UF/IFAS
Okeechobee County Extension
Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578
Phone: (863) 763-6469
E- mail: okeechobee@ufl.edu
The following article appeared on page 1 of the Okeechobee News, June 21, 2007 and on their web page, Newszap.com: http://www.newszap.com/articles/2007/06/20/fl/lake_okeechobee/aok04.txt
Local man recognized for gardening talent
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| Local couple, Harold and Jeanne Mounts, was recognized for making their acre of land a Florida Yard by the University of Florida Extension Office. Photo by Angela Sachson, UF/IFAS |
The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods
recently recognized Okeechobee residents Joanne and Harold
Mounts for outstanding Florida friendly gardening
practices.
“Not only is the Mounts’ yard beautiful, but it is
notable for careful water use, inviting wildlife,
prevention of storm runoff, environmentally responsible
fertilizer and pesticide use.” stated Angela Sachson,
head of the local Florida Yards & Neighborhoods
program at the University of Florida/IFAS extension
office.
This program emphasizes nine major points; site-specific
plant selection, water efficiency, mulching to maintain
moisture, appropriate fertilization, attracting wildlife,
recycling, responsible management of pest, reduction of
runoff, and waterfront protection.
“I plant Florida friendly plants that don’t require a
lot of water,” said Mr. Mount, Master Gardener, about
his yard. “I don’t use fertilizer and keep my grass
four inches at all times.”
The Florida Yardstick Workbook, a basic guide of how to
create a Florida yard, states the importance of
maintaining the proper height for the grass in each lawn,
“The higher the grass, the more extensive the root
system, and the healthier the lawn.”
The idea behind this program is not to
create more work for the gardeners, but to encourage the
health of our natural surroundings.
“I spend about six hours a week working on my lawn,
cutting the grass, taking care of the flower bed,”
stated Mr. Mounts. “Not any more than six hours.”
Mr. Mounts’, who began taking the Master Gardener
classes offer at the extension office about a year ago,
attributes his love of gardening to tending a garden
earlier in life.
“I originally came from Pennsylvania, where we
practically lived out of our vegetable garden. We don’t
really grown vegetables anymore, but I still enjoy
gardening.”
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More information is available on the Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu. If you need additional information on Florida Friendly Yards, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469. Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 5 PM on Tuesday afternoons.
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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: 06/21/2007 . This page is maintained by Dan Culbert |
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