January 21, 2025 SJBGNP Happenings

SJBGNP January 2025 Happenings

The Garden is now entering its second year of public existence, and so many things are happening in our young Garden that it is hard to keep up with everything! We truly have come so far but are working steadily for today, and the future!

The Garden has been buzzing with activity and excitement! New statues continue to be added to different areas of the Garden, including the twin mushrooms near the South Entrance. Donations of beautiful new trees and flowering plants continue to arrive, and the “Green Thumbs” have been folding them into the Garden like excited tots receiving presents on Christmas morning! Many of these new plants have been donated by Ken Pomar, a new neighbor of the Garden!

 

New plant identification signs
New “Fun Facts” signs now appearing around the SJBGNP

New “FUN FACT” signs have started to be placed around the Garden. These white and blue signs share interesting details about some of the plants in the Garden, making them more than just ID labels!

Speaking of signs, the brand-new ID signs have also been appearing around the Garden, thanks in large part to the efforts of Sue Wilson, our fantastic Store Manager! They are beautiful and long-lasting signs with our logo on each one, and include the common name and origin of the plant, as well as the scientific name. Such signage is ongoing and crucial for Education and visitor engagement, thereby supporting our Conservation goals, as well!

Additionally, the large Entrance Sign to the Garden was renewed by the hard work of Ephraim Badea (with a little help from his longtime friend, Dr. Rossi!) The old letters and decorations were removed; the sign was repainted, and then new letters and decorations were added. It looks great!

 

Aloe arborescens, the Torch Aloe now blooming at SJBGNP
January 20, 2025 Plant of the Month

Plant of the Month – Aloe arborescens, the Torch Aloe

Aloe arborescens, the Torch Aloe
Plant of the Month, Aloe arborescens, the Torch Aloe

There are some amazing aloes out there and we have many of them in the Garden. The one pictured here is what I believe to be Aloe arborescens, the Torch Aloe. If I am wrong, please forgive me as there are many different types and there are only slight differences among them, but, I had to feature it because it is so beautiful right now! The good news is that their needs are all the same. In a perfect environment they have the potential to reach 6 to 10 feet tall, but that is only likely to occur in their native habitat in South Africa. They are easily grown in sandy, well drained soil, with full sun or light shade. They are also very drought and salt tolerant. And this particular species has some cold tolerance as well. Hence, they are excellent in rock gardens or hilly landscapes. The birds and bees will flock to them. Furthermore, they are virtually disease free, but watch for scale and mealy bugs.

Aloes provide a great pop of color in the winter while many other plants are dormant.
Group with other succulents and cacti as they are great companions. Look for this one on Silver
Hill near Caribbean Cove, between some African palms that they may grow near in the wild.
Hope to see you there!

Contributed by Libby Luedeke

southern Fox squirrel
January 19, 2025 Animal Sightings, Nature Preserve

Southern Fox Squirrel Sighting

A Fox Squirrel, Sciurus niger, has been spotted in the Nature Preserve! The fox squirrel is North America’s largest tree squirrel species. It is known for its very bushy tail, orangish wash on gray fur, and of course, its large size. Their color is extremely variable however, ranging from gray to nearly all black, and many may have only a black head with a white nose and ears! Most do retain orange washed tails and bellies though. Interestingly, some may have white tail tips, like red foxes, while others may have black tail tips, like gray foxes! They may weigh up to three pounds and their body length may be as long as two feet! Add a tail almost a foot long, and you have a very large squirrel. Because of their large size, and sometimes appearing to have a black mask, one standing straight up in the forest is often mistaken for a monkey by many Floridians! They are extremely secretive and rarely seen by people in many areas. There are ten subspecies ranging throughout much of North America, even though absent in wide swaths of land. In Florida, there are four subspecies, all of which are protected because their numbers are dwindling due to development and habitat loss. The one seen in the Garden’s Nature Preserve appears to be the Sherman’s or Southern Fox Squirrel, which is definitely listed as a species of special concern by the state of Florida.

