UF and FNGLA test new plants for Florida gardens
Local gardeners seeking the hottest new plants should look no further than the UF campus, where ongoing trial gardens offer a glimpse of the latest varieties from the floriculture industry. And this weekend, garden staff will be available to answer questions at an open house 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, June 1 and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 2.
The gardens, located behind Fifield Hall off Hull Road, represent a collaborative effort between UF, the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, and international plant breeders to identify new plant cultivars that work well in Florida's challenging climate.
"For the average home gardener, I think it offers an opportunity for them to see the up-and-coming varieties that are out there," said Julie Markowitz, a FNGLA spokeswoman.
The trial gardens showcase nearly 800 varieties of ornamental and flowering plants, native plants and ornamental grasses from 19 suppliers. The tested varieties often include the newest colors and flower forms that are being introduced, said Jim Barrett, a professor of floriculture.
"They had a huge selection," said Nancy Guttman, a local gardener who visited the gardens with friends. "I had no idea it was so large and open to the public. It was nice to wander around and jot things down that you might like to try."
Researchers at UF plant the cultivars in late March and early April and monitor how well they perform throughout the spring and summer. The final results are then compiled and made available online. The 2006 results and photographs are currently available and the 2007 results will be available later this year.
The UF trial gardens were also the site of the Floriculture Field Days May 16-17. The event allowed members of the national floriculture industry to receive research and education updates and see the trial gardens firsthand.
The UF trial gardens will be open through the end of the summer. Admission is free, though restrooms and water fountains are only available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday when Fifield Hall is open. Parking in the Fifield Hall lot is restricted to UF decal holders weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
"It's just a great show," Barrett said. "Some people come to the garden to learn from it and others come just to enjoy it."
Click here to lean more about the trial gardens
Click here to learn more about UF/IFAS environmental horticulture
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