Issue 28 | August 2021
Good and Green News & Updates
Calling All Citizen Scientists!

City of Sunrise Good and Green to Host Parks For Pollinators BioBlitz Event at Flamingo Park
Join us for a FREE, family-friendly event to learn about local pollinators and help collect local pollinator data:
Saturday, September 18
BioBlitz BINGO
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Flamingo Park (11855 NW 8 Street)
Pick up your BINGO Card at the Flamingo Park Meeting Room
Free prizes while supplies last!
Invite Native Orchids Into Your Yard
Our region has countless suitable landscape trees for orchid reestablishment in schoolyards, roadways, parks - and even in residential yards. The UF/IFAS Extension Broward County Florida-Friendly Landscaping program has joined forces with The Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society to help reintroduce native orchids throughout Broward’s Residential Landscapes. The varieties of orchids used on any given installation will vary depending on availability and suitability for the site.

Solar Co-op Taking New Participants
Whether you’re just curious about solar, or you’re ready to make the switch now, Solar United Neighbors are here to help. They can answer any questions you have about solar, and give you installer-neutral guidance to help you make an informed, confident decision about going solar. The Broward Solar Co-op is open now to join for free solar evaluations with no commitment. The next "Florida Solar 101" virtual workshop is scheduled for September 22 at 8:00 pm. Learn about solar energy and its benefits for your home, or small business, and how a solar co-op works.

NOAA Planet Stewards 2021-2022 Book Club Kicks Off with HOOT
Join the NOAA Planet Stewards Book Club for a discussion on a local Florida favorite - HOOT the young adult fiction book by Carl Hiassen. In this 2003 Newberry award winning book we’re introduced to in Carl Hiaasen's Florida, where the creatures are wild and the people are wilder! The discussion is open to all on Monday, September 13th at 8:00 pm EST. To join in, dial 866-662-7513 (toll free) then use the pass code 1170791#.

Puttin' on the Blitz
How to Participate in Sunrise
The Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz will be utilizing the iNaturalist platform. This platform allows every agency’s results to be shared and calculated up to a national page within the platform and will show the collective impact for this event. 

STEP 1: Download the “iNaturalist” app to your phone. You will be asked to log in or create an iNaturalist account (you will need to do this to join our project)

STEP 2: Starting September 1, go to our project page on iNaturalist by clicking the link (you need to log in using your iNaturalist account before you can join our project)

STEP 3: Visit Flamingo Park! And start taking photographs of everything that might be related to pollinators: trees, butterflies, bees and other insects, caterpillars, chrysalis, eggs, and plants and flowers! The app guesses the species immediately, and then experts will review your photos! It will automatically link up to our project page through September 30!

If you are not familiar with using iNaturalist and want help, attend one of the BioBlitz events at Markham Park or Flamingo Park in Sunrise.
More Opportunities to Join
  • September 11, Butterfly Garden Tour, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Markham Park (County Parks may have entry fee)


Helpful Resources
Parks and Recreation Agencies across the U.S. Will Host Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz Events Starting September 1st
What is a BioBlitz?
‘Bio’ means ‘life’ and ‘Blitz’ means ‘to do something quickly and intensively’. Together they make ‘BioBlitz’ — a collaborative race against the clock to discover as many species as possible within a set location during a defined time period.

A BioBlitz is an informal way to create a snapshot of the variety of life found in an area, these events provide an opportunity for participants to learn together and share their expertise and enthusiasm for nature. BioBlitzes make engaging with science easy and fun while raising awareness about the role of biological recording. It also gives the public an opportunity to contribute to a genuine scientific survey.

Data gathered during BioBlitzes can generate biological records. These records can be used for scientific research, as well as inform conservation practices, local planning and land management on a multitude of levels.
If you're blue then it's time to get outside so
Why don't you go where nature sits?
Puttin' on the blitz
The Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz is a national effort for people to find and document pollinator friendly plants and pollinators across the country in partnership with their local park and recreation agency. It’s a national campaign to see who can make the most observations, engage the most people and promote pollinator awareness and education. The results not only make an impact for awareness of pollinators nationally and for those that participate, but also helps agencies know what pollinator and plant species are in their parks and helps them plan for how to protect them and promote biodiversity. 

The Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz is organized by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) with support from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation.
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