Florida-friendly landscaping

Learn how to transform your property into a beautiful oasis for people and wildlife that will not only conserve precious water resources and reduce pollution but may also save you time and money. This page includes links to several wonderful sources of additional information and is continuing being updated.

CHNEP has initiated workshops in Hardee and DeSoto counties because they currently do not have county staff dedicated to a program such as Florida Yards and Neighborhoods. If you live in Charlotte County, Lee County, Manatee County, Polk County, Sarasota County, please follow the links provided to learn more about the workshops offered in these counties. Thanks to all who made prior workshops held in DeSoto and Hardee counties such great successes.

Please attend one of the two free Florida-friendly yards workshops and native plant sales that'll be held Saturday, January 24, 2009. The promotional postcard with all the details is provided in a PDF file.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

• South Florida Community College, 2251 NE Turner Ave., Arcadia. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. Program ends at noon.

• South Florida Community College, 2968 US 17 North, Bowling Green. Registration begins at 12:45 p.m. Program ends at 5.

Workshop topics at both locations:

• Neighbor-to-Neighbor Florida-Friendly Landscaping

• Welcome and Overview

• Landscape Design

• Rain Water Harvesting

• Where to find plants, seeds and mulch

• Short demonstration during break

• The good and bad of bugs

• Ask the experts

Each attendee will receive a free plant. Native plants will also be available for purchase.

These workshops are offered free because of the cooperation and generosity of many groups, including:

• Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

• Peace River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District

• Sun State Landscaping

• Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority

• South Florida Community College

• Pine Lily Nursery

• Deluxe Trees and Shrubs

• DeSoto County Parks and Recreation

• Guest speakers and many others.

This partnership has offered several workshops since 2005.

• April 26, 2008 in Arcadia

• October 13, 2007 in Arcadia, Florida Native Plant Image Contest

• September 8, 2007 in Bowling Green

• February 3, 2007 in Arcadia (90 participants), Florida Native Plant Writing Contest ~ Florida Native Plant Writing Contest Entries

• January 27, 2007 in Bowling Green (45 participants)

• February 13, 2006 in Bowling Green (50 participants)

• November 5, 2005 in Arcadia (100 participants)

• June 29, 2005 in Arcadia (46 participants)

• June 15, 2005 in Wauchula (20 participants)

• June 1, 2005 in Arcadia (46 participants)

PowerPoint presentations used by speakers at workshops organized in Hardee and DeSoto counties are available by clicking on the name of each presenter. If you don't have PowerPoint software, you can download the free software PowerPoint Viewer. (Follow the link then search for "Powerpoint Viewer 2003.")

• William F. Bissett, ASLA, landscape architect. He is one of the founders of The Natives in Davenport and a member of the Florida Native Plant Society and the Association of Florida Native Nurseries.

• Tom Heitzman, owner of Sweetbay Nursery in Parrish: He has designed and implemented numerous award winning native plant landscapes and is a member of the Florida Native Plant Society and the Association of Florida Native Nurseries.

• Demonstration of an online interactive landscape design program (www.FloridaYards.org)

• Hardee: Sylvia Durell, Southwest Florida Water Management District

• Site analysis of larger parcels (acreage): Elizabeth Anne Gandy, Florida Park Service

• Pond management: Ernesto Lasso de la Vega, Lee County Hyacinth Control

• Pest management

  • Hardee: Angela Maraj, Southwest Florida Water Management District

  • DeSoto: Angela Sachson, UF Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, Okeechobee Region FYN Program