2005 Wildflower Celebration Draws Enthusiastic Crowd
March 18 - 19, 2005
It
was a gorgeous spring day at the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails on March 19th as about 60 hikers
gathered to search for the first of the spring wildflowers in bloom. Hike
leaders, Glen Stacell, David Cooper, and
Barbara Conolly delighted visitors by
pointing out the blooming blue-eyed grass, Polygala species, and Florida
violets, among others. They encouraged hikers to smell the minty freshness of
pennyroyal and the sweet scent of pawpaw that draws the zebra swallowtail
butterfly to its perfumed blossom. In addition to the flowers, hikers were
treated to a fresh set of panther tracks on the oak hammock trail and to the
voices of newly hatched red-shouldered hawk nestlings as the adult hawks flew in
to feed them.
Glen Stacell shows his group a
tiny Polygala species at the CREW Trails.
The day ended with a celebration of creativity as nine Lee and Collier County
students were honored for their winning entries in the 3rd annual CREW
Wildflower Art Contest. They and their families gathered around a display of
their art as students claimed cash prizes and art supplies (sponsored by CHNEP
and the CREW Trust) for their effort. The students' artwork will be displayed at
the FGCU Welcome Center sometime this spring. To see each student's art work
click here.
2005 CREW Wildflower Art Contest Winners: From left to right: Kimberly Clements (1st place
Elem.), Sarah Rainbolt (2nd place Middle), Tori Fields (2nd place Elem.), Gil
Gonzalez (3rd place High School), Nicole Marshall (1st place High School), Juan
Antonio Morales (1st place Middle), Cristal Bidoul (2nd place High School),
Christopher Davis (3rd place Middle). Not pictured: Tyler Westfall (3rd place
Elem).
Exhibits were provided by the Big Cypress National Preserve, Estero Bay
Buddies, and the Coccoloba Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.
We want to thank all our volunteers for making this event a success once
again...thanks to Narissa Pannell, Tom Tefts, Keith Hanson, Kennedy Hanson,
Roger, Pat & Britta Clark, David Cooper, Barbara Conolly, Glen Stacell, Gary
Schmelz, Daniel Chamberlain, Martha Lopez, & Jennifer Suarez, all our exhibitors
and Friends of CREW!!
