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A water feature lends still another element to it all.

So does yard art, including benches to sit upon, an Alexander Calder inspired sculpture high atop a top and two wash pots from each one’s family.

Plants range from the unusual — a purple Lady Banksia — to tradiGarden selections include plants they have bought, passalongs from friends and things dug up from family country places.

Through the years, they’ve created practical paths with an artistic flair of old brick, chipped rock and pine bark which meander through the garden.

Structures include a country outhouse-inspired building with a sliver of a moon on the door piece which they use for a tool shed.

Although roses are the hallmark of this garden, there are lace cap hydrangea, bridal wreath, day lilies, herbs, clematis, ferns and sassafras.

There are tallow, sweet gum, oak and mayhaw and perhaps the largest Bradford pear tree you have ever seen.

“And, here is an ornamental cherry tree. It has the prettiest blooms I have ever seen,” Jimmy said as he showed a visitor his yard.

Two young cedar trees are from the home place of her great-grandparents, named after them — William R. and Pennie.

The Lynns’ landscape changed over the past year in two major ways.

When two huge pines — one 85-feet tall — died and were cut down, a shade garden became a sunny one where they have added roses and sweet olive to the existing azalea bush.

“The English dogwood was my mother’s,” Jimmy said.

Where a swimming pool once stood they positioned an herb area, including parsley, Swiss chard, parsley.

There are many interesting elements to this landscape.

As you walk the yard, don’t miss:

An exquisite Japanese maple which shades the entrance walk and looks over the nandina bushes.

A vitex allee leads to the vegetable garden’s eggplant, tomato and squash plants.

A variety of interesting fruit trees which include a pomegranate in full bloom, blueberry bushes laden with fruit and a peach tree.

A 6-foot clematis just beyond the house’s deck.

A trio of sculptural birdhouses of different heights, a gift of a neighbor, will be teamed with hostas.

The triangular-shaped trellis towers over a deck and is filled with lush blossoms of Seven Sisters roses.

The iron spider web interwoven with wisteria and purchased locally is tucked near the back fence, a homage to Linda’s maiden name, Webb.

The stand of native iris near the pond came from the home of Jimmy’s mother.

The unusual Jewels of Opa they spotted at Rose Emporium, Brenham, Texas, years ago.

Elk Grove officials showed off what they described as the wave of the future in eco-friendly landscaping design. The plaza, which displays water conservation techniques and drought-resistant plants, is being touted as the most comprehensive rain garden in the greater Sacramento region.

Rain gardens are shallow depressions in the landscape that catch and filter rainwater from roofs and pavements, allowing storm water runoff to be recycled and channeled to plants and soil, rather than allowing it to flow directly to storm drainage systems. The methods also curtail excessive flows that damage the area’s creeks, and the garden will be a habitat for insects and birds.

The city built the garden in a weedy vacant lot near the city offices in less than a year, said Elk Grove Mayor Jim Cooper. The plaza cost about $450,000, coming primarily from city storm water drainage facility fees.

Cooper said the new plaza will educate the public about ecologically sustainable ways to landscape.

“The garden features low-impact development practices that work with nature to manage storm water close to its source,” Cooper said at the opening. “And it incorporates natural river-friendly landscaping techniques.”

The plaza, which includes a canopied picnic area, exercise equipment and art, incorporates features that can be easily used in a home or business, such as drought-resistant native plants, synthetic lawns, rain chains instead of downspouts, and permeable surface materials.

Many of the methods on display can also be cheap and low-maintenance alternatives that cut down on chemical fertilizer and pesticide use, said Fernando Duenas, project manager.

Guy Rutter, president of the Cosumnes Community Services District, said the garden’s plants, such as California buckeye trees and showy milkweed bushes, show that drought-resistant plants can be attractive and low-maintenance. He believes they are becoming more common as consumers embrace water-savvy landscape designs.

“About 10 years ago, we wanted to use native plants requiring low-water use, and we couldn’t find these plants anywhere,” Rutter said. “We searched high and low.”

He said the plaza uses a combination of “art and engineering to address storm water runoff, water conservation and water pollution issues.”

The garden’s design includes water collection and harvesting measures, such as rain chains that can channel water to plants, and rain barrels, which can collect rainwater from drain spouts for use later.

