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County parks, preserves roll out April programs
| Article published on Thursday, April 5, 2007 |
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PINELLAS COUNTY County parks and recreation areas will offer a variety of programs and events to spice up the areas recreational flavor. Following is a list of free events scheduled for April:
A.L. Anderson Park, 39699 U.S. 19 N., Tarpon Springs. To register, call 943-4085.
Saturday, April 14 Storms and Trees, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Pam Brown, urban horticulturist from Pinellas County Extension, will discuss the basics about how trees behave in a storm including which trees are most and least likely to survive. Free.
Boca Ciega Millennium Park, 12410 74th Ave. N., Seminole. To register, call 588-4882.
Saturday, April 14 Discover Dragonflies, 10 to 11 a.m. Guests will learn about Floridas dragonflies, how to identify them and what role they play in the local environment. Free.
Saturday, April 21 Plaster Impressions of Nature workshop, 9 a.m. to noon. Artist Leslie Fry will lead the workshop. Free.
Saturday, April 28 Swamp Tromp, 9 to 10 a.m. Participants will explore the living and non-living organisms in Boca Ciega Bay as they capture, identify and release their findings. Free.
Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs. To register, call 453-6800.
Saturday, April 7 Art of Nature Photography workshop, 10 a.m. to noon. Donna Bollenbach will teach participants a simple yet creative way to look at and photograph the natural world. Participants must bring a camera. Free.
Saturdays, April 7, 14, 21 and 28 Guided hike, 9 to 11 a.m. This .75-mile hike will look at how the land has changed over time. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must and water and a hat are recommended. All ages welcome. Children under 6 may find hike challenging. Free.
Wednesdays, April 11 and 25 Family Night Hike, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Guests will experience the preserve after dark as they look and listen for creatures of the night. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must and a flashlight is optional. Recommended for families with children age 10 and up. Free.
Thursday, April 12 Butterfly Gardening in Your Backyard, 10 to 11 a.m. Cindy Peacock from the Pinellas County Extension will discuss the life cycle of butterflies and show how to use the right plants to attract them to a garden. Free.
Thursday, April 12 Book Time at Brooker Creek, Tiny Workers: Ants in Your Backyard, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. The book will take preschoolers underground to explore an anthill and learn about ants. Hands-on crafts will follow. Free.
Saturday, April 14 Landscaping with Natives workshop, 10 to 11 a.m. Wilma Holley from the Pinellas County Extension will show how planting natives can reduce water use and lessen fertilizer needs. Free.
Sunday, April 15 Family Creek Adventure, 1 to 3 p.m. Participants will explore the creek in search of its residents. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must for this wet and muddy activity.
Wednesdays, April 18 and 25 Beginning Birding, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Field sessions will be offered on Saturdays, April 21 and 28, 8 a.m. to noon. The class will offer basics on field identification, equipment and tips on some of the best places to look for birds. Guidance on how to use binoculars and spotting scoops will be offered. Cost for all four sessions is $20.
Friday, April 20 Earth Day Celebration The Lorax, 2 to 4 p.m. Preschoolers are invited to celebrate Earth Day with The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, a story about how cutting down trees can affect the animals that depend on them. Kids will become the stars in this interactive event. Kids will receive seed packets. Free.
Saturday, April 21 Perceptions of Paradise: The Visual Mythology of Florida as Eden, 1 to 2 p.m. Mallory McCane OConnor of Santa Fe Community College will explore ways that art transmits culture and how the perception of reality can be shaped by fantasy and imagination. Free.
Thursday, April 26 Book Time at Brooker Creek, Bzzz, Bzzz: Mosquitoes in Your Backyard, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Preschoolers will learn the important place of this tiny buzzer in nature. Hands-on crafts will follow. Free.
Sunday, April 29 Water Gardens 101, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Guests will receive helpful tips for creating a unique aquatic landscape in this introduction to garden ponds and water gardens. Cost is $5.
Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo.
Sunday, April 15 National Cancer Survivors Day, Celebration of Life, 12:30 to 4 p.m. This event will offer entertainment and activities as it honors cancer survivors and their families. Free. Call 821-0017.
Tuesday, April 17 Discovery Tour, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests will explore native plants, wildlife and the role of the gardens in the conservation of Floridas natural resources. Call 582-2581.
Fort De Soto County Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde. To register, call 582-2267.
Saturdays, April 7, 14, 21, and 29 Explore the History of Fort De Soto, 10 to 11 a.m. Free.
Sundays, April 8, 15, and 29 Explore the History of Fort De Soto, 1 to 2 p.m. Free.
John Chesnut Sr., 2200 East Lake Road, Palm Harbor. To register, call 669-1951.
Saturday, April 14 Guided nature walk, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Philippe Park, 2525 Philippe Park, Safety Harbor. To register, call 669-1947.
Saturday, April 28 Guided hike, 9 to 11 a.m. Hikers will discover the rich history of Philippe Park while exploring nature. Closed toed shoes, water, sunscreen, hat and insect repellent are recommended.
Pinellas County Extension, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo. Call 582-2100.
Saturday, April 21 Family EarthFest, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event will include learning exhibits, activities, door prizes and entertainment. Free. Small materials fee for birdhouse building.
Weedon Island Preserve, 1800 Weedon Drive N.E. To register, call 453-6500.
Thursday, April 12 Wee-time at Weedon: Ten Little Rabbits, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Preschoolers will be introduced to the wonders of the natural world with a story, hands-on craft and an outdoor activity. The book, Ten Little Rabbits, celebrates Native American traditions. Free.
Friday, April 13 Paradise Lost? Discussion with author Jack Davis, 7 to 8 p.m. Promoting a historical memory of Florida with nature at its center, Davis will argue, becomes increasingly important as our culture retreats deeper into air-conditioned, artificial spaces. Free.
Saturday, April 14 The Science of Fire Ecology, 10 a.m. to noon. The benefits of fire ecology and wildland management will be discussed. Guests will view the re-emergence of new blooming plants and wildlife during a hike. Free.
Sunday, April 15 History Hike, The Weedon Island Story, 9:30 to 11 a.m. A history hike will highlight some of Weedons special spots. Free.
Thursday, April 26 Wee-time at Weedon: Mary Manatee: A Tale of Sea Cows, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Preschoolers will discover the wonders of the natural world with a story, hands-on crafts and an outdoor activity. The book tells children about the manatee, including the biology, ecology and research efforts. Free.
Saturday, April 28 Hike, 9 to 10 a.m., and Florida Native Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to noon. This ethnobotany hike will showcase native plants and their many uses. Guests may purchase native, environmentally-friendly plants that take little care. Experts from the Pinellas Chapter Florida Native Plant Society will be on hand for questions about native plants. Free.
Most activities require registration as space is limited. Call 464-3347 or visit www.pinellascounty.org/park.
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Article published on Thursday, April 5, 2007
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