For Immediate Release
 
November 21, 2007
Contact:  Nancy Rodlun
Orange County Environmental Protection Division
(407) 836 – 1442, nancy.rodlun@ocfl.net

Orlando, Florida – As part of the Mayor Crotty's initiative to become greener, Orange County will be installing an Environmentally Friendly and Waterwise Wildflower Demonstration Garden the Administration Building located at the 201 S. Rosalind Avenue, November 27, 2007, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The installation will be done with the assistance of Lake Eola Charter School Students, Orange County Master Gardeners, and Florida Native Plant Society Members.   The garden will serve to demonstrate environmentally friendly ways to landscape homes and businesses, using Florida native plants, low impact irrigation, and permeable hardscapes such as sidewalks.   

Native plants are accustomed to Florida's ample rainy season, drought periods, sandy soils, and also tend to attract fewer pests.  Selecting the right plant for the right place lowers the need for excess pruning, pesticides, fertilizers, and water.  This low maintenance regime means less money, energy, and time spent on your landscape and more leisure time. The garden will also host a few nonnative (exotic), noninvasive, drought tolerant plants to demonstrate the compatibility of using both native and nonnative plants in the landscape.  Money for the plant materials is provided by a grant from the Florida Wildflower Foundation via Florida Wildflower Tag sales.

Low impact drip irrigation will be featured to assist establishing the plantings and supplementing the garden's water needs in extreme drought conditions. Eliminating unnecessary irrigation is accomplished by the predominately native plants selected, which once established, can survive on regular rainfall and are drought tolerant.
The garden will feature an environmentally friendly pathway using a new product called Flexi-PAVE, consisting of recycled tires.  Flexi-PAVE is water permeable, reducing stormwater runoff and providing recharge percolation for groundwater resources.

Many folks think that adding natives to one's yard means a weedy look, but not so.  Native plants fit into all types of landscapes from traditional to cottage gardens to more natural woodland settings.   While it is recommended that less grass and more native plants fill the landscape to produce a more waterwise and wildlife friendly environment, it is possible to produce a lovely landscape that will meet Home Owners Associations requirements and landscape ordinances.
 
When spring is in the air, it is natural to turn thoughts to beautifying your landscape, consider taking the native approach.  Blooming wildflowers and other native plants offer food for wildlife and a feast for the human eye.  A wide variety of blooming native perennials and shrub offers nectar for a variety of local pollinators including butterflies and hummingbirds.  There are plant species that bear flowers and fruit throughout the year, turning your landscape into a sanctuary for you, your neighbors, and the wildlife to enjoy!    

Stop by the Orange County Demonstration Garden as it grows for inspiration for your own environmentally friendly landscape.  Green ideas are happening in Orange County. 

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