Duenas explained a demonstration of water-permeable pavers, concrete and decomposed granite surfaces. While a city worker poured a bucket of water over paving stones in the garden, Duenas pointed out how the water disappeared into the cracks.

“The water drains through the pavers, through a layer of gravel, then into underground pipes that distribute the water back to the garden,” Duenas said.

Eric Berntsen, a scientist with the state Water Resources Control Board, told the audience at the opening that the garden shows “best use practices” and how they work.

“California’s population will be at 50 million by 2020, so we have to be smart about water use,” he said. “It’s nice to see someone do this without being forced to. Elk Grove just stepped up and wanted to do this. Elk Grove should be proud. It’s one of the nicest rain gardens I’ve seen statewide.”

Barbara Thompson’s gardening background stems from her time growing up in Key West and Illinois.

When she and husband Mark moved to Brandon 24 years ago, they built their home and started landscaping from scratch.

Mark is the garden architect who decided where the bushes and trees — including five crape myrtles in various colors — should go. He also planted them all. They both share the mowing, edging and raking duties.

Barbara has taken several classes at the County Extension Office and is a graduate of the first Community Forest Steward program with Rob Northrup.

They have a very small but lovely, shady yard in front. The side has more turf and larger gardens along the house, and surrounding the side patio and French doors to the dining room. The other side yard, inside the privacy fence, is very narrow but lined with flowers on one side and young fruit trees on the other.

Mark laid the long brick walk that leads past a screened garden room, and all around the pool enclosure to the back gate. He also put in the patio floor, all with bricks recycled from the Hillsborough Hotel in Tampa.

* * * * *

Today’s pick, Coleus, is a common plant and yet comes in many different forms and colors. It is a favorite annual bedding plant in the North, but if you bring it in over the winter, it proves to be a tropical perennial. Barbara finds it makes a fine house plant as well as a great source of color in partial to full shade. There also are a few kinds that will survive in full sun if they have enough water. These start easily from cuttings that can be rooted even in water.

* * * * *

• Today: Master gardener Cynthia Glover will present a free program on caladiums at the Bloomingdale Library, at 1906 Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. For more details, call Jim Mayer at (813) 661-8452.

• Thursday: The Tampa African Violet Society will meet at 7 p.m. at the Common Ground Christian Church, 4207 N. Boulevard in Tampa. Members are asked to bring in plant-related items for the Green Elephant Sale. A plant raffle will be held and growing tips offered. Visitors are always welcome. Free admission and parking. For information, call Jim Boyer at (727) 871-2014 or email jasb39@gmail.com.

• Saturday: There will be an easy walk to see bluebird nesting boxes and spring bird activities at Flatwoods Park (Morris Bridge Road entrance). Meet at 8 a.m.

For information, email limpkin1945@verizon.net.

Those of us who have landscaping in our yards, vegetable gardens or fruit trees are well aware of the damage insects can cause. Here in Central Florida, there are a variety of pests that may appear at certain times each year to feed on our plants.

Taking steps to prevent insect infestations and damage is key to keeping your plants healthy and looking their best.

Whiteflies are one of the most common pests found in our area. These tiny moth-like insects are silver or white and are coated with a fine powdery wax. Because they are so small, you may notice the damage on your plant leaves before you spot whiteflies.

Small holes are often visible on plant leaves and tiny whiteflies may be seen in groups underneath the leaves. Because whiteflies produce honeydew, your plants may have a sticky coating on them as well.

While whiteflies feed on a variety of ornamental plants, some of the most commonly attacked in Florida are crape myrtle, chinaberry, ligustrum, viburnum and gardenia.

Citrus plants are not exempt from whitefly feeding, with orange, lemon and grapefruit all commonly infested. Vegetable plants such as peppers, eggplant and tomatoes are also favored hosts of whiteflies.

Whenever possible, it is best to use natural remedies for whiteflies to avoid killing beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps and lady bugs, which help to keep whitefly populations low. One of the best natural ways to reduce whiteflies in your yard is to use an oil spray.

You can make your own oil solution by mixing two tablespoons of vegetable oil with one gallon of water. Place the solution in a spray bottle and coat your plants, concentrating on the undersides of leaves where whiteflies congregate to feed. Repeat the application twice each week until whiteflies are gone.

Because of our humid climate, slugs can be a problem in our gardens. Slugs must have moisture to survive, so they like damp places and generally come out at night to feed on plants. Although slugs crawl on the ground, they can climb plants in search of new, tender leaves to feast on.

