status of the project. As this volunteer has learned and grown in experience, she has branched out to contacting other local native plant experts for advice. She has done a fantastic job both with leading the volunteer team and with keeping the project site in good condition. 5. Brief summary of visitor responses; qualitative & quantitative data; demographics. Acquiring visitor feedback such as written responses was the weakest point of this project. While some responses to written surveys were acquired, the volume was not nearly what was anticipated at the time of application submission. This was due in large part to the physical transfer away from the project site and Extension Department of the project manager. Relying upon volunteers to provide tours (which did occur on a small scale) and have visitors fill out surveys on their experiences did not occur on the scale intended. The wildflower demonstration site is heavily used by the general public. It is also heavily used by at least two professors from St. Petersburg College; one who teaches out of the Clearwater Campus and one who teaches out of the Seminole Campus. Despite efforts to engage these professors in having students complete surveys; professors have been unwilling to use field trip time for this effort. General feedback from the public has been highly positive; particularly during peak bloom seasons of spring and fall. Feedback directly from the college professors has been outstanding as the area has become a wonderful outdoor laboratory in which they can teach. The range of topics that comes from touring the site is diverse and includes discussions of pollinators, native plants vs. non-natives, general ecology, habitats, invasive plants, water conservation, reduction in sod use and so on. Each class brought to the area by a college professor averages 15 students in size and the classes are demographically diverse. Some of the students are youth right out of high school. Others are adults starting second careers. Age, sex, race and ethnicity are all diverse in the college groups using the garden as a field trip site. The general public demographics lean more toward adult use and often towards retiree aged visitors. Despite that generalization, it is also not uncommon to see young mothers with toddlers or babies traversing the garden during the daytime. A few specific educational tours, noted in a quarterly report, were given to a Girl Scout Troop (#513), inner city Tampa students called Camp Team, and a few small groups of general public visitors. A lengthy tour was also provided to the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society in August During that tour several visitors from the general public joined the educational tour. Of the written surveys that were completed, all recorded positive responses for improved learning about native wildflowers. The general public impression has been very favorable. The garden is used daily. The public, local Native Plant Society, students and educators all appreciate and use the wildflower garden. It fulfills the mission of educating the public on the benefit of wildflowers. This project displays the beauty and benefit of native wildflowers in a way that reading a report cannot describe. CHA1157 Page 7

8 VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION Volunteers weeding and preparing the site for planting. VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION Mulch Path A mulch path, consisting of recycled mulch, was installed and connected to an existing pathway in the native plant demonstration garden on one end and a concrete sidewalk on the other end. Wildflowers will be planted on both sides. Three large pine trees very recently died and were removed from the adjacent site; resulting in more sunlight hitting the wildflower area. CHA1157 Page 8

9 VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION First Planting on April 24, 2013 Staff (green pants & khaki shirt) brought gator vehicle loaded with wildflowers (far left of photo) to planting site. Two park staff worked with volunteers during the planting. Volunteers getting planting assignments in the morning of the first wildflower planting. Approximately half the wildflower area was planted this date. VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION First Planting on April 24, 2013 Wildflowers are unloaded. Let the planting begin!! Volunteers install Ruellia. Approximately half the wildflower area was planted this date. CHA1157 Page 9

10 VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION First Planting on April 24, 2013 Cooties, provided by Pinellas County Parks & Conservation Resources Department, were installed along the border of the sidewalk to create a nice planting foundation for the wildflower garden. Staff (green pants & khaki shirt) dug holes with auger which helped planting go very quickly. One of the volunteers (far left in photo) shown carrying plant to install. Note sign directly in front of volunteer. This sign indicates native plants are adaptable and typically need reduced watering. The sign shows wildflowers. VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION First Planting on April 24, 2013 Elliott s lovegrass and purple lovegrass were planted in one of the sunnier spots in the site. They cluster around a catch basin for functionality as their bunched structure will also aid in catching mulch and soil and prevent their runoff into the stormwater structure. Volunteers doing a wonderful job of wildflower installation! CHA1157 Page 10