Their preferred habitat is open forested areas, often riverine in nature and those dominated by hardwoods like oaks, hickory, and walnuts. But they are often found in swampy habitats dominated by cypress and pines. Hence, our Nature Preserve provides an excellent habitat for these impressive rodents since it has both hardwoods as well as cypress and pine trees. Fox Squirrels are omnivorous, eating a wide variety of naturally occurring nuts, fruit, insects, bird eggs and other varied items. They are not particularly social, and individuals are often found alone. As a trained Field Biologist, and a former professor of Vertebrate Biology, I was particularly excited to find these beautiful animals here in our Garden! We are still finding new species in our Preserve! You never know what you will see. Come help us discover new species at the Garden. –Dr. John Rossi

November 22, 2024 Plant of the Month

Plant of the Month – Bridal Veils Clerodendrum

Let’s look at the Bridal Veils Clerodendrum, as it is blooming right now. The garden is looking especially beautiful now after all the storms have finally gotten past us and the temps are getting cooler.

Head on down to get a look at this beauty. It’s located very near the main entrance and to the right. It’s a tall shrub that likes to be in well-draining soil but with lots of organic matter still, not sand. Enjoys dappled sunlight and a little fertilizer each month. It’s not a bib fan of cold weather though. Would need a cover up if it gets in the 20’s, but don’t fret if it gets burned . Give a trim and it will come back pretty as ever.

Come see us real soon!


Article and pictures by Libby Luedeke.

A ribbon snake hiding in the bushes.
November 1, 2024 Uncategorized

Latest Happenings At The Garden

Leopard frogs abound in the garden right now, making a racket every night in the Blue Lagoon.
Leopard frogs abound in the garden
right now, making a racket every night
in the Blue Lagoon.

Two hurricanes pounded the garden in October! They resulted in a tremendous amount of damage to our oak canopy and the closure of the garden for almost a solid week. We lost several large oaks both in the nature preserve, and in the garden proper. Also, many of the intermediate sized queen palms were leaning badly, and the ground was covered with branches and leaves. Fortunately, we only lost one rare palm to a falling branch, a gorgeous Gaussia Gomez-pompae, a Mexican Bottle Palm that had been here for many years! The mess and the loss of income cost the garden a great deal of time, money, and effort to repair. A new, much younger Bottle Palm was found in a small nursery in South Florida to replace the one on display. Many of the queen palms and some of the fishtail palms were staked up straight and hundreds of thousands of leaves were picked up! We wish to thank all of our volunteers for their heroic efforts in cleaning up the mess and bringing the garden back to its beautiful condition!

Because of the hurricanes, and the monsoon rains prior to the hurricanes, the creek was flooded very badly, and the nature preserve was essentially closed for several weeks. Access was allowed so visitors could observe the roaring water and see the force of nature in changing the landscape of a riverine habitat. Fortunately, the water has now receded, and the path through the forest is completely open again, but one can easily see the remnants of the storm! The Nature Preserve would be a great place for an ecology class to visit as it is a prime lesson in changing habitats and the succession of plants as the forest recovers from damage. It is still a beautiful place to visit and listen to the babbling of the creek as it meanders through the woods.

December 3, 2023 Uncategorized

Letter From SJBGNP President

As we enter the Christmas season, I want to wish our Garden Members, Volunteers, Employees, Board Members, Corporate Sponsors, Donors, and ALL of our great Visitors a very Happy Holidays! But I also want to say thank you… and WOW!

Together we have accomplished amazing things at the Garden in the last few months! From the massive final preparations for our opening, the Grand Opening itself, and the time since have truly been impressive, including popular Garden Tours and Nursery Gift Shop Visits, not to mention recurring Animal Shows, Musical Acts, and Food Trucks! And we have already had visitors from around the world come and marvel at our beautiful tropical oasis!

But we have a long way to go. We need to keep working hard to improve and cultivate the Garden into what we ultimately hope it will become… One of the premier botanical gardens in the state, and a unique NE Florida resource for research, education, and conservation, as well as community events. In order to achieve these goals, we need to expand our web presence and outreach programs, continue to attract great employees and volunteers, foster more corporate and private donor relationships, secure more grants, and fully engage the county and community in helping us to grow!

Throughout all this, we need to keep in mind that memorable botanical gardens were not built in a day! It will take long, hard hot days of clearing, cleaning, planting and weeding, as well as many hours of designing, writing, scheduling, planning, and oh yes, giving tours! It will not always be easy, and will be a lot of work. But I want everyone to know how much I appreciate their efforts, and am eternally grateful for everything that you have contributed to our shared vision, and for those who keep working, their persistence, their tenacity, and sometimes sheer willpower to work through challenges to create something great, not just for now, but the future! I am totally behind each and every one of you, and want to remind all of you that I am both amazed and awed by the things you have accomplished. Let’s keep up the great work, for today and tomorrow!

