The annual Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Seminar will take place March 21 at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Boulevard, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, with check-in beginning at 8:15 a.m. Organizers say the seminar will feature four presentations by local experts, along with vendor booths showcasing native plants and sustainable gardening tools.
Presentations will include a 9:30 a.m. talk by Kathy Hill of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program on restoring the lagoon ecosystem, followed by Sally Scalera of UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County at 10:15 a.m. discussing food gardening in diverse climates. Tim and Anna Harrison of Native Butterfly Flowers will speak at 11:30 a.m. about the impact of plant choices on pollinators, and Ariel Horner of the Florida Bat Conservancy will address bat ecology at 12:30 p.m. Door prizes will be given out during the event, and attendees who complete surveys will receive goodie bags with gardening supplies and seeds.
Food and beverage options will include free pastries, coffee, and fruit, along with breakfast and lunch items sold by City Bistro. Attendees are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles, which can be filled from large jugs provided by the event. All food waste will be composted by Eaton Worms, part of the seminar’s focus on sustainability.
Registration is not required but recommended. Those who register online via Eventbrite or by calling UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County at 321-633-1702, x52315, will receive event details. The seminar is organized by the City of Melbourne in partnership with Brevard County Solid Waste and the Lagoon program. Past events have drawn hundreds of attendees, with organizers noting increased interest in water conservation and native plant gardening over the past year.