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Courtesy photo Nancy Bissett (left) from The Natives and Stacy Smith from Archbold Biological Station are both involved in the Ridgescaping tour planned at the Station on Sunday.

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published: Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Native landscaping tour set at Archbold Biological Station

Special to the News-Sun

VENUS -- Native landscaping ... what is it and is it right for my yard? Get answers to these and other questions on Sunday when Dr. Eric Menges from Archbold Biological Station leads a walk around Archbold's new Learning Center and Lodge buildings with a focus on the native landscaping. Sign-in begins at 1:30 p.m. and the walk begins at 2 p.m. The public is invited.

Menges is the Plant Ecology Program director and has been at Archbold for 25 years. He will be accompanied by Plant Ecology research assistant Steven McAllister.

"The inspiration for using native landscaping, or 'ridgescaping', as we have termed the landscaping at Archbold (referring to the Lake Wales Ridge), comes from the principle of using the right plant in the right place," said Hilary Swain, executive director of Archbold.

"We decided during the planning phase of our new buildings to 'go native' with our landscaping -- using only trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers from south central Florida and planting them in the right spots based on their unique light, water, and soil needs. Native plants need only sun and rain. They can survive the extremes of soil and local climate, and meet our goal for no/low maintenance."

Bringing their inspiration to life was the work of Nancy Bissett from The Natives in Davenport. Bissett designed the entire two acres surrounding the buildings using only plants native to this region. The Learning Center and Lodge landscaping project was recognized as "Gold Certified" in 2012 by the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program of the University of Florida.

Melissa Mabe, director of communications, said, "This event is one of a series of guided walks at Archbold for spring 2013.

Please remember to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for walking in sand trails around the buildings. Bring your camera, field notebooks, sketch pads, water bottle and protection from the sun. Sorry, no pets allowed."

Archbold Biological Station is an independent, not-for-profit research facility located on the Lake Wales Ridge and lies within the Northern Everglades, the lands that drain south into Lake Okeechobee. The Station is dedicated to long-term ecological research, conservation, and education. It's all part of the global effort to understand, interpret and preserve the world's natural heritage. A donation for the tour of $5 per person is suggested.

Archbold Biological Station is eight miles south of Lake Placid.

The entrance is 1.8 miles south of State Road 70 on Old SR 8. Visit www.archbold-station.org.

During business hours call 465-2571.