FROM GULF COAST WITH. WELL, TODAY WE’RE GETTING OUR HANDS A LITTLE DIRTY HERE ON THE GULF COAST TO BE MORE. >> GARDEN FRIENDLY. YEAH, I LIKE THAT. OUR FRIENDS OVER AT I MAGER TEACHING US ALL ABOUT SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE WAYS IT WE TYPICALLY GROW FOOD IN AND MANAGE OUR LAND HERE ON THE NORTH COAST. SO GO LIVE. THERE WERE 40 CULTURAL IS CHRISTIAN LANDSCAPER. KATE AND GREENS KEEPER. EMILY ARE CULTIVATING THEIR OWN PLOT. GOOD MORNING, GUYS. >> GOOD MORNING. WE ARE HERE AT IMAX BACKYARD GARDEN. THIS BACKYARD GARDEN IS BROUGHT TO US BY THE FLORIDA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING, WHICH IS A PROGRAM THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, WHICH MOSTLY JUST PROVOKED NORTH FLORIDA NATIVE PLANTS, BUT ALSO A SUSTAINABLE PROCESSES. WHEN GARDENING, WE DO HAVE SOME CATERPILLARS HERE WHICH ARE NATIVE HERE IN FLORIDA. THESE ARE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS. WE HAVE SOME GIANT MILKWEED GROWING IN OUR BACKYARD GARDEN. SO WE BROUGHT SOME LITTLE CRITTERS FOR YOU GUYS TO SEE JUST SOME WILDLIFE THAT LIVES HERE AND OUR BACKYARD GARDEN TAKE A LITTLE STROLL THROUGH OUR BACKYARD GARDEN. LIKE I SAID, THIS WHOLE PROGRAM IS TO HAVE FLORIDA FRIENDLY PLAN. SO EVERYTHING IN OUR GARDEN IS A NATIVE HERE IN FLORIDA. AND IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE FLORIDA NATIVE PLANTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO WITHSTAND THOSE REALLY WET SEASONS, BUT ALSO THOSE REALLY DRY SEASON SO THEY CAN MANAGE THAT WATER INTAKE AS MUCH AS THEY NEED TO AND CAN WITHSTAND THAT SCORCHING HOT SUN. YOU MIGHT NOTICE ALSO AND OUR BACKYARD GARDEN. WE’VE GOT SOME CARDBOARD AND ALSO SOME MULCH. TAX IS A REALLY AWESOME INSULATION. WHEN THAT COLD FRONT COMES THROUGH, IT KEEPS THE SOIL NICE AND WARM AND NOT FROM FREEZING OVER AND ALSO TRAPS A LOT OF WATER. SO THESE PLANS CAN ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT WATER IF THEY NEED. SO SO THAT IS WHAT THIS MULCH IS DOING IN HERE AND ALSO WON IT DEGRADES. IT RELEASES LOTS AND LOTS OF NUTRIENTS WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO THE PLANTS INTO THE SOIL SO THAT THEY CAN GROW AND HAVE A HAPPY LIFE HERE AT I MEG. THANK YOU, KATE. >> NOW WE ALSO HAVE SOME STUFF OUT HERE FOR THE KIDS AS WELL. SO YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THAT WE HAVE LIKE A LITTLE SCAVENGER HUNT GOING ON HERE WITH SOME LITTLE DINOSAURS SOME OTHER FUN THINGS OUT HERE. A LITTLE MUSHROOMS. AND SO AGAIN, THAT’S KIND OF A LITTLE SCAVENGER HUNT FOR KIDS SO THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT OUT HERE AT THE GARDEN AS WELL. NOW, SPEAKING OF A TYPE OF A SCAVENGER HUNT, THERE’S ACTUALLY AN APP THAT WE ARE USING OUT HERE AND IT’S CALLED THE I NATURALIST APP AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS PARENTS AND KIDS TO BASICALLY TAKE PICTURES OF ANYTHING THAT THEY SEE OUT HERE, PLANTS OR ANIMALS. AND THEN UPLOAD THEM AND IT TAGS. THOSE PHOTOS TO HEAR IT. I MAG AND IT ALLOWS PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD TO SEE WHAT SORT OF SPECIES WE HAVE HERE. SO AGAIN, WE HAVE A SCAVENGER HUNT FOR THE KIDS. WE HAVE A SCAVENGER HUNT FOR THE ADULTS AS WELL. AND WE’RE JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE UF MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM NOW. IF YOU HAVE KIDS AT HOME AND YOU’RE NOT SURE WHERE TO SEND THEM WHEN THEY’RE OUT OF SCHOOL. FOR SPRING BREAK. WE HAVE OUR SPRING BREAK CAMP COMING UP VERY SOON. MARCH 16TH THROUGH THE 20TH. IT’S GOING TO BE PIRATE THEMED. HOWEVER, WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF PIRATE F KNOW BOUGHT ME AND HOW PIRATES BROUGHT DIFFERENT PLANTS AND ANIMALS TO OUR AREA. SO IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT CHECK IN ON OUR WEBSITE. WWW DOT THE I MAG DOT ORG. AND I THINK NEXT WEEK IF YOU GUYS WANT TO TUNE IN EMILY AND KATE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT OUR BOX TURTLES. SO SOME NATIVE SPECIES THAT WE HAVE HERE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR TUNING IN. WIL
IMAGine That!: The Florida-Friendly Landscape Garden at IMAG History & Science Center
Updated: 11:47 AM EST Mar 4, 2026
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Horticulturist Christian, landscaper Kate, and greenskeeper Emily welcomed “More in the Morning” to the Florida-Friendly Landscape Garden at the IMAG History & Science Center in Southwest Florida, which promotes sustainable alternatives to conventional landscaping.The garden is based on a program by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, providing guidance on environmentally friendly, science-based landscape practices that use less water and reduce pollutant loading to Florida waters.Kate said the program is based on nine principles, including placing the right plants in the right places, watering efficiently, fertilizing appropriately, and using mulch. Emily, a lover of creatures great and small, said gardens need to attract wildlife while managing pests. Christian said recycling and reducing stormwater runoff are crucial to protecting waterfront areas.These principles are all well and good, but the garden also offers a playful twist with tiny dinosaurs hidden among the plants, adding an element of surprise and delight for visitors.You can also celebrate spring break at IMAG just by checking out their website.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
Horticulturist Christian, landscaper Kate, and greenskeeper Emily welcomed “More in the Morning” to the Florida-Friendly Landscape Garden at the IMAG History & Science Center in Southwest Florida, which promotes sustainable alternatives to conventional landscaping.
The garden is based on a program by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, providing guidance on environmentally friendly, science-based landscape practices that use less water and reduce pollutant loading to Florida waters.
Kate said the program is based on nine principles, including placing the right plants in the right places, watering efficiently, fertilizing appropriately, and using mulch.
Emily, a lover of creatures great and small, said gardens need to attract wildlife while managing pests. Christian said recycling and reducing stormwater runoff are crucial to protecting waterfront areas.
These principles are all well and good, but the garden also offers a playful twist with tiny dinosaurs hidden among the plants, adding an element of surprise and delight for visitors.
You can also celebrate spring break at IMAG just by checking out their website.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
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