Master Gardener spring plant sale & native plant trail tour

Spring Plant Sale is April 22; Native Plant Trail Tour, April 19

Okaloosa County Master Gardeners will hold their Spring Plant Sale 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 22 at the Extension Annex located at 127 W. Hollywood Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach.

There will be a great selection of plants, including many hard-to-find Florida-friendly and UF/IFAS recommended varieties grown by Okaloosa County Master Gardeners.

Proceeds from the plant sale will be used by Okaloosa County Master Gardeners in providing their educational programs for the public.

Native Plant Trail Tour
Okaloosa County Master Gardener Bob Bayer will provide an educational tour of the native plant trail from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 19 at the Gerald R. Edmondson Extension Building, 3098 Airport Road in Crestview.

The trail currently involves a quarter mile walk, which transitions through an upland forest and a bottomland site along a clear creek, and ends in a shady upland area. Visitors to the trail can see many native plant species including large mature trees, a number of Vaccinium (blueberry) species and large open areas of deer moss covering portions of the trail. Seasonal color along the trail includes native azaleas, lyreleaf sage, redbud trees and American beautyberry just to name a few of the treasured natives.

The beginning of the trail includes an area with compost units designed to provide needed mulch and compost in developing and maintaining the trail as well as to function as an educational outdoor area to teach and encourage the public how to convert their own lawn and landscape wastes into valuable compost to improve their own gardens.

The native plant trail is intended to increase awareness and encourage the use of north Florida native plants.

The tour of the native plant trail is dependent on suitable weather. If weather conditions prevent the tour, Bayer will provide an indoor presentation with photos of the development of the trail.

There is no cost to attend this event but space is limited. Registration is required. Please call the Extension Office at (850) 689-5850 to register.

Larry Williams is the Extension horticulture agent with the Okaloosa County Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida. Contact Larry at 689-5850 or email lwilliams@co.okaloosa.fl.us.