Event Photos

Bell Creek Native Garden Restoration

10940 McMullen Rd Riverview 33569

The area in front of the Hillsborough County CELM offices is being restored using plants native to the preserve. CELM staff, Master Gardener Volunteers, and Suncoast members remove invasives and plant wildflowers and grasses along the gravel path.

Workdays are the third Wednesday of the month from 8am-10am. Bring gloves, water, and personal tools

Lettuce Lake Native Garden

Behind the Joel Jackson Nature Center at Lettuce Lake, 6920 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa 33637

The garden workdays are every 4th Tuesday, 8 am - 10 am, unless the park is closed. Bring water, hat and personal tools. Contact Tina in advance if you need your park entry ($2 cash) paid.

Here is a video tour of the Lettuce Lake Garden produced and narrated by Tia Silvasy, Suncoast member and Hillsborough County Extension service. Tia heads up the Master Gardener program which has been helping out with the garden here and at Bell Creek.

Lettuce Lake Garden Video

Lettuce Lake

June 28, 2023. Blog post by Tia Silvasy. Click on the image or on the link below:

View Blog Post

Flatwoods Park Workdays, Morris Bridge Rd entrance, Second Thursday of the month, see calendar

Mary Miller has maintained the Flatwoods Garden on Morris Bridge Road for over a decade. Please contact her directly to help out. Mary Miller

The Flatwoods Native Plant Garden attracts hummingbirds, catbirds, and butterflies with plants like necklacepod, coral bean, and porterweed.

Bring water, gloves, and personal tools.

Field Trips

Check out upcoming trips on our Calendar and join us.

Past Field Trips and Events

Brooker Creek Headwaters Preserve, October 5, 2025

Dead River Park, September 7, 2025

Joint Meeting and Potluck, July 16, 2025

Sierra hosted this year with a speaker about bats. The food and program were excellent.

Suncoast provided native plants to decorate the tables and for guests to take home.

Little brown bat visitor.Photo by Pat Lopez.

The Nectary, July 12, 2025

This native nursery in downtown Lakeland offers a wide variety of plants plus gifts and garden art.

Merrilee leaving with plants for the Joint Meeting tables. Photo Tina Patterson

Blackwater Creek, Early Bird Hike, July 5, 2025

Our first attempt at an early morning hike! Start time 6:30am.

photo Merrilee Wallbrunn

USF Herbarium, June 13, 2025

Anita Crnjac and Chris Kiahtipes took us on a tour of the Herbarium and talked about how the collections are managed and used.

Drawing by Olga Lakela, photo by Merrilee Wallbrunn

USF Forest Preserve, May 23, 2025

Leader Neal Halstead took some of us to look at sandhill plants while a few others ventured all the way to Cypress Creek. Thanks to eCORES for inviting us into the Preserve and to Neal for coordinating the trip!

North Cypress Creek Preserve, April 19, 2025

Packera glabella

Suncoast Native Plant Sale, USF Botanical Gardens, April 12-13

Chito Branch Reserve (SWFWMD): March, 22, 2025

Vista Gardens- March 8, 2025 - Trying out our new microscope display

Bug stuck on sundew taken with microscope

Blackwater Creek - February 22, 2025

Pinguicula pumila (small butterwort) John Lampkin

February Meeting- Plant Propagation

Everglades Camping Trip, February 3-7, 2025

Field Trip with Roger Hammer, swamp walk, crocodiles, and more!

Cypress Creek Preserve, Lizards Tail Rd. January 18, 2025

Bullfrog Creek WEA, November 23, 2024

Prickly pear cactus in a (dwarf) forest of runner oak (Quercus minima). Beautiful weather!

Lower Green Swamp, November 16, 2024

Cool weather and open vistas for this long hike. The grasses were sensational!

Vista Gardens, September 29, 2024

This community garden has an outstanding collection of native plants in aquatic, wetland and upland habitats.We will definitely be back to see this in every season.