Demonstration Gardens in the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service¹

Sydney Park Brown, Kim Taylor and Emily Eubanks²

University of Florida/IFAS Extension supports a network of demonstration gardens throughout the state. These gardens showcase plants and practices appropriate for their locations and are open to the community free of charge. Learning opportunities abound for home gardeners and landscape professionals on design, planting and maintenance procedures. The gardens typically have interpretative materials available, including signs, brochures and self-guided tours. Many are sites for gardening festivals, workshops and plant sales.

The conception, creation and maintenance of the gardens differ, but each one represents a unique collaboration between the University of Florida and local municipalities, environmental agencies, Floridas nursery industry, plant societies, and/or the Master Gardener volunteer program. Philanthropic donations, memberships and sponsorships provide additional funds for some of the gardens. Most of the gardens are maintained by Master Gardener volunteers under the supervision of county Extension faculty, while some gardens use salaried staff.

Most of the gardens demonstrate the principles of the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) program, emphasizing environmentally friendly (Florida-friendly) approaches to landscape design and maintenance. For more information about the nine FYN principles, visit www.SolutionsForYourLife.com/fyn

Listed below by county are the demonstration gardens of the University of Florida's Extension Service. Many are located at county Extension offices or UF/IFAS Research and Education Centers, while others are situated elsewhere in the community.

Alachua County

Alachua County Extension/City of Gainesville Garden

Westside Park

NW 34th St. and NW Eighth Ave.

Gainesville, FL 32609

(352) 955-2402

http://alachua.ifas.ufl.edu

This Florida-friendly, drought-tolerant garden is a joint effort between the City of Gainesville and the Alachua County Extension Office. Located in a city park on the corner of Northwest 34th Street and Northwest Eighth Avenue, the garden is maintained by county Master Gardeners and affiliated with Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN).

Figure 1. Alachua County Extension Garden

Bradford County

Seasonal Butterfly Garden

Bradford County Extension Office

2266 N. Temple Ave.

Starke, FL 32091

http://bradford.ifas.ufl.edu/

Planted by Bradford County Master Gardeners, the garden allows visitors to observe butterflies in a natural setting and to learn how to attract wildlife to their own yards.

Figure 2. Bradford County Extension Seasonal Butterfly Garden

Figure 3. Monarch Larva in Bradford County Extension Seasonal Butterfly Garden.

Brevard County

Xeriscape Garden

Brevard County Extension Office

3695 Lake Dr.

Cocoa, FL 32926

(407) 633-1702

http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu

This drought-tolerant garden demonstrates the FYN principles. Completed in 1997, it is maintained by Master Gardeners and the Native Plant Society.

Broward County

Winter Trial Garden

Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center

College Ave.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33214

(954) 577-6300

http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/trial_garden/index.shtml

From November through April, researchers plant new varieties of annuals and evaluate them for commercial growers. Anyone is free to tour the garden when the research center is open.

Living Lawn Demonstration Garden

Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center

3205 College Ave.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33214

(954) 577-6337

http://grove.ufl.edu/~turf/living_lawn/index.html

The Living Lawn is a hands-on educational garden that is used to teach homeowners about environmentally sustainable lawn care in south Florida, in cooperation with NatureScape Broward, the Broward County Extension Education Division, and Florida Yards & Neighborhoods.

Charlotte County

Environmental Campus Demonstration Garden

Charlotte County Public Works

7000 Florida St.

Punta Gorda, FL 33950

(941) 764-4340

http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu

Organized in 1992, this fenced garden consists of sixteen raised-bed plots maintained by individual Master Gardener volunteers. The garden includes native plants, roses, herbs, pineapples, cacti/succulents, vegetables, perennial peanuts, demonstration grasses and a butterfly plot. The garden gate is open any time for visitors and is regularly staffed by Master Gardeners. The Master Gardeners have an annual plant sale at the garden in December to raise funds for the upkeep of the garden.

Figure 4. Charlotte County Environmental Campus Demonstration Garden.

Demonstration Garden

Charlotte County Extension Office

25550 Harbor View Rd., Suite # 3

Port Charlotte, FL 33980

(941) 764-4340

http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu

Organized in 2006, this large garden will be a community showcase that uses landscape plant materials and techniques demonstrating UF/IFAS research-based information and the FYN principles. This living teaching tool will also include a composting demonstration component and an adapted garden.