According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, there are only a few native slug species that cause damage in our area, but some non-native species that have established themselves in Central and South Florida that are extremely damaging to the plants in our landscape.

While slugs can be difficult to catch in the act, there are a few tell-tale signs they leave behind that may help you identify them.

When slugs are immature, they may only feed on the surface of plant leaves, merely scratching them with their rasping mouthparts. However, as slugs get larger they can leave huge holes in leaves and flowers. Slugs can also leave gleaming, slime trails on concrete, plant leaves or wood.

Fortunately, slugs are fairly easy to eliminate with a substance many of us have around the house. Find jar lids, so that the lip of the lid will be close to the ground. Place them underneath your damaged plants and pour the lids full of beer.

The slugs are attracted to the fermented liquid and will climb into the jar lid to feed. Replace the beer every three or four days for best results. If you notice slug activity in shady areas of your yard or garden, be sure to remove all leaf litter promptly and keep the area free of weeds because they provide a damp place for these slimy pests to hide.

You may also notice tiny triangle-shaped insects on your plant leaves, which are usually aphids. These tiny insects are often easy to spot because they are often bright shades of pink, yellow, red, green or orange.

Aphids are common pests in many areas, and Central Florida is no exception. Don’t be fooled by their tiny size; aphids can wreck havoc on your landscaping, according to Sun State Landscaping.

Aphids are similar to whiteflies in many ways, as they both feed on the undersides of plant leaves, have piercing mouthparts and excrete honeydew. If only a few aphids are feeding on your plants, dip a cotton ball in alcohol and rub them from the foliage two or three times a week.

When larger infestations are found, try using a solution of one cup of water mixed with one teaspoon of vegetable oil and one teaspoon of liquid dish soap such as Dawn. Spray it on your infested plants, let set for an hour or so and then rinse. Be sure to rinse the foliage well, as certain plants are more sensitive to soap solutions and leaf burn could occur.

Plants that are stressed by drought or have hairy leaves are more likely to suffer injury from soap solutions.

Using these natural methods to keep common plant pests under control will keep beneficial insects alive and doing their jobs. Homemade remedies are also less damaging to the environment than harsh chemicals.

During the growing season, inspect your plants once a week for signs of insect damage to nip problems in the bud quickly and keep your plants looking their best.

SOUTH BETHANY — Officials have approved a bid for the landscaping improvement project aimed at continuing beautification in town.

The project will include the development of rain garden beds and landscaping along the Route 1 walkway, improvement of the circle beds along the Route 1 median and landscaping improvements at the York Beach Mall shopping center.

According to Town Manager Mel Cusick, the town received two bids for the project, with the lowest bid from Lord Landscaping Inc. in Millville for $53,981.

The funding will come from the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Enhancement Program as well as the state TEP and the town.

The project should begin this week and be completed by mid-May as the state requires the grant to be used by June 1, said Councilwoman Sue Callaway.

The money will come out of the Community Enhancement Committee’s budget.

“It’s monies that were allocated for the actual things it’s going to be (used for),” she said. “We’re excited about the new changes.”

The rain gardens along the walkway will be around each drain and existing teardrop-type beds will be removed. Additional landscaping will be added to the gardens as well.

While the circle beds along Route 1 have already been created, they have lacked landscaping, Callaway said. The stony areas in front of York Beach Mall have been barren, and the committee plans to use low-maintenance and native plants that will be able to exist within the elements along the roadway, she said.

“The goal of this project is to improve the landscaping and hopefully improve the water quality in the canals,” she said.

The cost to the town will be less than anticipated because the maintenance portion of the contract can now be done by the new full-time maintenance employee, Cusick said.

Since the state has already approved the grant request, the change, which could save the town about $3,000, will have to be made by a change order.

On Twitter @ACunninghamDMG

Lester Struble didn’t hesitate to answer as his younger brother, Michael, sat nodding to his left.

“I would say this has been a dream of ours,” he said. “It’s nice to see it come to fruition.”

Struble Gardens opened on Lakeside Boulevard a little over a week ago—just in time for the spring and summer booms. And as it prepares for its grand opening May 5-6, it has an eye toward the future, the older brother said.

“We want to be here for a long time,” Lester Struble said.

