2026 Spring Roadsides Report

Pictured above: Ladiestresses orchids (Spiranthes sp.) on a roadside. Photo by Emily Bell

April signaled the start of seasonal surveys for the Florida Wildflower Foundation’s roadside program, with staff and Wildflower Watcher volunteers already out in the field.

This spring, Marina Mertz of the Florida Wildflower Foundation joined Ferron Hall, Marion County Roads Superintendent, to conduct a full county roadside survey in Marion County. The two spent the day locating and identifying naturally occurring wildflower habitats along county roads. These sites will be revisited during summer and fall surveys, with collected data informing management plans that support pollinator habitat and protect roadside biodiversity.

In Citrus County, Marina led an in-person training for local Wildflower Watcher volunteers. Coordinated by the Florida Native Plant Society Citrus Chapter, the session covered program basics and survey methodology and wrapped up with a hands-on group survey of one of the county’s designated roadsides.

Across the state, Wildflower Watcher volunteers are now actively documenting plant species and habitat conditions on designated roadsides. Their observations contribute to the Foundation’s long-term efforts to better understand — and help sustain — Florida’s roadside wildflower habitats.

Want to make a difference for Florida’s wildflowers? Become a Wildflower Watcher! Volunteers play a vital role in tracking the health of roadside habitats across the state. No botany degree required — just curiosity and a love for Florida’s native plants! Learn more and sign up here.