Figure 5. Charlotte County Demonstration Garden

Citrus County

Canning Center

Citrus County Canning Center

3405 W. Southern St.

Lecanto, FL 34461

(352) 527-5700

http://bocc.citrus.fl.us/commserv/extension/extension_services.htm

Visitors can stroll through this garden while attending functions at the canning center. The garden uses Florida-friendly principles to attract birds and butterflies, and the on-site herb garden provides Citrus County residents with fresh herbs for use in their own canning efforts.

Florida-Friendly Learning Landscape

Citrus County Extension Office

3650 W. Sovereign Path

Lecanto, FL 34461

(352) 527-5700

http://bocc.citrus.fl.us/commserv/extension/extension_services.htm

The half-acre garden is wheelchair accessible and features a pathway that meanders through a wooded area with a water display and other exhibits. Signs and handouts explain how the garden portrays the nine FYN principles.

Figure 6. Citrus County Extension Florida-Friendly Learning Landscape

Figure 7. Mulch Demonstration Area in Citrus County Extension Florida-Friendly Learning Landscape

Homosassa Water District

7922 W. Grover Cleveland Blvd.

Homosassa, FL 34446

(352) 527-5700

http://bocc.citrus.fl.us/commserv/extension/extension_services.htm

The site was developed to attract wildlife using FYN principles and to demonstrate how to screen unsightly areas.

Figure 8. Homosassa Water District

Clay County

Shade Garden

Clay County Extension Office

2463 State Road 16 West

Green Cove Springs, FL 32043

(904) 284-6355

http://clay.ifas.ufl.edu

Features include native plants, herbs, a butterfly garden, a demonstration beehive and a demonstration wildlife habitat with low-volume irrigation that follows the FYN.

Collier County

Southwest Florida Horticultural Learning Center

Collier County Extension Office

14700 Immokalee Rd.

Naples, FL 34120

(941) 353-4244

http://collier.ifas.ufl.edu/HomeGarden/HortLearningCenter.shtml

Based on the FYN principles, this garden was developed next to the Collier County Extension Service building to support outdoor educational programs in horticulture, gardening, landscape design and natural resource management. It features smaller theme gardens including a native plant garden, a Master Gardener color garden, a 4-H children's garden, a vegetable/recycle garden, a garden of the senses and a courtyard garden.

Figure 9. Southwest Florida Horticultural Learning Center

Figure 10. Raised Bed in Southwest Florida Horticultural Leaning Center

Figure 11. Garden of the Senses in the Southwest Florida Horticultural Learning Center

Columbia County

Columbia County Demonstration Garden

Columbia County Demonstration Garden

Route 18, Box 720

Lake City, FL 32025

(386) 752-5384

http://columbia.ifas.ufl.edu

Master Gardeners and 4-H youth maintain a mixture of seasonal flowers and vegetables with a hydroponic bed, four raised beds and a trellis system.

Microirrigation is demonstrated.

Figure 12. Vegetable plot in Columbia County Extension Garden

Figure 13. Trellis system in Columbia County Extension Garden

Figure 14. Master Gardeners and Don Goode, Columbia County Agent in the Columbia County Extension Garden

Duval County

Mandarin Demonstration Garden

2892 Loretto Rd.

Jacksonville, FL 32223

(904) 387-8850

http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu/

Duval County Master Gardeners planted this garden, which incorporates FYN principles and includes native plants, ornamental grasses, a butterfly garden, a perennial bed, a ginger bed and a vegetable bed.

Figure 15. Native Azalea in the Mandarin Demonstration Garden

Superior Street Vegetable and Herb Demonstration Garden

Duval County Extension Office

1010 N. McDuff Ave.

Jacksonville, FL 32254

(904) 387-8850

http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu/

Located near the Duval County Extension office, this garden showcases vegetable varieties recommended for the area and highlights various growing techniques.

Figure 16. Trailing Rosemary in the Superior Street Vegetable and Herb Demonstration Garden

Escambia County

Demonstration and Learning Garden

Escambia County Extension Office

3740 Stefani Rd.

Cantonment, FL 32533

(850) 475-5230

http://escambia.ifas.ufl.edu/

The Escambia County Extension Horticulture and Master Gardener programs created this demonstration and learning garden as a resource for the community. The garden demonstrates UF/IFAS research-based horticulture practices and features plants that are adapted to the coastal Southeast, including roses, vines, perennials, evergreens, ornamental grasses.

