Native Plants and Well-Behaved Exotics
Using the Florida-Friendly Plant List as a guide, we are making sure to display as many of these plants as possible. Our hope is that, in creating a showcase of these plants for public education, we will also ensure that FBG is as Florida-Friendly as possible.
The slide show at the right displays images of the Florida-Friendly plants you might meet when visiting the Gardens.
For more information on Florida-Friendly Yards, please visit their website.
Minimum Input for Maximum Result
Whenever possible, the management of our 120-acre Gardens is conducted with environmental sensitivity, economic parity and with the needs of the community in mind.
Reduced use of pesticides keeps our waterway, Mc Kay Creek, clean. We have reduced the amount of energy inputs throughout the Gardens by changing management practices. We continue to provide a free, educational and pleasurable experience to our guests.
Preaching What We Practice
Teaching sustainability at the Florida Botanical Gardens takes many forms. Our popular self-guided tours include facts and facets of the relationship between plants and people around the world. Our youth programs teach the next generations how to face life in a changing world. Simply visiting the Gardens and reading plant labels helps our visitors make low-impact choices for their gardens.
Pinellas County Extension faculty and educators teach a variety of workshops that help citizens learn simple Florida and family-friendly strategies and practices that will help save energy, improve health, and save our community’s natural resources.
The Green Garden
- By providing volunteer opportunities for Pinellas County citizens, we help foster a sense of community
- By installing solar-powered devices throughout the Gardens, we are beginning to take ourselves "off the grid"
- New plantings are at least 80% Florida natives
- A public art project is expected for 2009 with a sustainability theme and community involvement
- A compost demonstration area supplies soil enrichment for the growing of organic vegetables
- We have begun propagating some of the rare native plants found on our property to ensure their survival
- By using natural pest control, the use of pesticides in the Gardens has been eliminated
- Our popular Holiday Lights event will feature LED lights for the 2008/9 display
- A recycling center has been added to our site providing local residents and visitors an opportunity to drop off paper, cardboard, plastic and metal
Additional Information
