Florida Friendly Landscaping Month
WHEREAS, the state of Florida values the natural beauty and health of our state’s fragile environment and realizes that this natural beauty must be created and sustained by environmentally safe landscape practices; and
WHEREAS, Florida-friendly landscaping is a science-based program of the University of Florida/Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences' Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) program; and
WHEREAS, FYN, in partnership with the water management districts, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the National Estuary Program and the Florida Sea Grant College Program, promotes community education on Florida-friendly landscaping to positively effect the water quality of Florida's water bodies and the conservation of water used outdoors, which can be up to 50% of a household's use: and
WHEREAS, springtime is the season Florida residents will begin planning and revitalizing their landscapes, and it is important to the future of Florida's water resources that the best management practices of Florida-friendly landscaping be adopted by residents: and
WHEREAS, Florida Yard Fandango, a community education event featuring Florida-friendly landscaping, will be presented by Wildrose Lawncare, Inc. on March 8 and 9, 2008, in Tampa in partnership with local businesses including the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the University of Florida’s Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association; and
WHEREAS, Wildrose Lawncare, Inc. and Florida Yard Fandango partners realize the value of trained horticulture professionals as a necessary component of environmental stewardship, and do hereby declare that all proceeds from Florida Yard Fandango ticket sales will be donated to a horticulture education fund to support further education of graduating high school seniors, who will be the industry’s future leaders;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Charlie Crist, Governor of the State of Florida, do hereby extend greetings and best wishes to all observing March 2008 as Florida- Friendly Landscaping Month.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my
hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of
Florida to be affixed at Tallahassee the Capital, this
1st day of February, in the year two thousand eight
_________________________ Governor
