UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service

458 Highway 98 North

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578

Phone: (863) 763-6469

E- mail:  dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu

April 2, 2003

Feature Article - for release the week of April 7, 2003

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent

APRIL IS FOR GARDENING!

In 1986, President Reagan signed a proclamation declaring the second full week of April as National Garden Week. The President urged Americans to join in educational efforts, ceremonies and other activities to show our appreciation for the efforts and contributions of gardeners.

This year, the National Gardening Association and 23 other horticultural organizations has expanded the week to the whole month of April.

Governor Jeb Bush has also declared April as Florida Butterfly and Butterfly Gardening month. His proclamation notes that Florida has over 150 different butterfly species, some found only in the Sunshine State. The Governor is encouraging Floridians to plant native plants and flowers as a way to increase the number of butterflies.

Another April date is Arbor Day. While Florida has set the last Friday in January as a day to encourage tree planting and tree care in the Sunshine State, National Arbor Day has been celebrated each year since 1872 on the last Friday in April. I have been asked by 4-H Agent Debbie Clements to help a local school plant a tree on April 25th, and can offer suggestions to others who want to mark this event.

One idea for local gardeners to consider is to use more native plants in the landscape as we celebrate Gardening or Butterfly Month or Arbor Day. Floridians have a wealth of native plants from which to choose, and some are well-known in our Florida Yards. Because they usually have few pest or disease problems, they require minimum maintenance. Less maintenance means less water and pesticides.

Florida enjoys America's greatest abundance of plants, including nearly half of all the tree species found in our nation. While the University of South Florida reports 552 different species of plants found growing in Okeechobee County, the Florida Native Plant Society lists 148 native plants in our county.

While you can take plants from the wild, Florida's plant protection law prohibits people from collecting, picking or removing any threatened or endangered plants without first obtaining written permission from the landowner. And, in some cases, you need approval from the authorities as well. A few examples of threatened and endangered plants you're probably familiar with are all species of the Bromeliad family (except Spanish and Ball moss), all native cacti, orchids, and many ferns and palms.

There are also proper ways to successfully transplant trees and shrubs from the wild to your landscape. Ask us how to make such moves more successful. Or to avoid the problems with gaining permission or proper root pruning, consider purchasing high quality plants from a nursery.

There are nurseries now specializing in the production of native plants to meet the demand for these low maintenance landscape fixtures. Our office can point you to well adapted native plants for the Okeechobee area as well as where they can be obtained.

If you need help with Florida friendly landscaping, or want additional information on the organizations mentioned in this article, call or stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North. Our phone number is 763-6469, and you can email us at  okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu . Happy National Gardening month!

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Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean Last update: 06/20/2006 .  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert