Guide for Real Florida Gardeners 2018

2018

PlantRealFlorida.org PUBLISHED BY FANN

Our Cover: From turf to installed plants to sustainable landscape. No matter where you live, you can begin to preserve and restore Real Florida with native plants. With this guide, you can find the plants and professional help you need to get started where you live or work. You can do a little or a lot, outsource it all or DIY. But get started.

As we urbanize our state and planet, property owners everywhere need to assume individual responsibility for preserving Real Florida. Native plants are a simple solution that everyone can adopt to conserve water and wildlife. As our favorite Florida TV star, Chad Crawford of @howtodoflorida fame says: “If we all do a little, we can all do a lot.” Start your transformation today.

Features 04

Native Plant Landscaping in Managed Communities

08

Improving Community Ponds with Native Plants

12

Follow Florida’s Native Plant Leaders

15

How to Comfort Uneasy Neighbors with Easy-to-Read Landscapes

17

Meeting the Need for Sustainability with Native Plants

24

Buffie, the Butterfly Gardener

Real Florida Resources 24

Florida Native Plant Society

26

Real Florida Resources

26

Online & Mail Order Sources

26

Earth Friendly Mulch

26

Call Before You Dig

26

Environmental Services

27

Retail Nurseries & Garden Centers

29

Landscape Professionals

Our Cover Artist: Spence Guerin has lovingly drawn every cover of the Guide for Real Florida Gardeners since its inception in 2002. He is a professional artist and activist committed to Real Florida and justice for all. See more of his work at spenceguerin.com

Advertiser Index

ABOUT THIS GUIDE: This annual publication is a quick introduction to Florida native plants and the benefits of using them in your home landscape. Available free from your local FANN nursery or online.

ABOUT US: FANN is a statewide network of independently owned and operated native plant nurseries and landscape and environmental professionals. We grow, plant and promote native plants for sustainable Real Florida.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This publication made possible with financial support from our advertisers, sponsors, members and nonprofit supporters, and the generous contribution of photos and information from lovers of Real Florida.

PROUD PARTNER WITH Florida Native Plant Society, Florida Wildflower Foundation and the Wildflower Seed & Plant Growers Association.

PROUD MEMBER of Fresh from Florida, promoting Florida-grown agriculture.

Advertise/join FANN: 321-271-4885 or see www.FloridaNativeNurseries.org Publisher: Florida Association of Native Nurseries (FANN), PO Box 972, Melbourne FL 32902.

FANN provides advertising as submitted by its members and advertisers for informational purposes only, and shall not be held responsible for the results of any business conducted with member firms or advertisers.

Acceptance of advertising does not imply approval or endorsement.

Layout by Luke Duran, Element L Design | www.elementldesign.com ©2018 by Cameron Donaldson and the Florida Association of Native Nurseries (FANN). Text in this publication may be freely reproduced for non-commercial educational purposes only, with credit to the FANN Guide for Real Florida Gardeners.

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

Wilcox Nursery ............................................Inside front cover Green Isle Gardens ....................................................................6 Springer Environmental .........................................................10 All Native Garden Center..................................................11, 18 Sweet Bay Nursery ..................................................................12 Florida Native Wildflowers....................................................13 Florida Native Plants Nursery ..............................................14 Florida Wildflower Seed.........................................................15 Green Seasons Nursery..........................................................18 The Natives ...............................................................................19 Indian Trails Native Nursery .................................................19 Titusville Water Conservation Program............................19 Green Thumb Inc. .....................................................................21 Lindley’s Nursery and Garden Center................................21 Green Images Nursery ............................................................21 Reflections of nature Design Center ..................................21 University Press of Florida.....................................................21 Bloomin’ Crazy..........................................................................22 Native Nurseries ......................................................................22 FNPS Tarflower Chapter .......................................................22 Native Butterfly Flowers ......................................................22 Alexander Landscaping & Plant Farm ..............................23 FNPS Contradina Chapter....................................................23 Wildflowers, Naturally! ..........................................................23 FNPS Serenoa Chapter..........................................................25 FNPS Coccoloba Chapter .....................................................25 Chiappini Farm Native Nursery ..........................................30 FNPS Villages Chapter .........................................................30 Detail Divas Landscape Gardeners ...................................30

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 3

Native Plant Lands in Managed Communities 4 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

Villager Carol Spears shows off her native wildflowers. In the foreground, Silphium or Rosinweed, a long blooming, perennial butterfly magnet with cheery yellow flowers to keep your neighbors happy. Florida has two native species: Starry Rosinweed, Silphium asteriscus, and Bigleaf Rosinweed, Silphium compositum. In the back, Firebush, Hamelia patens, with nearly year-round red blooms that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and people. Carol’s sunny yard is packed with native wildflowers and native butterfly host plants to feed caterpillars. Visiting Carol is like visiting a butterfly theme park without the crowds.

caping WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

CONDO AND HOME OWNER THE VILLAGES EXAMPLE ASSOCIATIONS The Villages is a mostly upscale, modern deFlorida leads the nation in the number of velopment of multiple managed golf course communities governed by condominium communities housing some 100,000 peoand home owner associations. Most new ple in Sumter, Marion and Lake Counties, homes are built in developments managed Florida. Growth of The Villages has resulted by associations. These associations are in dramatically increased water consumplegally empowered to create and enforce tion in a region of dangerous sinkholes and rules intended to protect property values and now disappearing natural springs. Commumaintain the community’s established char- nity common area and private landscapes acter. Many associations have very detailed are what residents refer to as “neat and tidy” rules about landscaping and the process for in appearance, featuring lawns and manigetting landscape designs and changes ap- cured shrubbery. The irrigation, fertilizer, proved. Property owners who don’t follow pesticides and other controls required to the rules run into financial penalties and maintain appearances endanger the health often worse, community discord. of the ecosystem.

Traditionally, landscaping has been valThe Villages wants to maintain its style. ued primarily for its appearance. Thus, most Environmentally informed community association rules have focused on what the members are worried about water and more. landscaping looks like—not how it functions ecologically. This is beginning to change as communities demand more environmentally friendly landscaping and sustainability. The University of Florida has developed the “Florida-friendly Landscaping™” education program to help Florida property owners and industry professionals learn about common-sense landscaping practices that can reduce our impact on the environment.

Florida has legislation in place to protect communities and homeowners who want to use FloridaKeeping it neat, tidy and native. This maintenance crew is not edging turfgrass. They’re edging Turkey-tangle Fogfruit, friendly landscaping™ practices.

Phyla nodiflora, a flowering evergreen native groundcover that Appearance will always be attracts pollinators and butterflies and is a good choice for a important. So communities relow traffic lawn area that is periodically irrigated or receives ally need excellent examples of stormwater runoff. Because this neighborhood is filled with attractive landscapes that use manicured lawns, the maintenance crew string trims the Fogfruit a few times a year to maintain a “cut” lawn-like native plants to conserve water appearance. If you don’t need a “cut” lawn appearance, supply and water quality, supdon’t cut the Fogfruit. Leave the tiny flowers for the bees and port wildlife including pollinaenjoy seeing Phaon Crescent, White Peacock and Common tors, and increase joy, not toil, in Buckeye butterflies lay their eggs. Do not apply pesticides. our landscapes.

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 5

What to do? Use more native plants! And four years ago, a new chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, The Villages Chapter FNPS, formed with this vision: “The Villages becomes renowned for its extensive use of native plants and award winning native plant landscapes.”

The Villages Chapter FNPS focuses on converting local turf-dominated yards to all or mostly native plants, following community rules and standards and applying Florida-friendly landscaping™ principles.

Designs, installation and maintenance is done by a mix of native plant professionals and volunteers. The yards look terrific and every year, the chapter persuades more homeowners to convert.

Of course, this small group of pioneers has a long way to go in this ocean of turf and needy non-native plants. But they are making steady, measurable progress. And they’ve developed resources, including lists of preferred plants and suppliers, and are working with the University of Florida to develop standard landscape designs for the different lot types (e.g., rectangular, cul de sac) in the communities. They provide

monthly education programs, landscape tours for residents twice a year and have published multiple slideshows and videos on YouTube.com. Chapter President Steve

Turnipseed speaks regularly at native plant education programs around the state and has won awards for his personal landscape.

What they’re doing, you can do too.

Above: Water bill shows reduced consumption over past year for landscape partially pictured on page 5. This Villages property owner reduced their water use by 70%, simply by converting the turfgrass areas to native plants.

Using properly selected native plants can dramatically reduce your need to irrigate. Think about it: who’s watering the woods? Native plants thrive on rainfall.

Left: This orderly backyard in The Villages provides habitat for wildlife and some privacy for the owner, who lives on a busy golf course. In the foreground, Sunshine Mimosa, Mimosa strigillosa is the groundcover. To the right, a pergola planted on top with a native flowering vine mix of Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, and Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata, attracts butterflies and shades a seating area. The rocky pond recycles water and supports wildlife. Neatly trimmed native trees and shrubs provide nesting area and cover for many birds.

Tips for Homeowners Resources: n

Know the rules and play by the rules. You bought into the community.

Don’t break the rules and hope for approval after the fact. You may make enemies and lose support for your goals.

n

Don’t like the rules? Get involved and use community education to change values and rules.

n

Look around and study your community’s landscaping. You’ll want to mimic the style but probably make better (native) plant selections.

n

Learn about your local native plants. Join your local Florida Native Plant Society chapter and go to programs and tours that feature local native landscapes.

n

Start a list of native plants that you like and think are a good match for your community.

n

Work with a native plant professional that can help you select the right native plants and help you understand how to keep them looking good.

This is even more important when someone else does the maintenance.

Don’t be surprised if the mow-and-blow crew damages your new native plants. You may need to educate them.

n

You’re designing for looks, for the environment and for maintenance.

When you go through your association’s application process, explain how you are designing to fit with community standards, explain the benefits of your plants without being preachy, and be prepared to explain how the plants can be maintained year round.

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

For professionals and plants: PlantRealFlorida.org and FloridaNativeNurseries.org For examples: thevillages.fnpschapters.org Also see “Going Native in The Villages” video at FlipMyFloridaYard.com, sponsored by the Native Plant Horticulture Foundation, and search YouTube.com with keywords “native plants” and “The Villages” For your local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society: FNPS.org For strategies and community education programs, your county extension office: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ and the University of Florida Florida-friendly Landscaping™ Program https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 7

Water quality

Improving Community Ponds

with Native Plants

Many Florida neighborhoods and urban areas developed since the 1980s feature artificial ponds that store and filter rainwater coming off roofs, driveways, roads and elevated lawns.

Unfortunately, many of these ponds are not created or managed in a way that mimics natural wetland ecosystems.

As a result, ponds that should be attractive and functional become costly environmental problems. A costly environmental problem is how Oak Court Association in Sarasota County viewed one of their ponds for twenty years. During that time, they spent thousands of dollars repeatedly replacing their pond’s littoral shelf planting.

The littoral shelf is the shoreline or shallow area around the edge of the pond. Littoral zone plantings are critical in protecting water quality, controlling erosion and providing habitat for all kinds of wildlife in and out of the water.

The most common reasons that littoral shelf plantings fail include improperly designed pond bottoms that drop off steeply rather than providing a natural gradual slope, construction-compacted soils that are too hard for small plants to root in and improper plant selection. Poor existing water

8 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

quality and the overuse or misuse of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides can also harm or destroy plants. Oak Court Association couldn’t identify the source of their prob-

PHOTO: FANN The worst practice: grass to the water’s edge. This is a recipe for disaster as fertilizer and other inputs applied to the grass will leach into the water. Probably grass clippings from mowers will make their way to the water also, a no-no for protecting water quality. The fountain looks pretty but don’t be fooled: it will not improve your pond’s water quality.

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

Foreground L-R: American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, Fakahatcheegrass, Tripsacum dactyloides, Giant Leather Fern, Acrostichum danaefolium.

Over time, this planting will evolve as larger plants crowd out smaller ones. Across the way, we see the next grassy bank to be planted.

PHOTO: ANNIE SCHILLER

Do the homeowners like the results? Bob Landry, longtime association board member who has been working on grounds and landscaping issues for the past ten years, says “We are very happy with the result. We keep our area, Oak Court, in kind of a natural lush setting. The plants around the pond contribute greatly to that image.” Oak Court Association worked with Florida Native Plants Nursery in Sarasota to select and install attractive native plants that would

lems and was facing hefty fines for a pond that could not comply with municipal code.

Sarasota County, focused on providing healthy habitat, helped the association develop a compliant work-around: replacing turfgrass on the banks We keep our area, Oak Court, with native plants. The result, in kind of a natural lush setting. pond banks landscaped mostly or entirely with native plants, is The plants around the pond an idea that every community contribute greatly to that image.” can adopt to protect and improve water quality—even if littoral shelf plantings are thriving. By thrive on the pond bank and provide good removing turfgrass and non-native plants, habitat value.

Looking for safe, healthy excitement? the association eliminated mowing and fertilizing. Weeds are managed manually once Walk slowly around your pond, watch your a month. Best of all, the plants provide habi- native plants and the enjoy the wildlife they attract. tat and seasonal beauty.

“

Romance! Here we see two tiny damselflies, specifically Rambur’s forktails, mating. These delicate creatures eat loads of mosquitoes. If you don’t see insects around your pond, you probably have an environmental problem. Do not spray. PHOTO: MARY KEIM

Plants Used at Oak Court Florida Native Plants Nursery focused on selecting easy, attractive native plants with habitat value. Most of the species used are listed below.

Along the water’s edge: n

Fakahatcheegrass Tripsacum dactyloides

n

Giant Leather Fern Acrostichum danaefolium

n

Horsetail Equisetum species

Up the slope: n

American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana

n

Coontie Zamia pumila

n

Dwarf Fakahatcheegrass Tripsacum floridanum

n

Firebush Hamelia patens

n

Saw Palmetto Serenoa repens

Throughout, for color, self-seeding native wildflowers: n

Coreopsis Coreopsis species

n

Native Porterweed Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

n

Rose Milkweed Asclepias incarnata

n

Starry Rosinweed Silphium asteriscus

n

Tropical Salvia Salvia coccinea

Work with your nearest native nursery or trusted online source to select the best native plants for your pond.

How can you keep a healthy community pond? Turn to page 11.

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 9

Water quality

Tips for Healthy Community Ponds Select environmental companies that specialize in the design, installation and maintenance of successful littoral shelf plantings using exclusively native plants.

For pond bank plantings, work with an environmental company or landscape designer that has successfully used native plants on shoreline and pond bank plantings. Make sure that pond bank plants will not shade out littoral shelf plantings.

Human beings tend to be irrationally fearful of big plants, lots of plants and thin, “weedy looking” plants. Be sure your plans include plenty of smaller, attractive native plants and pathways. Educate your community about plants and their habitat benefits.

Make sure your design and environmental team work together and have a solid plan for successful removal of turf and eliminating weeds in the soil before planting.

Work with experienced professionals to develop a maintenance schedule for grooming your native plants and most importantly, staying on top of weeds regularly.

Find the plants and environmental and landscape resources you need at PlantRealFlorida.org and FloridaNativeNurseries.org

PHOTO: PEG URBAN Two beautiful native shrubs useful in most areas of the state are American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, and Firebush, Hamelia patens, mixed together here in a casual planting. These shrubs can take light shade conditions under the edge of tree canopies, making them a good choice in heavily treed Oak Court. Firebush has a long blooming season and attracts lots of butterflies and birds. American Beautyberry’s magenta-colored fruit provides a lot of unique color and food for birds.

Close-up view of the colorful fronds of Giant Leather Fern.

Giant Leather Fern is a striking accent shrub in the Central and South Florida landscape. It will reach 8-10 feet in height and about the same width. It spreads by easily removed underground suckers. Keep it looking fresh by combing out old fronds.

PHOTO: MARY KEIM

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

Action! Here we see a Great Blue Heron that has just caught a small black swamp snake. Water and native plants bring life to your landscape. Learn to be part of your environment and enjoy the life you see. Most wildlife poses no threat.

PHOTO: MARY KEIM

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 11

Follow Florida’s Native Plant Leaders The organizations featured here are leaders in Florida’s native plant movement. Thanks to their efforts, every year, more Floridians become aware of native plants, support conservation and community sustainability programs and even begin to

PHOTO: PEG URBAN

Florida Native Plant Society

Florida Wildflower Foundation

FNPS.org Start here! FNPS is Florida's oldest and largest group of native plant enthusiasts committed to the preservation, conservation and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. Join and meet botanists, ecologists, land managers and ordinary nature lovers.

FNPS provides a deep well of ecological knowledge and passion to preserve our natural heritage. You can meet scientists who know every detail about a plant species or a natural area as well as fellow homeowners who are transforming their landscapes. With more than 4000 members and almost 40 regional chapters, FNPS provides the biggest local and statewide network of native plant advocates. See a list of chapters who support this guide on page 24.

FlaWildflowers.org This group focuses on preserving and promoting Florida's wildflowers, using donations and funds from the State Wildflower License Plate to fund education and conservation programs. Many FNPS members and others support this extra effort to promote and preserve the hundreds of native wildflower species that keep Real Florida beautiful and healthy. The foundation works with municipal agencies and local communities across the state to preserve wildflowers and reintroduce them on public roadways, in parks and schoolyards. Here you'll find wildflower experts, resources for communities and schoolteachers, and a network of fellow flower lovers.

See ad for the wildflower garden recognition program on page 23.

u

Charitable nonprofit Conservation & education u Serves the state of Florida

u

u

u

12 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

Charitable nonprofit Conservation & education u Serves the state of Florida

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

Consider this a quick introduction. Go online to learn more and find out how you can help them. Donate H Join H Volunteer use native plants in their personal landscapes. These groups share common goals and often work collaboratively to protect and promote Florida native plants.

