Summer 2007

Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department

Inside: Use a natural pest control: a good bug

that eats the bad bugs.

2 Xeriscaping Ladybugs eat over 5,000 aphids during

their one year life span. These insects
can also be stored in the refrigerator

3 Ask a Naturalist Jennifer Royce, Daggerwing Nature Center

to be dormant until you are ready to
Turtle, tortoise, and terrapin:
use them. Roughly 1,500 ladybugs are
what’s the difference?
enough for a small garden and you can

4 A Symbolizing
Environment
release them several times for better
control. Daggerwing Nature Center uses
them every year during our Earth Day

6 Recycling Symbol Match

Kids’ Corner
celebration.
Spider mite predators feed only on spider

7 Henry Gern & Lily Strom at mites and their eggs. Guess who wins:
Praying Mantis the good bugs! Predator mites are great
Okeeheelee Nature Center
Volunteer Spotlight to use in South Florida, because they
You worked so hard planting the perfect
thrive in high humidity ranges. You can
garden or have planters with colorful
sprinkle them right onto the plant.
flowers in your walkway, and you notice
your plants are turning yellow or have
Explore... chew marks all over the leaves. Do
you ever find yourself in this situation?
play... and What’s the culprit? Bugs!
develop a love There are a variety of plant pests that
are attracted to your plants, including
and respect for mealybugs, aphids, spider-mites, and
thrips to name a few. You can combat
nature! these pests with beneficial insects.
Mealybug Destroyer

Every bug is not a bad bug. You can use
insects to control other insects instead
of using harsh chemicals that could
harm you and the environment. Also,
if you are planting a butterfly garden,
chemicals would kill the caterpillars of
the butterflies you are trying to attract.
Praying mantids are really cool insects
with a voracious appetite! They will eat
almost any insect that will come their
way and if they don’t, they ambush them.
You can order mantis eggs and hatch
them in a paper bag or among the leaves
See Animal Tracks on page 5

