Our Meeting Site is Edson Keith Mansion, Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota, FL

Phillippi Estate Park is located on the west side of U.S. 41 (S. Tamiami Trail), north of Stickney Point Road and south of Bee Ridge Road (see map on About Us page).

We meet at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at the Edson Keith Mansion in Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota.  There are 30 minutes allotted to tasting, socializing and perusing the library and club sales items; at 7:30 our meeting begins with about 15 minutes of business and announcements; and we then  introduce the speaker of the month.

 

2008 Speaker Schedule:

January 9 - Dr. Stephen Futch from the University of Florida's Citrus Research & Education Center in Lake Alfred will be speaking on "Citrus growing in Florida in an era of canker and greening"!

February 13 - Eve Prang Plews will speak on "The Medicinal Value of Florida Fruits"

March12 - Gene McAvoy, Hendry County Extension Director, on "Keys to Successful Vegetable Gardening in Florida"

April 9 - Wayne Clifton - "Hands On Grafting Tutorial." Learn to graft. Bring small sharp knife, 2 ea. 6 to 8 inch long pieces of hibiscus, mango, avocado or croton about 3/8 “ thick (woody, not green) and a bag to put scraps in.

May 14 - Don Rainey, University of Florida - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, Commercial Horticulture Agent, Sarasota County. He will be talking about the new Sarasota County Fertilizer Regulations.

June 11 - Robert A. Kluson, PhD, Agricultural and Natural Resources. Extension Agent, UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension, will speak on "Agroforestry with Fruit Trees and Annual Crops". This is part of his new small farm training program he is installing at the Crowley Museum and Nature Center.

July 9 - Charlie Crowley - Planting an edible home landscape.

August 13 - Johnny "Papaya" Burns - Nutritional value of fruit and nuts

September 10 - Wayne Clifton - "Vegetable Gardening in Florida is DIFFERENT"

October 8 - Tim Watkins - "ECHOS's recent experience introducing superior fruit tree varieties for developing countries"

November 12 - A four-member panel of our very talented grower/members each doing a 15-minute presentation and discussion titled "Local Talent Delivers a Fruiting Bonanza." Ted Curry will be the moderator.