Institute for Regional Conservation

Florida Association of Native Nurseries

Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association

RegionalConservation.org This group works in Florida and around the world to preserve and restore regional biodiversity and to prevent regional extinctions of rare plants, animals and ecosystems. IRC botanists and ecologists develop comprehensive online inventories of plant species used to develop strategies for conserving local species and educate local communities. IRC provides “Natives for Your Neighborhood,” a high quality online database for learning about Florida native plants local to a zip code, performs restoration projects, and engages local volunteers and organizations in hands-on restoration activities.

FloridaNativeNurseries.org FANN represents Florida’s native plant industry: businesses growing and using native plants for landscape and restoration. Members are wholesale growers, retail nurseries and garden centers, landscape and environmental professionals, and supporting businesses. The association provides professional development and networking opportunities through events and promotes members through digital and print media. Wish your landscaping service or garden center did more with native plants? Connect them with FANN, where they can find the plants and professional services they need. FANN has also created a charitable foundation, (see pp. 16-17,) to expand and strengthen the native plant industry.

FloridaWildflowers.com This agricultural cooperative provides a Floridabased supply of wildflower seed for small and large planting projects and an online marketplace for the sale of seed in bulk quantities and individual packets. Members are growers who share strategies and resources and sell seed through the cooperative, which works with the Florida Wildflower Foundation and state agencies to increase demand for wildflower seed in Florida. The cooperative collaborates with partner organizations to educate industry and the public about the availability, benefits and use of native wildflowers.

Charitable nonprofit Conservation & education u Based in Florida, serves the planet u u

Nonprofit trade association Native plant industry leadership u Serves Florida u

Nonprofit agricultural cooperative Native seed supply u Serves Florida u u

u

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 13

14 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

Landscape design

Above: Homeowner Julie Wheeler, at right, explains how native wildflowers are carefully mixed with Muhlygrass in a linear bed bordered on both sides by mulch pathways. At left, closer to the screen enclosure, a shrub bed of Scorpiontail, Heliotropium angiospermum, is trimmed to stay compact and shapely. Pathways are clear.

Below right: There are several different species in the Quillin-Ramsey side yard, but plants are both grouped and separated to preserve an overall orderliness.

Some plants are shaped with trimming. The clear pathway, visually distinguished from the mulched beds, tells the “landscape reader” that humans are in control.

N

ature and privacy lovers tend to enjoy dense vegetation and lots of plants. Other people, perhaps most, feel uneasy when they can’t see around, over or through a landscape. Perhaps they’re subconsciously channeling ancient predators in the woods. Here we see

DISTINCT SHAPES: Arrange plants and groups of plants so they are visually distinct.

Trim plants as needed to keep them visually distinct.

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

carefully planned landscapes in The Villages, where homeowners are finding ways to reintroduce quite a few native plants without scaring their (very) nearby neighbors.

Photos were taken in late November, after fall flowering is finished and some perennials begin to go dormant for the winter.

EDGES: Keep clear, sharp edges along paths, driveway, sidewalk and the street.

VIEWS: Layer plant heights so that viewers can see near and look far.

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 15

Making native plants and native plant professionals available to

Sustainability

through Native Plants Native plants are essential components of the natural systems that support us.

Preserving and using more native plants protects the natural resources we depend on and makes it possible for us to restore ecological function to our landscapes.

Every year, more people understand this and demand for native plants steadily, if slowly, increases. In Florida, this is due largely to the efforts of a handful of organizations featured in this guide. But native plant availability remains limited as does the pool of horticulture and landscape professionals who know how to grow and use them.

F

ifty years ago, there was a small and limited organic and natural foods industry. It was hard to find many or good products, and few people knew what to do with them. Today, organic foods are widely available and we see a growing local food movement. Popular restaurants feature organic and locally produced foods. We need to similarly transform the horticulture and landscape industry with more and better use of native plants.

Enter the Native Plant Horticulture Foundation, a new charity created by FANN,

16 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

the publisher of this guide. The foundation’s mission is to expand the supply of native plants and native plant professionals so that communities everywhere can be truly sustainable. The foundation focuses its programs in three major areas: Student Support: High school and college students have limited exposure to native plant related career opportunities. The foundation has enabled students to travel to and participate in a variety of native plant

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

every community

Film crew captures popular “Real Florida” entertainer Chad Crawford (blue shirt) talking with Steve Turnipseed, president of The Villages Chapter FNPS and a leader in successful introduction of native plants in homeowner associations. The foundation sponsored the first all-native episode of a new TV series, Flip My Florida Yard, produced and directed by Emmy award-winning Chad Crawford, perhaps best known for the HowtodoFlorida series. Chad’s new show promotes water conservation through better plant choices and landscape design. Our episode featured a landscape in The Villages. The engaging format excites viewers and resulted in several inquiries to Florida native nurseries and landscape businesses.

Landscape architecture students Ross West and Alexis Boenker with Professor Mike Volk. The foundation sponsored this team from the University of Florida Center for Landscape Conservation to develop a native landscape design for the Bradenton Area Convention Center, a high visibility public property in Parrish, Florida. The team’s final plan will be presented to professionals and the public at the Native Plant Show, an event hosted by the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. The foundation hopes to raise funding for installation in 2019 and see the landscape used for future education.

To find out more and donate: www.NativePlantHort.org Native Plant Horticulture Foundation H 1900 S Harbor City Blvd, Ste 229 H Melbourne FL 32901

Flowering dogwood Cornus florida

“Everywhere I go, people ask me: ‘Who can I hire to do this?’

And I have to say to them, ‘I do not know.’”

Doug Tallamy, scientist and author of national bestseller Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

The Native Plant Horticulture Foundation helps young people immerse themselves in the native plant movement by involving them in special events and programs, providing professional and informal education opportunities, and connecting them with valuable professional contacts. Left to right: Wayne Baker, emerging horticulture professional; Shannon Collins, botany student; Ivy Henderson, landscape architecture student; Gabe Campbell, horticulture student; Zach Zeller, sustainability student; Amanda Morgan, emerging horticulture professional; and Crystal Conner, horticulture student.

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 17

events in Florida and Washington, D.C., take professional native plant education classes, present their own native plant research to professional audiences, and network with future colleagues and employers in the native plant industry.

Professional Development: There are limited resources available to learn about growing and using native plants professionally. The native plant industry is small and widespread, making it difficult to network with colleagues. To help make education and networking more accessible to small businesses, emerging professionals and students, the foundation sponsors participation in conferences, trade shows, native landscape tours, nursery workshops and special education programs like a recent wildflower workshop at Bok Tower Gardens.

Public Education and Outreach: The supply of native plants and professionals

Dahoon Holly Ilex cassine won’t grow unless there is a strong and consistent demand from consumers. The foundation has sponsored a television show and created a showcase native landscapes program to demonstrate the benefits of native plant landscaping. Both projects have resulted in new customers for existing native

18 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

plant businesses.

To find out more and to donate: www.NativePlantHort.org Native Plant Horticulture Foundation, 1900 S Harbor City Blvd, Ste 229, Melbourne FL 32901

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 19

BUFFIE, THE BUTTERFLY GARDENER W e drove through the gated entry, passing one nice home after another, all on oversized lots with monotonous, mostly turf-intensive landscapes with a tropicals planted for color.

Certainly not the worst we’ve seen in Palm Beach County, and at the back of the neighborhood, mature South Florida Slash Pines were still standing. So we kept the faith. We were, after all, on a Florida Native Plant Society landscape tour and destined to see a Real Florida landscape any minute.

At our destination, we were excited to see a long line of parked cars. We got even more excited talking to folks arriving to take the tour – many In their 30s and 40s, and representing the diversity found in South Florida’s human population. One Hispanic couple really surprised us, revealing that they maintain separate homes because they

have different habits, including landscape styles. “I do what I want to mine [yard],” said the husband, “and thank goodness for that,” the wife responded. The two did agree on one thing: the native Sunshine Mimosa was a nice groundcover. “I can put it where the grass doesn’t grow,” the wife said. “Yes,” said the husband.

We walked with them to the table at the driveway and handed in our tickets. Susan Lerner, the president of the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS), introduced us to her team of volunteers, including Master Gardeners and others from FNPS, the local Audubon Society chapter and the local chapter of NABA, the North American Butterfly Association. Gardeners and nature lovers excitedly explained both the plants and the critters that attendees were seeing, pointing

Buffie Judd, Butterfly Gardener, has transformed her lifeless turfgrass yard into a Real Florida haven for wildlife, including dozens of different butterfly and bird species.

A beautiful silvery hedge of Sea Lavender, Heliotropium gnaphalodes, in front of a mixed privacy screen planting of shrubs and small trees. Buffie’s yard has several mature South Florida Slash Pines, Pinus elliottii var. densa, but she has planted a young one, center right, because there’s always room for one more.

