Looking to add great native plants to your yard or community?
Interested in volunteering or visiting River Oaks Preserve?
Just stop by! Stop on Tuesdays or Sundays between 9 and 1.
Use "River Oaks Preserve" in your mapping software for best results. You can only enter the preserve from Broadway Ave E. (The address is 9541 Broadway Ave E, Estero, FL 33928)
Feel free to shop, stroll or visit with like-minded people. Please wear closed-toe shoes if you plan to hike. Long pants are a good idea, too.
Look for more places to purchase native plants under the EDUCATION AND RESOURCES tab.
Do you need additional information?
Look through this website or call (239) 273-8945.
Use "River Oaks Preserve" in your mapping software for best results. You can only enter the preserve from Broadway Ave E. (The address is 9541 Broadway Ave E, Estero, FL 33928)
Feel free to shop, stroll or visit with like-minded people. Please wear closed-toe shoes if you plan to hike. Long pants are a good idea, too.
Look for more places to purchase native plants under the EDUCATION AND RESOURCES tab.
Do you need additional information?
Look through this website or call (239) 273-8945.
Pop-Up Plant Rescue!!
While we hate seeing sensitive lands destroyed by development, it softens the blow somewhat when we are able to rescue plants from the site. So, we will be working at a site in Bonita Springs over the next month or so, BUT YOU MAY ONLY ACCESS THE PROPERTY WITH PERMISSION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
We arrange for a group to meet on site. Bring gloves and tools if you have them. We will provide pots, tools, gloves and potentially carts to haul potted plants. Everybody should plan to bring water to water the plants. There are no on-site facilities.
If you are interested in helping to rescue plants for River Oaks Preserve, please click the button below. We will plan a variety of dates and times for this event. The address will be provided to those interested in participating.
Upcoming dates:
We arrange for a group to meet on site. Bring gloves and tools if you have them. We will provide pots, tools, gloves and potentially carts to haul potted plants. Everybody should plan to bring water to water the plants. There are no on-site facilities.
If you are interested in helping to rescue plants for River Oaks Preserve, please click the button below. We will plan a variety of dates and times for this event. The address will be provided to those interested in participating.
Upcoming dates:
- Monday, December 8 from 9 to 11
- Saturday, December 20 from 9 to 11
- Sunday, December 21 from 9 to 11 (tentatively, based on interest)
Audubon Western Everglades Event
Tuesday, December 9 from 4:30 to 6 pm at Wesley Church, Marco Island
Visit Team J at this exciting event where they will staff the native plant sale.
Event Details:
Wesley Church, 350 S. Barfield Drive, Marco Island
Tuesday, December 9
Plant sale 4:30 - 5:30 PM
Program / film screening 5:30 -7 PM
Visit Team J at this exciting event where they will staff the native plant sale.
Event Details:
Wesley Church, 350 S. Barfield Drive, Marco Island
Tuesday, December 9
Plant sale 4:30 - 5:30 PM
Program / film screening 5:30 -7 PM
Naples Annual Meeting/The Coccoloba Chapter Meeting
Talk: Our Favorite Native Plants and Why ... A Panel Discussion Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 10 am at Bonita Springs Library. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
Join us to support the restarting of chapter meetings and for a fascinating panel discussion on our favorite native plants. Panelists will provide a variety of perspectives from conservation land management to household yards to historical perspective.
Join us to support the restarting of chapter meetings and for a fascinating panel discussion on our favorite native plants. Panelists will provide a variety of perspectives from conservation land management to household yards to historical perspective.
After a panel discussion on Our Favorite Native Plants and Why, we will have the Annual Meeting of the Naples Chapter FNPS along with The Coccoloba FNPS Chapter meeting. The meeting festivities will start at 11 o’clock, or following the presentation.
Please come! Support the hard work of your Board of Directors. Many of you have been asking to restart meetings. It’s been a while since we’ve had in person meetings so it is important that the membership participates.
Proposed Board of Directors for Naples Chapter FNPS (and also for The Coccoloba Chapter FNPS):
President: Marlene Rodak
Vice President: Paula Reiss
Treasurer: Jeanette Atkinson
Secretary: Merelee Atkinson
Council of Chapters Rep: Ben Johnson
Please come! Support the hard work of your Board of Directors. Many of you have been asking to restart meetings. It’s been a while since we’ve had in person meetings so it is important that the membership participates.
