Meet board member Fatima Elkott

Fatima joined the Florida Wildflower Foundation board in September 2022 and began a 2-year term as board chair in September 2025.

What brought you to Florida and inspired you to make it your home?

I am a proud Floridian — born and raised in Tampa. After my great aunt and uncle settled in the area and opened a bustling Cuban café, my parents immigrated here in the 1990s. I love this state with my whole being. From our endemic species to sacred landscapes, I feel at home in oceans of water, fern and saw palmetto. What I love just as much as our land is our people. I think Florida’s diverse communities of both animals and humans make us such an incredibly valuable and special place. I hope to continue enjoying and frolicking in our native lands while helping to foster the next generation’s connection to our beautiful state.

How did you get involved with the Florida Wildflower Foundation?

I first connected with the wonderful Jeff Caster via LinkedIn after falling in love with his “Peace, Love and Wildflowers” banner on his profile, and wanted to connect with him. We had a wonderful conversation where he shared his experiences, and we bonded over our love for wildflowers and native habitats. To this day, I am still learning from and inspired by Jeff’s commitment to advocacy and action.

A few months later, Jeff asked if I wanted to join the Florida Wildflower Foundation Board. At the time, I was working and attending graduate school full-time, so I initially declined. But after exploring FWF’s website and learning more about their mission and story, I was struck by their commitment and knew I wanted to be involved in any way I could. Thus began my incredible journey at FWF.

How does your experience in urban planning and community engagement advance the Foundation’s mission to protect, connect and expand native wildflower habitats?

My professional journey began in ecology and anthropology, which taught me how to appreciate, measure and connect with our native landscapes and species. My background in urban planning gave me the tools and knowledge to effectively preserve these places, while my experience in community engagement equipped me to advocate and organize around conservation efforts.

I am passionate about education and use it professionally to help people better understand planning processes so they can actively participate in decision-making. At FWF, this translates to helping stakeholders understand the value of protecting, connecting and expanding native wildflower habitat. My favorite work is with children. I am passionate about following in the footsteps of some of FWF’s founders by connecting with and educating kids on how they, too, can be stewards of the natural environment. I look forward to getting more involved with that during my time as chair.

What are some of your favorite areas to visit and see native wildflowers? 

That’s such a good question. There are so many beautiful places across the state that it’s really hard to choose! But I will say, I love seeing native wildflowers in places you wouldn’t expect: on the sides of busy roads, in a neighbor’s front yard, or tucked into a corner of a public park.

I’ve also found some of the most beautiful wildflowers in Brooksville, and I’d love to visit more state and national parks in North and South Florida. The FWF board and staff have been putting me onto some real gems that I hope to check out soon!

What is your favorite native Florida wildflower?

I am a big fan of ethnobotany, which looks at the relationships between humans and plants, and so, while there are many beautiful contenders, my favorite native wildflower may have to be American beautyberry.

Every time I see them, I rub their scratchy leaves all over me because they’re a natural insect repellent, and their berries make a delicious and beautifully colored jam! I love their delicate flowers and watching birds enjoy their bright pink and purple berries. It also has the easiest and most fun scientific name I learned in botany class: Callicarpa americana. It holds a special place in my heart.