20 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

A Step-by-Step Guide to a Florida Native Yard G I N N Y S T I B O LT A N D MARJORIE SHROPSHIRE

Paperback $21.95

Son of Real Florida Stories from My Life JEFF KLINKENBERG

Hardcover $24.95

Trees South Florida and the Keys

@floridapress

UNIVERSITY PRESS OF FLORIDA

ANDREW K. KOESER, MELISSA H. F R I E D M A N , G I T TA H A S I N G , A L A N R . F R A N C K , H O L LY F I N L E Y, AND JULIE SCHELB

Paperback $24.95

upress.ufl.edu | 800.226.3822

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 21

out birds, butterflies and butterfly caterpillars. Signs posted all over helped to identify plants and wildlife supported by the plants.

We walked all around the house and then got a chance to talk to owner Buffie Judd.

Buffie has been a gardener all her life, al-

ways loved plants. She also really loves but- tive nursery in Lake Worth providing plants terflies. Years ago, she began visiting a but- and landscaping, and called them. “The regterfly attraction and planting everything they ular guys just didn’t know anything.” Meadrecommended. Unfortunately, they recom- owbeauty was a whole different deal. They mended mostly non-native plants. Soon she introduced her to native plants that were had overgrown Sweet Almond, Firespike, naturally adapted to the free pine needle Shrimp Plants and more, all non- mulch. The new plants also did a much betnative and none doing much to ter job of attracting, and keeping, butterflies increase the butterfly popula- in her yard, as well as migrating birds. tion. She was paying a lot of Buffie developed a relationship with money to keep these plants Meadowbeauty that over the years, has reunder control. The financial sulted in a complete transformation of the turning point came when the landscape and a personal evolution for Buffie. landscape service suggested that “Before, I gardened more for the look of it,” all the pine needles, made avail- she said. Her thinking shifted and values able by the large pine trees on the deepened as she saw that how it looked matproperty, had to be raked up, re- tered much less than what it did. She joined moved and replaced with [pur- FNPS and other organizations, watched what chased] organic mulch. Buffie the plants did and got hooked. “The more nadecided that just didn’t make tives I had, the more I wanted.” Buffie exsense and put her foot down. plained that “normal gardening” no longer The pine needles were staying. seems like enough for her. “I’m not a [ornaBuffie’s mailbox is planted in a hedge of Golden Beach Creeper, Around the same time, she mental] gardener anymore, I’m really about Ernodea littoralis. This relatively “shaped” hedge sends a learned about Meadowbeauty habitat and wildlife. When I see companies “planted on purpose” signal to passersby, and contrasts well with the more informal mixed planting behind it.

Nursery, a FANN member na- spraying whole hedges, I just think ‘wipe out.’

22 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

The large backyard is open and sunny, supporting a tremendous assemblage of wildflowers and bunchgrasses that admittedly can get somewhat messy looking. But this area is an important nectaring resource for butterflies and the hummingbirds that come every winter. The flowers and grasses also produce a lot of seed for birds.

Bob Peterson

I don’t spray. I don’t use chemicals.”

But she does maintain the yard with professional help. The large yard is very heavily vegetated but looks intentional, a little soft around the edges but not completely wild.

Meadowbeauty sends someone out seasonally, 2-3 times a year, to trim trees and hand trim shrubs to keep them at desired heights.

Her new “regular guy,” who is familiar with native plants, comes twice a month, spending 4-6 hours each time to keep pathways cleared, trim and move limbs, and do some weeding. Buffie herself handles most weeding now, a chore that was almost overwhelming in the early days, but declined as more trees and shrubs shade the ground.

In a large yard with no turf but hundreds of plants, what is Buffie’s personal maintenance routine? A half-hour stroll through the yard two mornings a week, weeding as she goes and changing water in the birdbaths, followed by a one-hour session on Sundays.

“I spend a lot more time watching than working,” she said, and then pointed out another butterfly.

Serving South Brevard County Annual Fall Landscape Tour - info online FREE Programs Melbourne Library Landscape Certification Program http://conradina.fnpschapters.org WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 23

FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY CHAPTERS | DIRECTORY

Local Chapters Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) Preserving, conserving and restoring Florida’s native plants The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS)

Charlotte

is the state’s largest social network of Real Florida Gardeners, a great resource. Chapters listed here sponsor this guide. Support them and get involved!

Phone: 941-769-3633 Email: mangrovefnps@comcast.net Web: http://mangrove.fnpschapters.org Meets: 7:00pm 2nd Tuesday of the month, Oct-May, at Lemon Bay Park, 570 Bay Park Blvd, Englewood.

www.fnps.org FNPS chapter location on map pg. 26

Mangrove Chapter FNPS

Citrus Citrus Chapter FNPS

Alachua Paynes Prairie Chapter FNPS Email: markelliott1955@gmail.com Web: paynesprairie.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 7:00pm 3rd Tuesdays of the month, Sept-May, Phillips Hall, Unitarian Universalist Church, 4225 NW 34th St, Gainesville.

Bay Sweetbay Chapter FNPS Phone: 850-234-6453 Email: dcfable@gmail.com Web: sweetbay.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 5:30pm 1st Thursday of every month except July at Science and Discovery Center, 308 Airport Rd, Panama City.

Brevard Conradina Chapter FNPS Phone: 321-729-6857 Email: sharon@maplestreetnatives.com Web: http://conradina.fnpschapters.org Meets 6:00pm 2nd Monday of the month (except June-August), at Melbourne Library, Fee Avenue in Downtown Melbourne.

Sea Rocket Chapter FNPS Phone: 321-277-5741 Email: lois6459@att.net Web: www.nbbd.com/npr/SeaRocket Meets: 7:00 pm 4th Wednesday, SeptJune, Enchanted Forest Sanctuary, 444 Columbia Blvd, Titusville.

Broward Broward Chapter FNPS Phone: 954-661-6289 Email: richard@brownscombe.net Web: http://coontie.org Meets: 7:00pm second Wednesday of every month except July and August at Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach.

Phone: 352-212-2390 Email: citrusNPS@gmail.com Web: http://citrus.fnpschapters.org Meets: 7:00pm 1st Tuesday of the month at Crystal Oaks Civic Center in Lecanto.

Collier Naples Chapter FNPS Email: naplesnativeplants@gmail.com Web: http://naples.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 6:30pm 2nd Tuesday of the month, Oct-May, unless otherwise specified, at the Naples Botanical Garden.

Duval Ixia Chapter FNPS Email: catehurlbutixia@yahoo.com Web: http://ixia.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 6:30pm 2nd Thursday each month except July, August & December at Willowbranch Library, 2875 Park St, Jacksonville.

Escambia Longleaf Pine Chapter FNPS Phone: 850-529-3754 Email: fnps.longleaf.pine@gmail.com Web: http://longleafpine.fnpschapters.org Meets: 6:00pm 2nd Thursday of each month at the *new* Lucia Tryon Branch Library at 1200 Langley Ave, Pensacola.

Hernando Hernando Chapter FNPS Phone: 352-583-2384, 352-583-2384 Email: liberton@earthlink.net Web: www.hcfnps.org Meets: 6:30pm 1st Monday of every month at Chinsegut Hill, 22495 Chinsegut Hill Rd, Brooksville.

Hillsborough Suncoast Chapter FNPS Phone: 813-478-1183 Email: info@suncoastnps.org Web: www.suncoastnps.org

24 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

Meets: 7:00pm, 3rd Wednesday, Hillsborough County Extension Office, 5339 C.R. 579, Seffner.

Indian River Eugenia Chapter FNPS Phone: 772-567-1565 Email: jfavril1@comcast.net Web: http://eugenia.fnpschapters.org Meets: 7:30pm 3rd Thursday of each month at the Florida Medical Entomology Lab on Oslo Road, east of US Hwy. 1 in Vero Beach.

Lake Lake Beautyberry Chapter FNPS Phone: 352-669-4963 Email: lakebeautyberry@yahoo.com Web: lakebeautyberry.fnpschapters.org Meets: 2pm, third Sundays at Trout Lake Nature Center, 520 E County Rd. 44, Eustis.

Passionflower Chapter FNPS Phone: 407-448-6195 Email: passionflower.fnps@gmail.com Web: passionflower.fnpschapters.org Contact us about meetings.

Coccoloba Chapter FNPS Phone: 239-273-8945 Email: FNPSCoccoloba@gmail.com Web: www.fnpscoccoloba.org Meets: 7:00pm 3rd Thursday every month except May & December, Holton Eco-Preserve at Universalist Unitarian Church, 13411 Shire Ln, Fort Myers.

Leon Magnolia Chapter FNPS Phone: 954-292-3099 Email: magnoliachapter@gmail.com Web: http://magnolia.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 7:30pm 1st Thursday each month, Room 1024, King Life Science Building on FSU campus, 319 Stadium Dr, Tallahassee.