Figure 17. Entrance to Escambia County Extension Garden

Figure 18. Grasses in Escambia County Extension Garden

Figure 19. Roses in Escambia County Extension Garden

Flagler County

Wildlife, Butterfly and Herb Garden

Flagler County Extension Office

150 Sawgrass Road

Bunnell, FL 32110

(386) 437-7464

http://www.flaglercounty.org/pages.php?PB=46

Incorporating the nine FYN principles, this garden shows visitors how plants can be used to attract butterflies, birds and other forms of wildlife. The garden also demonstrates how to design, grow and use a formal knot garden in the yard while using the FYN principles.

Figure 20. Formal Knot Garden in Flagler County Extension Garden

Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center

See Broward County

Gadsden County

Trial and Demonstration Gardens

North Florida Research and Education Center

155 Research Rd.

Quincy, FL 32351

(850) 875-7100

http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu

The grounds of the North Florida Research and Education Center feature four different types of trial and demonstration gardens: crape myrtle, magnolia, hydrangea and perennial. In each of these gardens, plant varieties are evaluated using a number of measures, including how they perform in the north Florida climate. The crape myrtle garden features more than seventy different cultivars and the hydrangea garden features nearly forty varieties. The magnolia garden emphasizes deciduous flowering magnolias (Japanese magnolia), yellow-flowered cultivars and rare evergreen species, primarily from Asia. The perennial trial garden features new or unusual perennials that may have potential for use in north Florida and the northern Gulf Coast.

Figure 22. North Florida Research and Education Center Perennial Trial Garden

Gulf Coast Research and Education Center

See Hillsborough County

Hernando County

Demonstration Garden

Hernando County Extension Office

19490 Oliver St.

Brooksville, FL 34601

(352) 754-4433

http://www.hernandocounty.us/county_extension/

The Hernando County Extension Office features a small production nursery and a native plant garden teaches visitors to use the right plant for the right place.

Highlands County

Florida-friendly Garden

Highlands County Extension Office

4509 George Blvd.

Sebring, FL 33875

(863) 402-6544

http://highlands.ifas.ufl.edu

The landscape surrounding the Extension building features plants that can be successfully grown in Highlands County and is managed using Florida-friendly practices such as microirrigation.

Hillsborough County

Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden

Hillsborough County Extension Office

5339 County Road 579

Seffner, FL 33584

(813) 744-5519 ext. 146

http://hillsborough.extension.ufl.edu/HomeGardening/Discovery-Garden.html

The Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden is a teaching garden that serves as a living lab illustrating the nine FYN principles. The garden features many non-plant elements including different kinds of pavers and mulches, trellises, containers, lighting, screening, seating and other decorative features such as water elements. Six themed garden rooms include a bird and wildlife habitat, Florida backyard BBQ, sensory garden, Florida-friendly area, Asian influence garden and several water features.

Figure 23. Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden

Figure 24. Pitcher Plants in the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden

Figure 25. Asian-Influenced Garden in the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden

Teaching Garden and Arboretum

1200 N. Park Rd.

Plant City, FL 33563

(813) 757-2286

http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/pcc/Gardens/main.htm

The teaching gardens at the UF Plant City Campus (UF) provide a learning center for horticulture and forestry students as well as the general public. More than 250 labeled plant species are displayed. The gardens feature flowering perennials, ornamental grasses, a 90-foot pergola displaying flowering vines, a butterfly garden, a native plant area and a 1-acre arboretum of shade and flowering trees, as well as numerous palms, shrubs and groundcovers that perform well in central Florida landscapes. A demonstration of heritage and low-maintenance roses is planned for January 2008.

Figure 26. GCREC Teaching Garden and Arboretum

Indian River County

Color Garden

Indian River Extension Office

1028 20th Place, Suite D

Vero Beach, FL 32960

(561) 770-5030

http://indian.ifas.ufl.edu/

The gardens at the Indian River Extension Office illustrate different uses of color and texture through plant materials. The gardens are maintained by Master Gardeners and associated with FYN.

