Native Plant Network

Native Plant Network Since 2007, the Network has sought to promote our region’s unique native plant heritage.

The Native Plant Network (formerly the Connect to Protect Network) is a citizen science program that enlists South Florida residents to plant native plants in their yards, providing habitat for our native bees, butterflies and birds. Members provide information about the wildlife that uses their gardens, and send seeds back to the Network. The program is run by the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garde

n’s Conservation Team. The ultimate goal of the Network is to create corridors and stepping stone gardens that connect isolated fragments of natural habitat. These corridors and stepping stones can be created or restored on rights-of-way along freeways, on privately owned lands, and on public lands such as school yards and parks. Planting native species and managing non-native, invasive plants will increase the probability that bees, butterflies and birds can find and transport seeds and pollen across developed areas that separate our nature preserves. Meeting our goals of connecting habitats will require widespread participation and many plants that are native to South Florida habitats like pine rockland, rockland hammock, and coastal strand. Because many of these species are uncommon in the nursery trade, we ask members to provide seeds of certain species back to the Network so we can grow more. An invitation to join and more information can be found on our website: www.fairchildgarden.org/ctpn

Thanks to our longtime member Manny for sharing this picture he took of last week’s rainbow, seeming to encircle his pin...
08/30/2026

Thanks to our longtime member Manny for sharing this picture he took of last week’s rainbow, seeming to encircle his pine rockand garden. Fabulous habitat! 💚

08/25/2026

🌾 Late summer is one of our favorite times of year because it’s when all the grasses start to bloom. If you don’t have native grasses in your yard, you don’t know what you’re missing! Their blooms are beautiful, they remind you that the season is changing (even in subtropical South Florida), and they create habitat for lots of little critters. The grass shown here is Elliott’s love grass, Eragrostis elliottii. We are growing the plants in the nursery to collect seeds, and after the seeds are harvested, the plants will become part of one or more restoration projects or NPN plantings.

08/20/2026

NATURE LOVERS’ HOUSE FOR SALE IN WEST KENDALL.

Our longtime members Marc and Eliana are selling their home. We’re happy to spread the word for them . . . especially because they’ve shared so many beautiful photos of their 100% Florida Native yard!

They COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED this space over the past 11 years. And they insist that if they can do it, anyone can!

Although the landscape is what makes this property truly special, the home itself is wonderful as well. It is a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home built in 1980 with excellent “strong bones.” Many major components have been recently updated, including the roof, air conditioning system, ductwork, full impact windows and doors, attic spray foam insulation, security camera system, appliances, thoughtfully-designed closet spaces and more. There’s a brick fireplace open on both sides, a beautiful chimney, and high ceilings in the main living area. The stairs and second floor have authentic oak hardwood floors. The home has been exceptionally well maintained, and its effective age is significantly younger than its actual age. It’s comfortable, cozy, spacious, organized, quiet, and has been a great place to live.

List price $760,000

ℹ️ TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS HOME, PLEASE CONTACT [email protected]

😎 To learn more about gardening and landscaping with native plants in the Miami area, make sure to follow us!

08/19/2026
08/14/2026

🌱 This month, we are seeing some exciting changes behind-the-scenes of the Native Plant Network: We are beginning to shift production to our new north nursery! 🌱 More space will help NPN to continue to grow, while also enabling the production of more native plants for other Fairchild-led South Florida projects, including habitat restorations and native landscaping projects. 🌱 🌱 Thank you to our friends at Miami-Dade Parks Department and Environmentally Endangered Lands Program for helping to make this dream a reality!

07/15/2026

It is never a dull day working with the conservation team! I learn something new every day, literally! As my internship comes to a close, I am reflecting not only on the skills I have gained, but also the connections and adventures. Protecting and preserving natural areas is not just a job, it’s a passion, and I see passion in all of my mentors and the different people I’ve gotten to work with. The most important thing I will take away from my internship with the FTBG Conservation Team is inspiration!

Thank you to the team, Fairchild, and the Florida Wildflower Foundation!

06/19/2026

The last few weeks, I have learned a lot. Monitoring a rare plant, Senega smallii, was a first for me; it can be exciting and discouraging at the same time. I found myself getting so excited every time I spotted one. At R. Hardy Matheson EEL Preserve, I got to help monitor a rare fern, and I literally said “WOW” when we arrived at a limestone solution hole. My first time visiting Big Cypress National Preserve was exciting, to say the least. The site had a recent burn and was so beautiful; I spotted so many wildflowers during the visit. It was a long day, but for me, it was still unforgettable! [note from admin: she kindly omits mention of the ghastly mosquitoes]. Work at the nursery and seed lab continues to provide me with new knowledge every day. I’ve had the honor to work with plants at almost every stage of their life, and it is fascinating.

Thank you, Florida Wildflower Foundation and Fairchild Garden, for giving me this amazing opportunity!

Help wanted this Thursday morning at Ron Ehmann Park in the Kendall/Pinecrest area. This is such a nice little pineland ...
06/06/2026

Help wanted this Thursday morning at Ron Ehmann Park in the Kendall/Pinecrest area. This is such a nice little pineland and hooray for Miami-Dade Parks, who managed to burn it last year! The underbrush was cleared out but tons of burned and melty tennis balls were also exposed. It's like a less attractive but more impactful Easter egg hunt! Parks and Fairchild conservation staff will pull a few weeds, too-- and of course, we will admire wildflowers and butterflies in this fabulous preserve.

📅 Thurs 6/11/2026 9am-11am
👧🏽 Ages 13 and up
📍 10995 SW 97th Ave, Miami, FL 33176
🔗 Registration Required: https://miamidadeparks.com/FL/miami-dade-county-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTEzMDc4NTY=

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1901 SW 134th Ave
Tamiami, FL

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