Gardeners will have the opportunity to learn some new gardening techniques at a Florida-Friendly Native Plant Landscaping Workshop being held this Saturday, Feb. 11 at South Florida Community College (SFCC), Hardee Campus.
The free workshop is a cooperative effort among the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP), SFCC, and WGCU Public Media.
Workshop participants will learn how to solve common Florida landscaping problems. Workshop participants are asked to pre-register. Check-in is from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The workshop will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. All workshop participants will receive a complimentary native plant along with other helpful landscaping items and information.
The workshop will begin with an overview of the nine Florida-friendly landscaping principles by Anne Yasalonis, Polk County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) program coordinator.
John Sibley, co-host of WGCUs Florida Landscape how-to video segments and owner of All Native Garden and Plant Nursery in Fort Myers, will lead a discussion panel of native plant growers and experts in a presentation that includes the nine principles of Florida-friendly landscaping and a question and answer session. Sibley will discuss storm-resistant native plant solutions for Florida landscaping challenges. A butterfly garden that demonstrates the Florida-friendly landscaping principles will be installed on the grounds of the SFCC Hardee Campus.
Area residents who do not participate in the workshop can also take advantage of the native plant sale being held 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The SFCC Hardee Campus is located 4.1 miles north of Wauchula at 2968 U.S. 17 North, Bowling Green. Workshop space is limited and registration is encouraged. For more information about the workshop, please call Carole Iris at (888) 824-0030, ext. 2516, or e-mail to ciris@fgcu.edu.
For more information about Florida-friendly landscaping, visit the District’s web site at www.watermatters.org.