FALL 2021 UF REAL FLORIDA LANDSCAPES DESIGN CHALLENGE
Before this project, I had just been exposed to Florida-friendly landscaping™ principles. Native plants were the “better option when possible” was all I knew. It really helped, being forced to look at native options and dive into it. It’s really cool to see that natives connect to a place. [Now] I definitely know that good…
Read MoreGo Native: Carl Bates Indigenous Plants
This is an interview with a Florida wholesale grower and broker for native plants.
Read MoreFall 2021 FIU Real Florida Landscapes Design Challenge
Before this project, I was unaware of the importance of the type of plant chosen and where it is placed in a design. Very few people know how important native plants are, and the connection these plants have with the environment and wildlife. I know now. And I am without question inspired and motivated to…
Read MoreGo Native: the Business of Native Plants
a new podcast for those curious about starting a career or business with native plants with host Mitzy Sosa About our podcast Go Native is the first podcast to focus exclusively on what it takes to make it in the native plant industry, what is involved in running a native plant business and the many…
Read MoreBringing native plants to an urban downtown
Women-owned native plant nursery starts up on a former used car lot in Central Florida Auto sale and repair shops dominate the East Main Street district in downtown Lakeland, Florida. But a different type of business has transformed one former car lot into an urban green oasis. Visitors stop after spotting the large monarch butterfly…
Read MoreThe PA in the Park
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver, award-winning American poet Well, you might consider a native plant landscaping career. Work outside and save the world. Without more professionals who know how to use and maintain native plants in the landscape, we can’t achieve…
Read MoreFlorida Natives and the “Art of Space”
Debra Yates and Benjamin Burle bring native plants into upscale South Florida landscapes A couple blocks from downtown Lake Worth, Florida, in the Parrot Cove neighborhood, quaint cottages and Spanish-style homes line the historic streets. On O street, one such cottage’s bold landscape stands out from the rest. Native plants south florida style The 1945…
Read MoreNative Plant Industry Education
The Covid pandemic brought in-person education events to a halt in 2020. Our Florida industry partner, FANN, had been delivering all of their continuing education for green industry professionals in person. FANN had long wanted to develop online education but lacked the capacity to do it. Together, we developed an approach for moving existing continuing…
Read MoreOur First Native Plant Journalist
An important part of our mission is reaching the next generation of native plant growers and landscape professionals and the clients they will serve. To create more demand for native plants and native plant professionals, and to inspire young people to consider careers and business ventures with native plants, we’ve launched our Native Plant Journalism…
Read MoreFall 2020 Real Florida Design Challenge
Most of us [students] don’t have the experience of seeing the plants in person, seeing how they perform in the landscape, really knowing what they look like and what they need. Looking plants up online and reading about them is not enough. We need to see more installed landscapes. It would be nice to have…
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