With sincere thanks,

Dr. John Rossi
SJBGNP President

December 1, 2023 Uncategorized

Wildlife at Saint Johns Botanical Garden

The SJBGNP doesn’t just have the largest number of palm species in Northern Florida, we also have a nature preserve! And since this preserve is near the Deep Creek Conservation Area, and features a riverine deciduous forest dominated by ash, maples and elms, there are a huge number of vertebrate species that either reside permanently or migrate through the preserve. Also, scores of bird species have been sighted, as well as a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians. Numerous fish have been seen in the creek and ponds here. However, it is the mammals that dominate this habitat, and a wide variety have been viewed in the garden and preserve.

Mammals observed (to date) at the St. Johns Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve include:

Armadillo, Bats, Black Bears, Bobcats, Coyotes, Deer, Foxes (Gray and Red), Hogs (introduced), Mice (Cotton), Moles (Eastern), Opossums, Otters, Rabbits (Marsh), Raccoons, Squirrels (Fox and Gray), Shrews (Least and Short Tailed), and Striped Skunks!

Of course, due to the secretive or nocturnal behavior of many species, it is possible that one will not spy all, or any of these species in one visit. However, you can be sure that they will be watching you, as you pass over, under, or beside them in the nature preserve… Come check it out!  How many mammals can you spot at the St. Johns Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve?

Dr. John Rossi
SJBGNP President

September 15, 2023 Uncategorized

Letter From the Founder

Over a year has passed since my last letter. During that time there have been massive changes in the St. Johns Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve! Necessary preparations have been made, such as adding new roads and trails, parking areas have been cleared, our Oasis Outpost area and the one-of-a-kind event’s pergola, which we affectionately call the Palmvilion, have been completed, and hundreds of new plants have been added, including some very rare species! A beautiful new sign has been built up front, finally letting those passing by know what is coming! Irrigation and electrical lines have been run, a workshop has been created, an official entrance area has been built, nursery areas have been established and stocked with many rare and beautiful plants, and the list goes on! We have been visited by biologists from the St. Johns Water Management District, and they helped us to identify many of the beautiful plants down in the nature preserve. However, we were also visited by Mother Nature… Two hurricanes, a very hard freeze, and a hailstorm gave us a lot more work to do than usual! But through it all, we have remained committed to making this botanical garden a reality! With its massive oaks, and huge collection of lush tropical plants, the St. Johns Botanical Garden is a unique and beautiful place.

But the SJBGNP is still in its infancy. It is like a seedling when compared to a massive 100-year-old oak tree, like the Sunken Gardens in Central Florida, or the Fairchild Botanical Garden in Miami! As such, it does not yet have all of the long-established infrastructure of those places. It does not have all of the benches we need, enough picnic tables, or all of the educational signage and materials and paved trails (except for limestone in many areas). But what it does have is natural beauty, and the potential to become something really wonderful. In order for that to happen, however, it needs individuals and corporations to help. Several individuals and a few corporations have made major donations and sponsorships to help us along, but we need much more to turn this into a truly first-class botanical garden, the kind that North Florida needs, and the kind that North Florida deserves. In addition to donations, we need members, and we need volunteers! Please join us. Call Vice President Tony Molinaro today about volunteering at: (904) 293-7370, or contact us about making a donation. Or you may simply make a tax-deductible donation through this website.

The SJBGNP is a gift of natural beauty… It is also an opportunity for the county and surrounding communities to make something really special by helping to preserve this gift and build upon it so that it becomes a hub of activity, of learning, of research, of preservation, and of family fun for many years to come.  Let’s make that happen, together!

Dr. John Rossi
SJBGNP President

November 2021

 

It’s an exciting time at the St. Johns Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve! Almost daily, new plants arrive and are added to the collection! Trails and paths are being designed, and our new entrance way is taking shape. Beautiful plant identification signs have arrived and are being assembled and placed. Our informational signs should be arriving any day now.

