Imagine Our Florida, Inc.

Foto Friday: Please post the pictures you captured of Florida's wildlife, wildflowers, and wild spaces this week in the comments. We can't wait to see them!
Osceola’s Plume
Osceola’s Plume is a blooming plant that grows along the panhandle and
northern and central Florida areas. The flowers of this plant are white and turn pink and purple as the blooms age. The flowers grow in 40-100 bloom bunches at the end of a primarily leafless 1-3ft stem. From the base of the plant, needle-like leaves can be anywhere from 4-20in.

Osceola’s Plume is dormant during the winter and tends to reappear after fire, often growing in large colonies in the flames’ wake. Despite their love of fire, these plants grow best in moist areas such as bogs, savannahs, flatlands, and marshes. They drop brown seed pods and are a favorite of local pollinators.

Crowpoison, the other common name of Osceola’s Plume, is a member of the
Bunchflower family and a group called the Deathcamas, of which it is the most toxic. The alkaloids in the plant’s foliage cause its poisonous nature and can be deadly to humans. Osceola’s Plume is a beautiful sight to behold, but don't let any pets or small children get close.

Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Sarina Pennington IOF Volunteer

#ImagineOurFlorida #IOF #ConnectRespectCoexist #GetOutside #Nature #Florida
#Wildlife #Explore #Discover #Educate #Empower #MakeaDifference
#environmentalstewardship #crowpoison #OsceolasPlume

IOF is honored to have Bobby Putnam serve on our Board of Directors. In addition, he also volunteers on the Save Our Lagoon Oversight Committee in Brevard County.
Bobby provides a wealth of knowledge and experience to IOF. He makes us all proud to be Floridians.
Watch here: You'll be glad you did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=-H5AuyFiARA&fbclid=IwAR2sfR7XinsFd_n0fG7AYDsL7q_-jKGqZa8H4w3bxd4k8jZpA8i_U-8cNZs

Remembering Bob Graham

In 2014, I attended a seminar on advocacy. Bob Graham was one of the speakers. After the workshop, he pulled me aside and said, " It all starts with education." Imagine Our Florida was born.

Bob Graham will always be known best as Florida's beloved Governor and Senator. Did you know he inspired Aymee, Dan, and me to pursue our vision and form Imagine Our Florida, a science-based educational organization that teaches Floridians to connect, respect, and coexist with Florida's wildlife and within our shared ecosystems?

For the past 8 years, we have dedicated our time and knowledge to educate and empower individuals of all ages across Florida. Together, with your support, we can ensure that Imagine Our Florida continues to honor Bob Graham's legacy and make a significant difference for the generations to come.

Onward,
Nancy

Photo: Bob Graham and Nancy shortly after Nancy shared with Bob that his words inspired the creation of Imagine Our Florida.

Tuesday Trivia -
Silk from a golden orb weaver is stronger than steel and 50 times lighter!

#ImagineOurFlorida #IOF
#ConnectRespectCoexist
#GetOutside #Nature
#Florida #Wildlife
#Explore #Discover
#Educate #Empower
#MakeaDifference
#environmentalstewardship
#tuesdaytrivia #goldenorbweaver
#goldenorbweavers #spider #spiders

- Tuesday Trivia -
True or False
Silk from a golden orb spider is stronger than steel.
Please post your answer in the comments
The answer will be revealed tonight at 6 pm. Be sure to check back in.
#ImagineOurFlorida #IOF
#ConnectRespectCoexist
#GetOutside #Nature
#Florida #Wildlife
#Explore #Discover
#Educate #Empower

Good News Monday
EPA puts Florida Panthers at Risk, Judge Finds. Wetlands Ruling could have National Implications.

This is good for our wetlands. It's good for panthers. It's good for Florida. It's good for our planet.

Read about this exciting news here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/02/20/endangered-panthers-win-fight-on-florida-wetland-development-permits/72640636007/?fbclid=IwAR3-YSJ5Hgk5pZl_m7b4MznT9hlJT5Q5i72Obg4G55dT60C3RpoNvqrU7FQ

Photo Credit: Panther Cams