Rooted In Conservation: Lakela's Mint

Here is a chance to help save a plant that grows nowhere else on Earth. McKee Botanical Garden is taking its conservation work off-site for a hands-on morning focused on Lakela's Mint. This critically endangered plant is found only within a three-mile stretch from south Indian River County to north St. Lucie County.

You will work alongside plant biologists and conservation teams from Indian River County and Bok Tower Gardens who are dedicated to protecting this very rare species. Volunteers help with habitat restoration and invasive plant removal. Along the way, you learn about the challenges of protecting one of Florida's rarest native plants and the work being done to help it survive.

If you love the outdoors, care about native Florida, or have wanted to do more than admire plants from a garden path, this is a good fit. As McKee puts it, it is a chance to step beyond the Garden and take part in real conservation work right here in our community.

The program runs Friday, November 13, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Hallstrom Farmstead Conservation Area. It happens on the second Friday of every month through April (December 11, January 8, February 12, March 12 and April 9), so if this date does not work, there are more chances ahead. Tickets are available through the Buy Tickets link on McKee Botanical Garden's event page. For questions, call the Garden at 772-794-0601.

Details and any updates: the organizer's page.