News & Notes: Landscape Committee
Master Gardener Page
For information on why certain landscaping decisions are made, please explore the UF Master Gardener Page here.
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Manatee County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers News
If you attended the March 2021 Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Sale, please consider donating back to us the pots your purchases came in. We are gearing up for our October 2 sale and could use clean, empty pots. Leave them on the side or front entrance to the Extension offices at 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto.
Air Plants are Not Bad. Many people call the Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic suspecting that the presence of epiphytic plants, such as Spanish and ball moss, is harmful to their ornamental trees and shrubs. They are not parasites, just taking advantage of increased light conditions due to the normal decline in their host. Visit https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep485 for more information.
Ask a Master Gardener Volunteer in Your Community. We are excited to be expanding our off-site locations to serve your needs. At the present time, we have “mobile plant clinics” at several locations throughout the county in addition to our Plant Clinic at UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension office.
Off-site options:
- Lakewood Ranch Farmers’ Market (8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.) First and third Sunday of the month, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- St. George’s Episcopal Church (912 63td Ave. W., Bradenton.) First and third Thursday of the month, 9 a.m. to noon.
- Christ Episcopal Church (4030 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.) First and third Saturdays of the month, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. near the Thrift Shop.
Extension office options:
- In-person visits at Extension (1303 17th St. W., Palmetto) Every weekday, except Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Call us at the hours listed above (941-722-4524, extensions 1819 or 1820)
- Email us at ManateeMG@gmail.com
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Click the following link to read the June 2021 Garden Bench Newsletter
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Click the following link to download Announcements from the Manatee County Master Gardeners July 30, 2020 Edition
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Rangers Add Power-Wash Couple
Volunteers really make a difference for the HVW Community. The HVW Rangers welcome the latest additions to the group, Dave and Liz Castello. They are a dynamo power-wash team, and happy to help anyone who isn’t able to do the job themselves.
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Landscape Committee chairwoman Robin Parker, and member Sharon Bowling sport matching T-shirts, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor.
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HVW Seeks Volunteers for Rangers Maintenance Work
January 22, 2020 — We could use some more Rangers to help with the small chores around the community. Over the years, the Rangers have saved us a lot of money, and we used their expertise and help whenever we could. Call or text Robin Parker, 810.210.4628 to volunteer. You can also email Robin at robmat@aol.com. — Patti Martin
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Bed of trimmed agave and plumeria along the southern fence line.
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The HVW Landscape Committee caught this black racer sunning itself in the palms along the eastern berm. Black racers are not venomous and harmless to humans. In fact, they will quickly slither away and hide when humans are around. They do serve a purpose by eating mice, anoles, and other small creatures. They are very fast and often times hide in bushes or trees.
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Look to Florida Native Plants for Successful Plantings
Native plants are a good bet for the HVW gardener. Variety, from vines and groundcovers to shrubs thrive in the Florida climate. The University of Florida Extension Service prepared a list of Florida native plants that will do well in the community. Click here to see the list. Check with the HVW Landscape Committee before planning your plantings.
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Landscape Committee Collecting Mulch
The Landscaping Committee will pick up used, discarded and unwanted mulch to spread on the berm along 63rd Street West. Contact: Robin Robmat@aol.com; 810-210-4628.
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Visit the Bradenton Farmers’ Market
Bradenton Farmers’ Market market@realizebradenton.com, Is open every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Old Main Street, downtown Bradenton.
The City Centre Parking Garage, 10th Street West and Third Avenue, is open and parking is free. Entrance and exit ramp for levels two to four (public parking) is on 10th Street West.
The Bradenton Farmers’ Market is produced by Realize Bradenton, a nonprofit organization that promotes redevelopment and economic growth in downtown Bradenton by transforming places, engaging people, and realizing possibilities.
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Master Gardeners Offer Planting Advice
Are you wondering what to plant in the cool weather? Or how do you take care of the sod you put in last year? What about pruning, when’s the best time?
The Manatee County Master Gardener newsletter, The Garden Bench, answers those questions and offers a variety of interesting and informative articles. The newsletter is a publication of the University of Florida IFAS Extension service and is available from the Extension Service Website here.
Be sure to follow the HVW Landscape Guidelines before introducing plants around your unit. Contact HVW Landscape Chairwoman Robin Parker, robmat@aol.com, 810-210-4628.
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Master Gardener Volunteer Answers Landscape Questions
Master Gardener Volunteer Karen Holleran answers your email questions and looks at photographs for identification of problems at ManateeMG@gmail.com, 941-722-4524.
Plant Diagnostic Clinic Monday through Friday (closed Wednesdays) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Extension Service office, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto. The Master Gardener program is a service of the University of Florida IFAS Extension service.
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Beautification of Southwest Corner Completed
The Landscape Committee completed its latest community beautification project – removing unwanted trees and unsightly tangles of bushes and vines from the southwest corner of the community. The area, adjacent to the storage shed, was heavily overgrown and could not be maintained by the community’s lawn mowing service.
The committee took down unwanted trees, leveled the ground with a rented Bobcat, and spread mulch over the entire area. The mulch came from the grinding of two dead carrotwood trees that were removed from the common grounds.
“We created a lovely corner saving $2,600 doing the job ourselves,” said Landscape Committee Chairwoman, Robin Parker. She credited Sharon and Herman Bowling, Steve Polidore, Stella Sinopoli and Diane Schrier with helping out with the project.
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