Gainesville locals will be given the opportunity to purchase plants that are indigenous to the region while learning about the advantages of gardening with native plants Saturday.
From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Morningside Nature Center, located at 3540 E University Ave., the Paynes Prairie chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will team up with Friends of Nature Parks and the City of Gainesville Nature Operations Division to host the 2009 Fall Native Plant Sale.
"This is the only sale I know of that is like this in the state," said Sally Wazny, the program coordinator of the Nature Operations Division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
About 15 vendors such as Fred Stone Nursery, Breezy Oaks Plant Nursery and Harmony Gardens, will sell a variety of indigenous wildflowers, ferns, trees and shrubs. There will also be refreshments and a wildflower walk led by a naturalist at 11:30 a.m.
"Instead of running around town from shop to shop trying to find native plants, people can just come to our plant sale," Wazny said.
Holly Greer, the recreation leader at Morningside Nature Center, encouraged people to think about using native plants because they are healthier for the environment and animals in the area because native plants that grow naturally require less fertilizer and herbicide than imported plants.
They are also easier for the owners to take care of, she said, since they do not require as much water and maintenance.
"The invasive exotic plants that people often buy other places spread out into the natural community and do harm," she said.
The proceeds from the sale will go toward funding local environmental and cultural history programs, such as scholarships and training, through the division and FNP society.
Shoppers will also be able to take advantage of the Park-A-Plant service, which allows them to browse the various vendors and tag plants they would like to purchase. The tagged plants are then set aside to be loaded.
"Our Park-A-Plant service lets people come and shop hassle free and buy 20 to 30 plants," Wazny said. "They don't have to balance something on their head and something on their hip while they shop."
Master gardeners will also be in attendance to further emphasize the advantages of using native plants and to advise shoppers on how best to care for their purchases.
