Hundreds of plants, great advice and demonstrations at Extension plant sale

The event, co-hosted by Extension staff and Master Gardener volunteers, runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota.

	An array of plants line the grounds at UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County in advance of the 2017 annual plant sale. [CREDIT: UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County]

Visitors can choose from among hundreds of shrubs, trees, palms, annuals, herbs and other plant varieties identified as “Florida-friendly” by the University of Florida, get gardening and landscaping advice from Extension-trained Master Gardeners, and learn about the array of programs and services offered through Extension, from agricultural advice to youth development.

“Our Master Gardeners help the public become aware of how much our yards impact Florida’s environment, waterways and wildlife,” said Dr. Pat Williams, residential horticulture agent with Sarasota County Extension. “Just the simple act of using more Florida-friendly plants in a yard can help reduce water use and limit harmful runoff.”

The 2018 event builds on that with an education festival (EdFest) featuring booths that showcase resources available through Extension, from advice on irrigation to information on wildlife, and from preparing for storms to setting up a home compost system.

Admission is free, with plant purchases available by cash or check. Proceeds from sales benefit Sarasota County Master Gardener program efforts to support school gardens and community projects.

The Florida Master Gardener program is led by the University of Florida and operated through county-level UF/IFAS Extension offices. In Sarasota County, the program supports demonstration landscapes and educational outreach projects, and operates the popular Plant Clinic help desks.

View a full list of plants slated for sale at the event at https://rebrand.ly/ufsarasotaext_plantsalelist.

For more information, call 941-861-5000, email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu or visit https://rebrand.ly/ufsarasotaext_plantsale.