Indian River Research and Education Center

See St. Lucie County

Lake County

Horticultural Learning Center

Lake County Extension Office

1951 Woodlea Rd.

Tavares, FL 32778

(352) 343-4101

http://discoverygardens.ifas.ufl.edu/tour_our_gardens.htm

The Learning Center is situated on a 4.5-acre site with a one-acre plant evaluation area and a 3.5-acre public garden called Discovery Gardens. The garden includes twenty theme/display gardens, each designed to show a different gardening aspect in central Florida. The gardens feature more than 600 different plants and also demonstrate FYN principles.

Lee County

Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library

Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library

921 SW 39th Terr.

Cape Coral, FL 33914

(239) 461-7526

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu

A joint effort between Cape Coral, the largest city in Lee County, and the South Florida Water Management District, the area in front of the Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library entrance was one of six "Florida Yard Makeovers" completed in 2006. The Florida-friendly landscape highlights the natural beauty of native trees and shrubs. The design demonstrates low-maintenance landscaping and water conservation in a formal public setting.

Figure 30. Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library

Demonstration Gardens

Lee County Extension Office

3406 Palm Beach Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33916

(941) 461-7500

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu

Four gardens on the Extension office grounds include an herb garden, a butterfly garden, a palm garden and a grape arbor. They are maintained by Master Gardeners.

Figure 31. Palms in Lee County Extension Garden

Demonstration Landscape at Cape Coral Historical Museum

544 Cultural Park Blvd.

Cape Coral, FL 33990

(239) 461-7526

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu

Constructed by Master Gardeners Warren and Joan Bush and located at the historical museum, the FYN demonstration garden shows Florida-friendly plants attracting wildlife native to coastal areas in southwest Florida. The native plant display, rainwater harvesting systems and burrowing owl artificial burrow demonstrate Florida-friendly landscaping practices that conserve water while preserving the natural history of Cape Coral

Figure 32. Demonstration Garden at Cape Coral Historical Museum

Demonstration Landscape at Rutenberg Park

Lee County Parks & Recreation Eco-Center and FYN Classroom

6490 S. Pointe Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL33919

(239) 432-2163 (on-site)

(239) 461-7526 (to schedule a tour)

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu

Located at a new environmental center (formerly the Rutenberg Community Library), nine environmental learning stations highlight each of the Florida-friendly landscaping principles in an attractive, handicapped-accessible and wildlife-friendly way. The nine gardens demonstrate microirrigation, proper fertilizer use and waterfront planting techniques. Master Gardeners lead regularly scheduled on-site tours.

The Fragrance Garden at Lakes Regional Park

7330 Gladiolus Drive

Ft. Myers, FL 33908

(239) 432-2002

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu

Created and maintained by Lee County Extension Master Gardeners, the fragrance garden has been expanded to include a rose garden and a cactus garden.

Manatee Regional Park

10901 State Rd. 80

Fort Myers, FL 33916

(239) 461-7526

http://leeparks.org

Located near the intersection of Interstate 75 and State Road 80, Manatee Regional Park is a favorite winter viewing spot to see the Florida manatee. The 17-acre, wheelchair-accessible, environmental park has a treasure trove of water-saving and environmental landscaping ideas. Florida-friendly landscaping practices are shown in the context of four native plant communities. In addition visitors will see a butterfly border, a constructed storm-water retention area, a riverine wetland, rosemary-oak scrub and pine flatwood habitat attracting wildlife indigenous to southwest Florida.

Figure 33. Manatee Regional Park

Leon County

Demonstration Gardens

Leon County Extension

615 Paul Russell Rd.

Tallahassee, FL 32301

(850) 487-3004

http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu/

Located on the grounds of the Extension office, this garden emphasizes the FYN principles and uses a range of native and Florida-friendly plants, wildflowers, perennials and vines. An arboretum is being developed.

Manatee County

FYN Demonstration Gardens

Manatee County Extension Office

1303 17th St. W.

Palmetto, FL 34221

(941) 722-4524

http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/fyn/demonstration-garden.shtml

Developed, planted and maintained by Master Gardeners, these gardens include a beach garden with salt- and drought-tolerant plants, East and West Manatee gardens with plants that do well in these respective locations, a pond garden, a shade garden, a backdoor garden with edibles and a low-volume irrigation demonstration.

