How you can help save some of the most environmentally sensitive spots in South Florida

Sometimes we forget that the natural, wild world is all around us here in South Florida. It is a gift to be treasured, and fought for.

There is our one-of-a-kind Everglades “River of Grass,” the globally imperiled Pine Rockland ecosystem and Tropical Hardwood Hammocks, and the beautiful Biscayne Bay aquatic ecosystem.

One of the ways anyone can help preserve these places is to learn more through the Tropical Audubon Ambassador Program, which starts up again Aug. 29 with live, one-hour Zoom meetings. Sessions are at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, and a couple of Thursdays.

New this year will be the option to take the free course in Spanish.

Enrollment is open until the evening of Aug. 21. Once-a-week sessions run through Nov. 9 and include talks, and conversations with star environmental advocates.

“This free, award-winning program is designed to activate environmental ambassadors who want to beat the drum for South Florida’s unique and increasingly endangered ecosystems,” said Stephanie Clements., education & advocacy director

“Field trips are back by popular demand, and the fall interactive virtual sessions will also offer the option of participating in either English or Spanish,” Clements said.

Called “Solutions for South Florida’s Future,” the 2023 edition will continue to teach participants about our region’s cornerstone ecosystems: The Everglades, Pine Rocklands, and Tropical Hardwood Hammocks and Biscayne Bay.

“The end goal is to empower participants to activate their Tropical Audubon Ambassador education on behalf of South Florida’s wild places and the indigenous wildlife who inhabit them,” Clements said.

“South Floridians who love the natural world and would like to foster ‘conservation through community’ can become more engaged, educated and effective environmental advocates by signing up.”

The 2023 Tropical Audubon ambassador series is open to anyone 18 and older, newcomers and past graduates. A record 61 ambassadors graduated under Clements’ wing in 2022.

Full disclosure here: I was one of those 2022 graduates, and I think this fascinating program is not to be missed.

To learn more, and sign up, visit https://tropicalaudubon.org/

The Tropical Audubon Ambassador program is free thanks to support from The Miami Foundation, Everglades Foundation, Ocean Reef Conservation Association and the Audubon Collaborative Grant.

Join a garden club

Garden clubs make a huge difference in our community. Anyone can join and learn through meetings with guest speakers, and field trips to nurseries and other gardens including pollinator spaces.

“Garden clubs are not what they used to be,” said Susan Rodriguez, president of the Coral Gables Garden Club and the District XII director.

“No more ladies getting together in someone’s home to sip tea and talk about plants. Garden Clubs in Miami-Dade and Monroe County are now evolved, relevant, dynamic, vibrant and involved, plus men are very welcomed members,” Rodriguez said.

“Historically, they began in 1891 when a physician in Athens, Georgia, named Edwin Dorset Newton, who had a keen interest in horticulture, suggested to 12 ladies that they meet to educate themselves, with his guidance, on the study of plants.

“This became the first garden club known as the Garden Club of Athens. Back then, ladies were known to form clubs with others with similar interests to learn about music, poetry, gardening, etc. So, ladies clubs, including garden clubs, thrived,” Rodriguez said.

As interest grew, state federations of clubs were formed to address environmental and beautification projects such as groundwater issues and the preservation of greenspaces.

“The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs (FFGC) was established in 1924 with the Miami Garden Club being one of the three founding clubs. Next spring, the FFGC will celebrate it 100^th birthday,” Rodriguez said.

Miami-Dade and Monroe counties are the 12^th District in the state. The district includes nine garden clubs: Coral Gables, Coral Pines, Ken Pines, Marathon, Miami Lakes, Miami Beach, Pinecrest, South Dade, and South Miami.

“Each club has its own by-laws, officers and operations, but the mission for all, and for FFGC, is to promote the love of gardening, floral and landscape design and civic and environmental responsibility by providing education, resources, and networking opportunities for members, youth and the community,” Rodriguez said.

If you are someone who loves the environment, gardens and horticulture, and are interested in the art of floral design and want to learn more about joining a garden club in District XII, or even starting your own garden club, contact Rodriguez at susan56athome@gmail.com. You can also go to www.ffgc.org

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.

This story was originally published August 17, 2023 at 5:00 AM.