Tampa African Violet Society meeting TAMPA - The Tampa African Violet Society will meet Thursday, July 2, 7 p.m., at the Ragan Community Center, 1200 E. Lake Ave., Tampa. Diane Heras will present the program “Does It Really Take Two to Tango?” How to Propagate African Violets from Leaf Cuttings. The meeting will include a plant raffle and growing tips offered. Visitors are always welcomed along with free admission and parking. For more information, call Mary Lou Harden, president at 813-689-8700 or Mina Menish, publicity chair at 813-681-1910 for information.
Butterflies 102 PALM HARBOR - Explore the fascinating world of butterflies with Pinellas County Master Gardeners on Wednesday, July 8, 2 p.m. or 6:15 p.m., at the Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor. Citizens who have already started a butterfly garden will enjoy this more in-depth look at butterflies. They will learn about recognizing and preventing disease, repairing damaged wings and raise and release procedures. You may attend either session. To register, visit www.pinellascountyextension.org and click the Online Class Registration button or call 727-582-2100.
Florida Style Gardening Series ST. PETERSBURG - Learn the nine principles of Florida friendly landscaping on Wednesday, July 8, 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg. The useful information will help gardeners dig right into improving landscape design and maintenance. Other classes in the series are scheduled on Wednesday July 15, July 22, August 5 and August 12. The cost is $10 per class. To register for this program, call (727) 893-7326.
Gesneriad Celebration TAMPA - The Tampa Bay Gesneriad Society presents Gesneriad Celebration on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11-12, at USF Botanical Gardens, 4202 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free. Activities include a full day of presentations, plant displays, help planting gesneriads, plant sales and more. For more information, e-mail: 4jam@tampabay.rr.com or call 813-963-7424.
Extension shares expertise with community The Pinellas County Extension Lawn and Garden Hotline is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Citizens are welcome to call the hotline at 727-582-2110 and get answers to questions about how best to maintain and improve their landscapes from extension pros backed up with expertise and research from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Master Gardener Plant Clinic PALM HARBOR - A Master Gardener Plant Clinic is open at the Palm Harbor Library on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Master Gardeners offer diagnostic services that include soil testing along with information about identifying plants, treatment for insects and ideas for Florida-friendly landscaping. Find out more about Pinellas County Extension, its programs and events by calling 727-582-2100 or by visiting www.pinellascountyextension.org.
Florida Botanical Gardens LARGO - Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, offers more than 30 acres of cultivated gardens to explore. Plan about two hours for this fun adventure. Before heading to the Gardens, visit www.flbg.org to see what’s in bloom. This site helps identify what is happening in the Gardens and provides links to University of Florida fact sheets to provide more information on how to use and care for these plants. The Gardens are open every day of the year from 7 a.m. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 727-582-2581 or visit www.flbg.org.