Marion Marion Big Scrub Chapter FNPS Phone: 352-821-0298 Email: thinkhabitat61@gmail.com Web: marionbigscrub.fnpschapters.org/ Meest: 6:00pm last Monday of each month at Belleview Library, 13145 SE Hwy 484, Belleview.

Martin County Chapter FNPS Phone: 734-502-8563

Miami-Dade Dade Chapter FNPS Phone: 305-985-3677 Email: dadefnps@gmail.com Web: dade.fnpschapters.org Meets: 7:30pm 4th Tuesday except July, August & December at Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Red Rd, Pinecrest.

Orange Tarflower Chapter FNPS Phone: 352-219-5381 Email: Tarflower.FNPS@gmail.com Web: http://tarflower.fnpschapters.org Meets: 7:00pm 1st Tuesdays, Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando.

Osceola Pine Lily Chapter FNPS

Lee

Martin

Email: president@cocoplum.fnpschapters.org Web: http://cocoplum.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 6:00pm monthly 1st Tuesday, Oct-May, Wolf High-Technology Center, Chastain Campus, Indian River State College, Stuart.

Phone: 321-388-4781 Web: http://pinelily.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 6:0pm 4th Thursday every month, Kissimmee Utility Authority Building Boardroom, 1701 W Carroll St, Kissimmee.

Palm Beach Palm Beach County Chapter FNPS Phone: 561-247-3677 Email: palmbeach@fnpschapters.org Web: http://palmbeach.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 7:00pm 3rd Tuesday every month at Mounts Building, Mounts Botanical Garden, 531 Military Tr, West Palm Beach.

Pasco Nature Coast Chapter FNPS Phone: 727-863-1363 Email: naturecoastfnps@gmail.com Web: http://www.pasconativeplants.org Meets: 7:00pm 2nd Tuesday of the month at Land O’Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’Lakes Blvd, Land O’Lakes.

Pinellas Pinellas Chapter FNPS Email: pinellas@fnpschapters.org Web: http://pinellas.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 7:00pm 1st Wednesday at Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Ln, Clearwater.

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

Annual Conference

FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY CHAPTERS | DIRECTORY

FNPS

May 16-19, 2019 Plantation on Crystal River fnps.org/conference

Polk

Suwannee

Heartland Chapter FNPS

Sparkleberry Chapter FNPS

Phone: 863-393-4647 Email: emurawski@kleinfelder.com Web: http://heartland.fnpschapters.org Meets: 6:30 pm 3rd Tuesday every other month at the Circle B Bar Reserve Nature Discovery Center, 4399 Winter Lake Rd, Lakeland.

Phone: 386-364-9309 Email: csullivan12@windstream.net Web: sparkleberry.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 6:30pm 2nd Tuesday of each month, except for July and August, at Hatch Park Community Center, 403 SE Craven St, Branford.

Sarasota

Serenoa Chapter FNPS Phone: 941-794-8773 Email: srepens@gmail.com Web: http://serenoa.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 7:00pm, 3rd Monday, Sept-May at Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 Palm Ave S.

Seminole

Volusia Pawpaw Chapter FNPS Phone: 386-690-1797 Email: guidry.sonya@gmail.com Web: pawpaw.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 7:00pm 2nd Monday except September, when it’s 3rd Monday, 7:00, Piggotte Community Center, 504 Big Tree Rd., South Daytona.

Cuplet Fern Chapter FNPS Phone: 352-658-3677 Email: CupletFern@gmail.com Web: cupletfern.fnpschapters.org Meets: 7:00pm 2nd Monday of the month at the Sanford Garden Club, 200 Fairmont Dr, Sanford.

St Johns

Wakulla Sarracenia Chapter FNPS Email: capital.ideas@att.net Web: http://sarracenia.fnpschapters.org Meets: 6:30pm 3rd Tuesday of every month at Wakulla County Public Library, 4330 Crawfordville Hwy, Crawfordville.

Sea Oats Chapter FNPS Phone: 904-461-9629 Email: seaoats.fnps@gmail.com Web: http://seaoats.fnpschapters.org Meets: Contact us about meetings.

St. Lucie Lakela’s Mint Chapter FNPS Phone: 772-323-7982 Email: Lakelasmint.fnps@gmail.com Web: http://lakelasmint.fnpschapters.org Contact us about events.

Sumter Sumter Chapter FNPS Phone: 352-568-8277 Email: nancy.dwyer@myfwc.com Web: http://sumter.fnpschapters.org Meets: 6:00pm 2nd Monday of each month at Sumterville Community Building, US 301, 1/2 mile south of CR 470.

The Villages Chapter FNPS Phone: 352-674-8385 Email: thevillages@fnpschapters.org Web: http://thevillages.fnpschapters.org/ Meets: 1:30pm 4th Friday of each month except December at Big Cypress Recreation Center 3110 Hendry Dr, The Villages.

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

PHOTO: TROY SPRINGER

This little bumblebee is having a fine time gathering pollen inside this Clematis flower. Florida has seven native Clematis species, at least three of which do just fine in a garden setting. They are hard to find now, but will become more available if you keep asking for native plants.

www.fnps.org FNPS chapter location on map pg. 26 GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 25

REAL FLORIDA GARDNERS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES | DIRECTORY

ONLINE AND MAIL ORDER

Phone: 888-361-9998 Web: www.plantvine.com Email: info@plantvine.com

Florida Native Wildflowers

Restless Natives

Pesticide-free Florida native ecotype starter plants germinated onsite and fresh seeds collected locally.

Web: http://floridanativewildlowers.com Email: floridanativewildflowers@gmail.com

Green Seasons Nursery Sea oats, coastal species, annual and perennial Florida ecotype wildflowers, grasses and upland shrubs.

Phone: 941-776-1605 Web: www.greenseasonsnursery.com Email: seaoater@gmail.com

Mail-Order Natives Hard-to-find native trees, shrubs, azaleas, grasses, perennials, ferns and palms. Mail order only. One of the most respected names in the native plant industry.

Phone: 850-973-0585 Web: www.mailordernatives.com Email: superiortrees@centurylink.net

PlantVine Working to bring the largest inventory of native plants in a variety of sizes from the best nurseries. Ship only, no pickup.

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG A2. Sunshine 811

Florida native ecotype Milkweed (Asclepias species) for Monarch butterflies & other native larval host plants. Find us at West Central FL regional public events.

Phone: 813-716-2348 Web: facebook.com/restlessnativesnursery Email: restlessnatives@tampabay.rr.com

Vincent Gardens Native butterfly & wildlife habitat plants for Georgia and North Florida. Onsite nursery in Douglas, GA. Web: www.vincentgardens.com

Making Florida the safest place to dig is our mission. Dial 811 to arrange for utility location & marking before you start any planting project.

Phone: 800-638-4097 Web: www.sunshine811.com

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Sustainable lake and wetland management services for private individuals and communities. Serving Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte Counties.

Phone: 941 488-1942 Email: service@beautifulponds.com Web: www.beautifulponds.com Location: Nokomis

A1. Fresh Mulch-Weed Recede Think beyond plastic. Ask your garden center for this patented, all-in-one, biodegradable weed barrier mulch system. Easy install, no bag to throw away.

Phone: 904-699-0046 Email: info@weedrecede.com Web: www.weedrecede.com Location: Jacksonville

A4. Lake and Wetland Management Serving homeowner associations and municipalities since 1992 with algae and aquatic weed control, wetland and upland preserve maintenance, erosion control, fountains & more.

Phone: 877-693-9714

20 6, P8, P9,A1

26, P29, P30, P31 P1, R3

28

33, 34 31, 32 21, P16

P2, P3, 1

Leaders in native plant availability and use since 1986

Resources for the Real Florida Gardener

P23

P10

P4, R2

27 10, 11, P11 9 P14

29 P26, P27, P28, A3

R1. Audubon Everglades Palm Beach County Chapter of Florida Audubon Society, supporting native plant garden tours, give-aways, nurseries, education programs, festivals, bird gardens and many other activities.

Phone: 561 352-7835 Email: education@auduboneverglades.org Web: www.auduboneverglades.org/ Location: Meets 7:00pm 1st Tuesday monthly at FAU Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 6301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach

R3. Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council 12

8

REAL FLORIDA RESOURCE

Educating Titusville citizens on reducing water use, increasing water efficiency, and protecting water resources. Many programs & services including FloridaFriendly Yard education.

Phone: 321-567-3865 Email: maureen.phillips@titusville.com Web: www.titusville.com/Page.asp?NavID=1217 Location: 2836 Garden St, Titusville

16

25, 26 P19, P20, P21, P22, P24, P25, A2 17, P13

We help you get into compliance with environmental regulations. Botanist consulting on use and propagation of native plants. Retail sales through Silent Native Nursery..