Daggerwing Addition Construction
We are pleased to announce
the start of our new addition!
Construction will begin on
Monday, May 7 and will
continue for several months.
The staging area will be
cordoned off for your safety.
The building and boardwalk
will remain open. We will notify
the public via our answering
machine and signage if we
will be closed due to the
construction or if any programs
are cancelled.
The building is about to undergo
a miraculous transformation,
including the addition of
5,000 square feet. In 2002,
voters approved a $50 million
bond issue that allotted $2
million to expand the nature
center. The $2 million will
be spent on constructing the
new addition which includes a
3,000 square-foot exhibit hall,
a laboratory classroom, and
new administrative offices.
The lobby in the current
building will get an overhaul
and exciting wet forest and
conservation exhibits will be
installed for a multi-sensory
experience!
Animal Encounter
Meet Ms. Piggy, our Bullfrog!
She is a sight to be seen as
her species is the largest frog
in North America. Daggerwing
Nature Center has a variety of
amphibian displays in the “Frogs
Corner” exhibit to help you learn
more about these croaking
creatures. See the difference
between a frog and a toad or
learn about how they grow as
you play a metamorphosis
matching game.
See Daggerwing on page 3
2 www. pbcparks.com/nature Nature-alley Summer 2007
Environmental design of residential and parkland using methods that minimize
the need for water
Greg Atkinson & Terie Gempel, Natural Areas Program
The drought and subsequent water
shortage of 2007 are the result of
persistent low rainfall dating back to
2006, which ranked as the sixth-driest
year on record in terms of District-wide
rainfall. This year’s dry season currently
ranks as the third driest hydrologic
season in recordable Florida history,
according to the National Weather
Service.
Did you know that half of residential
water is used for outdoor irrigation?
You can cut your outdoor water use
substantially with water-conserving
plants and use of Xeriscape principles.
Xeriscape is quality landscaping that
conserves water and protects the
environment. The term Xeriscaping
means water-conserving, drought
tolerant landscaping, or simply the use
of the right plant in the right place—with
proper maintenance and water-wise
watering. Below is a brief narrative of
some fundamentals of Xeriscaping.
Saw palmetto, Beauty berry, Slash pine
Design your landscape. Careful planning
is crucial to the long-term success of a
Xeriscape landscape. You can minimize
your initial investment by installing your
Xeriscape in phases.
Select the right plant for the right area.
Select and group plants according to their
water needs to eliminate unnecessary
watering. You should have three zones
in your site plan: natural zones, drought
tolerant zones, and moderate or “oasis”
water zones. Plants in natural zones can
live on rainfall. Plants in drought tolerant
zones can survive mostly on rainfall.
Plants in moderate or “oasis” water zones
require regular watering.
Analyze the soil. Determine the acid and
alkaline levels (pH) of your soil before
planting. You can mix organic matter
such as compost, peat, manure or
topsoil into sandy soils for enrichment
and to retain moisture.
Have practical turf areas. Turf is the
single largest consumer of water in a
landscape. Place turf where it serves a
purpose, such as play areas for children
or to slow stormwater runoff. Always look
for drought-tolerant turf varieties.
Water wisely. Drought-tolerant plants can
survive mostly on rainfall. If watering is
necessary, do it only in the early morning
and in accordance with any water
restrictions to reduce evaporation.
Properly maintain your landscape.
Overwatering increases the risk of plant
disease. To encourage deep rooting and
more drought-resistance, water plants
thoroughly without over-watering. Fertilize
properly. Excessive fertilizer promotes
fast but weak growth and actually
increases a plant’s water needs, as does
over-pruning.
For additional information on Xeriscaping
visit www.pbcparks.com/nature and
click on Natural Areas Program.
Source: https://my.sfwmd.gov
 ask
Naturalist
Eva Matthews, Green Cay Nature Center
All turtles, tortoises, and terrapins are
reptiles. They lay hard-shelled eggs, have
scales, and are ectothermic (cold-blooded).
Scientists refer to them as chelonians,
which is a Greek word for tortoise. All
chelonians are turtles. If you’re not
confused yet, just wait! The three names
are used differently depending on what part
of the world you call home. In Australia,
tortoise is used for everything except sea
turtles. In the UK, they apply the word
terrapin to freshwater chelonians, tortoise-
to-land chelonians, and turtle-to-oceanic
dwellers. In the USA, we think of turtles as
being aquatic and tortoises as being on dry
land.
Photo Credit: Christian Kappelmann
Softshell turtle
The word terrapin is derived from a Native
American word meaning an edible turtle
that lives in brackish water. Basically, all
three names are describing types of turtles.
Here in Florida we have 8% of the world’s
known turtle species. With our 25 native
species, we are an important location for
turtle diversity.
Florida turtles range in size from 4 inches
to 6 feet in length. Turtles have been
around for millions of years and have one
of the most distinguishing body parts,
