Life Explorer Speaker Series

Watch Kathy’s presentation

Watch Jack’s presentation

Jack Rogers, a prize-winning, widely-published nature photographer, has been capturing birds and wildlife in their natural habitats through the lens of a camera for decades. He leads workshops and presents a variety of seminars here in Florida each year and teaches nature photography at Valencia College. He is also a lifetime supporter of Florida’s conservation organizations and his images may be seen on their websites, pamphlets and signposts across the state.

Rogers showcased his magnificent photos and details of how he started his career in photography and the ways he has been able to use his talent to promote conservation efforts.  He shows photos taken from habitats around the area and highlights some of the best spots to capture bird photos, including some special shots from Mead Botanical Garden. He offers some basic hands-on tips for capturing nature in the wild that we may all be able to put to use…even with our cell phones!

Watch Dr. Poole’s presentation

Dr. Leslie Poole, associate professor of environmental studies at Rollins College, presents the history of Florida’s environmental movement, and the critical role women played in creating an agenda for environmental protections and sustainable development — women environmental pioneers who, even before they had the right to vote, worked to gain protections for our state’s natural resources. They raised grassroots action and consciousness that still impacts Florida today. Hear about the lives of environmentalists like Doris Leeper, Clara Dommerich, and the towering legacy of the three “Marjories”: author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, scientist/activist Marjorie Harris Carr, and journalist/activist Marjory Stoneman Douglas. These leaders sparked an environmental movement to preserve our beautiful beaches, natural springs and subtropical wilderness from the onslaught of pollution, over-development, and dangerous pesticide abuse.  Dr. Poole is an award-winning writer and historian, specializing in environmental issues and the significance women played in saving Florida’s natural resources.

Watch Dr. Canan’s presentation

What decisions on Global Warming and Climate Change will we have to make this decade? And, for the rest of our lives? What are potential impacts of options relevant to our future, our children, our communities, our region? What does it mean that we are in a methane emergency? Are electric cars a valuable answer to global climate change? 

The first session of the 2023 series will be led by UCF Professor Emerita Dr. Penelope Canan, an internationally recognized environmental social scientist. In addition to her lengthy teaching career at the University of Denver and the University of Hawaii, for two years she led Japan’s Institute for the Environment as Executive Director of the Global Carbon Project, (GCP). 

Submitted by Catharine Coward, Nov. 2022

Watch Catherine’s presentation

Extraordinary native plant expert and environmental consultant Catherine Bowman will share her vast knowledge of the native Florida plants that have been discovered at Mead Botanical Garden and used as a guide for species that can be re-introduced and cultivated in special communities for Mead Botanical Garden.

Topic: Explore Mead Botanical Garden’s Native Plants —Learn More About These Florida Treasures. Recognize these amazing ecosystem dynamics and how to add some beauty to your natural environment.

Submitted by Catharine Coward, Nov. 2022

Watch Tim’s presentation

The second program of Mead Botanical Garden’s Life Explorer’s speaker’s series drew a large audience to hear water management expert Tim Egan describe the flora and fauna of Howell Branch Creek, the primary water source running through Mead Garden.  Egan shared maps and beautiful wildlife photos to describe how water connects nature and man in a continuous ecological cycle of life.  His program illustrated how Mead Botanical Garden’s wetlands are filled with a wealth of wildlife riches for a greenspace set in a primarily residential and urban area.

Mead Botanical Garden is a highly populated birding location because of the creek and wetlands that give sanctuary, nesting, and feeding areas for migratory birds every year. Birds of prey such as red-shouldered hawks, owls, and the swallow tail kite make their homes in the garden. Water birds like wood storks, kingfishers, egrets and limpkins are residents at times throughout the year.  In addition to providing habitat for a variety of birds, Egan shared that the area is a haven for bees, dragonflies, mollusks, reptiles, gopher tortoises, and freshwater turtles.

Mammals such as river otters, gray squirrels, and raccoons make their homes in the garden setting as well.  All of the plant and wildlife species thrive in the area because of the water source that bonds them together.

Following the program, the question and answer session focused on more current water management issues affecting our community after the two recent hurricanes and the flooding that occurred in many areas throughout Central Florida.  Several attendees asked questions about current flooded areas, particularly around Lake Killarney where flooding continues.  Control issues such as dredging, stormwater drain improvements, weir adjustments, and other water management programs were discussed as ways of better keeping local lakes clean and at their healthiest water levels.  

Submitted by Catharine Coward, Nov. 2022

Watch Rick’s presentation

The initial program of a new speaker’s series got underway November 17th with community leader and noted local historian Rick Baldwin leading the talk on Winter Park’s early years. Sarah Sprinkel and Emily Smith welcomed more than 45 participants to the first in a series of upcoming presentations. With humor, lively anecdotes and interesting historical maps, photos and city plans, Baldwin took the audience on a journey into the city’s past, and helped turn back time to highlight important milestones of Winter Park’s founding.

The factors that make Winter Park desirable today were the very same traits that drew people to the city in the 1800s — good weather, a dependable (rail) transportation system, freshwater lakes, and a workforce available to meet the needs of the new arrivals.  As the industrial age boomed in northern cities like Chicago and New York, some of the same problems we are facing today impacted on those living there.  Lung disease from air pollution and thick smog from industrial waste forced citizens with means to seek alternative places to live to improve their health and well-being.  Winter Park’s clear air and lakeside land, set in a warm and comforting climate, drew visitors here as a respite from the cold, illness-plaqued north. Once here, early city developers sold them on settling more permanently.  Over the years the city planners added more and more amenities to entice people to relocate — offering rail service, new hotels, churches, a college, and healthy outdoor activities.

     The presentation was filled with names of early developers that are familiar to us today because of the names of our city streets and parks—Mizell, Comstock, Chapman, Chase, Morse, Lyman—to name a few.  Baldwin reviewed the city’s early start and highlighted the founding of Rollins College, and the tremendous cultural addition Hugh McKean and Jeanette Genius McKean brought with the development of the Morse Museum and its world renowned Tiffany collection.

     Baldwin gave focus to the significance of Hannibal Square, the black community originally established on the west side of town, during the years of Reconstruction and then the era of Jim Crow.  The divisions between black and white townspeople were still very prevalent in the “separate but (not so) equal” situation.  The Black community’s separate businesses thrived and the Black citizens were a readily available work force for homes and businesses in the growing city within a convenient walking distance.

     A well-respected Black leader and publisher of the only area newspaper, Gus Henderson, was responsible for gathering enough members of the west side community together to sign a petition to incorporate Winter Park as a city in 1885.  In the city’s first election, two Black alderman were elected, but after Jim Crow laws, the Square was written out of the city until after 1920.

     Another less known fact Baldwin shared was that 2 freak hard freezes occurred in 1895 and 1896 that wiped out orange groves and other businesses, and virtually shut down the city for many years.  Winter Park had to re-group and was fortunate to have leaders with money and experience in city planning to rebuild and improve the city as it grew to be the gem we have today.

     The last portion of the program was devoted to a “Relate” exercise led by moderator  Aida Diaz.  She guided participants in discussion and sharing exercises designed to help them get to know each other and enhance a sense of community among those attending.

Submitted by Catharine Coward, Nov. 2022