TROPICAL RANCH BOTANICAL GARDENS IS HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE OUR FIRST UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAM.

Ms. Terri Oberlin will be the first student intern as part of her course work in Environmental Horticulture with a specialization in Nursery and Landscape Design. The internship will require 20 hours per week over an eight week period. During that time, she will specialize in plant identification, propagation techniques, maintaining various theme gardens (ranging from aquatic to bamboo to bromeliads).

Diane Rexroad and Jim Haines, the owners and designers of Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens, will teach this "hands on" program. While part of the course work will involve working with the volunteer corps at the gardens, many hours will be spent with Diane Rexroad in identifying all of the plants in the ten theme gardens over the three acre site. An important activity at TRBG is the monthly weekend openings where rare and unusual plants are sold, and acquiring knowledge of all of these plants as well as how best to pass on this knowledge to visitors will be stressed.

Since the opening of these unique and diverse gardens to the public in 2005, Diane Rexroad and Jim Haines have never charged an admission fee - their mission has been to encourage everyone who is interested in gardening to see what is possible to grow in the Martin County area. You are invited to visit these splendid gardens that surround their home.

The next scheduled opening at Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens will be Saturday and Sunday, February 14-15, 9 AM-3 PM. In addition, noted croton expert Mark Peters will give a seminar at 10AM that Saturday. There will be hundreds of rare and unusual plants for sale ranging from large palms to plants appropriate for container gardening. The Gardens are located at 1905 SW Ranch Trail in the Tropical Farms area of Martin County. Please telephone for directions or further information (772-283-5565) or go to our website: www.tropicalranchbotanicalgardens.com.