The Struble brothers, who grew up in West Milford, each studied horticulture at Delaware Valley College in Pennsylvania before opening up a landscaping business, based out of Ledgewood, in 1998.

Lester Struble said the pair specializes in high-end residential landscaping, but that “we’ll do any size project, whether it’s a small job or a project on the lake.”

The brothers agreed that operating the dual-service business would be a challenge, but would be a benefit not just to themselves, but to Hopatcong.

“Not only are we able to attract more people that we can do landscaping for, but we’re able to buy products cheaper, to be able to install better, get better prices on jobs,” he said. “Yeah, it’s a little intimidating, I would say, that we’re starting a whole separate business. But it’s exciting. I’m very confident in the people that we’ve hired.”

While Lester Struble was referring to several people, he specifically said manager Carolyn Witman, who has years of gardening experience, would be an asset.

He also added that the garden center, while on the smaller side, would focus on quality.

“If somebody comes in an they see a plant that looks healthy or is in full bloom or looks like it’s been cared for, they’re going to want to buy that as opposed to going into a big box story and they’re all straggly,” Lester Struble said.

Michael Struble said he was looking forward to working with the Hopatcong community from the 14 Lakeside Blvd. location, which had sat empty for more than a year after Get Potted moved to a smaller location on the same street in 2010.

The younger brother said the building didn’t need much work—other than a fresh coat of paint downstairs—though it took a month to enlarge the parking lot and add lighting, curbs, asphalt, retaining walls and fencing.

“I’m really excited,” Michael Struble said.

Lester Struble said that the business, located at the beginning of one of Hopatcong’s main arteries, would also be interested in helping borough nonprofits.

“We want to let the community know that we want to help them out if there’s some kind of benefit or if we can be of any help as far as organizations that are looking to do fundraisers,” he said.

Steve Scher
05/01/2012 at 10:00 a.m.

Dirty Journalists: The phone–hacking scandal now being investigated in the UK reveals a litany of abuses carried out by journalists to fill the pages of some of Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers. Is anyone in the UK really surprised, though? British cultural commentator Stuart Kelly thinks not. “In the US there’s a proud American tradition of crusading journalists like Woodward and Bernstein — even Superman’s a journalist,” he says. “In the UK, eh, not so much.” From Samuel Richardson to Spiderman, how do the UK and US view the fourth estate? And what does it tell us about Rupert Murdoch?

Women’s Pro Soccer Catching On In Seattle: The 2012 season has been a transformative and exciting time for women’s professional soccer in Seattle. The Sounders Women signed a new coach and five new players from the US national team and has been playing to sellout crowds. As the popularity of soccer grows in Seattle, what’s ahead for players and fans?

Greendays Gardening Panel: The Greendays gardening panel offers their guidance for your gardening projects. The rain and sun have been good for plants. Some are doubling in size. What gardening projects do you have going on? We’ll take your questions at 800.289.KUOW (5869).

Related Event

The Seattle Sounders Women face the University of Washington in a sold–out game at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila on Saturday, May 4, 2012.

Guest(s)

Stuart Kelly is cultural correspondent for Scotsman Publications.

Megan Manthey plays forward and midfield for the Seattle Sounders Women. She joins the team after winning three championships as the first American to play for Fortuna Hjorring, a Danish professional team.

Michelle French began coaching the Seattle Sounders Women in 2012. She has played soccer competitively for over 20 years and won a silver medal playing for the US in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Marty Wingate writes about gardens and travel. You can find her works at martywingate.com. Her book is “Landscaping for Privacy.”

Willi Galloway is host of the gardening and cooking website digginfood.com. Her book new book is “Grow, Cook, Eat.”

Greg Rabourn is the Vashon basin steward and works on habitat restoration and salmon recovery on Vashon and Maury Islands. He also helps landowners in the Raging River and Patterson Creek watershed solve landscape problems sustainably. You can see him as co–host of King County TV’s “Yard Talk.”

Gardens, like gardeners, get tired.

Sometimes a bed or border needs a horticultural facelift, the infusion of new colors, shapes and textures to freshen its appearance. Other gardens need complete rejuvenation, which can be hard work but worth every aching muscle when you can give it a new lease on life.

Landscaping professionals like Jeff Rhea of Turf Landscape in Sumner, point out that landscapes have a lifespan. Plants grow old, woody and tired-looking. Even trees and shrubs may need replacing. Not to mention that gardeners get bored with what they’ve got and want something new and different. Maybe it’s time for a new plan.