the shell. A turtles shell is comprised
of 59 to 61 bones and is covered with
Nature-alley Summer 2007 www. pbcparks.com/nature 3
From Daggerwing on page 2
Visit Ms. Piggy during our
regular operating hours and
see her lounging in her pool or
Photo Credit: Steve Kaplan
catch her eating a snack or two.
You certainly don’t want to miss
why these frogs sometimes
make it onto restaurant menus!
You are Needed
Do you have some spare time
on your hands? Need volunteer
credits for school? Are you
in the mood for a little spring
Red-bellied slider cleaning? Your services are
scales called scutes. Like your bones, a needed at Daggerwing Nature
turtle’s shell is part of its skeleton. The Center.
turtle’s backbone is attached to its shell We are looking for a few good
and is part of its ribcage. The shell’s top men and women to help us with
is called the carapace, and the bottom our daily activities. We are in
is the plastron. Most turtles cannot need of some green thumbs to
completely go inside of their shell but it help out in our butterfly garden.
definitely offers a lot of protection from Do you love animals? We could
predators. always use some help caring
Whether you call it a terrapin or a for our menagerie of critters. If
tortoise, it’s still just a turtle. These you prefer being inside, there
unique creatures are a part of our every are desk attendant/greeter
day surroundings and play an integral role positions available.
in our ecosystem. Many turtles around Whatever skills you possess,
the world are endangered or threatened we are sure we could use them
due to human interactions and therefore, here. Volunteering is a great
must be protected by state and federal way to gain experience in a
laws. Do your part to help our native future field of study or to meet
turtles today! people and make new friends.
Sound interesting to you?
Please call Danica Walcutt,
our Volunteer Coordinator, at
(561) 488-9953. Volunteers
are needed Tuesday through
Sunday.
For more information about
Daggerwing Nature Center, visit
www.pbcparks.com/nature
and click on Daggerwing.
Gopher tortoise
Membership & Animal Adoption
The Friends of Green Cay
Nature Center, Inc. is a
non-profit organization that
raises money to support the
Nature Center in its mission
to promote an understanding
and appreciation of the
natural world to the public.
You can show your support by
becoming a member, adopting
an animal, and visiting the
gift shop. Your tax-deductible
contribution will go directly
to benefit the Nature Center
in ways such as feeding our
animals, maintaining exhibits,
and improving programs.
Memberships
(February - March 2007)
► Bernice B. Sender
► Blanche Borenstein
► Tina Fischer
► Doris C. Smith
► Donna Russo
► Delray Dunes Garden Club
We have a variety of animals
(such as alligators, frogs, turtles,
and snakes) to choose from
that are up for “adoption.” The
animal you adopt will remain at
the Nature Center to be cared
for by staff, but when you visit,
you can develop a bond with
your new friend while learning
more about the animal. Animal
adoption makes a great gift!
Animal Adoptions
(February - March 2007)
► Red-eared Slider Turtle:
Rachel & Samantha Morris
If you’re interested in learning
more about becoming a member
or adopting an animal, please
visit our website.
See Green Cay on page 5
4 www.pbcparks.com/nature Nature-alley Summer 2007
Pamela Murfey, Riverbend Park
Do you remember Woodsy Owl® and
his motto “Give a hoot, don’t pollute?”
This national icon became a symbol of
our responsibility in helping protect the
environment.
Environmental symbolism has been
around for over 30 years. In 1969
and early 1970, our nation became
concerned with environmental issues
that culminated in the first Earth Day.
United States Senator Gaylord Nelson
of Wisconsin responded by calling for an
Environmental Teach-in to be held on
April 22, 1970. Over 20 million people
participated. Earth Day is now observed
each year all over the world. Gary Anderson, a senior
at the University of
October 25, 1969, cartoonist Ron
Southern California,
Cobb created the symbol for ecology.
created the winning
The symbol is a combination of the
design: a three-chasing-
Greek letters “e” and “o” from the
arrows Mobius loop
words environment and organism. Look
with arrows twisting and
magazine was instrumental in spreading
turning among themselves.
the symbol and made it into a U.S. style
flag in the April 21, 1970 issue. The The Mobius loop has become an
ecology flag has green and white stripes international symbol. Throughout the
with a yellow theta in the upper left hand world, in our homes, businesses, and
corner. even in our parks, recycling is part of
our daily lives. We are recycling paper,
In 1970 Chicago-based Container
plastic, glass, metal, wood, and water.
Corporation of America (CCA), the
By reducing, reusing, and recycling, we
nation’s largest paper recycler,
help preserve our world.
sponsored a contest for art and design
students at high schools and colleges
across the country. CCA asked students
to present designs that symbolized the
Did you know that…?
• One ton of newspapers conserve the
recycling process, “for the love of the
equivalent of 19 pine trees.
earth.”
• Five recycled 2-liter PET
(polyethylene terephthalate) bottles
make enough fiberfill to stuff a ski
jacket.
• Glass is 100 % recyclable. A ton
of glass saves the equivalent of 34
liters of fuel oil.