Figure 34. Beach plant area in the Manatee County Extension Garden

Marion County

Taylor Garden

Marion County Extension Office

2232 NE Jacksonville Rd.

Ocala, FL 34470

(352) 620-3440

http://www.marioncountyfl.org/AC631/AG_home.htm

Located near the Extension office, this .75-acre garden was created and is maintained by Master Gardeners and includes a butterfly garden, an herb garden, a vegetable garden, an FYN garden and a composting display.

Figure 35. Marion County Demonstration Garden

Mid-Florida Research and Education Center

See Orange County.

Miami-Dade County

North Miami-Dade Regional Library

2455 NW 183rd St.

Carol City, FL 33056

(305) 248-3311

http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/

FYN staff and local volunteers created a low-maintenance landscape using drought-tolerant trees, shrubs, perennials and groundcovers.

Miami-Dade College, Environmental Center

11011 SW 104th St.

Miami, FL 33176

(305) 248-3311

http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/fyn.shtml

FYN staff, Citizens for a Better South Florida, instructors, students and local volunteers created a low-maintenance demonstration landscape using drought-tolerant shrubs, groundcovers and palms to educate visitors.

Citrus Grove Elementary School

2121 NW Fifth St.

Little Havana, FL 33135

(305) 248-3311

http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/

FYN staff, Citizens for a Better South Florida, Hands-On Miami volunteers, and staff and teachers from the school planted more than 250 native trees, shrubs, palms, cycads, perennials, grasses and groundcovers to be used by the school in an environmental science curriculum.

Monroe County

FYN Landscape Demonstration Garden

Monroe County Extension Office

1100 Simonton St.

Key West, FL 33040

(305) 292-4501

http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu/

This FYN demonstration garden at the Monroe County Extension office includes areas highlighting coastal and upland plants, butterfly plants, turfgrasses and groundcovers and mulch types. The garden is used to educate homeowners about landscape plants, proper watering methods, integrated pest management, proper planting techniques and appropriate fertilization practices.

Nassau County

Demonstration Garden

Nassau County Cooperative Extension--Yulee Office

96135 Nassau Place

Yulee, FL 32097

(904) 548-1182

http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/demogarden/demogarden.html

Established in 2005 by Master Gardeners, the purpose of the demonstration garden is to show examples of best management practices (BMPs) for northeast Florida landscapes, as outlined by Florida Yards & Neighborhoods. The garden also includes a butterfly area that showcases both source and host plants for butterflies. Master Gardeners offer a Butterfly Experience program for school children, as well as maintain the overall garden.

Figure 36. Nassau County Demonstration Garden

North Florida Research and Education Center

See Gadsden County.

Okaloosa County

Educational Landscape

Okaloosa County Extension Office

5479 Old Bethel Rd.

Crestview, FL 32356

(850) 689-5850

http://okaloosa.ifas.ufl.edu

Installed in 2000, this garden demonstrates the use of underused trees and groundcover plants and is frequently used as a teaching tool for garden clubs, the public, volunteers and 4-H youth. Seminars are conducted for residential, commercial and 4-H audiences to teach correct management practices related to fertilization, watering, pruning and other topics. Local and university trials have been conducted in the trial bed areas demonstrating bog plants, square foot gardening, soil amendments, antique roses, the use of plants to attract butterflies, the use of plants to attract larra wasps for mole cricket control, and the identification and control of invasive plants. The garden was designated as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation and was awarded the Florida Master Gardener Award of Excellence for Demonstration Garden in 2002.

Figure 37. Leaf Hydrangea in Okaloosa County Extension Office Educational Landscape

Figure 38. Bamboo Muhly Grass in Okaloosa County Extension Office Educational Landscape

Orange County

Central Florida Fairgrounds Extension Demonstration Garden

4603 W. Colonial Dr.

Orlando, FL 32808

(407) 295-3247

http://ocextension.ifas.ufl.edu

This fenced garden is designed with eating in mind, featuring a raised-bed vegetable garden, peach and apple trees, herbs and roses. Master Gardeners maintain the garden and provide guided tours for elementary schools. The garden also features a play house.

