The Old Florida Heritage Highway organization learned about the Florida Wildflower Foundation grant opportunity through FDOT’s Florida Scenic Highways Program and Janice Charles, District Two Scenic Highway Coordinator.
With a mission focused on resource preservation and community engagement, the Old Florida Heritage Highway organization partnered with both public and private groups to seek funding for a pollinator garden near downtown Micanopy.
Painting by Claudia Larsen
Their project partners include:
- Preserve Micanopy
- Town of Micanopy
- UF/IFAS Extension Alachua Master Gardeners
- Micanopy Academy
- Micanopy Area Cooperative School
Through collaboration, the team developed a grant application and were awarded a 2023 Viva Florida Landscape Demonstration Garden Grant to create a Pollinator Victory Garden.
The public improvement project transformed an open turf field into a garden with native planting. It provides food and habitat for pollinators, including several species of bats that inhabit the area. The project will eventually incorporate student educational outreach programs through the Micanopy Academy and Micanopy Area Cooperative School.
A wonderful public resource has been planted near downtown Micanopy!
Volunteers of all ages got involved in planting the native garden near downtown Micanopy
Old Florida Heritage Highway Contributed 120 Volunteer Hours
The volunteer efforts included:
- Developing the grant
- Strategizing the project plan
- Coordinating acquisition of planting materials
- Organizing donations
- Planting and maintaining the garden through the end of 2023
This is a great kind of project to bring a byway organization closer to their community while helping to reach their own goals of preserving and promoting the resources on their byway!
Learn more by joining the Micanopy Pollinator Victory Garden Facebook Group, or contact Aaron Weber, Chair of Old Florida Heritage Highway, at pr***************@ic****.com.
Interested in applying for a Viva Florida Grant?
The 2024 cycle is now open, and this type of project can be well within the technical reach of most of our active byway organizations!
Florida Wildflower Foundation has organized a suggestions webpage for those interested in applying. All applicants must complete a pre-application process by March 8, 2024 to determine if the project is eligible for funding. If the project is eligible, applications will be accepted until March 15, 2024.
The Florida Wildflower Foundation raises money to support
grassroots projects with sales of license plates.
The Florida Wildflower Foundation protects, connects, and expands native wildflower habitats through education, research, planting, and conservation. Through the sale of their Florida specialty license plate, they offer grant opportunities to local communities as part of their Viva Florida Landscape Demonstration Garden Grant Program.
