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• Nature Journaling Fairchild Oak

  • When
    03/13/2026
  •  
    2:00 PM
  • Location
    Bulow Creek State Park

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• Monthly Membership Meeting

  • When
    03/18/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Tomoka State Park Recreation Hall

  

  Tomoka Basin photoS 

  Exploring Nature and Artistry 

  
  

  
  

  Grand Prize Winner | Echoes of Bulow Plantation Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park | Historic Encounters

           Valleri Ames

  Guest Speaker 

  Wednesday, March 18 2026

  6 PM | 7 PM, Wed

  REC Hall, Tomoka State Park

  Please join us and invite your friends as we welcome award winner Valleri Ames. We will discuss photography, artistic interpretations, and the composition of the natural historical legacy of the Tomoka Basin Parks. We will be sharing details for heralding in our first Photo Contest sponsored by the Friends of Tomoka Basin State Parks. We look forward to hearing antidotes and expanding on what beauty can mean for many in the audience that would like to participate.

  More about Valleri

  Valleri Ames is a Florida-based, award-winning fine art photographer whose work focuses on landscape, light, and a strong sense of place. Inspired by a deep appreciation for nature and travel, her photography captures quiet moments and natural beauty across Florida and beyond. Her work emphasizes atmosphere, light, and emotional connection, inviting viewers to slow down and experience the environment in a more thoughtful way. Through her images, Ames seeks to create a sense of calm, reflection, and connection to the natural world. Her photography has been featured in juried exhibitions and gallery showcases throughout Florida and has received multiple awards and editorial recognition.

  Exhibitions
  

  • Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs – Solo Exhibition, Florida Reflections, March 2026

  • The Healthy West Orange Arts & Heritage Center, The Sky Remembers, Nov 2025 – Jan 2026

  • Gallery at Canon Coffee – Solo Exhibition, May – July 2025

  • 100% Pure Florida Exhibition, March 1 – April 3, 2025

  • South Lake Art League Spring Show, March – April 1, 2025

  • Jax Photography Hub Gallery Showcase – Jacksonville, FL, May 2025

  • Season of Trees Exhibition, Nov 8, 2024 – Jan 11, 2025

  • She Who Tells A Story Exhibition, Sept 22 – Nov 9, 2024

  Awards

  • Grand Prize Winner – Capture the Real Florida, Nov 2025

  • Photographer of the Year – Universe of Colour Magazine, 2025

  • Photographer of the Year – NOIR Club of B&W; Photography, 2025

  • 1st Place Photographer – Orlando Camera Club, Feb & Mar 2025

  • 2nd Place Photographer – Orlando Camera Club, Dec 2024

  • Top 5 Photographers – Florida Women Photographers, Oct 2024 Editorial Publications

  • Florida Country & Coast Magazine – Picture Perfect Winner, Feb–Mar 2025

  • Universe of Colour Magazine – Spring (Mar), Summer (July), Master of Excellence (Feb 2026)

  • NOIR Club Magazine – Spring (Mar) & Summer (July) 2025 Editions

  • Artist Closeup Magazine – Aug 2025

  • Orlando Voyager Magazine – Sept 2025

  • Divide Magazine – Oct 2025

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• Bulowville Night Tour

  • When
    03/27/2026
  •  
    7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park 3501 Old Kings Road, Flagler Beach

  

  Register HERE!

  Only 20 Tickets will be sold!

  Join us at Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park for an after-hours tour of the Bulow sugar mill ruins to uncover the intriguing history of the 203-year-old site. Led by a park ranger, you will be guided through the ruins, specially illuminated for the occasions, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the fateful night in 1836 when the Seminole Tribe set fire to the mill. As you walk through the shadows of history, you will hear stories of Bulow’s fortune, the mysteries surrounding the plantation, and the fates of those who shaped its legacy – all against the backdrop of the ancient ruins.

  Time: Gates open 20 to 30 minutes early; Program begins at 6:15pm.

  Meet at: Bulow Plantation Ruins Pavilion

  What to Bring: Protective clothing (long sleeved shirt, long pains and socks suggested) and sturdy, close-toed shoes (uneven terrain expected), insect repellent, water, flashlight.

  Cost: Tickets are required for this event and space is limited; $25.00 per person. All proceeds go to the Friends of Tomoka Basin State Parks to help support future programming and events.

  Information: Mark Adams, 386-517-2084 or email Mark.D.Adams@FloridaDEP.gov

  
  

  
  

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• Monthly Membership Meeting

  • When
    04/15/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Tomoka State Park Recreation Hall

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• Bulowville Night Tour

  • When
    04/18/2026
  •  
    7:45 PM - 8:45 PM
  • Location
    Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park 3501 Old Kings Road, Flagler Beach

  

  Register HERE!

  Only 20 Tickets will be sold!

  Join us at Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park for an after-hours tour of the Bulow sugar mill ruins to uncover the intriguing history of the 203-year-old site. Led by a park ranger, you will be guided through the ruins, specially illuminated for the occasions, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the fateful night in 1836 when the Seminole Tribe set fire to the mill. As you walk through the shadows of history, you will hear stories of Bulow’s fortune, the mysteries surrounding the plantation, and the fates of those who shaped its legacy – all against the backdrop of the ancient ruins.

  Time: Gates open 20 to 30 minutes early; Program begins at 6:15pm.

  Meet at: Bulow Plantation Ruins Pavilion

  What to Bring: Protective clothing (long sleeved shirt, long pains and socks suggested) and sturdy, close-toed shoes (uneven terrain expected), insect repellent, water, flashlight.

  Cost: Tickets are required for this event and space is limited; $25.00 per person. All proceeds go to the Friends of Tomoka Basin State Parks to help support future programming and events.

  Information: Mark Adams, 386-517-2084 or email Mark.D.Adams@FloridaDEP.gov

  
  

  
  

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• Monthly Membership Meeting

  • When
    05/20/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Tomoka State Park Recreation Hall

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• Monthly Membership Meeting

  • When
    09/16/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Tomoka State Park Recreation Hall

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• Monthly Membership Meeting

  • When
    10/21/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Tomoka State Park Recreation Hall

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• Monthly Membership Meeting

  • When
    11/18/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Tomoka State Park Recreation Hall

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• Monthly Membership Meeting

  • When
    12/16/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Tomoka State Park Recreation Hall

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