Spring plant sale in Fort Walton Beach includes native plants

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — The UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteers will hold their 2023 Spring Plant Sale from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at the temporary UF/IFAS Extension Annex located at the Okaloosa Technical College (OTC) in Fort Walton Beach.

Our former location on Hollywood Blvd. closed. We are now in a temporary location in the back of the OTC Campus at 1976 Lewis Turner Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach.

There are two entrances to the OTC. Use the entrance closest to the fire station, not the main entrance, and follow the signs to the Extension building located in the back of the campus. Here is a link with a map showing how to find our building or call the OTC Extension Annex at 850-651-7476 for directions. https://go.ufl.edu/fwb-annex-map

Many of the plants available for purchase at the plant sale will be Florida native plants that are well-suited for North Florida. There will be a selection of hard-to-find, Florida-friendly, and pollinator plants, as well.

We have not been able to provide an in-person plant sale since 2019 because of COVID-19 and because of the loss of our former location. The Master Gardener Volunteers are excited about being able to offer this plant sale.

Having the event in person allows better interaction with the public, including the ability to answer your questions related to the available plants. Master Gardener Volunteers and I will be onsite to help answer your lawn, landscape, and garden questions, as well.

You also may bring a sample of soil from your lawn, landscape, or garden for pH testing.

Use a clean shovel, trowel, or soil probe to collect a representative sample by taking thin slices or cores of soil to a depth of six to eight inches from ten different spots throughout the plant bed, lawn, or garden. Thoroughly mix all the small soil slices/cores together in a clean bucket.

Place one to two cups of this mixture in a closable plastic bag or small throwaway plastic container and bring to the plant sale for testing. Attach a slip of paper with your name, phone number, and where the sample was taken (e.g. lawn, vegetable garden, flowerbed, etc.).

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

Please note that cash or checks only will be accepted.

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@myokaloosa.com.

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