Mid-Florida Research and Education Center Teaching Garden

2725 S. Binion Rd.

Apopka, FL 32703

(407) 884-2034 ext. 129

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu

Approximately one acre in size, the MREC Teaching garden opened in November 2003 to provide UF faculty at the MREC campus with a teaching garden that would allow their students to participate in the design, installation and maintenance aspects of a landscape. Designed by an MREC student, the garden demonstrates the use of hardscaping, water features, pergola, picnic tables and other functional structures. Plant materials include roses, woody ornamentals, turfgrasses, annuals and perennials.

Figure 39. MREC Teaching Garden

Figure 40. Gulf Muhly Grass in the MREC Teaching Garden

Osceola County

Osceola County Master Gardener Demonstration Landscape and Edibles Garden

Osceola County Extension Office

Osceola Heritage Park

1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane

Kissimmee, FL 34772

(321) 697-3000

http://osceola.ifas.ufl.edu

Maintained by the Osceola County Master Gardener volunteers, this demonstration garden shows how easy it is to have a beautiful garden in Florida. The garden specializes in native plants, butterfly gardening, old garden (heritage) roses, vegetable gardening and tropical plants.

Figure 41. Raised Beds in Osceola County Extension Office Educational Landscape

Figure 42. Purple Coneflower in Osceola County Extension Office Educational Landscape

Palm Beach County

Mounts Botanical Garden

Palm Beach County Extension Office

559 Military Trail

West Palm Beach, FL 33415

(561) 233-1751

http://mounts.org

Situated on 14 acres, this garden is the oldest and largest Extension garden in Florida. Founded by Red Mounts, a horticulture agent in the 1950s, the garden did not open to the public until the 1970s. The garden features plants suitable to south Florida and includes numerous types of gardens including gardens for fragrance, light tropical shade, tropical fruits, herbs, native plants, vegetables and potted plants.

Pasco County

FYN Demonstration Garden

Pasco County Extension

36702 State Road 52

Dade City, FL 33525

(352) 521-4288

http://gardeningpasco.ifas.ufl.edu/Plants_Demo_Garden.shtml

This FYN demonstration garden, tended by Master Gardeners, showcases a stormwater management system, rain barrels, microirrigation and different mulches. Butterfly- and bird-attracting plants flourish in the garden, complemented by structures designed to attract wildlife such as ponds, an artificial bog, an old tree trunk and a large arbor with vines. Visitors can see many native plants and monitor their progress through the seasons. The site also includes a daffodil trial garden.

Figure 43. Pasco County Extension Garden

Figure 44. Pasco County Extension Garden

Figure 45. Daffodils in Pasco County Extension Garden

Hudson Public Library

Hudson Public Library

8012 Library Rd.

Hudson, FL 34667

(352) 521-4288

http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu/

Designed and created by Master Gardeners in 2006, the Hudson Public Library garden features a mulched path and a garden bench for reflection. Plants incorporated into the garden are designed to attract, feed and provide shelter for the five most common butterflies in west-central Florida. This project was a joint effort between the Pasco County Extension Service, Pasco Libraries and the Pasco Friends of the Library, who helped purchase garden materials.

Pinellas County

The Florida Botanical Gardens

Pinellas County Extension Office

12520 Ulmerton Rd.

Largo, FL 33774

(727) 582-2200

http://www.flbg.org/

Situated on 182 acres that house the Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Heritage Village and the Pinellas County Extension Office, this garden serves more than 50,000 visitors a year. The Florida Botanical Gardens are a collection of diverse plant environments that highlight Floridas natural beauty. Extension Master Gardeners play a significant role in the maintenance of the gardens. Specialty gardens include the Dr. Judy Yates rose garden, a palm garden, a wedding garden, a tropical fruit garden, a bromeliad garden, a cottage garden, a topiary garden, an herb garden, a tropical garden and more.

Figure 46. Florida Botanical Gardens

Figure 47. Boardwalk in Florida Botanical Gardens

Figure 48. Wedding Garden in Florida Botanical Gardens

Polk County

Florida-friendly Landscape Demonstration Garden

Polk County Utilities

1011 Jim Keene Blvd.

Winter Haven, FL 33880

(863) 519-8677

http://polkfyn.ifas.ufl.edu

Set in full sun, this garden incorporates xeric principles and shows what plants work best in tough areas. The garden also features a weather station irrigation garden.

