Peggy's Native Garden

Master Gardener Peggy Gretchen has a profound respect for the beauty of Florida's natural environment. Her garden abounds in native plants, and is an exemplar of what happens when environment meets skillful gardening. Visitors expecting brushy, unkempt beds of weeds instead stroll dappled glades and narrow, leafy paths under a canopy of oak, maple, gum, bay, Hercules club, red bud, hornbeam, flatwoods plum, hawthorn, buckeye, swamp dogwood, cabbage palm, wild lime (below) and other native trees. Under the profusion of trees grow vines, shrubs, wildflowers, certainly hundreds of different plants, almost without exception all native; but the overall impression is serene, fascinating in its variety without being jumbled or wild.

While Peggy had the advantage of starting with property that was already wooded, it took an iron will to protect the existing habitat during the construction of her home. She joined the Native Plant Society to learn more about her plants, and has added hundreds more. Among the palmetto, coral bean, basket grass, rouge plant, and vervain, she planted wild coffee (below), fakahatchee and other grasses, blanket flower, many types of fern, Simpson stopper, anise, coontie, yaupon holly and too many others to list here.

Dispelling one misconception about natives, many of Peggy's plants put on heartstopping displays of flowers, berries, or fragrance. Others provide food and shelter for wildlife and butterflies.

Most are hardy and tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, making natives the best choice for homeowners who want carefree, low maintenance landscapes in this challenging climate zone where we can go from flood to drought in a few weeks, and often see winter temperatures drop 50 degrees in a few hours. These plants offer many advantages: few need irrigation after they're established; most are pest and disease free. They don't require chemical fertilizers or pesticide applications, and seem to thrive on neglect.

Thanks in large part to her native landscape, when Peggy was evaluated by Florida Yards and Neighborhoods to become a Certified Florida Yard, she garnered the highest number of points ever awarded in Pasco County!

Pasco County implemented a landscape ordinance that requires builders to use 30% native species in residential and commercial developments. Peggy worked with Extension director, Dr. Harris and others to develop a list of native plants suited to Pasco. This published list is provided to builders, nurserymen, and landscapers.

As nurseries increase their stock to meet the expected demand, homeowners can anticipate a much larger variety of native plants than is now available. Rare plants and new cultivars will also become more readily available. Building supply stores and gardening outlets are beginning to carry colorful wildflowers like blazing star and even firebush, and are responding to customer interest. Finding unusual plants can be challenging, but Environmental Equities in Hudson carries a good selection, as does wholesaler, Brightman Logan. (See Resources)

A wholesalers Native Plant & Service Directory is put out by the Association of Florida Native Nurseries, and their retail directory is Retail Suppliers of Florida Native Plants. Call toll free, 1 877-FLA-AFNN, or visit www.afnn.org.

The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society is a wonderful resource for Pasco County residents. FNPS meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 P.M. at St. Marks Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall located at 7922 State Road 52 in Hudson (one mile west of Little Road on the south side of SR 52 next to St. Michael's Catholic Church). Contact Peggy Gretchen at 813 991-4812 herculesmpg@earthlink.net for more information. The Florida Native Plant Society can be reached at PO Box 278, Melbourne, FL 32902. Ph: 321-271-6702 www.fnps.org.

USF has a great website: Atlas of Florida's Vascular Plants.