FYN Demonstration Garden Site
The following photos were taken from our demonstration plot developed by Master Gardeners and located in the Horticulture Learning Center within the Manatee County Extension Office and Fair Grounds - Please feel free to stop by and view the area any weekday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Plants are labeled.
Above, Plants for East Manatee - Cold and drought tolerant. Many of these plants will also tolerate seasonal wetness. Lots of native plants are used which provide needed habitat for wildlife, and are well adapted to our Florida soils and weather extremes.
Backdoor garden with herbs, edibles and small perennials, shrubs and trees.
Backdoor garden with herbs, edibles and small perennials, shrubs and trees.
These are drought tolerant plants that like full to partial sun. Many are butterfly nectar plants and some are butterfly host plants.
Notice that we use low-volume micro-irrigation to conserve water. Mulch is also used extensively to retain soil moisture, improve the soil and protect the plant roots from temperature extremes. Mulch also helps to suppress weeds.
These are all drought-tolerant plants that will also take full sun.
This is a shade garden. These plants will tolerate deep shade. This bed is self-mulched from tree leaves. These leaves will provide nutrients as they decompose, they also help to retain soil moisture, suppress weeds and protect plant roots from temperature extremes. Annuals planted under trees cause too much root damage to occur from numerous plantings, use permanent plantings instead. Never change the level of soil under a tree. Adding soil over the roots causes them to smother and die.
These are plants that will do well west of I-75. Many can tolerate high pH soils.
These are plants that will do well west of I-75. Many can tolerate high pH soils.
This is an example of a small hydroponic garden.
This is another view of the hydroponic garden. The plants sit in Styrofoam cups which are placed into a floating Styrofoam sheet that has holes cut in it to accept the cups. The basin is filled with water containing soluble fertilizer.
We have a series of signs to explain the principles of Xeriscaping, and were made possible from a Co-op grant from the Manasota Basin Board of the SWFWMD.
These Xeriscaping signs span the width of the propagation house. Notice at the far end we have a rain-barrel to catch water from the roof of the propagation house.