Wed. June 26 at 10:30 a.m. at the Spring Hill Library Branch!Deep inside the earth lurks a hidden danger. It is up to a brave team of explorers to travel through the darkness and find the source of the problem before it is too late! For students and adults, the video: "WATER'S Journey, The Hidden Rivers of Florida". A team of divers and scientists lead us through a section of the Floridan Aquifer system, simultaneously above and below ground. This unique experience allows us to track above ground the route of the underground divers as we explore the aquifer, springs, and sinkholes through their eyes. Free, first come, first seated.

BUTTERFLIES! I'll be talking to kids about butterflies and reading the book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" at all the county libraries this summer. Library staff will also be leading a fun activity related to butteflies. The classes are free and no RSVP is necessary but they could fill up fast!

June 20, Spring Hill Dr. location; Fri., June 28, West Hernando Branch; Tues., July 2 at Brooksville; Wed., July 10 at East Hernando. All classes run from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m.

Centuries of Gardening That Led to Florida-Friendly Landscaping™

Who:	Sylvia Durell, coordinator of the Hernando County Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program
What:	Attendees will experience a snapshot of the evolution of gardening. The presentation will focus on the formal and elaborate gardens of centuries ago, when informal landscape design became vogue and how the nine principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping help protect Florida’s fragile environment today. The class is free and no registration is required. First come, first seated.
When:	Monday, May 13, 2013 5:30 p.m.
Where:	Hernando County Extension office 1653 Blaise Drive, Brooksville, FL 34601

Contact:      Sylvia Durell at (352) 540-6230 or via email at sdurell@co.hernando.fl.us for more information.

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping program is co-funded by the Hernando County Utilities Department and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

I invite you to take a look at a brand-new video on Florida-Friendly Landscaping that was created by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). It showcases some excellent testimonials about saving water, time and money in a landscape while still having a beautiful landscape.

Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htTJcBhgtVE  

SWFWMD provides funding to support FFL programs in nine counties in its 16-county area...including mine!

Rain Barrel Workshop

What:	A rain barrel workshop is scheduled on April 15 at 5:30 p.m. to provide Hernando County residents information on the use and care of rain barrels. At the end of the workshop, participants will be guided through the assembly of their 60-gallon barrel. Using rain barrels in a landscape is a great way to reduce dependence on irrigation and provide water to plant beds and vegetable gardens. Diverting potential runoff also helps protect area waterways from potential pollution. Cost for the class is $55 per person. Customers of Hernando County Utilities Department will receive a $25 credit on their water bill. Space is limited. Pre-registration requested to ensure availability of a rain barrel. One barrel per customer.
When:	Monday, April 15, 2013 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Where:	Hernando County Extension office 1653 Blaise Dr., Brooksville, FL 34601

Contact:      Sylvia Durell at (352) 540-6230 or via email at sdurell@co.hernando.fl.us to register or for more information.

Eighty people expected at our FFL Workshop!

We'll have a practically full house this Friday. The guests are coming to hear about how to add edible plants to their gardens, what might be wrong with their irrigation system and practical alternatives to turf. There will be door prizes and incentive prizes for completing a pretest and a posttest. No one will leave empty-handed or empty-headed, for that matter!

Register for the half-day FFL workshop now!