Taking a closer look at Florida friendly gardens

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Just outside the doors of IMAG History & Science Center, a vibrant outdoor space is turning everyday landscaping into a hands-on learning experience.

The Florida-Friendly Landscape Garden invites visitors to step beyond the museum walls and into a living exhibit rooted in sustainability. Designed in partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, the garden highlights how residents can create beautiful outdoor spaces while conserving water and protecting Florida’s natural environment.

At the heart of the garden are nine interactive stations, each representing one of the state’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles. Together, they guide visitors through simple changes that can make a big environmental impact right at home.

Each station brings a concept to life:

The “Right Plant, Right Place” area shows how choosing native and climate-appropriate plants can reduce maintenance and improve plant health. Nearby, the “Water Efficiently” station demonstrates how Florida landscapes can thrive with less water through smart irrigation and drought-tolerant plants.

Visitors can also learn how to “Fertilize Appropriately,” with signage explaining how over-fertilizing can harm waterways, while the “Mulch Matters” station highlights how mulch helps retain moisture and prevent weeds in Florida’s heat.

The garden goes beyond plant care. In the “Attract Wildlife” section, native plants create habitats for birds, butterflies, and pollinators, showing how landscaping can support local ecosystems. The “Manage Yard Pests Responsibly” station encourages natural pest control methods instead of heavy chemical use.

Sustainability continues with “Recycle Yard Waste,” where visitors see how leaves and clippings can be reused as compost or mulch. The “Reduce Stormwater Runoff” station demonstrates how features like rain gardens help keep polluted water out of storm drains.

Finally, the “Protect the Waterfront” station ties it all together, reminding visitors that what happens in their yard can ultimately impact Florida’s rivers, lakes, and coastlines.

But this is not your typical educational garden.

True to the IMAG’s interactive style, the space includes playful elements designed to keep kids engaged, including hidden dinosaurs tucked among the plants, turning a simple walk into a scavenger hunt.

The garden complements the museum’s broader mission of hands-on learning, where science meets real life. Inside, visitors explore aquariums, engineering exhibits, and live animal encounters. Outside, they see how those same principles apply to their own backyards.

Whether you have a green thumb or have never picked up a shovel, the Florida-Friendly Landscape Garden offers practical inspiration with a local focus.

At the IMAG, even a walk through the garden can grow into something more. A new way to think about landscaping, conservation, and life in Southwest Florida.