Eat, learn, shop, and have fun at this free two-day community event held at Discovery Gardens. Explore the gardens, enjoy educational talks, and shop plants and garden-related craftsonal talks. Visit the 4-H Open House to learn about local youth programs, enjoy hands-on activities and meet our rabbits and chickens!
DATES
Saturday & Sunday
November 7-8, 2026
TIME
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
LOCATION
UF/IFAS Discovery Gardens
1951 Woodlea Rd
Tavares, FL 32778
COST
Free Admission
WHAT TO EXPECT
- Saturday Only
4-H Open House
UF/IFAS Displays
Educational Talks - Both Days
Local Vendors (plants, crafts, food
IMPORTANT
No pets allowed. Service animals welcome.
MORE INFORMATION
Carla Fernandez
Residential Horticulture Assistant
carla.fernandez@ufl.edu
| PLANT VENDORS | |
|---|---|
| Chianina Microtopia Doug's Air Plants Mincy Farms Plant Sages Plantocity R&G Nursery Farms Regenerative Designs Struthers Nursery The Chic Plastique Wonders of Water | |
| CRAFT & OTHER VENDORS | |
| All Good Gifts Central FL Native Landscaping Cornerstone Caregiving Created With Grace Danny Hoffman Woodturnings Florida Blue Medicare Mac's Outdoor Design Nature Built Patchwork Place Apiary Pocket Flower Co. Shara Abel Photography Simerly Insurance Group Spirit Healer's Teas The Grow Food Company | |
| FOOD VENDORS | |
Taco Power Food Truck | |
| COUNTY & NON-PROFITS | |
| Florida Trail Association Lake Beautyberry Chapter, FNPS Lake County Cattlewomen's Association Lake County Conservation CouncilLake county Fair Lake county Fair Lake County Mosquito Control Lake County Water Authority UF/IFAS Lake County 4-H UF/IFAS Commercial Horticulture UF/IFAS Family & Consumer Sciences UF/IFAS Plant Clinic | |
| ENTERTAINMENT | |
| Royal Harbor Jammers Saturday, 10am - 11am Sunday, 12pm - 1pm | |
EDUCATIONAL TALKS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY
9:30am - Easy Salsa Recipe (with samples)
Speaker: Lori Johnson, UF/IFAS Extension Lake County, Family & Consumer Sciences Agent
10:00am - Plant This, Not That
Plants native to Florida may: use less water, require little or no fertilizer; and add texture and color to your landscape. They also provide food and shelter for birds and butterflies; and add action and drama to your landscape. Join Naturalist Lavon Silvernell to learn how you can bring some of their benefits and beauty to your landscape.
Speaker: Lavon Silvernell, Florida Native Plant Society
10:30am - Bees, Bees, Bees!
Speaker: Giles Paget-Wilkes, Master Gardener Volunteer, Lake County Beekeepers
11:00am - All About Hops
Speaker: Matt Smith, UF/IFAS Extension Lake County, Commercial Crop Production Agent
11:30am - Open
12:00pm - Compost: The Basic Equation
Speaker: Giles Paget-Wilkes, Master Gardener Volunteer
12:30pm - Show & Tell: Chickens and Rabbits!
Speaker: Dallas Meringolo, UF/IFAS Extension Lake , County Extension Director, 4-H Agent
1:00pm - Restoring Shorelines
Speakers: Luke Valentine and Veronica Dau, Keep Lake Beautiful
1:30pm - What is a Bioactive Terrarium, Aquarium, or Pond?
Speaker: Kyle Trotter, Nature Built
2:00pm - Butterfly Puddlers
Speaker: Sandra Bryan, Master Gardener Volunteer