11 VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION First Planting on April 24, 2013 After the plants were installed! VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION First Planting on April 24, 2013 Plants installed on April 24, 2013 include: 60 Coreopsis lanceoloata, lanceleaf tickseed 50 Dyschoriste oblongifolia, twinflower 15 Eragrostis elliottii, Elliott s lovegrass 15 Eragrostis spectabilis, purple lovegrass 10 Heliotropium polyphyllum, pineland heliotrope 40 Liatris spicata, blazing star 40 Ruellia caroliniensis, wild petunia Prior to this planting date approximately 15 Salvia coccinea, scarlet sage, were transplanted into the wildflower area from other spots where coontie were to be installed. CHA1157 Page 11

12 VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION Second Planting on July 10, 2013 Happy volunteers setting plants in location to be installed. Note color coded flags in planting site and in group of plants on sidewalk. More wildflowers arrive for installation. VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION Second Planting on July 10, 2013 More planting! Digging the holes by auger speeded up the planting process. CHA1157 Page 12

13 VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION Second Planting on July 10, 2013 Down to the last few! Liatris and Palafoxia after installation. VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION Second Planting on July 10, 2013 Volunteers taking a moment to view the flowers! CHA1157 Page 13

14 VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION Second Planting on July 10, 2013 Right after installation completed. VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION October 2013 Educational signage is being installed to show the wildflowers botanic and common name. Fall bloom is peaking, as indicated by the blooming of purple love grass, coreopsis, scarlet sage and carphephorus in this photo. CHA1157 Page 14

15 VIVA FLORIDA WILDFLOWER PLANTING AT PINELLAS EXTENSION Florida Wildflower Foundation August 2014 Tour CHA1157 Page 15

16 Florida Wildflower Foundation August 2014 Florida Wildflower Foundation commemorative sign. Note also on the left, the small black sign showing the Latin, common and family name of each plant species in the wildflower garden. Florida Wildflower Foundation August 2014 CHA1157 Page 16

17 Florida Wildflower Foundation October 2014 CHA1157 Page 17

18 Quincentennial Viva Florida Grant Final Report SITE PLAN Native Plant Demonstration Garden at Pinellas UF/IFAS Extension, Largo, Pinellas County N NOTE: SITE PLAN IS NOT TO SCALE M N Extension Native Wildflower Garden AS-BUILT CODE NAME COMMON NAME A Pityopsis graminifolia Silkgrass B Gaillardia pulchella Indian blanket C Helianthus debilis Dune sunflower D Coreopsis lanceolata Tickseed E Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Trailing Porterweed F Heliotropium angiospermum Scorpiontail G Eragrostis spectabilis Purple lovegrass G Eragrostis elliottii Elliott's lovegrass H Heliotropium polyphyllum Pineland heliotrope I Ruellia caroliniensis Wild Petunia J Carphephorus corymbosus Florida paintbrush K Carphephorus odoratissimus Vanilla leaf L Scutellaria integrifolia Skullcap M Verbesina virginica Frostweed N Penstemon multiflorus Smooth beardtongue O Salvia lyrata Lyre-leaf sage P Hypericum hypericoides St. Andrew's Cross Q Flaveria linearis Narrowleaf yellowtops R Rudbeckia triloba Brown-eyed Susan S Liatris tenuifolia Shortleaf blazing star T Berlandiera subacaulis Green eyes U Palafoxia feayi Feay's palafox E O V Monarda punctata Dotted horsemint W Tradescantia ohiensis Ohio spiderwort X Helianthus carnosus Flatwoods sunflower Y Solidago odora var. chapmanii Chapman's Goldenrod Z Dyschoriste oblongifolia Twinflower Sign J I H K L L Z Gazebo Catch Basin G Redbud Y Paved walkway Coontie E G F D X W E T U Existing Laurel Oak Quercus laurifolia C D V R D B A Q S Existing Indigoberry Randia aculeata Scarlet sage Salvia coccinea Ilex P Coontie Paved walkway Coontie CHA1157 Page 18