Nature Connection 2026, our 4th Nature Connection

Coming in late March, with two outstanding Nature offerings.

We have invited a Plant expert, and an Owl expert, to present on their respective realm of expertise.

There are two dates, two locations, one week apart, so Save The Dates.

Here’s a summary of our two Program components:

Doug Tallamy , Saturday March 21, Captain Anderson’s Event Center.

Scott Rashid, Saturday March 28, FSU PC Holley Center.

 

Dr. Douglas Tallamy is an insect expert, an entomologist. He is professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at The University of Delaware. He is a nationwide spokesperson promoting the use of native (local) plants instead of exotic species from other geographic areas thereby fighting invasive species which can displace local ecosystems. His presentation is entitled “Homegrown National Park”. If everyone planted part of their yard with native plants, this area of millions of yards would be bigger than our National Parks! Doug’s big idea is to plant local species of flowers, bushes, and trees, which will attract and feed local insects, which will then nourish local caterpillars, bees, moths, butterflies, and birds as part of local natural ecosystems.

Dr. Tallamy in a natural landscape.

So if your home has a yard, you need to hear Dr. Tallamy. He will discuss why and how you can change your yard into a natural landscape full of the web of life. Dr. Tallamy’s latest book is appropriately entitled “How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard”. Help him help us learn how to make our yards more nature friendly by attending his presentation on the morning of March 21 at the Captain Anderson’s Event Center, close to Captain Anderson’s Restaurant. Exact details later.  We thank Sweetbay Chapter Florida Native Plant Society in Panama City and Sandhills Native Nursery in Fountain for assisting with bringing Dr. Tallamy’s message to our locale.

Scott Rashid knows “whooo” he is watching!

Scott Rashid is a bird, mainly owls, expert: an ornithologist. Scott has spent over 30 years working as a researcher, state and federal licensed bird bander (approaching 20,000 bandings), licensed bird rehabilitator, lecturer, educator, and author of 7 books primarily about species of owls and other birds, such as the American Kestrel and Northern Goshawk. He will also exhibit his incredible watercolor nature art work while here. In 2011 Scott established and is the director of the non-profit Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute (CARRI), located in Estes Park. See www.carriep.org. For 26 years Scott has conducted banding classes at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, catching over 15,000 birds with the standard mist nets and banding them, with audience participation.  Check out his You Tube video of  the Owls of Colorado.