Go Native at the 15th Spring Native Plant Sale April 5

BRADENTON – The Florida Native Plant Society and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program will hold their 13th Annual Spring Native Plant Festival and Sale on Saturday, April 5 at Sweet Bay Nursery in Parrish. Enjoy guided nature walks through the woods with Around the Bend Nature Tours. Experts will be available to answer questions so that you can plant the right plant in the right place.

photos by Fran Palmer

Plants to be included in the sale include a large selection of native trees, shrubs, grasses and blooming wildflowers for use in any garden. There will also be FloriMulch for sale, this is made from the exotic, invasive melaleuca tree and is an excellent garden mulch alternative to non-sustainable cypress.

As a special incentive, members get 20 percent off. If you are a member of the Florida Native Plant Society or if you join at the event, you will receive 20 percent off your entire purchase.

The sale will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It will be located at 10824 Erie Road in Parrish. The event is free and is open to the public. Free parking is also available.

Here’s what the experts have to say about native plants:

In his book Bringing Nature Home, Douglas Tallamy writes, “Everyone can welcome more wildlife into their yards just by planting even a few native plants. Adjusting our planting palette to be both beautiful and environmentally useful can profoundly impact the diversity of life in our yards, towns and on our planet.”

The National Park Service explains, “Native plants naturally occur in the region in which they evolved. They are adapted to local soil, rainfall and temperature conditions, and have developed natural defenses to many insects and diseases. Because of these traits, native plants will grow with minimal use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Wildlife species evolve with plants; therefore, they use native plant communities as their habitat. Using native plants helps preserve the balance and beauty of natural ecosystems.”

President of the Florida Native Plant Society, Steve Woodmansee states, “Our Sense of Place is what makes Florida, ‘Florida.’ It is defined by our native plants and our natural communities. It is how we recognize where we are in the world.”

The purpose of the Florida Native Plant Society is to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida.