Hurricane Ian necessitated rescheduling
The 16th Annual Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Sale and EdFest, which was delayed by impacts from Hurricane Ian, has been rescheduled for Nov. 12, the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension staff in Sarasota County has announced.
“This is a one-of-a-kind event” that will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County offices at Twin Lakes Park, located at 6700 Clark Road in Sarasota, a news release says. Attendees will have the opportunity to buy locally grown plants, receive gardening and landscape advice from growers and Master Gardener Volunteers, and learn about the diversity of UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County services, “from agricultural advice to youth development,” the release points out.
Visitors also will be able to choose “from carefully selected shrubs, trees, palms, flowering plants, herbs and other plant varieties identified as ‘Florida-friendly by the University of Florida, the release adds.
“The Plant Sale has been a tradition for Master Gardener Volunteers for more than 15 years,” Ashley Ellis, residential horticulture agent with UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, noted in the release. “These devoted gardeners have worked all year to carefully tend plants to make this event possible,” she said.
“After the pain that Hurricane Ian brought so many in our community,” Ellis continued, “we look forward to providing a day of connection and a way to help people improve mental health through gardening, along with helping attendees restore or enhance their landscapes.”
Admission will be free, with plant purchases available by cash or check, the release adds. “Proceeds from sales benefit Sarasota County Master Gardener Volunteer program efforts,” the release points out.
“The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program is led by the University of Florida and operated through county-level UF/IFAS Extension offices,” the release explains. “In Sarasota County, the program supports demonstration landscapes and educational outreach projects,” the release adds, and the program operates the popular Plant Clinic help desks.
For more information, call 941-861-5000, email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu or visit sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/plantsale.
Anyone who requires special accommodations to attend the event is asked to contact the staff in advance at 941-861-9874 or email sustainablesarasota@scgov.net.