Nature Calls

Do you love to walk the nature trails in this area? If so, consider sharing the beauty of the wide & diverse ecosystems found along the trails of Charlotte County parks and nature preserves with others by becoming a Trail Guide. Sign up for a free trail guide training workshop offered by Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) on one of two dates in August. CHEC Naturalists and volunteers will instruct you on how to prepare and lead guided nature walks in Charlotte County, starting with a guided tour of the 115-acre beautiful Cedar Point Environmental Park. The walk will be followed by a presentation indoors. Choose the training session on Tuesday August 6, 8:30 to 11:30am or Saturday, August 10, 8:30 to 11:30am. Meet at the visitor’s center in the park at 2300 Placida Road. Advance registration is required at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769 for more information. Photo: Trail guides lead groups such as these ladies who posed on a walk at Amberjack Park in May.

Myakkahatchee Creek Greenway Walk
Join the Environmental Conservancy of North Port for a nature walk on Saturday, July 27, 9 to 11am, at Myakkahatchee Creek Greenway Trail, 6203 W. Price Blvd., North Port. The walk is free, and no registration is required. For further information, call 941•429•7275.

Drought Resistant Gardening Workshop
Is your garden struggling under the strain of unpredictable summer rains and soaring temperatures? UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is offering a free drought-tolerant landscaping class on Thursday, August 1, 9 to 11am, at Shamrock Park, 3900 Shamrock Drive, Venice. Join this class to discover native plants that thrive in these harsh conditions. The presentation will be followed by a guided tour of the Shamrock Park Demonstration Garden to learn firsthand how to integrate these resilient plants into your landscape. Register only for this class at ufsarasotaext.eventbrite.com. For questions, call 941•861•9826.

Venice Audubon Book Club
The Venice Area Audubon Society’s book club will be discussing “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy Tan, an entertaining view of the author’s backyard birding experiences revealed through her observations, drawings, and storytelling. The in-person book club will meet Monday, August 12, 10 to 11am, at the Venice Audubon Center, 4002 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice. The Zoom book discussion will be Wednesday, August 14, 6:30 to 7:30pm. Registration is appreciated at veniceaudubon.org/events.

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) Activities
On these casual walks with CHEC volunteers, you will search for and learn about plants, animals, fungi and more, that live in Charlotte County preserves. Prepare for each walk with plenty of water, insect repellent, sunscreen, and clothing that will protect you from insects and plants. Advance registration is required. Go to CHECflorida.org for a complete program calendar and registration links. For more information on programs, please call 941•475•0769 or email [email protected].

Amberjack Environmental Park
Join CHEC on a guided walk through the scrub and pine flatwoods of 225-acre Amberjack Environmental Park on Wednesday, July 31 at 8am. Meet at 6250 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., where the street dead ends. To register, fill out the form online at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. 

Bill Coy Preserve
Join CHEC on a guided walk through the 81-acre Bill Coy Preserve on Wednesday, August 7, 8 to 9am. The scrubby flatwoods and mangrove swamp border Buck Creek, which flows into Lemon Bay. Meet in the parking lot at 5350 Placida Road. To register, fill out the form online with the calendar entry at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. 

Amberjack Environmental Park
Join CHEC on a guided walk through the scrub and pine flatwoods of 225-acre Amberjack Environmental Park on Wednesday, August 14 at 8am. Meet at 6250 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., where the street dead ends. To register, fill out the form online at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. 

Seagrass Wading Trip
Join CHEC for a free wading adventure through the seagrass beds of Lemon Bay on Saturday, August 17, 9 to 11am. Participants will walk approximately one-half mile to the wading site where they will collect and view creatures of the bay. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that may get wet. Also recommended are sunscreen, insect repellent and water. Advance registration is required. Call 941•475•0769 or email [email protected].

Tippecanoe Guided Walk
CHEC will lead a guided walk at the 380-acre Tippecanoe Environmental Park on Wednesday, August 21 at 8am. This Charlotte County park includes habitats such as scrub, pine flatwoods, marsh and wetlands. Meet behind the Charlotte County Sports Park at 2400 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte.

Amberjack Environmental Park
Join CHEC on a guided walk through the scrub and pine flatwoods of 225-acre Amberjack Environmental Park on Wednesday, August 28 at 8am. Meet at 6250 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., where the street dead ends. To register, fill out the form online at checflorida.org or call 941•475•0769. 

Mangrove Chapter FNPS Activities
 The mission of the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) is to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. The Mangrove Chapter serves Charlotte County and southern Sarasota County. Visit them online at mangrove.fnpschapters.org. For more information, contact them at [email protected].

Middle Beach Nature Walk
Dr. Bill Dunson will lead a nature walk on Thursday, August 8, 8am, at Middle Beach/Blind Pass Beach. Meet at the Duisberg Trail in the parking lot at 6725 Manasota Key Rd, for a 1.5-hour walk. The entire walk is less than a mile on narrow trails and the beach, passing along some nice mangroves, upland subtropical hammocks, and dune habitat. Turn east into the main parking area opposite the beach and take the first left. The walk is open to the public. Please bring water and sunscreen as the weather will be hot. Please, no dogs or smoking/vaping. For more information, email [email protected].

Manasota Scrub Preserve Nature Walk
Join the Mangrove Chapter on Thursday, August 15, 8am, for a nature walk at Manasota Scrub Preserve/East, 2695 Bridge Street. Dr. Bill Dunson is your guide, and you will walk a 1.5-mile loop through mesic pine flatwoods and next to two wetlands. Meet in the parking lot just a few yards from Manasota Beach Road. The walk is open to the public. Please bring water and sunscreen as the weather will be hot. Please no dogs or smoking/vaping. For more information, contact email [email protected].

Lemon Bay Conservancy News
The free guided nature walks and activities shown below are sponsored by Lemon Bay Conservancy and will be held at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve, 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd., Englewood. Please come prepared for a hike. The preserve can be “buggy” this time of year. Consider wearing long sleeves and long pants. Water, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and hiking shoes are recommended. Some people like to bring a walking pole. Binoculars are useful for observing more distant birds and other animals. Website: lemonbayconservancy.org.

Wildflower 101 Nature Walk
On Tuesday, August 6, 8 to 9am, Paul Townsend will lead a “Wildflower 101” introductory guided walk. Paul’s “101” walks provide a short introduction to the preserve and the variety of habitats and animals seen there. The preserve address is 3120 Gasparilla Pines Blvd. The walk is open to the public. When visiting the Preserve, closed-toe walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and bug spray are suggested. Be sure to bring water to stay hydrated. A camera and/or binoculars are also encouraged.