The nonprofit educational facility otherwise known as the USF Botanical Gardens presents its ninth annual Butterfly, Herbs & Native Plant Fair this weekend. Plenty of vendors hawk butterfly-attracting plants, native plants, herbs and other related items while the experts offer advice on anything from starting a butterfly garden to expanding the one you have. This year, the fair has added a backyard habitat workshop, at which the Suncoast Native Plant Society sells various greenery and its members give advice on utilizing plants that grow well in Florida's sometimes over-warm climate. Other offerings include a children's activity area with a caterpillar petting zoo, animal encounters and educational displays courtesy of Nature's Classroom, and a Greathouse Butterfly Ranch-hosted Butterfly House filled with 1,000 free-flying butterflies. Through June 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun., USF Botanical Gardens, USF-Tampa Campus, Pine and Alumni drives, off of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, $4 general admission (members and children under 12 enter for free; $1 additional for entry into the Butterfly House), 813-974-2329.
