This synopsis was compiled by Joan Bausch, Greg Braun and Anne Cox and was condensed for our website by David Nickerson

In a meeting at the Environmental Studies Center in Jensen Beach, the Martin County Chapter was founded on April 5, 1983 by Eve and Tom Conlon, Ella “Mike” Clark and Maggy Hurchalla.  The Cocoplum Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) was one of five Florida chapters in existence at the time.  The founding Board of Directors included:

President: Fredric B. Stresau

VP: Marsha Hupfel

Secretary-Treasurer: Nanci Angle

One-Year Term: Wayne Blythe, Eve Conlon, Mabel Witham, Dr. Joe Bridges, Ella “Mike” Clark

Two-Year Terms: John Longhill, Maggy Hurchalla, Mike Landrum, Richard Hayes, Tom Conlon

The founding purpose of the organization, as stated in the original Martin County FNPS By Laws ARTICLE II. PURPOSES was:

• To protect and restore native plant communities.

• To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and knowledge regarding native flora of the region, including their propagation and their use in landscape design.

• To provide and make recommendations to governmental officials regarding issues that concern native plants and/or their habitat.

• To encourage the use of native plants in new and replacement landscape design, both public and private.

• To work toward the development of a community garden and nursery for the education of the public in the use and preservation of native plants.

One of the earliest major chapter projects was construction of a Slat House on the Environmental Studies Center grounds.  The Slat House served from 1984 until 2005 to help educate the public and to propagate native plants for donation to landscape projects in the community.  Unfortunately, the Slat House became the “Flat House” in 2005 when Hurricane Wilma levelled it.

A chapter logo was designed in 1984 by Nelia M. Coyle and was used in the initial newsletter, Leaflet, and on chapter stationary.   

With the purpose to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and knowledge regarding native flora of the region, including their propagation and their use in landscape design, chapter meetings began to be held monthly at the Environmental Studies Center.  Meetings were held on the third Tuesday of months October through May at 7:30 PM.  Mini botany lessons were provided at the start of the meetings.

Chapter activities of the period 1984 – 1989 included:

• by-laws 1983, (amended fiscal year 1987)

• county landscape ordinance, 1984

• slat house plan & build, 1984

• field trips

• community education,

  (County Fair, Woods & Bushes Course by Maggy)

• saving native plants (YMCA)

• planting natives (Water Works, MCHS)

• books on native plants available

• outreach lectures & talks, Maggy gave a weekly series of talks, Woods and Bushes,

• plant sales @ ESC, Thursdays and Saturdays plus special sales

• lobbied for county & state lands purchases, Bessemer, Sea Branch, Pal-Mar, Atlantic Ridge, “Lands For You,” CARL lists

Membership gradually increased during the 1980s and, after hovering in the high 90 member range for several years in the late 1990s, membership broke into the 100s in 1999.  Membership declined slightly when Okeechobee County and St. Lucie County members left our chapter to form Lakela’s Mint chapter in 2002.

The first cocoplum chapter newsletter, Leaflet, issued March 12, 1985 but on October 14, 1986, President Mabel Witham renamed the newsletter Leaf-let.  The name was changed again in 2006 to The Leaflet.  Leaflet – The Leaflet editors from 1985 – 2010 included: Nanci Angle, Bob & Sue Krauss, Sally O’Connell, Fred Kopke, Grace Householder, Joan Bausch, Serena Edic, and Marjorie Shropshire.

Chapter activities and special member recognition over the 27 year period included:

• Chapter December holiday party/get together has been a tradition every year since 1984

• Chapter joins Martin County Conservation Alliance 1986

• Chapter becomes a member of the Martin County Land Acquisition Selection Committee 1990

• Natives planted at the Middle School Pond 1990-91

• Partnered with Audubon of Martin County at its Possum Long Nature Center and Bird Island     

• Stresau Memorial Garden 199?

• Botanist and member Dr. Roy Woodbury received the FNPS 1995 Green Palmetto Award

• Founder and Longtime member Maggy Hurchalla is honored with the FNPS 2004 Mentor Award

• Four members inducted into the Environmental Studies Center Environmental Hall of Fame: Eve Conlon (1991), Tom Conlon (1994), Roy Woodbury (2006) and Ells Clark (2009)

Chapter Landscape Awards included:

Single Family:

• Dennis “Corky Hudson, Sewall’s Point

• Daniel McLister, Palm City

• Carl Duxbury, Hobe Sound

• Cristina de la Vega, Jensen Beach

• Kim Drake, Stuart

• Tom Tomlinson, Palm City

• Peter and Victoria Merritt

• M/M David Webb

• MM Marshall Wilcox & M/M Jeffery Baysinger

• Kevin & Hillary Brandt

Multi-family:

• Loblolly Bay, Hobe Sound

• Pine Ridge of Martin Downs

• Holly Creek

• The Preserve of Hobe Sound

• River’s End

• Danforth

• Meadows of Martin Downs

• Summerfield, Port Salerno

• Locks Landing

Non-Residential: 

• Palm City Park

• St. Luke’s Episcopal

• Hobe Sound Post Office

• Martin County Administration Building

• Peck’s Lake Park

• Pendarvis Cove Park