Plant Fest 2008!

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
Plant Fest 2008
July 19th and end July 25th



There are two very different and very fun parts:
Freshwater and the Marine equivalent. Cost is 75$ per 3 day event

Hotel cost are very low in Florida(49.99 for Motel 6, there are other motel/hotels nearby as well, but you will not stay there for long, most of the time will be out in the field). The rates are much less if you pair up or better yet, bring a friend. I have found a good place to stay on the Florida Keys for very low cost (22$ per night) but it’s a dorm style (you can opt to stay at a high priced place on Islamorada or any other resort you wish. Food is easy to come by and quite cheap.

These guys are always fun to watch, lots nicer than the similar sized snapping turtles in freshwater!

Getting there:
Orlando Airport
Tampa Airport(better if you plan on the Marine fest as well)
Motel 6 in Gainesville:
Motel 6 - Gainesville - Univ. of Florida - Gainesville, FL Motel
Quality Inn has the same rates


Split with one other person, it comes to about 30$ per night with tax or 60$ total for the 2 nights. Food and such will be relatively cheap, but budget about 20-30$ per day. 15$ for park entry, rentals etc. Snorkel gear at Walmart is cheap and pretty good. It’s pretty much like heading out to most state parks if you know where to go and what to do and bring.
So with airfare, this is not a pricy event. It’s not meant to be either!

Freshwater plant Fest, July 19th- July 21th(Sat-Mon)
Day 1 (Sat 07/19)
• Meet at Motel 6 parking lot near I-75 exit at 8 am
• Load up and head out to Ichetucknee Spring’s State park. Inner tubing down 6 miles of beautiful lush submersed planted springs, loads of fish, snails (some rare and endangered). Bring snorkel gear and water proof camera/video. Leisurely pace. 3 hours estimated time traveling down stream. You will be pretty tired at the end.
• Load up, head back, BBQ lunch/dinunch
• Tom’s Driftwood if we have time in Waldo, FL(He’s closed on Sundays, 8-5pm Mon-Sat).

Tom’s Driftwood

Day 2
• Meet up at Hotel parking lot at 8 am
• Head to Rainbow Springs State Par
• Hike to Bubbling springs restricted area to view invasive Crypts (if they have not eradicated them yet!)
• Canoe through park or head to county park(cheaper rates and more canoes) 16$ per person canoe rates
• Load up, head out to lower Suwannee Wildlife refuge(about 1 hour drive time)
• View many species in blackwater pools, see classic delta swamplands
• Excellent Seafood restaurant in Cedar Key for dinner
• Head back to Gainesville
• Pass out into coma like sleep
Day 3

• Meet up at Hotel parking lot at 8 am
• Load up and head out to IFAS for 1 hour. Meet with Staff, discuss some aquatic weed issues, education library
• Canoe trip down Blackwater Santa Fe River (3 hours)
• Search for Olive Nerites, FW sole, many fish species, including the rare only true pipe fish, Madtom Catfish(these little guys only get 3” long), Water scorpions, Gar, otter, Gator, Swords
• See Hygrophila, Hydrilla, Vals, Moss, Hairgrass, Ludwigia, milfoils, sags
• Pack up, head home or head to the Marine plant fest!
• Hopefully there will be low water at this time of year (you can see more weeds!)

One full day between to travel, go to Disney World, etc

Rainbow springs before canoeing

Marine plant fest(July 23-25th) Wed-Fri:
An entirely different habitats, perspectives, ecosystems, trip.
They are nothing like each other in every respect.





Day 1(Wed 07/23):
• Meet at Long Key Marine Lab 8 am
• Load up and head out on boat to snorkel Key Largo area (must know how to swim 100 yards!) Boats are about 150$ per ½ day, so split amongst several folks, it’s a pretty good deal
• Look for Caulpera paspeloides
• Head to Reef
• Head back through the Largo Cut to snorkel the Mangrove roots(as fun as a reef)
• Come back and identify what we found for the day
• Relax by the beach

The “giant” Caulpera

Day 2
• Sample macro algae from the various islands
• Go to Bahia Honda State park- nice beach and soft sediment species
• Head to Key West for food, entertainment, drinks
• Head back to the lab

Day 3
• Collect any final samples
• Stop off any final locations
• Folks can stay and scuba at various locations, head to Miami, Disney World, Tampa, head back home



Comments, disclaimers, other issues:
Myself and another couple have long come on these trips every year dating back to 2003. They are fun not just for aquatic plant folks, but for those that enjoy active fun things and good times and friends. It’s interesting learning about a new habitat and the underwater world. This goes far beyond the hobby and gets you out of the little glass box, we are the critters in these systems!