Phone: 786-488-3101 Email: info@pronativeconsulting.com Website: http://www.pronative.com Location: Miami

R2. City of Titusville Water Conservation Program

35

P7

A5. Pro Native Consulting

A3. Beautiful Ponds

EARTH FRIENDLY MULCH

7

Email: stufischer@lakeandwetland.com Web: www.lakeandwetland.com Location: 9218 87th Pl S , Boynton Beach

4

22, 23, 24, A4, P17,P18, R1

13,14,15, P12, R4

00 n Retail Nurseries & Garden Centers pg. 27

5, P6

A0 n Environmental Services pg. 26 P00 n Landscape Services pg. 29

2, 3 P5

18, A5, P15

A0 n Earth Friendly Products & Services pg. 26

Statewide nonprofit providing scientific, educational, and technical information on invasive exotic plants, including The List of Invasive Plant Species and a quarterly newsletter. Annual spring conference and grants.

Phone: 561-682-2782 Email: fleppc@gmail.com Web: www.fleppc.org/

R4. People’s Alliance Supporting Our Obligation to Posterity Statewide nonprofit seeking to initiate and sustain serious dialogue regarding our constitutional obligation to protect the environment for future generations.

Phone: 352-615-7188 Email: eas@pasop.org Web: www.pasop.org

 Florida Native Plant Society Chapters pg. 24 R0 ● Real Florida Resources pg. 26

26 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

19

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

Nurseries and Garden Centers Your sources for Florida native plants Brevard

Web: williamsmagicallandscaping.com Location: 1717 Pine Ridge Rd, Naples

Indian River

14. R. S. Walsh Landscaping In The Garden

1. Maple Street Natives

Duval

10. DIGG Gardens

Tropical Garden Pathways showcase a variety of sample gardens and garden features. Also on site is a bountiful plant nursery with lots of native plants and trees to choose from.

Phone: 239-395-5859, 239-980-1205 Email: jeremy@rswalsh.com Web: www.rswalsh.com Location: 3889 Sanibel-Captiva Rd, Sanibel

Open 9:00am-4:00pm Friday & Saturday.

Over 150 species of Central Florida native plants: milkweed, wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees. Pesticide free native ecotype & locally collected seed.

Phone: 321-729-6857 Email: info@maplestreetnatives.com Web: www.maplestreetnatives.com Location: 7619 Henry Ave, West Melbourne

Broward 2. Alexander Landscaping Creative sustainable landscapes designed and installed for the past 30 years. See us promoting native plants at community events. Please call for retail hours or appointment.

Phone: 954-472-5039, 954-868-8187 Email: alexfarm@comcast.net Web: www.alexfarm.com Location: 830 S Flamingo Rd, Davie

3. The Garden Gate @ Sears We always carry some native aquatics, wildflowers, shrubs, groundcovers and trees. We specialize in plants for butterfly and bird habitats and can special order for your needs.

Phone: 954-783-1189, 954-783-GATE Email: thegardengal@me.com Web: www.donnasgardengate.com Location: 2251 N Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach

Charlotte 4. All Native Garden Center & Plant Nursery 9:00am-2:30pm Tuesday & Friday, or by appointment, at Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, Alligator Creek Location. Trees, shrubs, vines, wildflowers, grasses and groundcovers.

Phone: 239-939-9663, 941-575-5435 Email: john@nolawn.com Web: www.nolawn.com Location: 10941 Burnt Store Rd, Punta Gorda

6. Native and Uncommon Plants Northeast Florida native wildflowers, ferns, perennials, shrubs, and trees plus uncommon, rare, and unusual native species. Custom residential landscape design and installation.

Phone: 904-388-9851 Email: goingnativejax@gmail.com Web: nativeanduncommonplants.com Location: 6511 Lou Dr S, Jacksonville

Gilchrist 7. Natural Treasures Farm & Nursery Native and less common retail plant nursery by appointment. Please call ahead. Landscape consultation, design and installation specializing in habitat gardens for pollinators and birds, and edible plants.

Phone: 352-463-0696, 352-225-1381 Email: naturaltreasuresfn@gmail.com Web: facebook.com/natural.treasures.7 Location: 1002 SW 9th Ave, Trenton

Hernando 8. Hickory Hill Native Nursery Growing Florida native plants for 30+ years. Find Rick at community events in Hernando County and surrounding region.

Send email for current plant availability or to get us at your community event.

Phone: 352 - 754-9701 Email: rickmhhnn@bellsouth.net Location: Brooksville

Highlands 9. Griffin Trees We harvest & cultivate Sabal Palms.

Call us to buy or sell.

Phone: 863-465-7702 Email: griffintrees@hotmail.com Web: www.griffintrees.com Location: 16500 S Jefferson Ave, Lake Placid

Boutique landscaping business focused on custom, lagoon-friendly residential designs and installations using native and Florida-friendly plants.

Phone: 772 360-2131 Email: digggardens@hotmail.com Web: www.digggardens.com Location: 7430 US Highway 1, Vero Beach

11. Native Butterfly Flowers We service Brevard and Indian River County with native plants & landscaping services. See us at farmers’ markets including Oceanside Farmer’s Market Saturdays from 8am-Noon, corner of Ocean Dr & Dahlia Ln, at Humiston Park, Vero Beach. Call or email for more info.

Phone: 321-626-7386 Email: nativebutterflyflowers@yahoo.com Web: www.nativebutterflyflowers.com

Lake 12. Green Isle Gardens

Ask us for native plants, we’ll get them.

Full service. Big pottery selection too.

Phone: 239-597-4414 Email: dana@williamsmagicallandscaping.com WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

Offering 100-150 species of South Florida native flowers, shrubs, and trees grown from local seed sources. We provide consultation, education, landscape design and installation services for Sanibel Island residents.

Phone: 239-472-1932 Email: jevans@sccf.org Web: www.sccf.org Location: 1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

Leon

Pesticide-free native grower offering retail 8:00am-2:00pm Saturday, 9:00 am-4:00pm Tuesday-Friday. Huge selection of native plants plus landscape design, installation and maintenance services.

Phone: 407-948-8980, 321-436-4932 m Email: gignatives@gmail.com Web: www.greenislegardens.com Location: 11303 Hwy 33, Groveland

16. Native Nurseries of Tallahassee

Lee

Manatee

13. All Native Garden Center & Plant Nursery

17. Sweet Bay Nursery

Over 200 species of native plants including butterfly plants, ground covers, wildflowers, vines, shrubs, trees, palms and aquatics. Landscape design, installation, and maintenance. Serving greater Fort Myers-Cape Coral region.

Phone: 239-939-9663, 239-671-9663 Email: john@nolawn.com Web: www.nolawn.com Location: 300 Center Rd, Fort Myers

Collier 5. Williams Magical Garden Center & Landscape

15. SCCF Native Landscapes & Garden Center

Native plants, wildlife habitat landscape services and organic gardening supplies.

Unique nature gift shop and wild bird store. Call for current plant availability Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm.

Phone: 850-386-8882 Email: admin@nativenurseries.com Web: www.nativenurseries.com Location: 1661 Centerville RD, Tallahassee

Huge variety of Florida native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses from locally collected seed. Usually open 8am-4pm Tues-Sat and 9am-2pm on Saturday.

Check our website.

Phone: 941-776-0501 Fax: 941-240-2129 Email: sweetbaynursery@gmail.com Web: http://sweetbaynursery.com/ Location: 10824 Erie Rd, Parrish

Miami-Dade 18. Casey’s Corner Nursery & Landscaping

Garden Centers and Retail Nurseries: PlantRealFlorida.org

Please call for retail hours or appointment. We may be at a plant show. Huge variety of South Florida native plants of all kinds. Landscape services available.

Phone: 305-248-7284 Location: 31877 SW 197 Ave, Homestead

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 27

RETAIL NURSERIES & GARDEN CENTERS | DIRECTORY

Retail

RETAIL NURSERIES & GARDEN CENTERS | DIRECTORY

Email: soho@bellsouth.net Web: southernhorticultureflorida.com Location: 1690 A1A S, St Augustine

Monroe 19. Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden Nonprofit nursery open for retail sales 3rd Saturday of the month from 10am-Noon.

10% discount for Garden Members. We accommodate disabled persons.

Phone: 305-296-1504 Email: info@keywest.garden Web: http://www.kwbgs.org Location: 5210 College Rd, Key West

Sumter 31. Shady Oaks Gather All

Common Buckeye butterfly on Summer Haw, Crataegus flava. PHOTO: PEG URBAN

Nassau 20. Reflections of Nature Landscape Design Center Call us in 2019 for info on our new, expanded location! Environmentally sensitive landscape design-build.

We also special order native plants for our customers.

Phone: 904-894-8684, 904-887-8266 Email: rnlnursery@comcast.net Web: www.rnlnursery.com Location: 3030 S 8th St, Fernandina Beach

Orange 21. Green Images Native Landscape Plants Call Jim for retail hours or appointment.

Native plants for all Florida and Coastal Plain, urban and residential, green/ sustainable landscapes. 32+ years of experience. Landscape architect services.

