Landscape designer shares benefits of native plants

Studies show that our physical and mental well-being is increased with as little as two hours a week spent in a natural environment. But not all of us were born with a green thumb. Thankfully, with a few pro tips it’s possible to have a beautiful, flower-filled yard that attracts birds and butterflies, and even saves money.

This September, St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department is offering two dates for people to attend a new workshop that will help residents learn how to use native plants to connect with nature in their very own backyards.

The presenter will be Kelly Tesiero, a landscape designer and owner of The Elegant Garden LLC, who will share information through a new educational series she calls Nurture Nature Workshops.

During the two-hour workshop, Tesiero will provide insider tips, techniques and short-cuts. She will also conduct a hands-on pruning session. The series aims to teach people how to transform any backyard into a beautiful space that encourages birds, butterflies and a host of other pollinators.

As someone who began designing gardens before she could drive, Tesiero is eager to get residents excited about possibilities in their own backyards. Tesiero holds a degree in landscape architecture from University of Florida, studied design in Europe, and managed a family nursery, all before starting her own design business in 1993.

“The workshop is geared toward anyone — green thumb or not — who wants less stress and more butterflies and flowers,” said Tesiero. “Native flowers attract native pollinators, which are fun to watch and are also an important food source for birds.”

Kelly Ussia is Parks and Rec’s supervisor of outdoor recreation, and she knows the importance of planting natives. One of her responsibilities is promoting a healthy, natural ecosystem, and she has been involved in updating several county properties with native and Florida-friendly plants.

“I’m always looking for new ideas to encourage residents to connect with the outdoors, protect our natural resources and help improve our environment,” said Ussia.

The county’s new workshop, appropriately titled “Nurture Nature with Natives,” will help people understand why making better plant choices for their yards has so many benefits.

“When residents choose better plants for their yards, they give local wildlife a boost and can even help save our local conservation areas from problematic invasive species that get spread from yards by birds and other means,” Ussia said. “If you put the right plant in the right place and learn some of our state’s best practices, your yard will be easier to maintain, and you will save a considerable amount of money in the long run.”

Planting natives also conserves water because many of these plants are drought tolerant. Once they are established, they often have the ability to survive on rainwater alone. Reducing irrigation requirements helps conserve Florida’s important aquifers, the source of water for residents of the Sunshine State. Florida-friendly plants also need less fertilizer and pesticide; less chemical runoff into the St. Johns River means better water quality.

Those who attend one of the “Nurture Nature with Natives” workshops can expect to receive information to give them confidence in making good plant selections at nurseries. There will also be a brief walk to identify native and Florida-friendly plants around the Solomon Calhoun Community Center, which Tesiero designed. She says it has received very little irrigation over the last three years yet is thriving.

Tesiero hinted at giving out plant prizes for thoughtful questions. She advises people to bring clippers if they have them for the hands-on, professional pruning lesson, which may include a take-home cutting of a native plant! Workshop space is limited, so register on the Parks and Rec website soon.

Go to www.co.st-johns.fl.us/Recreation, click on “Register For Our Programs” in the top paragraph, then the “Nature Programs” tab at the top. Under “Classes/Workshops” find “Native Landscaping.”

For a direct link, click HERE.