UF/IFAS Nassau Extension Director Rebecca Jordi has written a children’s book – Zoe’s Mission – and plans to donate its proceeds to the UF/IFAS horticulture program, specifically in support of 4-H programming such as the Zebra Project.

The project is a Nassau Extension program designed to get children – and adults – interested in observing caterpillars and chrysalises and then charting them. The desire is to increase the number of Zebra Longwing butterflies, the Florida State Butterfly, in our area.

Four other local butterflies and their life cycles are also introduced in the book. This is a required CORE standard for students, in addition to knowing the life cycle. Master Gardener volunteers have planted passion vines in two locations – one at America’s Youth in Fernandina Beach and another at the Boys & Girls Club on Nassauville Road. Passion vines are a natural draw for the zebra longwing butterfly.

Zoe’s Mission will be available at every Landscape Matters class and the two Master Gardener plant sales held each year. It will also be for sale at the Fernandina Beach Library Spring Fling Saturday, March 28.

Cost: $26.75 per book- this includes the tax. Cash or checks only. Checks made out to University of Florida.

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