Phone: 407-568-1333, Jim 407-579-6887 Email: greenimage@aol.com Web: www.greenimagesnursery.com Location: 1333 Taylor Creek Rd, Christmas

Palm Beach 22. Amelia’s SmartyPlants Big selection of Florida native plants and we can get more. Plus pottery and garden décor accents.

Phone: 561-540-6296 Email: marta@ameliscapes.com Web: www.amelias-smartyplants.com Location: 1515 N Dixie HWY, Lake Worth

23. Indian Trails Native Nursery Call or email ahead; we may be out on a project. Ten acre native nursery with 60+ species of trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers, vines and ground covers.

Full service design, delivery & installation.

Licensed & insured.

Phone: 561-641-9488 Email: injntrails@aol.com Web: www.IndianTrails.vpweb.com Location: 6315 Park LN W, Lake Worth

24. Meadow Beauty Nursery Native habitat landscape specialists with

loads of butterfly and wildlife attracting plants. Saturdays 8am-Noon or by appointment. Call anytime for plant availability.

Phone: 561-601-9673 Email: clwillow@comcast.net Web: www.meadowbeautynursery.com Location: 5782 Ranches RD, Lake Worth

Pinellas 25. Twigs & Leaves 10am-3pm daily except Tuesdays. Native plants + landscape design, consultation and installation. Maintenance service throughout the Tampa Bay area for over ten years. Organic gardening supplies. We support our community.

Phone: 727-822-5400 Email: twigsnleavessp@gmail.com Web: www.twigsnleaves.com Location: 2253 1st Ave S, St Petersburg

26. Wilcox Nursery and Landscape Pinellas County’s oldest, continuously operating retail nursery and the county’s largest variety of Florida native plants. Organic gardening supplies, local consulting and landscape design.

Phone: 727-595-2073, 727-235-5419 m Email: Wilcox12501@gmail.com Web: www.wilcoxnursery.com Location: 12501 Indian Rocks Rd, Largo

Phone: 863-422-6664 Email: natives@gate.net Web: www.thenatives.net Location: 2929 JB Carter Rd, Davenport

Putnam 28. Chiappini Farm Native Nursery 30+ acres with over 170 species of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers for Central and North Florida. 100% native, pesticide free.

Phone: 352-475-5413 Web: www.chiappinifarm.com Location: 150 Chiappini Farm Rd, Hawthorne

Sarasota 29. Florida Native Plants Nursery & Landscaping Open 10AM-4PM Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Over 100 native species of trees, shrubs, grasses, groundcovers, vines and wildflowers. Landscape design, install, restoration and mitigation.

Phone: 941-322-1915 Email: info@floridanativeplants.com Web: www.floridanativeplants.com Location: 730 Myakka Rd, Sarasota

St Johns 30. Southern Horticulture

Polk 27. The Natives By appointment only, please call. Over 190 native species of grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees including rare & hard-tofind. Restoration consulting also available.

Beautiful and unique nursery with large selection of natives, organic fertilizers and alternative pest controls. Creative staff providing landscape design and installation services for 30+ years.

Phone: 904-471-0440

Garden Centers and Retail Nurseries: Are you selling native plants?

FANN wants to promote that part of your business.

Listing is a benefit of membership.

Information:

Hours: FRI-MON, 9:30-5:30. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Native trees, shrubs, grasses, palms, butterfly host and nectar plants & wildflowers, including special native cultivars. We accept all credit cards.

Phone: 352-793-4253 Email: shadyoaksgatherall@gmail.com Web: www.shadyoaksgatherall.com Location: 665 N US 301, Sumterville

32. Wendel’s Farm & Nursery By appointment only. Native plants, organic fertilizers and other products, environmental landscape consulting.

Certified arborist.

Phone: 352-568-8277 Email: wendelfm@yahoo.com Location: 2095 CR 416 N, Lake Panasofkee

Volusia 33. Lindley’s Nursery Expanding selection of Florida native plants (75+ species) for coastal northcentral Florida. We welcome requests for more species. Renowned for our plants, pottery and personality!

Phone: 386-428-7298 Email: lindleysgarden@msn.com Web: www.LindleysGardenCenter.com Location: 1232 Canal St, New Smyrna Beach

34. The Arboretum From groundcovers up to trees, we are constantly increasing our native selections, many being butterfly and hummingbird friendly. Pine straw always available.

Phone: 386-673-7800 Fax: 386-673-4422 Email: myarboretum@yahoo.com Location: 3065 W State Road 40, Ormond Beach

Walton 35. 7 Pines Native Plant Nursery 10:00am-4:00pm Thurs-Fri-Sat or call for appointment. Florida native flowering species, native ecotype wildflower seeds and old garden favorites. On-site workshops by appointment for groups of 15+.

Phone: 850-830-8996 Email: Wildflowersmatter@7pinesranch.com Location: 2365 County Highway 192, Defuniak Springs

FloridaNativeNurseries.org or 321-271-4885

28 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

Design, Install and Maintenance professionals Alachua County

Collier County

P1. Zamia Design Landscape Architecture

P6. Deana’s Garden

Attractive, socially responsible yards and gardens that are drought tolerant, noninvasive, and respect the local sense of place. Also patios, garden walls, pool decks & more. Full service design/build.

Phone: 352-373-8220 Email: lteague@zamiadesign.com Web: www.zamiadesign.com Location: Gainesville

Brevard County P2. Change of Greenery Design and install sustainable lagoonfriendly and Florida-friendly landscapes for customers throughout Brevard County. We specialize in the use of Florida native plants and edibles.

Phone: 321-536-0655 Email: changeofgreeneryfl@gmail.com Location: Melbourne

P3. Go Native Landscaping Creating beautiful Florida native, organic and truly lagoon-friendly landscapes that provide essential habitat for wildlife.

Consultations, design, installation and maintenance. Ecologist on staff.

Phone: 321-795-3111 Email: gonativelandscaping@icloud.com Web: https://gonativelandscaping.com/ Location: Melbourne Beach

P4. NatScape Services for Brevard County homeowners including landscaping, onsite consultation and design, tree trimming and removal, exotic removal and maintenance. Partnered with Maple Street Natives Nursery.

Phone: 321 223-6147 Email: NatScapeFL@gmail.com Location: 7619 Henry Ave, West Melbourne

Broward County P5. Green Thumb Fourth generation horticulture professionals providing residential landscape design, installation & maintenance services, as well as consulting and gardening training from South Palm Beach to North Miami-Dade County.

Phone: 954-764-7782, 954-558-6359 Email: dragnfli@bellsouth.net Web: www.greenthumbinc.com Location: Fort Lauderdale

We like to mix native plants with edibles.

We provide coaching and education.

Phone: 239-293-3724 Email: deana@deanasgarden.com Web: www.deanasgarden.com Location: Naples

Dixie County P7. Landscape Design Associates Native plant friendly landscape architect.

Consultations, design and installation or master plan for phased implementations.

Outdoor kitchens are a specialty!

Phone: 352-542-4996 Email: smarcks@landscapeda.com Web: www.landscapeda.com Location: County Road 351, Old Town

Duval County P8. Km Mease Landscape Designs Jacksonville landscape consultation, design and installation services. Certified designer with over 20 years of experience.

Phone: 904-998-6195 Email: kmmease@gmail.com Web: www.kathymease.com Location: Jacksonville

P9. Native and Uncommon Plants Custom residential landscape design and installation emphasizing native plants to encourage wildlife, eliminate pesticides, and reduce water. Access to native plants through onsite nursery.

Phone: 904-388-9851 Email: goingnativejax@gmail.com Web: nativeanduncommonplants.com Location: Jacksonville

Hillsborough County P10. Springer Environmental Services Restoring Florida one yard at a time. Native landscaping and maintenance experts. We sell pine straw mulch.

Phone: 813-659-0370 Fax: 813-659-1985 Email: info@springerenvironmental.com Web: www.springerenvironmental.com Location: 5926 US Hwy 92 W, Plant City

Indian River County P11. MBV Engineering Complete site design services for residential customers including landscaping and irrigation designed by our FNGLA certified

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

landscape designer.

Phone: 772 569-0035 x 134 Email: kevinb@mbveng.com Web: www.mbveng.com Location: 1835 20th St, Vero Beach

Lee County P12. Two Tired Services Lee County’s only gas and emission-free landscaping service. We do native plantings, lawn mowing, trimming, weeding, edging, and clean up while using only electric and manual tools. Quiet, clean, chem-free.

Phone: 239 302-8922 Email: Ryan@TwoTiredServices.com Web: www.TwoTiredServices.com Location: Bonita Springs

Manatee County P13. G.N.S. Landscaping Phone: 941-586-2064 Email: gnslandscape@yahoo.com Location: Bradenton

Martin County P14. Jenkins Landscape Company Since 1959, still family owned and operated. Landscape installation and maintenance, irrigation installation and maintenance, tree trimming, pest control and fertilization. Certified, trained staff.

