Getting Back to Our Roots 2024-2025

Our 2024-2025 season was focused on native plant roots- from morphology to the history of natives in Florida. Our hope with this theme is to delve into foundational knowledge of our natives! This custom watercolor was donated to our chapter by an artist and professional scientist who understands the value of Martin County's own native plants.

The Sacoila lanceolata or Scarlett Ladies' Tresses is an endangered terrestrial orchid found growing in Martin County. A true success story, our chapter joined by the Martin County Orchid Society, and UF Master Gardeners in 2021 collected the seed pods from these orchids which were found along roadways likely to be widened. The seed pods were then grown out in FAU Pine Jog's Orchid Lab. Recently, the offspring from these orchids were out-planted by volunteers into protected County natural areas. Since our initial efforts in 2021, and a change in the County's mowing schedule we have increased the population of these orchids locally by over 400%! A true conservation success story! Martin County's roots are centered around our environment, so an orchid that solely exists underground, 90% of the year as a root mass seemed a fitting mascot for this year's Chapter t-shirt.