Demonstration Gardens

Polk County Extension Office

1702 Highway 17

South Bartow, FL 33831

(863) 519-8677

http://polkfyn.ifas.ufl.edu

This garden reflects the FYN principles and incorporates native plants, aquatic plants and plants that attract butterflies and other wildlife. All plants are labeled.

Figure 49. Butterfly Garden in Polk County Extension Service Demonstration Garden

St. Lucie County

Demonstration Garden

St. Lucie County Extension

8400 Picos Rd., Suite 101

Fort Pierce, FL 34945

(561) 462-1660

http://stlucie.ifas.ufl.edu/

The grounds of the St. Lucie County Extension office feature a number of distinct garden areas including a nature walk, a salt-tolerant garden, a fern garden, a full-sun garden and a butterfly garden.

Figure 50. Salt-Tolerant Garden in St. Lucie County Extension Garden

Figure 51. Courtyard in St. Lucie County Extension Garden

Teaching Garden

Indian River Research and Education Center

2199 South Rock Rd.

Fort Pierce, FL 34945

(772) 468-5668

http://irrecenvhort.ifas.ufl.edu/virtualgarden/index.htm

The teaching gardens at the University of Florida's Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) were developed as an outdoor teaching laboratory to provide on-site plant collections for hands-on learning activities in support of classes taught at the center. The gardens provide a source for plant identification and contain more than 225 plant species, of which approximately 38 percent are non-native and 62 percent are native to Florida.

Figure 27. Entrance to the IRREC Teaching Garden

Figure 28. IRREC Teaching Garden

The Linear Garden

Indian River Research and Education Center

2199 South Rock Rd.

Fort Pierce, FL 34945

(772) 468-3922 ext. 132

http://irrec.ifas.ufl.edu

The Linear Garden may be only three feet wide but it is 2,426 feet long (nearly half a mile), and is therefore affectionately called the Linear Garden. The garden includes approximately 256 different species of trees, palms, shrubs, groundcovers and vines. It was designed to showcase specimen plants and display other common landscape plants used in the south-central Florida region with attention to foliage (type, color and size) and flowers (flowering times and colors) to show how gardens can provide year-round interest regardless of the season.

Figure 29. The Linear Garden

St. Johns County

Demonstration Arboretum

St. Johns County Extension Office

3125 Agricultural Center Dr.

St. Augustine, FL 32092

(904) 824-4564

http://stjohns.ifas.ufl.edu/

This one-acre arboretum includes trees and shrubs, daylilies, a hydroponics display garden, a test garden and a small vegetable garden. This garden has FYN affiliation and is tended by Master Gardeners.

Santa Rosa County

Milton Gardens

5988 Highway 90, Bldg. 4900

P.O. Box 3634

Milton, FL 32583

(850) 983-5216

http://wfrec.ufl.edu/milton_gardens/WebMiltGard/index.htm

The Milton Gardens are a combination of teaching, research and display gardens and are a joint effort between UF's West Florida Research and Education Center, Pensacola Junior College and the Santa Rosa County Master Gardeners. Visitors can immerse themselves in a living classroom where they can identify flowers and shrubs that make up the landscape. The garden includes mixed shrubs and perennials, ornamental grasses, ginger and tropical bulbs, ornamental sweet potatoes, bedding plant trials and a container production area with greenhouses and shade houses.

Figure 52. Milton Gardens

Panhandle Butterfly House

Highway 98 at the foot of the Navarre Bridge

Navarre, FL 32566

(850) 623-6321

http://www.panhandlebutterflyhouse.org

Master Gardeners from three counties created this unique butterfly garden devoted to Florida native butterflies. Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, this garden shares environmentally friendly gardening with more than 12,000 visitors per year.

Teaching and Demonstration Garden

Santa Rosa County Extension Office

6263 Dogwood Dr.

Milton, FL 32570

(850) 623-3868

http://santarosa.ifas.ufl.edu

The teaching and demonstration garden at the UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension Office features several themed gardens and displays, including a native garden, a tropical garden, a butterfly garden, an ornamental grass display, an edible landscape display, a vine display and a vegetable garden. It also highlights many types of plants that grow well in northwest Florida.

