Well, March certainly came in like a lion and we shall see if it goes out like a lamb.  Since Easter  so early this year(23rd) there'll be another week of March AFTER Easter which is unusual.

The Plant Sale will be held before your next Gardening email so we're encouraging you to check your yard for what you have to share and what you are interested in purchasing to complement your existing plant selections. We'll all be in our yards anyway since the storm left us moss and branches to clear.  While doing that we can give a critical look to see what is working and what isn't so that plants can be moved around or exchanged at this time. One thing to remember, however, is that this is, technically, the dry season(until June) and that newly planted plants or transplants will require daily watering in order to get established.  We have been fortunate with the rains that we've been having, but as everything with the weather, we are not guaranteed that we'll continue with the rains.

"Creating a Hummingbird Haven" is a class presented by Dr. Joan Bradshaw on March 18, at the classroom of the County Extension Office from 9 until 10:30AM.  We have many of our group who already are experienced with making a place for these charming birds to reside, but these classes at the Extension Office always seem to have a bit of new information that re-inspires even experienced participants.  Call Cris at 527-5701 to register to attend.  There are further programs on  Stinging and Biting Insects and Flowering Trees of Central Florida.

I know that this was in the newspaper but wanted to give you this email address again:  www.floridapublicnotices.com
This has School District Budgets, Local Tax Changes, Public Hearings, etc. at your fingertips so you won't feel out of the loop.

Chinsegut Nature Center has Doris Mager's Birds of prey show set for Saturday, March 22 from 10Am until noon.  She has four birds of prey: the crested caracara, great-horned owl, screech owl and kestrel.  The next Saturday at the same time they are doing an Introductory Archer Workshop.  Pre-registration is needed for that one. The Kanapaha Spring Garden Festival is being held on March 29-30, this year and they are celebrating thirty years of gardening!  The Theme of the sale is "Wetland Plants for Landscaping".  If you want/need bamboo this is the place to find it.  The Festival is very popular so be prepared for crowds and take a cart or wagon if you want to buy lots of plants.  Vendors from all over Florida exhibit their plants at this festival.

March is the time to feed citrus and palms and if you have some turf you can do the first feeding of the year.  Please use the earth-friendly fertilizers and do not overfeed.  See if you can find a fertilizer with 0 or 2% phosphorus since most Florida soils have enough phosphorus. If you have not already put in your tomato, pepper or eggplant transplants now is the time to do it.  You can plant the seeds for corn, beans, squash, cucumbers and melons.

I'll make a report on the Environmental Studies Course that I took along with the Short Course from UF/FFGC, but I do want to encourage anyone with an interest along those lines to take the course next year which will be held in the Silver Springs area.  After four courses the attendee can be certified as an Environmental Consultant and the courses don't have to be in order.  The speakers are extremely knowledgeable and the students may use their notes and materials from the speakers to find the answers to the test questions. It isn't an easy course, but it is eye-opening.  One book on water that was recommended had already been recommended to our club by Cathi Ayers---"Mirage" by Cynthia Barnett.  It may be in the Citrus County system now. It is so perfect for being outside that I'm ending this and going outside now.  See you at the meeting! 
llb