Bee fly
The Bombyliidae family is large and diverse. Members nectar at flowers in the composite family. Bee flies are true flies that imitate bees to scare predators away.
Sea oats
There is nothing more iconic to the Florida summer coastal scene than Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) swaying to the sea breeze in the dunes. The flowers of this tall and sprawling grass provide pollen to a variety of insects, and the seeds are eaten by beach mice, rabbits and birds.
Leafcutter bees
Megachilidae (commonly referred to as leafcutter, mason, orchard or cuckoo bees) are a large family of solitary nesters with distinctive and fascinating behaviors.
Viceroy
Viceroy and Monarch butterflies are distantly related through the family Nymphalidae. They have evolved to mimic each other through Mullerian mimicry. Although they are similar, you can spot the differences in a few ways.
Member profile: Phyllis Stopford
A Florida Wildflower Foundation member for more than a decade, Phyllis Stopford is devoted to learning about native plants. The more she learns about the beneficial quality of native plants, the more her perspective grows.
Member profile: Janice Broda
Get to know Florida Wildflower Foundation member Janice Broda. Janice has been attending Foundation field trips, symposiums and webinars regularly since 2014. She has served on the board of directors of the Indian River Mosquito Control District for 30 years.
Foundation awards 5 Viva Florida grants
Five grants were awarded in 2020: Cutting Horse Eco-Center, Bonita Springs (Lee County); Folly Farm Nature Preserve, Safety Harbor (Pinellas County); Orange County UF/IFAS Extension, Orlando; Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens (St. Lucie County); and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (Lee County).
Bloom Report: For sizzling summer wildflowers, head to the wetlands
This bloom report covers summer wildflowers to look for in moist and wet areas and at the coast. There are also plenty of summer orchids to look for in South Florida.
Cape Coral garden showcases waves of native color
A visit to Cape Coral’s Rotary Park Environmental Center includes an opportunity to become acquainted with Florida’s beautiful wildflowers. With funds from the FWF’s Viva Florida Landscape Demonstration Garden grant, a native wildflower garden has been planted near the park’s education center.