Diary of a Gardener Excitement Around Native Plants

This past week, I attended the FANN (Florida Association of Native Nurseries) conference at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL. I’ve been to several plant-related conferences and continuing education courses, both in person and online, but this one stood out as one of the best I’ve experienced. I left feeling excited, encouraged, and even a bit rejuvenated—and I made a few new friends along the way!

Using native plants in our landscapes is essential for many reasons. Native plants benefit our environment, conserve water, support wildlife and pollinators, and offer incredible resilience, especially in coastal areas affected by stormwater. In Florida, native plants generally handle our extreme weather conditions better than non-native species. However, as a designer and plant enthusiast, I often find it challenging to convince clients to embrace native plants since many are unfamiliar with their growth patterns and appearances. There’s a misconception that they’re wild and unkempt, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

At the conference, I enrolled in a micro-credential course where I learned about 20 native plant species from some of the best horticulturists at Bok Tower Gardens and my fellow colleagues. This training has greatly expanded my confidence and options for incorporating these plants into client landscapes—I even envision some in my own garden.

One of the most fascinating seminars covered how to create a small urban meadow. I love blending natural landscapes with structured design and maintenance, so this project is at the top of my to-do list for my own landscape. I even have a friend who’s willing to let me experiment in her yard! I’m especially inspired by the combination of native grasses like muhly grass and purple love grass, along with wildflowers such as Black-eyed Susans, Blazing Star, and Coreopsis. Their diverse textures and colors have sparked so many creative ideas.

Hearing industry experts like Craig Huegel and Bok Tower Gardens president David Price speak was captivating. Everyone I met was friendly and helpful, and the event coordinators even took the time to connect with each of us personally, knowing our names after just one meeting. I was truly impressed.

So, what’s next? I’ll be creating a small landscape design to present to FANN as part of my micro-credential requirements. Then, I’m ready to make room in my garden to start a small (really small) meadow along one side. The most important next step, though, is incorporating more native plants into my designs and educating clients on their importance. Many people don’t realize they might already have natives like Silver Buttonwood, Coco Plum, or Coontie—all of which are personal favorites and frequent choices in my work.

I’m excited to bring these ideas to life and grateful for the opportunity to attend such an inspiring conference this past week!