CREW 2013 Wildflower Festival

The annual CREW Wildflower Festival has become a much-anticipated tradition in southwest Florida. 2013 marks the 11th year that the CREW Land & Water Trust, in cooperation with the South Florida Water Management District, is hosting this annual festival to celebrate the wildflowers and wildlife of CREW.

Admission to the festival grounds is FREE and includes exhibits, demonstrations, presentations, food vendors, and special kids’ activities.

Expert botanists and naturalists lead guided hikes for the public. Guided hikes require a fee and pre-registration. Register above for one of our many guided hike experiences (select from the drop-down menu to see the hikes and ticket prices for each time slot)

2013 CREW Wildflower Festival

Friday – April 5, 2013 – 7 to 9 PM – FREE Wildflower Presentation by Glen Stacell & Gary Schmelz at the Bonita Nature Place. FREE – no registration required.

Saturday – April 6, 2013
Schedule of Events

All Day (8:30 AM – 2:00 PM): Free exhibits, kids’ scavenger hunt with prizes, presentations, food/drinks for sale
For sale in exhibit area: Native plants, edible plants, wildflower seeds, wildflower books and guides, photos, hand-made walking sticks

8:30 – Exhibits and Food Vendors Open, check-in for first guided hike

8:45 Adult Wildflower Hike w/Glen Stacell and Dr. Gary Schmelz, co-authors of A Guide to Native Wildflowers of Southwest Florida (register above)

8:45 Adult Wildflower Hike w/Roger Hammer, author of Everglades Wildflowers, Florida Keys Wildflowers, and Florida Icons (register above)

9:00 FREE Presentation 1: Edible Landscapes by Tom Hecker of EcoBotanic Designs

9:30 Adult Wildflower Hike w/Sally Stein of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (register above)

9:30 – Tree/Shrub Hike w/Chad Washburn of Naples Botanical Gardens (register above)

9:30 Flower Photography Walking Workshop w/ George Luther, CREW naturalist and volunteer (register above)

10:00 FREE Presentation 2: Monarch Butterfly Tagging Program w/Nick Bodven

10:15 Family Scavenger Hike & Sunprint Making w/Linda Jacobson of Backyard Universe (register above)

10:15 Bloom, Butterfly, Bird Hike w/Tom & Jennifer Hecker of EcoBotanic Designs (register above)

11:00 Adult Butterfly/Plant Hike w/ Nick Bodven & Robin Gardner of NABA (register above)

11:00 Adult Wildflower Hike w/David Cooper, FL Master Naturalist and CREW volunteer (register above)

11:45 Family Scavenger Hike & Sunprint Making w/Linda Jacobson of Backyard Universe (register above)

11:45 – Beginner Wildflower Hike w/Ariel Chomey and David Shepard of FGCU (register above)

12:00 FREE Presentation 3: Drawing/Sketching Nature by Diane Peterson

12:30 Adult Wildflower Hike at CREW Marsh Trails w/Glen Stacell and Dr. Gary Schmelz, co-authors of A Guide to Native Wildflowers of Southwest Florida (Requires travel by personal vehicle to the Marsh Trails) (register above)

12:30 – Adult Wildflower Hike at CREW Marsh Trails w/Roger Hammer, author of Everglades Wildflowers, Florida Keys Wildflowers, and Florida Icons (Requires travel by personal vehicle to the Marsh Trails) (register above)

1:00 FREE Presentation 4: The Life of Bees by Melissa Bell aka The Unruly Gardener

1:30 FREE – The Bee Dance Game for Kids w/billY Gunnels of FGCU (Open Space near the exhibits)

2:00 Exhibits Close

More info and tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/328561!