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RARE PLANT RESCUE PROJECT: REWILDING SWEETWATER, Dec 29-30, 2026Hello native plant enthusiasts!
We need your help to rescue rare native plants!
How to help?
1. Sign up to volunteer
2. Share the event
3. Invite others
4. Bring supplies (with your names on them) including buckets, plastic tubs/bins, and assorted shovels
Here are the details:
Our first rescue to the County’s Sweetwater preserve appears to have been a resounding success! As many as 30 people came between the two days to help and I estimate we moved about 300 plants. Those involved 12 different species that were not present in the restoration parts of the preserve that we brought them to. I estimate that eight of those species have suffered population declines greater than 99% across their historic range since pre-development conditions, and four have declined by more than 95%. We still have more plants to rescue at the rescue site, and more beautiful planted-wiregrass plains at Sweetwater that could benefit from increased species diversity. We hope you can help us to do it again! Since we moved so many plants last time, I’m planning to add some more species to the effort. Additionally, in the week+ leading up to the Sweetwater rescue, I could use a helper or two to move smaller numbers of plants to other restoration efforts.
Background:
A vacant lot with a surprising amount of rare native diversity is going to get developed soon. Our mission is to rescue as much as we can from that lot and bring the plants to nearby restoration projects that wouldn’t otherwise have them. The hope is that these rescues will be able to form sustainable populations and continue to fulfil their roles in their ecosystems for many years to come.
Alachua County’s Sweetwater Restoration Area, 1 mile from the lot, is an ideal spot to move these native plants. They have a well-managed restoration project. It’s doing very well, but only has a few of the species that are supposed to live there. This project's goal is to collect and relocate 5-600 rare plants to Alachua County's Sweetwater Restoration Area.
Project volunteer dates: Jan 29-30
Thursday January 29th, 11am-?: begin to dig up plants and bring them to Bouleware/Sweetwater to start planting. Meet at Lincoln Park on SE 15th St. Gainesville. https://maps.app.goo.gl/FKu6Hyojrmk28Q2p6
Friday January 30, 11am-?:
We will meet at the Boulware Springs Park trailhead parking lot and walk in from there. MAP LINK:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BJUuotRpvibbVESe8?g_st=ac
County staff will assist volunteers by filling water barrels and ferrying plants in. We need a lot of volunteers to plant plants, as this is likely to be the last time we do this.
Alachua County asks that volunteers sign liability waivers on their volunteer portal here: https://volunteer.alachuacounty.us/need/detail/?need_id=1172359
Please let us know how and when you can participate!
Please invite your friends!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Lincoln Park, Gainesville, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
