As part of its new $2.2 million building on E. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Tampa, community radio station WMNF wouldn’t be expected to install anything less than the most environmentally friendly, drought-tolerant plants for its landscaping. Even in the heat of summer, WMNF’s little slice of landscaping heaven is blossoming, according to station manager Vicki Santa. By using xeriscaping principles and native plants, the landscaping uses less water and is a better host to native animals and insects, according to landscape designer Brian Schatz. The key, he says, was using native plants, which often are neglected even in xeriscaping projects. “Native plants get the short shrift; they don’t get the notoriety and don’t get installed that much,” Schatz said. He contributed the design pro-bono; the Florida Native Plant Society provided the physical labor and is maintaining it. 1210 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa, 813-238-8001, www.wmnf.org.
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2005.