Feature Article - for release the week of August 4, 2007

Angela Sachson – Florida Yards & Neighborhoods

 

FLORIDA FRIENDLY- NOT JUST ABOUT LOOKS

Recently I enjoyed seeing two interesting and very different landscapes, and was privileged to award both of them the “Florida Friendly” Yard designation.

This sign is displayed by Florida Friendly Yards.  To see what it takes, click on the sign to go to the checklist.

Florida Friendly is about gardening practices that conserve energy, protect the environment, and reduce Stormwater runoff.  Some examples of these practices are: grouping plants according to water needs, using none or  low levels of fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide, using plants with low water requirements, mulching to retain moisture, and, of course, careful management of  thirsty turfgrass. 

Florida Friendly is really about the water—keeping it clean and safe and making sure there is plenty still here for the grandkids.

Both of these landscapes help keep our water clean.  They feature lawns where blades of grass are kept high to develop deep drought-resistant roots, and where clippings are left to provide nitrogen. Mulch is used in both, as is the practice of composting.  Storm runoff is diverted.  Both are beautiful.  And they look very much unalike!

 

Two Florida Yards—Different looks, similar environmental impact

The Yard of Belle and John Schmidt is located in north Okeechobee.  It is a beautiful natural setting.  The Schmidt’s have lived here less than a year and are determined to landscape in a Florida Friendly way from the “get-go.”  Turf is limited to the area near the house and gradually gives way to a naturalized area with slash pines, oaks and other native vegetation. Fertilizer is only used in the vegetable garden and the turfgrass receives water just from rainfall. 

The first visit our Yard Advisor volunteers made to this home was early in the spring.  All was well until we spotted the invasive Old World Climbing Fern in trees at the edge of the property.  Since that is a plant on the forbidden list, John and Belle developed a plan to eradicate it and we promised to return. 

It was great to visit this site again and to see the vegetable garden cover crop of bright zinnias and colorful butterflies.  The newly turned compost pile nearby was already sprouting cukes, and swales in the yard were waiting to trap and hold summer rainwater. It was a treat to visit this Yard and to celebrate it as Florida Friendly!

 

First in Buckhead

Ralph “Wendy” Watts’ has a colorful landscape that is more structured.  Some folks would call it manicured.  He loves plants and it shows.  He has been growing orchids for 35 years and orchids festoon the tree near his screened patio. 

It is not surprising that Wendy and his wife Judy spend much of their time in this lovely spot.  Wendy has an eye for design, grouping plants beautifully and maximizing their effect by choosing plants that do well in his setting.  One member of his plant collection is a tri-color Plumeria.  Gorgeous--and a first for me.

His Florida Friendly landscape is the first yard so designated as such in Buckhead Ridge, and the third in Glades County.

 

Two great gardens, two distinct styles, but both are kind to the environment, careful with resources, and attractive to wildlife.  Each encompasses the nine Florida Yards & Neighborhoods principles: