TROPICAL RANCH BOTANICAL GARDENS IS GOING TO PRESENT A "POLYNESIAN EVENT" FEATURING LEI MAKING DEMONSTRATIONS ON MAY 16-17. ALSO, THERE WILL BE A PLANT SALE AND A SELF-GUIDED TOUR.

Hawaiian lei-making demonstrations and plumeria flower displays will be part of Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens' first annual "Polynesian Event." At 10 AM on Saturday, Teresa Lake and Carole Pelton will present these demonstrations, and they will be repeated by Maggie O'Brien on Sunday at 1 PM.

"Polynesian-style" plants will be featured at the plant sale. There will be a wide variety of Heliconias, Gingers, Frangipani, Bananas and similar tropical plants. In addition, TRBG will be selling many Tropical Island items that can be used to decorate your pool deck and other outside areas.

Throughout the gardens, there will be a south sea island atmosphere in the outdoor seating areas as well as the latest "collection gardens" filled with beautiful Ti (from which the leis will be made) and rare and unusual Crotons.

Diane Rexroad and Jim Haines, the owners and designers of TRBG will show local gardeners what can be accomplished in Martin County within the ten theme gardens: the International, Oriental/Bamboo, Butterfly Garden, the Mexican Patio area, the Wine & Cheese Gazebo, the Wedding Gazebo and Moonlight Garden, an Herb and Spice Garden, a Palm Tree Garden, the Champion Tree Garden, and the latest addition, the Waterfall and Aquatic Garden. The website contains many photographs that highlight these areas ( www.tropicalranchbotanicalgardens.com).

Recently, TRBG was voted Channel 25's "Favorite Botanical Garden" within the four county area, and it has been featured in Florida Gardening Magazine, The Palm Beach Post, the Stuart News, and Stuart Magazine as well as other local publications. 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.

TRBG will have a large collection of rare and unusual plants for sale, samples of which are planted in the garden and homeowners can see these in attractive settings. Do you want to plant your own BUTTERFLY GARDEN or perhaps you are looking for COLORFUL, DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTS? All of the plants are for sale at reasonable prices, and gardening experts will be available to answer your gardening questions.

As always, the public is invited to stroll through the lushly landscaped, three acre Botanical Gardens. Local gardeners will see what can be accomplished in Martin County within the ten theme gardens. Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens will be open Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, 9 AM-3 PM. There will be hundreds of rare and hard-to-find 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 or www.trbg.us