Become a recycling guru. Look on the
bottom of the package. Read the label.
What symbol do you see? A Mobius loop
indicates a product can be recycled. A
Mobius loop with a percentage shows
how much of the product is made
from recycled materials. A Green Seal
symbolizes a product has been made in
an environmentally friendly manner in
the U.S.A. Check out what symbols other
countries are using - The Green Dot,
Nordic Swan, European Ecolabel, and
the Eco Mark just to name a few.
Trivia:
• President Richard Nixon created the
Environmental Protection Agency in
1970 to protect the environment and
public health.
• Federal agencies began using
recycled content products in 1991.
• In 1992 the Energy Star Program
®
was launched to help consumers
identify energy-efficient products.
• Woodsy Owl is 37 years old.
From Animal Tracks on page 1
of your plants. Each egg case will hatch
between 100-200 tiny mantids, and they
begin feeding on aphids right away. The
bigger they get, the bigger their prey! By
the end of summer, they will be several
Ladybug
Nature-alley Summer 2007 www. pbcparks.com/nature 5
• Tires from our
cars can be
recycled into
rubber mulch.
• Learn more about
recycling using activities for children.
Here are some examples:
Symbol Hunt
Who can find the most items with a
recycle logo? Help your children look
for symbols on household products.
Make a list of each item found. Then
compare lists. Extra bonus:
How many of your appliances have
the Energy Star®?
Eco-Bingo
Make playing cards with nine squares
– three across and three down. Leave
the middle square blank and place a
different recycling symbol or recycled
product on the remaining eight
squares. (Mix them up for each card).
You will need a set of calling cards
with all the symbols to be drawn.
inches in length. In the fall, the females
produce more eggs which will hatch in
the spring.
Natural pest controls are available year-
round and can be purchased from a few
plant nurseries or online to be shipped at
a moment’s notice. Beneficial insects do
not tolerate pesticides very well. While
you are waiting for them to kick in, you
can use a soap spray solution to help
you out with your pests.
For more information about these
beneficial insects or to get a recipe for
the soap spray, visit us at Daggerwing
Nature Center located in South County
Regional Park in western Boca Raton.
From Green Cay on page 4
Programs & Events
Green Cay has a variety of
upcoming programs and events:
► Boardwalk Tours
► Night Hikes
► Story and Craft Time
► Naturalist Programs
► Science for Seniors
We also offer programs for
groups such as schools, camps,
and clubs with a variety of topics
to choose from:
► Reptiles & Amphibians
► Birds
► Wetlands
► Insects
► Boardwalk Tours
For more information about
all of our opportunities, visit
our website or call the Nature
Center.
Calling All Kids!
For nature fun at home, go
to the Activity Page link of
the Green Cay Nature Center
website and print out the
activity of the month. After you
finish the puzzle, bring it to the
front desk of Green Cay Nature
Center and get a prize. Look
for a new puzzle and get a new
prize each month.
New Website Link
Visit our website and go to the
Mystery Animal link and see
if you can figure out what the
animal is by looking at only one
body part. Bring your answer
to the front desk at Green Cay
Nature Center, and if you are
correct, you win a prize. Look
for a new animal and get a new
prize every month.
For more information about
Green Cay Nature Center, visit
www.pbcparks.com/nature
and click on Green Cay.
Animal Adoption Program
Gain a special friend while
lending support to the entire
Recycling Symbol Match
facility. Adoptions make ex-
cellent gifts and are good for
one year.
Adoption Packages Include:
► Photograph of your animal
► Fact sheet about your
animal
► Adoption certificate A 1. Cardboard ____
► Recognition in newsletter

