Where is the Land of Flowers? Just look around – we call it home. In 1513, Ponce de Leon stepped ashore the land we now call Florida and named it La Florida – the Land of Flowers. The flowers and plants that he observed are called native plants and they persist to this day.
Florida has approximately 3,000 species of native plants, which unfortunately have been largely ignored for landscape purposes and destroyed for development purposes. In recent times, the use and value of native plants has begun to be recognized as we become more aware of issues affecting our water and environment coupled with a desire to see more butterflies and birds and experience a “sense of La Florida” in our own yards and community.
Whether a beginner, an experienced gardener, or just curious, you will discover how you can make a difference by learning why, what, how, where and when to use native plants.
Oct. 8 Wake Up and Plant the Natives
This session is based on a book written by Doug Tallamy that provides the rationale behind the use of native plants. Tallamy explains how everyone can welcome more wildlife (this includes birds, butterflies and bees) into their yards just by planting even a few native plants. The presentation will explain why and how individual gardeners can protect and conserve the biological diversity of our natural world that is vital and irreplaceable. In Tallamy’s words the wild creatures that we enjoy and would like to have in our lives will not be here in the future if we continue to take away their food and the places they live.
Instructor: Barbara Jackson was born in Jacksonville, and is a third generation Floridian. She is a Duval County Master Gardener, a Florida Master Naturalist, and the President of the local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Northeast Florida Green Chamber of Commerce, and is in charge of membership. Barbara is also the President of the City of Neptune Beach Beautification Committee. She speaks and writes about native plants and Florida eco-systems.
Oct. 15 Establishing and Maintaining Native Plants in a Home Garden
In this session we will explains the basic guidelines for effectively adding native plants into your landscape and choosing the right plant. By choosing the right native plant for the right place, we can significantly reduce the amount of water, fertilizer and pesticides commonly used in the traditional Florida landscape.
Instructor: Jake Ingram is a retired Landscape Architect who moved back to his hometown of Jacksonville 7 years ago after 35 years away. From 1998 until 2005 Jake was the Staff Landscape Architect for the St. Joe Company’s projects in Walton County where only native plants were used in all landscaping. Since retiring he’s been involved in several pro-bona projects in the Riverside/Avondale area and keeping his own native landscaped yard and productive food plot. Jake has been a member of the Florida Native Plant Society for 12 years.
ED-venture, Oct. 22
Please note different time – 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
UNF’s new Biology Building & bamboo garden followed by Dutch Treat Lunch at the Student Union.
Instructor: Chuck Hubbuch is an assistant director of Physical Facilities who worked at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami before coming to UNF. Hubbuch is a self-described “obsessed gardener.” He recently launched his own website called Southeast Garden that documents his green-thumbed experiences in Northeast Florida.
