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Liberty Gibson graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Horticulture. She completed germination studies of Viola cultivars at the Ohio Plant Germplasm Center and gained plant propagation experience at the Dawes Arboretum. Liberty fell in love with Florida flora (and fauna) when she moved to Naples to complete an internship with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Although she recently returned to her woodland origins of Ohio, Liberty continues to support and protect Florida's native plants. Liberty joined the Naples Chapter in 2019 and previously served as Vice President.

Andee Naccarato grew up in Naples and earned a Master's Degree in Environmental Science from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2011. She became further immersed in the world of native plants by working at Naples Botanical Garden, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, and the Naples Preserve. Andee wrote over 100 native plant articles for the Fort Myers News-Press from 2013-2017. In recent years, Andee has submitted articles promoting native plants to Coastal Breeze News and Naples Lifestyle Magazine. Andee joined FNPS in 2013 and served as President, Programs Chair, and Newsletter Editor for the Naples Chapter in 2021. If Andee could be a Florida native plant, she would be Bartram’s rosegentian (Sabatia decandra) because its bold, bright colors seem to radiate optimism even though it may be flooded in the rainy season.

Beth Courtright moved to Collier County in 1986. She has degrees in Psychology, Nursing, and a Master’s in Health Service Administration (MHSA). Presently, she volunteers with many different environmental organizations (Big Cypress National Preserve, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, CREW, PaddleFlorida, & Collier County). She has been on several Boards and currently serves on the Florida Society for Ethical Tourism (FLSEE) as Treasurer and on the UF/IFAS Advisory Committee. She has earned her Florida Master Naturalist Certificate and continues to take ancillary program courses. The environment and specifically native plants are her passion. Beth’s most memorable and ongoing experience with Florida native plants is when she decided to eliminate her traditional lawn and landscaping. Since her property is adjacent to a walking path, Beth enjoys educating passersby about the importance of native plants and their role in supporting biodiversity.

David Korte is new to the state of Florida, having arrived in 2019. The previous eight years were lived in tropical African rainforests, where he gained an appreciation for native plants and respect for the native wildlife. Here in Florida, David splits his time between restoring their 2 acres of upland pine forest and volunteering for Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to photographically document habitats and wildlife, assist with fire management and guided back-country tours. A photographer throughout life, David is fascinated with the natural world, and sees value in safeguarding native habitats for the benefit of all species. If David could be a Florida native plant, he would be firebush (Hamelia patens) because it is important to a variety of insects and hummingbirds.

Connie Nagele describes herself as a very curious person with many passions. Connie strives to create thoughtful, sustainable outdoor spaces that support a rich and diverse environment for people, plants, pollinators, and other insects. Butterflies are her special joy! Connie has created a Volunteer Garden Program for the Collier County Parks Department. Her teams of Volunteers maintain three Pollinator Gardens and one Nature Trail. The program recently adopted Bi-Annual Butterfly Counts to learn about and promote the butterfly diversity within the Parks and to contribute data to the scientific community. Professionally, Connie is a small business consultant specializing in back-office organization and building teams. She also enjoys hiking, kayaking, and fishing in Florida's natural areas. If Connie could be a Florida native plant, she would be snow squarestem (Melanthera nivea) because the surprising blossoms are so popular with butterflies.

Heather Gienapp has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Environmental Science from Muskingum University. She moved to Southwest Florida after college and fell in love with Florida native plants at the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, where she worked for 18 years. She is an environmental educator, amateur ethnobotanist, and loves scuba diving for shark's teeth. She is currently interested in the medicinal properties of plants. If Heather could be a Florida native plant, she would be a "grandmother" cypress tree (Taxodium distichum) because it provides a safe haven for so many other plants and animals.

Bebe Kanter earned a Master of City Planning degree from Harvard School of Design. Bebe has lived mostly in the Midwest, but Florida is now her home. Because of the wonderful weather, she feels closer to nature than she did up North. She became viscerally aware of how endangered nature is and became interested in native plants. Bebe joined the Naples Chapter because she hopes to spread that message. Her commitment to restoring habitat is strongly influenced by her belief that climate change is real and that citizens can change the trajectory. One of Bebe's most memorable experiences with Florida native plants was the first time she observed atala butterflies around their native host plant, coontie (Zamia integrifolia).

Now retired, Michael Troop designs websites for a hobby. He knows nothing about plants and animals and depends on his wife, who is a master gardner to explain the birds and the bees (and plants) to him. In his prior life, he served in the military for 20 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He holds a master of science degree in nurse anesthesia from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan and has practiced anesthesia for over 40 years. He loved the business...he thought it was a "gas".

Alicia Schwartz moved to Naples, FL in 2017, after living in New York and Puerto Rico. She is a recently retired nurse. As an active member of the Community Emergency Response Team, Alicia volunteered for disaster relief in New York City (after 9/11 and Superstorm Sandy) and in Puerto Rico (after Hurricane Maria). Alicia always had a love for growing plants, even when all the space she had was a New York City terrace. Alicia is a recent graduate of the Florida Master Gardener program and has a special fondness for orchids.

• May 2022
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• March 2022