FNPS Heartland Chapter Meeting: Native Florida Grasses
About this Event
Free and open to the public! Join us for our bimonthly chapter meeting where we will socialize, learn about upcoming field trips and opportunities, and hear an education presentation from our Past President Ed Murawski.
The Ecology and Uses of Grasses in our Native Habitats and Gardens
Mr. Murawski will present an overview of the grass family, Poaceae. The discussion will provide the basics for identification of grasses including their flowers. The talk will include an overview of their role in natural habitats, humans’ history with the plant family and landscaping with them. The talk will include a slide show of many Florida native grasses and ideas for incorporating them into your native gardens or restoration areas.
Speaker Bio:
Ed is a lifelong nature enthusiast. Before attending college, Ed grew up on a small farm where his parents grew corn, soybeans and raised horses and sheep. Those early years were very influential on the rest of his life and led to him studying biology at the University of Central Florida (UCF) where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1999. When not helping his family with their crops and animals, Ed spent his childhood days wandering around the woods and spent many days playing in the creeks and river behind their farm.
While at UCF, Ed focused on botany where he had an early introduction to the ecology of Florida and learned what defines each floral association in Florida. With that knowledge, Ed spent the next 27 years as a natural resource consultant in the areas of wetlands, protected species and land use permitting. He specializes in plant identification, wetland delineations, natural habitat mapping, protected species surveys, and habitat restoration design and management. Ed has worked all over Florida collecting field data that was submitted in permit compliance reports and was used to develop permit applications for an assortment of projects with most of his time in the mining industry.
Through that work, Ed has had the opportunity to work on some of the largest land restoration efforts in the world and that are crucial to returning habitat to a condition that can support wildlife populations. Following many years in the field and managing projects, Ed now serves as Kleinfelder’s lead wetland and restoration principal guiding our ecological team.
Throughout his career Ed has been involved in many professional trade organizations and clubs and has held numerous leadership positions including the honor of being the past Secretary, Vice President and President of the Heartland Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. In his free time Ed enjoys spending time with his wife Makala tending to their garden, sitting on the porch watching the birds visit their numerous bird feeders. Did you know Ed is an avid birder in addition to his love of plants? Makala and Ed raised two children, now young adults, Kyle and Anna right here in Polk County.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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