We’re now a few weeks into spring, so if you like plants and flowers this is your season. And if you really like plants and flowers, this is your weekend: The USF Botanical Gardens, 4202 E. Fowler Ave. near Fowler and 30th Street, is holding its Spring Plant Festival this Saturday and Sunday.
The USF Botanical Gardens features more than 3,000 types of plants and 60 species of birds. We’re talking orchids, ferns, fruit trees and just about everything else that grows here. They even have weddings there. There’s a lot to see in the various gardens along the trail, especially if you don’t experience a lot of nature in your daily schedule.
At the Spring Plant Festival, more than 70 vendors will be selling plants and plant-related items. Want to know how to care for a cactus or bamboo? The various societies and growers will be happy to answer your most-obscure questions. They’ll even have workshops on Sunday and a free children’s activity area.
Admission is just $5 for adults, and it’s free for children under 12. This is their fund-raiser, so help support a great local collection of plants, insects and birds. The event is on Saturday, April 11th, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and on Sunday, April 12th, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information, call 974-2329 or visit www.cas.usf.edu/garden/.
This article appears in Apr 8-14, 2009.