Patty Phares has been a volunteer with local environmental and nature-related organizations since moving to Miami in 1979, including the Dade Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, Tropical Audubon Society, The Institute for Regional Conservation and the Gifford Arboretum.  She also enjoys helping the Conservation team at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden with the field and nursery work.  With the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida, she helps coordinate the annual “Everglades Outing” to give underserved children a day in Everglades National Park.  Her native plant yard, a part of Fairchild’s “Connect to Protect” program, simultaneously suffers and thrives from benign neglect.