Disclaimer:
There is inherent danger involved with boating, water and while no one has ever hurt themselves, there is a risk. So common sense, safety are everyone’s responsibility. I will cancel any event and reroute things if there’s any threats (gators, lighting, folks that cannot swim etc) to the best of my abilities. I do not assume any liability. Spring water is about 72F, which is cold if you are in there for long periods. Marine systems can have waves which beat you up pretty good, you can get tired doing this type of activity. Generally the Marine waters are 76- 79F

Wet suits aid in buoyancy and warmth, and you do not get sunburned and no jellyfish stings! So they might be a wise item to use. Food, entry fees and lodging cost are incurred by the participants. Travel cost are generally shared (2 vans/SUV typically can carry the group). I rent one Van and carry as many folks and equipment as I can. Cameras: try and get water proof cameras, it can and does rain here a lot during this time of year, generally in the afternoon for an hour or two. It’s spotty so it’s hard to plan around this. Good news is that it will cool things off!
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
Pics of past year's events:

cryptsrainbow.jpg


DSC01531.jpg


ich_river_lg.gif


bananaspiderpic.gif
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
resizedreds2.jpg


mangroveforest.gif


CypressForest.gif


P palustris in it's native habitat:
Folks think it's a hard plant grow!
Haha

Mermaidweedresized.jpg
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
Ben thinks he's Super Fish

Rainbowriver1.jpg


plantfest2004rainbowriver.jpg


This could be you after that red ludwigia:

WhatMrGhoriwoudlooklikeinyouraqauri.jpg


And this is me and my 2 brothers:

Redneckhounds.gif
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
This is at the start of the Santa Fe river trip

Bobpauletal.jpg


My tank I had in Florida:

75galatday80.jpg


Hairgrass growing in it's natural state:

hairgrasssantaferiver.jpg


Lower Suwannee

LSWR2.gif
 

creighton

Guru Class Expert
Jun 18, 2007
192
0
16
So other than the $75 dollars for each event, would around $300 do it? If I'm planning on only going to the freshwater event?
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
Well, the cost of flight to Tampa/Orlando etc.
2-3 night stay at the motels, depends if you take another person or pair up to share a room.
Food cost for the time involved(varies based on each person's habits).
Transportation from Tampa, to Gainesville, rentals typically are 30-60$ per day, so I figure 150$ total there.
Canoe rentals run 16$ per person per trip(Santa Fe river and the Rainbow river)
Tube rentals: 5-10$
Park entry: 5$ and 4$
75$ per 3 day event.
Snorkel gear: 20-40$ Walmart

Marine part:
22$ per night, dorm style room, community Kitchen(so we can fix our own food etc and BBQ etc). Boat rental: split at about 150$ per load(up to 8 folks per boat) so 30$ ought to cover boating fees, they take us each place we want.

The Marine part is likely a bit cheaper and as much fun if not more so.

Not much really, just like you rented a car and took off to a park for 2-3 days.
By splitting cost with other folks for rooms and food, things go down a fair amount.

Some want to take driftwood back etc, some drive all the way etc.
Some folks can pair up and drive around with me etc also.
I'll try and make space for anyone that comes and shows up etc.


Regards,
Tom Barr
 

jazzlvr123

Guru Class Expert
Jul 3, 2007
108
0
16
sweet tom looking forward to it. Im definitely down, ill probably bring my girlfriend too. now i just have to book a flight from Boston to Florida.

BTW do you think you'll make it to the next SAPS meeting? id love to pick your plantbrain one last time before i leave :D
 

richardsantink

Lifetime Charter Member
Lifetime Member
Apr 3, 2005
51
0
6
55
just outside of Ottawa, Ontario
Tom Barr;24802 said:
Well, the cost of flight to Tampa/Orlando etc.
2-3 night stay at the motels, depends if you take another person or pair up to share a room....


