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. 

Marco Island Nature Night

March 5, 2026, 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Council Chambers

Collier-Seminole State Park Butterfly Garden Clean Up

March 11, 2026, Collier-Seminole State Park, 20200 Tamiami Trl, Naples, FL 34114
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​Let's head back down to Collier-Seminole for our annual butterfly garden clean up. 
Please register to get through the gate without fees. 

Butterfly Gardening -- A Panel Discussion

Saturday, March 28, 1 pm at the Garden Council Building, 2166 Virginia Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33901 (near Edison & Ford Winter Estates)

We are teaming up with our friends from Southwest Florida Association of Environmental Professionals for expert panel discussion on butterfly gardening.

What could be better? 

Panelists are:
  • Julie Motkowicz from Conservation Collier
  • Tony Harding from All Native Garden Center, and
  • Dr. Joyce Fassbender, Entomologist from FGCU

Marco Island Burrow Buddies Day

Saturday, April 11 10 am to 1 pm. Mackle Park, 1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco, Island, FL 34145 

Please come to this event and stop by our table to say HI! 

Manatee Park Butterfly Garden Workday

Monday, April 13 at 10 am. Manatee Park, 10901 State Road 80 (Palm Beach Blvd.) Fort Myers, Fl 33905.

We are partnered with Lee County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and Lee County Parks & Rec to clean up the butterfly garden. So, come spend a few hours with us. We generally grab a bite to eat afterwards. 

Bayshore Boardwalk with Chris Stephens

Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 10:30 to noon-ish with a gathering at Ankrolab afterwards

Chris will lead us as we explore this new mostly-native planting at Sugden Park. 

From our Like-Minded Friends: 

Some of our favorite Videos: 

When a very young gopher tortoise meets a giant named Kyle ...
A scene from River Oaks Preserve in May 2025
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. 
In case you missed it, this was video captured by Philip Buchanan after a quick, but heavy January rainstorm at River Oaks Preserve.
Find Of The Month

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Community Partners
Our outreach is possible with the generous support of our sponsors!