Of course I am referring to plants! If so, then check out our neighbor The River Oaks Preserve. It is a 10-acre property at 9541 Broadway Ave., E., Estero. It is open to the public Sunday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Coccoloba and Naples Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society with as many volunteers as are available have been restoring this area since 2022. If you would like to get involved with this effort just show up on Sunday or Tuesday mornings or call 239-273-8945. Volunteers help to plant the natives and remove the exotics, also assisting in sales, tours and tutorials for inquisitive visitors.
Their mission statement reads: Our goal is “to preserve, conserve and restore native plants and native plant communities of Florida by making natives readily accessible, identifiable, and providing assistance” for gardeners to plant their own property. They even offer site visits.
This is a passive recreational area with “a strong focus on concepts of simplicity, natural and native care of the land.” It contains old oak hammocks, pine and palm trees. You can see shiny blueberries, hog plum, gopher apples, and butterfly milkweed to name a few. It is also home to tortoises, butterflies, birds and the occasional bobcat and coyote.
Natives are important because they provide food for wildlife and do not require fertilizer, supplemental irrigation and herbicides to survive.
