By Samantha Joseph
Staff writer
MARTIN COUNTY - Summer's the perfect time to start a new family friendly outdoor activity, and the Master Gardeners of Martin County are offering a suggestion they hope will take root.
The group is inviting parents, teachers and children to a July 9 meeting, where an expert presenter will provide ideas on creating simple gardens.
"These could be vegetable, butterfly or flower gardens," said Yvette Goodiel, master gardener coordinator and Martin County sustainability and commercial horticulture extension agent.
"The idea is to get some suggestions for projects people could do with the children in their life."
With children on summer vacation, and parents looking for ways to entertain them during their break, organizers of the session said gardening could present an inexpensive, fulfilling and educational pastime.
Teachers, too, could find ideas for lesson plans for their fall classes, the group said.
The program is part of a quarterly series and is a chance for the community to learn from the group of volunteers who undertake an 11-week training program through the University of Florida and the county's extension office to gain expertise that allows them to provide horticultural information to the public.
Leading the "Gardening with Children" session will be Anita Neal, St. Lucie County extension director and environmental horticulture agent.
The event is set for 6 p.m. in the John F. Armstrong Wing of the Blake Library, located at 2351 S.E. Monterey Road in Stuart.
It is open to the public and offered free of charge, thanks to sponsorships from the University of Florida and the Martin County Master Gardeners in cooperation with the Martin County Library System. Organizers will serve refreshments.