The different collections within the Garden are beginning to develop a character all their own. The South American area features cultivated palms found in no other botanical garden! And it has some other rare species that hold promise to become popular in our area since they come from colder areas of Argentina. The Island Palm area is beginning to look like a tropical jungle with all of the gorgeous species from Madagascar, New Caledonia and other far away islands. The Southeastern Asian area is becoming one of my favorites, however, as the collections of beautiful split leaved fan palms from the genera Licuala and Lanonia grow, and other Asian plant species are added. Sometimes, in the morning sun, or after a heavy rain, it is breathtaking. The combination of unusual banana species, hibiscus, crotons, graptophyllums, copper plants, pagoda plants, coleus, lavender, Pseuderanthemums and of course, palms and cycads, overwhelms the average person with a variety of colors, textures, shapes and sizes.

Meanwhile the Mexican Desert Palm display goes in the opposite direction. It demonstrates a harsher, sparser environment that is dominated by agave, yuccas, desert spoons, cactus, and of course, desert fan palms of the genera Brahea, Sabal and Washingtonia. Just like the real desert, this hot, open, rocky area is a good place to sit and meditate.

If you like quiet though, walking down to the Barrett Picnic Area along the side of Deep Creek will definitely provide it. The silence is only broken by the sound of crickets chirping, birds singing, or after a heavy rain, a chorus of tree frogs. And at certain times of the year, the sound of Deep Creek’s trickling water is very relaxing.

All this is happening at the garden right now, in anticipation of a projected opening date in mid-October, 2022! But… we need your help now! Those picnic tables and benches aren’t cheap. Click to make a much-needed donation today! We are looking forward to seeing you in October!

Donate Now

Dr. John Rossi
Founder and SJBGNP President

November 18, 2021 Uncategorized

From Opportunity to Reality, With Your Help

Not long ago in Naples, Florida, three gentlemen thought that a botanical garden in their area would be a good idea, and they attempted to raise fifty thousand dollars. To their surprise, their early donations were closer to five million dollars! Now, the Naples Botanical Garden is one of the finest public gardens in the world, and certainly in the state of Florida! There are no comparable botanical gardens in Northern Florida, but for the first time, such an opportunity exists: The St. Johns Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, a non-profit, 501(c)(3), is now under construction! Amongst beautiful massive oaks and native saw palmetto trees, a collection of rare and exotic plants, including the largest collection of palm tree species in Northern Florida, has arisen.
The St. Johns Botanical Garden will be different from the Naples Botanical Garden in that it will serve Northeastern Florida, and as such will feature many plants and palms that will survive in our area, Zone 9a/9b, rather than just Zone 10. And it will include a nature preserve that features a beautiful North Florida riverine hardwood forest, a unique and dwindling environment in the face of rapid expansion in St. Johns County. Thus, it will become a resource for conservation and education about a different group of plants and ecosystem, even though there may be some overlap. And it will become a necessary addition to the economy of Northern Florida, providing another destination for visitors to our area. In a sense, it has the opportunity to become the “green jewel of St. Johns County”.
But we are just getting started! We have a long way to go, and we need your help! To create a first-rate botanical garden, we need to acquire more land, part of which will be preserved in its natural state for vital conservation. Then, we need paved roads to become handicapped accessible, and restrooms, greenhouses, and waterfalls, more hiking trails, more parking area, and a bridge, and, and, and!!! In short, we need YOUR HELP! Please contact us, or make a secure donation through our website. But remember, we are not open to the public… yet!

Projected opening date is October 15th, 2022.

November 15, 2021 Uncategorized

Please Pardon Our Mess

SJBGNP is in its infancy. There are many areas that are not finished, under construction, weedy, or not accessible yet by wheelchair. Roads and paths are not yet paved. Plant ID signs and informational signage is not yet complete. We are working on all of these tasks. But we need your help to make these things happen! Become a sustaining member, adopt a tree, purchase something in the gift shop, volunteer here, or just make a tax-deductible donation. This is YOUR Botanical Garden! Take pride in it and become a part of it! You are seeing the largest collection of palms, cycads and tropical plants in North Florida. You are amongst huge oaks, and the nature preserve part of the Botanical Garden features a riverine floodplain with a beautiful hardwood forest that harbors a wonderful variety of wildlife not often seen in much of northern Florida. Our goal is to expand the nature preserve and preserve it for future generations…

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