Phone: 772-546-2861 Email: Info@Jenkinslandscape.com Web: www.JenkinsLandscape.com Location: 12260 SE Dixie Hwy, Hobe Sound

Miami-Dade County P15. The Butterfly Gardeners Full service, licensed, insured and certified landscaping company with 25+ years of experience. South Florida native plants to attract butterflies, birds, and other pollinators to your outdoor living space.

Phone: 305 807-5296 Email: breyabreu@hotmail.com Location: Miami-Dade County

Orange County P16. Andrea England Landscapes Naturalistic landscape design and installation management. We design native habitat, xeriscape, and meadow style landscapes. Installation oversight and management coaching services available.

Phone: 321-287-0255 Email: andreaiengland@gmail.com

Web: www.myfloridameadow.com Location: Ocoee

Palm Beach County P17. General Landscaping Corporation We love to combine native plants with edibles for great sustainable landscapes.

Registered landscape architect with 35+ years of experience.

Phone: 561 994-3755 Email: generalland@bellsouth.net Location: Boca Raton

P18. Lopez Group Design, installation and maintenance for Palm Beach and Miami.

Phone: 561-687-0770 Email: Lgrouppb@aol.com Web: www.LopezGroupofPalmBeach.com Location: 2961 Lake Worth Rd, Lake Worth

Pinellas County P19. About Native Yards Phone: 727 307-4557 Email: aboutnativeyards@gmail.com Location: Palm Harbor,

P20. Detail Divas The missing link of landscape maintenance. We do the hard you’re your lawn service won’t: hand removal of weeds by the roots, pruning & thinning for optimum growth and more. We know native plants.

Phone: 727-510-7067 Email: 2detaildivas@gmail.com Web: www.2detaildivas.com

P21. Hort and Soul Freelance designer providing affordable landscape designs custom created with holistic approach considering existing site conditions, homeowner’s needs, desires and maintenance and budget specifications.

Phone: 727 599-3244 Email: nicole.hortandsoul@gmail.com Location: Palm Harbor

P22. Leaves of Grass Landscaping Landscape design, installation and maintenance. Specializing in the use of native and non-invasive edible plants.

Phone: 727-542-2923 Email: todd@leavesofgrasslandscaping.com Web: www.leavesofgrasslandscaping.com Location: St. Petersburg

P23. Michael Kuras Certified, experienced landscape designer passionate about sustainability through

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 29

LANDSCAPING DESIGN, INSTALL, MAINTENANCE | DIRECTORY

Landscaping

LANDSCAPING DESIGN, INSTALL, MAINTENANCE | DIRECTORY

native plants. Extensive experience including water and oceanfront estate design throughout the Southeastern U.S. and Bahamas.

Phone: 727-219-9549 Email: kurasdesign@gmail.com Web: www.wilcoxnursery.com Location: Now affiliated with Wilcox Nursery & Landscape in Largo

P24. Roy Anderberg Gardening Providing St. Petersburg residents with consultation, design, installation and maintenance of Real Florida-friendly gardens with unique plant combinations, responsible water usage and manageable maintenance.

Phone: 727-526-7675 Email: royanderberg@aol.com Location: St. Petersburg

P25. Stoneshovel Designs Native plant landscape design professional for 18+ years. Start to finish projects including erosion control, herbaceous & shrub borders, edibles, contouring, hardscape, gazebos, arbors, siting artwork, lighting & more.

Skyblue Clustervine, Jacquemontia pentanthos, on fence.

PHOTO: FRAN PALMERI

30 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018

Phone: 205-901-8600 Email: arnie@stoneshovel.com Location: St. Petersburg

St Johns County P29. Find Your Inner Dirt Landscape Artistry since 1989. Design, consult, install, maintain and Garden Coach too. Master concept plans, therapeutic, serenity themes, waterfront or demonstration gardens with native plants.

Phone: 904-615-3952, 904-615-3952 m Email: Jill@FindYourInnerDirt.com Web: FindYourInnerDirt.com Location: St. Augustine

Sarasota County P26. AAL by Frank Gabry Estate style landscaping.

Phone: 941-966-5009 Email: aal12@verizon.net Web: http://www.estatestyle1.net/

P27. Bloomin’ Crazy Interior and exterior plant care for business & homes in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Wildlife friendly landscape & container gardens. Consultation, design, installation & personal gardening.

Phone: 941-536-6687 Email: iambloomincrazy@gmail.com Web: www.bloomincrazy.net

P28. Mauze Design Residential landscape design specializing in symbiotic merging of interior rooms with exterior environment.

Phone: 630-531-3451 Email: srmauzey@gmail.com Location: Sarasota

P30. Native Plant Consulting Located just west of St. Augustine. Creation and redesign of sustainable, wildlife-friendly Florida landscapes. See our website for hours, programs and special events.

Phone: 904-671-2880 Email: renee@nativeplantconsulting.com Web: www.nativeplantconsulting.com Location: St. Augustine

P31. The Elegant Garden Landscape architect with 20+ years design/build experience creating landscapes filled with birds, butterflies and healthy edibles. Low Care, High Color is our motto, for backyard or beachfront.

Phone: 904-616-7575 Email: Kelly@theElegantGarden.com Web: www.theelegantgarden.com

FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries

THE NATIVE PLANT SHOW

Can’t find native plants in your area?

Keep asking your local garden center to carry more native plants. Demand is what help creates supply and you are part of this very important equation. Share this guide with your retailer and tell them they can find wholesale suppliers of Florida native plants at www.FloridaNativeNurseries.org.

Wish your landscape service used more native plants?

Send your landscaper to FANN’s annual Native Plant Show. And you can go to the show yourself. This education event for industry professionals and the public showcases native plants and grower exhibits and provides practical, experience-based, professional continuing education on how to use native plants. It’s the best opportunity to see the diversity and quality of native plants now available in Florida, in one place. Landscapers can learn about plants they can grow and use to develop a new and much needed service and expand their business.

7th

l Annua

FANN

NATIVE PLANT SHOW | visit www.nativeplanshow.com for details!

TIPS for your native landscape C Take advantage of yard tours offered by your local Florida Native Plant Society chapter or other conservation-minded organizations.

C Find a source for native plants and native planting advice. Develop a relationship and evolve your yard over time, taking time to learn about the plants and how to maintain them.

C Work with experienced native landscape designers who help can save you money even when—especially when—you plan to do the installation and maintenance yourself.

C Hide wild areas or juxtapose them with neatly trimmed borders to make your intention—and control—clear to the neighbors. Most people are unnerved by woodsy yards and need to know that you’re in charge.

WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG

Native plant profile:

Beach Tea Croton punctatus

A tough and drought-tolerant native “sub-shrub” found in many coastal areas of Florida. Can be kept to an 18-24" height and provides a nice color accent.

GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 31

Free subscription to Guide for Real Florida Gardeners at www.PlantRealFlorida.org

FANN PO BOX 972 MELBOURNE FL 32902-0972

www.PlantRealFlorida.org

Want to support wild birds?

Plant what they rely on for food and habitat—native plants.

Nationally renowned entomologist Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home, has helped gardeners everywhere realize the significance of native plants in producing the insects that 96% of our land birds must have to feed their babies. Native trees and plants produce the thousands of high-protein butterfly and moth caterpillars needed to successfully rear baby birds.

Tallamy’s research has focused primarily in the mid-Atlantic region but suggests that as soon as a landscape dips below 80% native plants, the reproduction rate of birds begins to drop.

Think of all the urban landscapes around you that are effectively starving wildlife. Each of us can make a difference in our yards.

Painted Buntings are in decline due to habitat loss and illegal trapping. Use more native plants—and vote and advocate for environmental protection.

Blue Curls, Trichostema dichotomum. Flowering annual suitable for use throughout Florida except the Keys. Typical size is 18-24" high and wide but it can get larger with a regular source of water such as roof runoff. Do not overwater or fertilize. Blue curls is very easy to grow in sandy, well drained soils and full sun or partial shade. The flowers are small but abundant and plants bloom daily throughout the summer into early fall. In the fall, plants die and can begin to look somewhat like tumbleweeds. Use them in a mixed wildflower bed where the dying stems blend with other plants.

Blue curls readily reseed and spread throughout the yard. They are easily transplanted and shared with friends.

Winter (January) photo of Painted Buntings on the dying stems of a Blue Curls plant. The male bird’s brilliant coloring inspired Native Americans to call him the “Bird who flew through the rainbow.” Painted Buntings are primarily seed eaters, except during breeding season. These birds are likely looking for the small seeds available in the spent Blue Curls flowers. We are all tempted to “clean up” our plants by deadheading flowers and removing what looks like useless dead stems to us. But these woody stems are home and food for insects, including pollinators, that then feed other creatures. Where possible, leave plants that are at the end of their life cycle in place to support their full function in the natural system.