Many of our Breeze articles attempt to describe and educate the public on the nine principles of Florida Friendly Landscaping. The IMAG History and Science Center advances this goal with its demonstration garden titled, Backyard Nature, “an interactive and experiential exhibit for museum guests to discover how their landscape footprint impacts the larger Florida environment,” according to Matthew Johnson, executive director of IMAG.

Long-time residents may remember this museum which opened in 1995 and was formerly known as the Imaginarium Science Center, located at 2000 Cranford Ave. in Fort Myers. In 2017, the Imaginarium merged with the Southwest Florida Museum of History becoming the IMAG History and Science Center, designed to engage and inspire children and families through hands-on experiences.

According to Johnson, “History tells us the whos, whens and whys, while science explains the hows,” giving the 100,000 annual visitors a much more holistic story of Southwest Florida.

Recently, Johnson contacted David Outerbridge, executive director of the University of Florida/Lee County Extension Program, to assist the IMAG team in a collaborative venture to renovate the 2014 Backyard Nature exhibit. Upon learning about the “new science and educational materials around Florida Friendly Landscaping, we realized that a more extensive overhaul would provide the best exhibit and educational experience,” Johnson said. Outerbridge enlisted two Lee County Master Gardener Volunteers, Susan Noble and Janice Bargmann, who, in turn, managed four teams of Master Gardener Volunteers to undertake a complete renovation. Fifty volunteers worked diligently to transform the outdoor exhibit.

According to Noble and Bargmann, the Master Gardener teams accomplished many of their goals. They began by evaluating the landscape, removing invasive and diseased plants, and pruning trees to allow more sunlight into the garden. Native plants were incorporated into the refurbished garden beds. Identification signs were added containing both common and botanical names. These signs include QR codes which provide a link to an informational fact sheet.

A demonstration mushroom garden, a pollinator garden and a rain garden, including a rain barrel, were also installed to demonstrate some of the features of a Florida Friendly Landscape. The irrigation system was evaluated and improved. Additional shell paths with benches along them were created to offer visitors more access to walk and reflect in the garden. The informational signs along the pathway were redesigned and updated with emphasis on the nine principles of FFL. QR codes are again included for access to additional information about the landscaping principles.

The Backyard Nature exhibit is a living exhibit and, as such, will continue to evolve. Future plans include installing a fountain in the rain garden and a micro-irrigation system. In addition, events featuring the garden will be added to the IMAG calendar. Look for the arrival of guest speakers, “Ask the Expert” events and other educational experiences, such as student programs and summer camps.

This collaborative experience demonstrates the commitment of IMAG and Lee County Master Gardeners to the “shared values of education, service and life-long learning,” said Johnson. “Working with the Master Gardeners has been inspiring to the entire IMAG staff. Their knowledge and dedication to this project has been amazing.”

A visit to the Backyard Nature exhibit helps answer many questions facing the Florida home gardener and offers a hands-on, interactive experience to engage visitors of all ages. For more information about IMAG, please visit their website at theimag.org.

Deborah Haggett is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer and a member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral. Visit us at gardenclubofcapecoral.com.