Sarasota County

Florida House Learning Center

Sarasota County Technical Institute

4600 Beneva Rd. S.

Sarasota, FL 34233

(941) 316-1200

http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu

This "Model Florida Yard" is the premier FYN demonstration garden in the state showing environmental landscape management principles in design and maintenance. Staffed by Master Gardeners four days per week, the garden includes wildlife gardening, water gardening, edible landscaping, Xeriscape landscaping, micro-irrigation, composting and plant selections and groupings for particular landscape types in the Suncoast area.

Figure 53. Butterfly Gardening Workshop at Florida House Learning Center

FYN Demonstration Garden

Sarasota County Extension Office

6700 Clark Rd.

Twin Lakes Park

Sarasota, FL 34241

(941) 861-9886

http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu

This garden surrounds a "green" office building and features a large cistern and pervious walkways.

Seminole County

Demonstration Gardens at the Student Museum

301 W. Seventh St.

Sanford, FL 32771

(407) 320-0520

http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/coopext/

A joint venture by Seminole County Extension and the Student Museum and Social Studies Center of Seminole County Public Schools, this garden is located on the grounds of the museum. Different themes are illustrated including: herbs, pioneer vegetables, pioneer field crops, historic roses, Florida and southeast native plants, shade gardens, tropical gardens, butterfly gardens, muscadine grapes, perennial and annual flower meadows, ornamental grasses, citrus groves and a raised bed. Maintained by a project team, Master Gardeners, and middle school students involved in a pre-baccalaureate program, this garden services approximately 6,000 students who receive instruction from the Museum staff. The garden was awarded the Florida Master Gardener Award of Excellence for best project in 1999 and certified as a Schoolyard Habitat in 2006. Coming in 2007 is a wildflower garden funded by a grant from the Florida Wildflower Foundation.

Figure 54. Seminole County Student Museum and Extension Garden

Figure 55. Pioneer Garden at the Seminole County Student Museum and Extension Garden

Figure 56. Butterfly Garden at the Student Museum in Seminole County

Sumter County

Florida-friendly Garden

Sumter County Extension Office

7620 SR 471

Bushnell, FL 33513

http://sumter.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture.shtml

Located on the grounds of the Sumter County Extension office, this garden illustrates Florida-friendly practices and features a butterfly garden, a native plant garden, a bog garden, an extensive wildflower garden and two 3,000-gallon cisterns.

Volusia County

Demonstration Garden

Volusia County Extension Office

Volusia County Agricultural Center

3100 E. New York Ave.

DeLand, FL 32724

(386) 822-5778

http://volusia.org/extension/

Primarily a wildlife-attracting garden, this garden is a collaboration of the Solid Waste Department and the Volusia County Extension Service. It includes a range of native plants, a butterfly area, a birdhouse area, a compost alley, a wheelchair-accessible vegetable garden and a deck made from recycled plastic lumber. It is maintained by Master Gardeners and is used for educational programs with school children.

Figure 57. Butterfly Garden in Volusia County Extension Garden

Figure 58. Master Gardeners in Volusia County Extension Garden

Wakulla County

The Master Garden

Wakulla County Extension Office

84 Cedar Ave.

Crawfordville, FL 32327

(850) 926-3931

http://wakulla.ifas.ufl.edu

The Master Garden is composed of a series of smaller gardens that surround the Wakulla County Extension Facility. The gardens were developed by and are maintained by Master Gardener volunteers. Informational tubes allow visitors a self-guided tour that includes access to information about each plant. Additional signs throughout the garden highlight how the FYN principles are reflected in the gardens. The gardens are used for "hands-on" programs with 4-H youths. Upcoming plans include offering demonstrations on food preservation with our Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent. These demonstrations will teach sustainability through production and preservation of various vegetable crops.

Figure 59. Water Garden in the Wakulla County Extension Master Garden

West Florida Research and Education Center

See Santa Rosa County.

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Footnotes

1. This document is EP108 one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date June 2002. Revised October 2007. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Sydney Park Brown, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist-Consumer Horticulture, Kim Taylor, Environmental Horticulture Writer, and Emily Eubanks, Senior Information Specialist. This publication was originated by Eva C. Worden, Retired Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, and Cathy J. D'Angelo, former Extension Program Assistant, Environmental Horticulture Department

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The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.