Marine part:
22$ per night, dorm style room, community Kitchen(so we can fix our own food etc and BBQ etc). Boat rental: split at about 150$ per load(up to 8 folks per boat) so 30$ ought to cover boating fees, they take us each place we want.

The Marine part is likely a bit cheaper and as much fun if not more so.

...


Regards,
Tom Barr

Tom, I'm really interested in attending the Marine portion, but have to convince my wife that it will contribute to my research on macroalgae, and better my carreer standing, which is proving difficult (I work at IBM - she doesn't see the connection! ;).
Are you aware of any/many local 'attractions' or activities that could keep my family busy if I were to attend? I'm not familiar with FL south of Ft. Lauderdale...

Cheers,

Richard
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
Well,the spots are all full at the lab then anyway.

I'm looking for another lab, or if folks do not mind camping on the beach for 2 days:cool:

There's a nice state park there.
And no need for showers, the beach is right there and so are stations to clean up/bathrooms etc.

Might be the only under 100$ a night alternative.

I could swap the marine part to the 15th-17th, but I'd rather do it after the FW and alos the girlfriend cannot come that prior week for the Marine, but can be the Friday for the am FW.

Scheduling is the tough part.
The FW is written in stone though.
Just need to find places for the Marine part.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
Please note, this is certainly something you want to take a friend with you, significant other etc. It's a lot more fun and you can share things that normal they might not be that interested in.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
Let me know if you are serious about the Marine part.
I may let a limited number come for that part.
I have myself and 3 others coming.

I do not have the dorm rooms available at this point but am still looking and should have something cooked up by this week's end.

FW is set up already.

Regards,
tom Barr
 

rusticitas

Lifetime Charter Member
Lifetime Member
May 4, 2006
216
2
16
Pennsylvania
Are both the freshwater and marine portions taking place based out of Gainesville? Or are they in two different cities?

Also, I see a Gainesville Airport. Why not fly into that instead of Tampa or Orlando? I've never been to FL, I'm completely unfamiliar with the areas.

But I am VERY excited about attending the Plantfest, just need more info to decide if I can afford both the freshwater and marine...

-Jason
 

Gar

Junior Poster
May 14, 2008
1
0
1
rusticitas;25129 said:
Are both the freshwater and marine portions taking place based out of Gainesville? Or are they in two different cities?

Also, I see a Gainesville Airport. Why not fly into that instead of Tampa or Orlando? I've never been to FL, I'm completely unfamiliar with the areas.

But I am VERY excited about attending the Plantfest, just need more info to decide if I can afford both the freshwater and marine...

-Jason

I too would like to know what would be the best hub for staying at. I have many friends in Orlando so I was thinking about flying in there and crashing with them, but as I'm not old enough to rent a car (curse them, 20 is old enough!), I may have to find a ride with another member who is coming or else bribe my friends to taxi me around. ;)

On another note, I'm planning on attending! I have my flight already booked and everything. Very excited. Only problem is I don't know the area (except Orlando, and even then), at all. So some more detailed information on exactly where we're going to be would be much appreciated, if possible.

Anywho!

Thanks,

-Mike
 

rusticitas

Lifetime Charter Member
Lifetime Member
May 4, 2006
216
2
16
Pennsylvania
Mike,

Where are you coming from? I am in eastern PA and would be flying out of Newark most likely. I've not booked at all just yet, trying to figure out all these details and make sure I don't get stranded! :)

-Jason

Gar;25281 said:
I too would like to know what would be the best hub for staying at. I have many friends in Orlando so I was thinking about flying in there and crashing with them, but as I'm not old enough to rent a car (curse them, 20 is old enough!), I may have to find a ride with another member who is coming or else bribe my friends to taxi me around. ;)

On another note, I'm planning on attending! I have my flight already booked and everything. Very excited. Only problem is I don't know the area (except Orlando, and even then), at all. So some more detailed information on exactly where we're going to be would be much appreciated, if possible.

Anywho!

Thanks,

-Mike