Tarpon walks, butterflies, nature lectures and more at Conservancy open house Saturday

Lemon Bay Conservancy invites everyone to a free open house at Wildflower Preserve (off Placida Road) on Saturday, March 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Wildflower is an 80-acre former golf course that is being restored as a wildlife preserve.

At 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., guided “tarpon” walks will be offered to observe work underway on the juvenile tarpon research project in Lemon Creek. The project is a joint initiative with Mote Marine and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust to study juvenile tarpon populations in the creek and their success in moving to more open waters.

Hourly, on the half-hour, from 8:30 a.m. thru 1:30 p.m., Lemon Bay Conservancy directors will offer 15-minute presentations about the history of the preserve, initiatives currently underway, and plans for the future. Hourly, on the hour, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., trail guides will lead a series of guided nature walks to introduce you to the new trail network and the varied habitats within the preserve. Visitors should wear shoes and clothing appropriate for a nature hike. Hats and water are also suggested.

At 10:45 a.m., Jane Wallace will lead a special “Butterfly Explorers” walk in search of the many beautiful butterflies found on the property.

For visitors who may have difficulty walking the trails, Thoroughbred Golf Carts will be providing two golf carts for the day for special cart tours of the preserve. Space is limited. To sign up for a tour time, visit the LBC information table when you arrive.

For questions or additional information, call (941) 830-8922. Also, go to lemonbayconservancy.org for more information.