But it’s natural to experience brain freeze at a greenhouse or nursery because there is such a vast array of plant material available. This year, Green Scene wants to make it easier to choose with garden designs using plants to be sold during the Green Scene Plant Sale.

The 36th annual event takes place from 9 a.m. to noon May 12 at the Agriculture Building on the National Cattle Congress grounds, 257 Ansborough Ave. Admission is free.

This week’s plans are shade gardens for filtered shade using lots of hostas and an herb pot.

Filtered Sun-Shade Garden

A) “Golden Tiara” hosta — gold leaf margins, heart-shaped, thin leaves, dusky lavender flowers.

B) “Liberty” or “Autumn Frost” hosta — “Liberty,” vase shape, medium blue green with bold yellow margin that fades to creamy white; “Autumn Frost,” wide, bright yellow margins that fade to cream, frosty blue leaves.

C) Lungwort — Flower clusters in spring, pretty speckled foliage throughout growing season.

D) “Sun Power” or “Heat Wave” hosta — “Sun Power,” wavy, gold leaves that are twisted and pointed; “Sun Power,” oval to heart-shaped yellowish green leaves; “Heat Wave,” thick, puckered chartreuse leaves that brighten to gold with blue margins in spring.

E) “Irish Luck” hosta — Glossy, dark green leaves, deep veining, pie crust rippled margins.

F) “High Society” or “June” hosta — “High Society,” wide blue margins, yellow center that brightens to parchment; “June,” creamy yellow-gold center, dark bluish green margin and streaking, color changes depending on sunlight.

G) Heuchera — Also known as coral bells, brings color to shade.

H) “Halcyon” hosta — Favorite, deeply ribbed intense blue leaf.

I) “Climax” hosta — Large, upright, green leaves, bright gold margins.

J) “Hudson Bay” or “Goodness Gracious” hosta — “Hudson Bay,” wide bright blue margins, apple green jetting and creamy white center; “Goodness Gracious,” dark green, wide yellow margins, deeply veined leaves.

K) “Krosca Regal” hosta — Upright vase-shape, frosted blue-green wavy leaves.

L) “Georgia Peach” heuchera — Large leaves, glowing peach with silver wash, heat and humidity tolerant.

M) “Christmas Rose” hellebore — Dark green, thick leaves, white flower that sometimes turns salmon-pink with age.

N) “Blue Angel,” “Devil’s Advocate” or “Queen of the Seas” hosta — “Blue Angel,” large, heavily textured blue leaves; “Devil’s Advocate,” blue-green leaves, green margins; “Queen of the Seas,” blue-green, thick heart-shaped leaves, pie-crust edge.

O) “Sum and Substance” or “Rainforest Sunrise” hosta — “Sum and Substance,” upright, heart-shaped, flat leaves in chartreuse to gold leaves; “Rainforest Sunrise,” thick, lightly cupped and heavily puckered light green leaves with dark margins and gold center.

P) Filtered or heavy shade tree

Fill in bare spots with tulips, daffodils and columbine for spring blooms.

18-inch Culinary Herb Garden

A) French thyme — Cascading, gray-green leaves; aromatic; faint clove aftertaste.

B) 2 basil plants, one “Thai,” second “Sweet Genovese” — “Thai,” sweet basil, small narrow leaves and purple stems, slight licorice flavor; “Sweet Genovese,” large-leaved Italian sweet basic, spicy flavor and aroma.

C) Rosemary “Huntington Carpet” — Glossy dark green foliage, blue flowers, fragrant.

D) Italian Parsley — Plain, flat-leafed parsley, less bitter than curly parsley

E) Greek Oregano — Coarse, oval, fuzzy leaves, strong flavor.

F) Heliotrope (not sold at Green Scene) — Dark green, crinkled leaves, vanilla-type fragrance; common name “cherry pie plant.”

Evenly space plants with tallest in center; full sun to light shade; begin clipping for cooking in a few weeks.

Volunteers from Four Seasons Elementary School worked Saturday to upgrade the gardens and landscaping on the school grounds.

The Four Seasons Garden Project put in place azaleas and other plants, and got free landscaping services from Seasonal Changes Landscaping.

The group hopes to plant Black-Eyes Susans next week and is still collecting donations, organizer Rebecca Feibel said in an email.

