Did you know that there is an award-winning garden just minutes from World Golf Village? The Arboretum at St. Johns County Agricultural Center is planted and maintained by Master Gardeners with emphasis on seasonal displays of color. The Master Gardeners’ efforts were rewarded this year at the International Master Gardeners Conference in Las Vegas with the “Search for Excellence Award” for demonstration gardens. The University of Florida presented St. Johns County Master Gardeners with first-place awards for the “best” Demonstration and Educational gardens in Florida in 2008 and 2007.

The gardens are renewed with thousands of flowering plants several times a year to ensure continuous beauty. Most of the flowers seen in the gardens are grown from seed by Master Gardeners. The Spring display during March and April is a “must see” venue featuring many of the old favorites…hollyhocks, sweet alyssum, larkspur, delphinium, snapdragons, stock, statice, bachelors buttons, phlox, black-eyed Susan and many more. There is no shortage of butterflies, as many varieties are seen floating about. The gardens provide entertainment and education to children on school field trips and attendees at Flora and Fauna camps. 4H students learn to identify plants and the “good” and “bad” bugs during scavenger hunts. The gardens are a source of material for classes taught to the public by Horticultural Agent, Keith Fuller. The Community Gardens at the Agricultural Center offer plots where you can grow your own vegetables, herbs and flowers. Two significant garden events are held in the gardens every year – EPIC Flower & Garden Expo in April and The Home & Garden Show in October. The gardens have become a popular venue for weddings, meetings, reunions and social events.

The Arboretum at St. Johns County Agricultural Center is free and open to the public. It’s definitely worth your time as you can always find something interesting. Pack a picnic lunch and bring the kids or a friend to enjoy a few moments of beauty and nature. The St. Johns County Agricultural Center is located at 3125 Agricultural Drive off SR208.. For more information, call 904-209-0430.

Written by Shirley Barber, Master Gardener