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Botanical Gardens hosting events about bromeliads and bees
[08.03.2010]

For two consecutive weekends this month, the USF Botanical Gardens will be all abuzz as gardens staff and volunteers welcome visitors to its annual Bromeliad Bash on Saturday, Aug. 14 and then the first in a series of popular beekeeping workshops on Saturday, Aug. 21.

“Bromeliads are the perfect plants for a carefree Florida landscape,” said Kim Hutton, the gardens’ special events coordinator. “Our Bromeliad Bash offers visitors the opportunity to learn about growing and caring for bromeliads, to tour the gardens’ collection and pick up some beauties to take home.”

Bromeliad experts will be on hand to answer questions and make suggestions on planning locations and designs. The Plant Shop will feature many different types of bromeliads for sale, from the common to the extraordinary, Hutton said.

The Bromeliad Bash takes place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lectures will take place at 10 a.m. and noon. The event is free and the public is welcome.

The following weekend, the USF Botanical Gardens will host the first in a series of beekeeping workshops conducted by volunteer beekeeper Gary VanCleef. On Aug. 21, VanCleef will conduct two workshops on honey extraction and products of the hive. The workshops will take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Honey extraction workshops are limited to 24 people and pre-registration is required by calling 813-910-3274. The cost is $8 for USF Botanical Gardens members and $10 for non-members.

Additional workshops in the beekeeping series will take place throughout the fall. Dates and topics are:

Sept. 18 – Integrated pest management, best management practices, controlling DPP.

Oct. 16 – Queens and requeening.

Nov. 20 – Keeping the hive alive through winter.

Dec. 11 – Preparing for spring.

All workshops take place at 10 a.m. For additional information, contact Van Cleef at Beekeeper@AmericasBeekeeper.com.

The USF Botanical Gardens is located near the southwest corner of the USF Tampa campus, near the intersection of Pine and Alumni Drives off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. For more information call 813-910-3274 or visit www.cas.usf.edu/garden.

The USF Botanical Gardens is located at 12210 USF Pine Dr., Tampa, 33620.

-USF-

Filed under:Arts and Sciences Botanical Gardens    
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Author: Mary Beth Erskine
Contact: mberskine@admin.usf.edu