SUNKEN GARDENS Jennifer Tyson: No Mow March & Orchid Fest 3/28

Sunken Gardens in downtown St. Pete is an iconic treasure and in this episode, host Jennifer Tyson talks about NO MOW MARCH & the 3/28 annual ORCHID FEST! Spring is in the air, and new growth is popping up after our cold snaps! We fared well, thankfully, as our sunken garden is covered by a veritable blanket of historic live oaks and palms. 🦩Our stunning wall of bougainvillea is putting on a colorful show just as our camelias and Florida’s official state wildflower, Coreopsis, are popping with colorful blooms. 
Did you know that many of the dainty flowers some consider weeds popping up in Florida yards now are actually host plants for butterflies like the White peacock, Phaon crescent, Common buckeye, and more!  Some of these native wildflowers are even edible with medicinal properties while providing important food sources for imperiled pollinators.
🦩That’s why Florida celebrates No Mow March, so we and the wildlife can enjoy our “freedom” lawns a little longer while benefiting the local ecosystems. Some great lawn-alternative groundcovers on display at Sunken Gardens are turkey tangle frog fruit and beach creeper. These true Florida plants thrive in full sun and sandy, dry soil. It doesn’t get lower maintenance than that!
🦩Interested in tropical blooms, too? We’ll have thousands of orchids for sale from vendors across Florida during our annual Orchid Festival on Sunday, March 28 from 10 am to 4pm. With orchid-related products for sale and a line-up of expert speakers, this flowery festival is a one-stop shop for all things orchid. 
🦩Stay tuned for more news and gardening tips from Sunken Gardens! See you at the magical land of flowers, flamingos, and more very soon! 

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