Feibel said there has been talk of the group working on an ongoing basis for the continual beautification of the grounds at Four Seasons.

For more information on the project, email fourseasonsgarden2012@gmail.com.

Attached are photos before and after the work was completed. If you have more photos of the garden project, feel free to upload them here.

Roses, perennials and crape myrtles cover the hillsides in full bloom. Their colorful spectacle shouts constant upkeep with water, fertilizer and pesticide.

But the research gardens at Myers Park and Event Center sprout, for the most part, without. They are Earth-Kind gardens, and horticulturists all over Texas and the country have taken notice.

“We take the best organic and traditional horticulture practices and put them to the best possible use,” said Greg Church, Collin County’s Texas AgriLife Extension agent in charge of the park’s Earth-Kind dcor. “The goal is to have a beautiful landscape with minimal maintenance and protection for the environment.”

Earth-Kind principles have been around for nearly two decades, Church said, but as eco-friendly practices gain momentum, so does the landscape and gardening trend, particularly in McKinney. The 158-acre, county-owned park is home to separate Earth-Kind research gardens for Kordez roses, crape myrtles and 111 perennial plant species — the largest Earth-Kind undertaking in the nation.

Church, a horticulturist and plant pathologist, since 2010 has headed a team of AgriLife Extension agents and Collin County Master Gardeners in developing and studying the gardens. The AgriLife Extension service, based out of Texas AM University, has extension offices in every Texas county.

“Our mission is to improve the lives of Texans any way we can,” Church said. “With the horticulture program, we’re trying to make it easier on them to landscape and garden.”

And, at least in Collin County, the preferred method for ease rests on Earth-Kind practices. The Earth-Kind Environmental Stewardship Program is an American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)-recognized educational program focused on protecting the environment and conserving natural resources through research-based landscaping, gardening and agricultural production techniques.

Research protocol for the program excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and limits supplemental irrigation, Church said. Roses were the first large-scale test subject, and an ongoing state and national effort in recent years has yielded 23 rose cultivars as Earth-Kind — able to bloom and flourish using program protocol.

Church and Steve George, leader of the AgriLife Extension team that last year named the most recent Earth-Kind rose varieties, expanded the principles to other plant species, including the herbaceous and flowering perennials that beautify the Myers Park landscape.

Phase I of the Earth-Kind study began in May 2010, but perhaps its most-telling test came last summer during the state’s intense drought. Church and his AgriLife agents and volunteers watered the research gardens once, the first week of August, and the Earth-Kind plants passed the test with flying colors — literally.

“It was a great year to test them and see how drought-tolerant they are,” Church said. “We had at least 36 plants that performed very well; some were even blooming without any rainfall for two months. That’s pretty impressive.”

Soil management is a simple key to such success, he said. Earth-Kind practices call for landscapers and gardeners to amend the soil by adding three inches of compost, tilling, planting and topping with three inches of mulch. Church said the mulch, which must be maintained over time, acts as a slow-release fertilizer.

“If we have healthy soil, we’ll have healthy plants,” he said.

The Collin County crew then installed a research garden to evaluate 25 crape myrtle varieties, replicated 25 times, and another to study 19 Kordez Rose varieties, which were developed without pesticides, a rarity for roses.

Church will present the area’s Earth-Kind findings thus far to the ASHS this summer in Miami, in an effort to stretch the program’s reach beyond Texas soil.

“We’re getting more scientists throughout the country to follow our guidelines in testing plants,” he said. “The hope is that other people will catch onto this idea.”

For now, the research gardens will at least serve as an aesthetic attraction to Myers Park visitors, many of whom take them in during monthly tours. The park’s Basic Ag Field Day events teach amateurs the basics of agriculture through demonstrations and exhibitors.

“We want everyone to benefit from these beautiful gardens, aesthetically and scientifically,” said Judy Florence, park manager.

Trials for a research vineyard, vegetable garden, fruit and pecan orchards, and a turf grass research area are all in the works, Church said. Aesthetic attraction may be nice, but that’s not the AgriLife vision.

“All the principles and practices of Earth-Kind can really be applied to all areas of agricultural production,” he said. “The extension service was created to take the research-based information and bring it to the public so they can use it.”

Myers Park and Event Center is located at 7117 County Road 166 in McKinney. For more information about the research gardens and tours, contact the AgriLife Extension office at 972-548-4233.