Proposed Board of Directors for Naples Chapter FNPS (and also for The Coccoloba Chapter FNPS):
President: Marlene Rodak
Vice President: Paula Reiss
Treasurer: Jeanette Atkinson
Secretary: Merelee Atkinson
Council of Chapters Rep: Ben Johnson
Volunteer Workday at Gore
Thursday, December 18 from 9 to noon
4261 40th Ave SE, Naples, FL 34117
4261 40th Ave SE, Naples, FL 34117
Workday at Collier-Seminole State Park
Friday, December 19 from 8 to 10
Upcoming Land Management Reviews and Related Items:
Are you interested in representing the Florida Native Plant Society at the Management Advisory Group meeting for the Spirit-of-the-Wild Wildlife Management Area (SWWMA) Management Plan? This meeting is being convened to solicit stakeholder input at the beginning of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission management plan development process. For the meeting, they ask only that we bring our knowledge, experience, and viewpoint, as well as a willingness to hear and respect the views of others.
We are looking for one person to attend the Management Advisory Group meeting which will be on January 8th, 2026, from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm at the Hendry County UF IFAS Extension Office. (STAFFED)
We will be staffing two Land Management Reviews (LMR) in January. We can provide a Reviewer and an Observer. Only the Reviewer is able to register votes on the evaluation checklist. The Observer can participate to learn about the LMR process.
By participating in Land Management Reviews, we aim to improve the management of our state lands by providing ecologically informed feedback on management and advocating for any needs the land managers require to achieve our goals. The rating is on how well the managers are adhering to their management plan and what needs funding or attention.
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest (OPEN)
Field review: Tuesday, January 27th (all day)
Teams meeting checklist review: Thursday, January 29th AM
Lovers Key State Park (OPEN)
Field review: Wednesday, January 28th AM
Teams meeting checklist review: Thursday, January 29th PM
If you are interested in participating in these important events, please respond by sending a note via this button.
We are looking for one person to attend the Management Advisory Group meeting which will be on January 8th, 2026, from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm at the Hendry County UF IFAS Extension Office. (STAFFED)
We will be staffing two Land Management Reviews (LMR) in January. We can provide a Reviewer and an Observer. Only the Reviewer is able to register votes on the evaluation checklist. The Observer can participate to learn about the LMR process.
By participating in Land Management Reviews, we aim to improve the management of our state lands by providing ecologically informed feedback on management and advocating for any needs the land managers require to achieve our goals. The rating is on how well the managers are adhering to their management plan and what needs funding or attention.
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest (OPEN)
Field review: Tuesday, January 27th (all day)
Teams meeting checklist review: Thursday, January 29th AM
Lovers Key State Park (OPEN)
Field review: Wednesday, January 28th AM
Teams meeting checklist review: Thursday, January 29th PM
If you are interested in participating in these important events, please respond by sending a note via this button.
Foraging Field Trip with Amanda Adams
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 9-11
Please note that events with limited availability have been filling up quickly. So, please don’t delay registering for these events. If you cannot make it, please cancel your reservation so others may take your spot. If the events are full and you want to participate, please either join the waitlist or check back often for a cancelation.
Other Events We Recommend:
Some of our favorite Videos:
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When a very young gopher tortoise meets a giant named Kyle ...
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A scene from River Oaks Preserve in May 2025
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This video was created by FGCU Civic Engagement students who participated in our first Adopt-A-Burrow. These students weeded, planted, watered and nurtured the area around the burrow to maximize the habitat for the resident gopher tortoise. As they progressed with the project, the gopher tortoise started "supervising" their work by hanging out on the apron of the burrow. Their final project was creating this video.
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In case you missed it, this was video captured by Philip Buchanan after a quick, but heavy January rainstorm at River Oaks Preserve.
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Find Of The Month
Click each picture for more information
Community Partners
Our outreach is possible with the generous support of our sponsors!
Our outreach is possible with the generous support of our sponsors!
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