Naturalist Programs
► Animal Presentations
► Nature Walks B 2. Plastics ____
► Raptor Chapter
► Deer Walks
► Scout Programs

Volunteer Opportunities C 3. Biocompostable ____

► School Program Docent
► Front Desk Greeter
► Exhibit Docent
► Habitat Management
Assistant
D 4. Energy Star ____
► Animal Caretaker
► Nature Walk Guide
► Newsletter Assistant
► Butterfly Gardener E 5. Green Dot ____
► Research Assistant
See Okeeheelee on page 7

F 6. Recycled material ____

G 7. Glass ____

Answer key on next page ►

6 pbcparks.com/nature
www. Nature-alley Summer 2007
 Spotlight
From Okeeheelee on page 6

Volunteer
John Welch, Okeeheelee Nature Center
If ever there were two people who could
tell you about the changes that have
occurred at the Okeeheelee Nature
Center over the years, it would be Henry
Gern and Lily Strom. Both Henry and
Lily have been at the Center since
its beginning and have been active
participants for better than 12 years.
Having met through family friends in
New York many years ago, the two of
them are close friends and volunteer
every Wednesday at the center. They are
glad to help with any questions at the
front desk and always have a story of
their experiences at Okeeheelee for you.
Henry, who had been an apprentice cook
in Germany and then cooked for the
big hotels in New York, came to Florida
29 years ago. He came to Okeeheelee
Nature Center and worked on clearing the
land and participated in the prescribed
burns that helped the nature center
become what it is today. Prescribed
burns are still performed today in order to
keep the plant and animal community at
Okeeheelee stable and to reduce the fuel
supply during a fire.
No less important is Henry’s job as
official turtle sitter. He spends time
sitting with them in their outdoor
enclosure.
Henry stays active as a member of the
Florida Trails Association and enjoys the
hiking as well as the camaraderie that
goes along with it.
Lily Strom, who hails from Austria,
learned the seamstress trade as a young
girl. In order to be licensed in Europe
you had to be knowledgeable in patterns
and sewing as well as book making and
accounting.
Lily started out making blouses and
dresses and eventually worked her way
up to making bridal gowns, a skill which
she continued to use when she moved
to the United States in 1939.
As a very young girl in Austria, Lily
remembers her mother making her go
for very long walks in the forest. She will
tell you with a smile that, after all that
walking, she likes the break she gets at
the front desk today.
What do Henry and Lily like the most
about the Center? They are amazed at
the changes that have occurred over the
years but, it’s sharing stories with people
they enjoy the most. If you come by
Okeeheelee Nature Center I’m sure you
will agree.
Lily Strom and Henry Gern
School Programs
Primary School Field Trips
► Kindergarten: “Birds, Butter-
flies, and Flowers” - 1½ hrs.
► First Grade: “Animal Homes
and Habitats” - 2 hrs.
► Second Grade: “Pine Flat-
woods and Wetlands” -
2 hrs.
Fourth Grade Trip
► S.W.A.M.P. Squishy Wetlands
and Marshy Ponds - 3 hrs.
Middle School Environmental
Education Program - 3 hrs.
The program is divided into four
sessions chosen from below:
► Nature Walk
► Insects
► Birds of Prey
► Ecosystems
► Pond-Microscopes
► Reptiles
► Nature Games
► Mammals
► Marine Science
Marine Science Program for
Fifth Grade, Middle, and High
School - 2 hrs.
All programs are developed using
Florida’s Sunshine Standards.
For more information about
Okeeheelee Nature Center, visit
www.pbcparks.com/nature and
click on Okeeheelee Nature
Center.
Recycling Symbol Match
Answer Key
7. Glass - C
6. Recycled material - D

Surround Yourself With the Beauty of Old Florida at Park information:

5. Green Dot - B
(561) 748-2028 4. Energy Star - F
Canoe Outfitters of Florida:
(561) 746-7053 3. Biocompostable - E
Five miles of waterways and fifteen miles of access roads and trails have been carved 2. Plastics - A
into over 680 acres of diverse marsh and subtropical terrain making this park a splendid
resource for hiking, canoeing and kayaking. 1. Cardboard - G

Nature-alley Summer 2007 www. pbcparks.com/nature 7

Daggerwing Nature Center Green Cay Nature Center Okeeheelee Nature Center
11200 Park Access Road
Boca Raton, FL 33498
(561) 488-9953
12800 Hagen Ranch Road
Boynton Beach, FL 33437
(561) 966-7000
7715 Forest Hill Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33413
(561) 233-1400
Nature-alley
Summer | 2007
BOARDWALKS / NATURE TRAILS OPEN DAILY SUNRISE TO SUNSET
Palm Beach County
Parks and Recreation Department
EXHIBITS & NATURE CENTERS HOURS:
Mon: Closed; Tues-Fri: 1:00 - 4:30 pm; Sat: 8:15 am - 4:30 pm; Sun: 1:00 - 4:30 pm 2700 Sixth Avenue South
(Closed Sundays during the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day) Lake Worth, Florida 33461
(561) 966-6600
www.pbcparks.com


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Assistant County Administrator

Riverbend Park Natural Areas Program Loggerhead Marinelife Center Jon Van Arnam
9060 Indiantown Road 2700 Sixth Avenue South 14200 U.S. Highway 1
Jupiter, FL 33478 Lake Worth, FL 33461 Juno Beach, FL 33408
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
(561) 748-2028 (561) 963-6736 (561) 627-8280

2700 6th Avenue S., Lake Worth, FL 33461

Parks & Recreation Department
Palm Beach County