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NEW CLASS!!!!!!!
THE RENAISSANCE ON 9TH
1816 9TH ST. W. IN BRADENTON
will offer THE MEMOIR (4 sessions)
Bring several pages of your work.
Cost is $20
Wednesdays 10:00 - 11:30 a.
Begins February 8th, 2012.
Contact Wendy Houston at whouston@renaissanceon9th.org
or 941.749.0100 for further details.
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SPRING CLASSES 2012 AT SCF-BRADENTON CAMPUS
5840 26th St. W.; Bradenton, FL 34207
Ages 13+ are welcome!
Cost is $45
To register, call 941.752.5203 or 941.752.5669
or
Register online at http://www.scf.edu
WRITERS WORKSHOP (4 SESSIONS)
THURSDAYS FROM 1:00 - 2:30
MAY 3, 10, 17, 24
DO YOU WANT TO PERFECT YOUR CRAFT?
BRING SEVERAL PAGES OF YOUR WORK TO CLASS.
YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR WORK
& TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK.
WRITE A CHILDREN'S CHAPTER BOOK (4 SESSIONS)
THURSDAYS FROM 1:00 - 2:30
JUNE 7, 14, 21, 28
DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL A CHILD?
BRING SEVERAL PAGES OF YOUR WORK.
YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT
& RECEIVE FEEDBACK.
Diane E. Robertson - Creative Writer Instructor
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Current Classes
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BEACH FAUNA
Written by Diane E. Robertson
Published in Venice Gulf Coast Living Magazine - 2008
The next time you take your early morning walk
along one of our local beaches, look closely
& notice the many creations that call that area home.
Three of the beach fauna you’re likely to come across are
the sea grape, fan fern & the blooming cactus.
Sea grapes are native to many of Florida’s beaches.
They are salt-tolerant plants that grow either as low bushes
or tall hedges, & extend across the sand. The sea grape produces
wide, rounded leaves & small clusters of grape-like fruit.
Local birds & animals eat the fruit,
while songbirds, beach mice, lizards & gopher tortoises
settle under the large leaves for shade.
Sea grapes aid in retaining sand dunes & defending
against storm-related erosion.
This plant is significant enough to be protected under the Florida Statute.
It is also of prime importance to one our beloved local treasures -
the marine turtle.
Although this animal lives most of its life at sea,
it ventures ashore to nest. When the marine turtle hatchlings are ready
to march into the ocean, they depend on natural lighting to guide them.
Because of the many street & residential lights,
some become confused and end up in heavily trafficked areas.
However, on beaches where sea grape grows,
it acts as a natural vegetative barrier by blocking out artificial lighting,
thus enabling the baby turtles to safely find their way.
Henry David Thoreau once said,
“God created ferns to show what He could do with leaves.”
Ferns have been around since the Mesozoic Era –
more than 360 million years.
They thrived on our earth for 200 million years
before flowering plants & land animals, including dinosaurs, evolved.
The fern family is one of the most diverse of living land plants,
estimating 20,000 species. The size of the fronds, or leaves, varies.
Most plants sprout from seeds, but the fern regenerates
from spores & does not yield flowers.
They love the tropical climate of our Gulf Coast.
Many people believe that cacti flower only once every seven years.
The truth is that they are prolific bloomers.
Given the right environment, they flower abundantly every 12 months.
Experts believe that the cacti family evolved 30 to 40 million years ago
after the continents separated and drifted apart.
These succulents live almost exclusively
in North & South America, as well as the West Indies.
They flourish in harsh environments because they store water
in their fleshy leaves, stems or roots.
Some of the members of this distinct genus produce beautiful flowers
that bloom only at night. That is because they are pollinated by nocturnal bats,
moths & insects which are drawn by their delicate fragrances.
In hot climates cacti are gathered into garden settings to beautify yards,
while in colder climates they are cultivated as houseplants
& used to decorate the indoor surroundings.
This summer, turn your beach walk into an extraordinary stroll
by noticing & appreciating the splendor along the way.
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