Botanical Gardens
Programs and Events
YOGA
LAST FRIDAY OF SUMMER MONTHS AT 10AM
A good way to relieve stress and anxiety is through yoga. It provides many benefits, like improving mental health, reducing burnout, promotes self-care and reduces anxiety.
National Pollinator Week Sale and WorkshopS
Saturday, June 29th (9 am-12 pm)
9 am-9:45 am: Pollinator Gardening Workshop (w/ Senior Gardener Kimberly Boucireb)- Discover how to create or expand your own pollinator garden and learn about different types of pollinators.
10 am-10:45 am: Guided tour of our pollinator gardens.
11 am-12 pm: Citizen Science Pollinator BioBlitz (w/ Leila Sujanani)- Learn how to participate in citizen science in your community and join us for a pollinator survey in our native wildflower garden.
Join us for an immersive experience where seasoned gardeners and beginners alike can learn expert techniques for cultivating vibrant, pollinator-friendly gardens. Delve into the vital role of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators while browsing through a curated selection of native plants at our plant shop. Don't miss this chance to enrich your gardening knowledge, support local pollinator populations, and foster biodiversity in your own backyard!
Plant Festivals
FALL PLANT FESTIVAL
October 12th–13th, 9am- 3pm
Open to members at 8:30am
- $10 Admission
- Free for Members & USF ID
- Children under 12 are free!
Vendors TBA!
SPRING PLANT FESTIVAL
April 12th–13th, 9am- 3pm
Open to members at 8:30am
- $10 Admission
- Free for Members & USF ID
- Children under 12 are free!
Vendors TBA!
BEEKEEPING CERTIFICATION
2023-2024 Beekeeping Class
Monthly November 4, 2023 - October 5, 2024
REGISTRATION for the 2024-2025 Class will open in September 2024.
Registration is complete with: payment, completed registration form, signed liability waiver Participants under 18 must have parent signature.
Return Registration Forms to USF Botanical Gardens.
| Date | Lecture | Hive |
|---|---|---|
| 11/4/23 | Introduction to Bees | First look inside the hive |
| 12/2/23 (Potluck) | Integrated Pest Management (1PM) | Reading a Frame |
| 01/06/24 | Setting up Your Apiary | In-hive Basic Inspection |
| 02/03/24 | Hive Building | None |
| 03/02/24 | Swarm Control | Hiving Your Bees |
| 04/06/24 | NO LECTURE - Pick Up Nucs | Installing Nucs/Re-queening |
| 05/04/23 | Q&A, Swarm Control | Making splits |
| 06/01/24 | Queen Biology | Re-queening |
| 07/06/24 | Mead Making | |
| 08/03/24 | Varroa Destructor |
Varroa Counts & Treatment |
| 09/03/24 | Honey Extraction, Bottling, and Labeling | Honey Extraction |
| 10/05/24 | Winter Preparations, Q&A | Inspections and Q&A |
Course Costs
Registration: $200; Garden Member: $180
Submit liability waiver and registration form to USF Botanical Gardens with confirmation of your registration payment.
Please be aware that supplies are not included and must be purchased separately.
MESSER FAMILY BEEKEEPING SCHOLARSHIP (Opens Fall 2024)
Anyone can have the opportunity to participate in our course through the Messer Family Award. To become an applicant, submit a personal statement—500 words or less - on why urban beekeeping is important to you and the community. Personal statements must be submitted to botanicalgardens@usf.edu before November 5 at 11:59pm. The Messer Family Award recipient will be notified over email the week of November 7.
This award will assist with course expenses for individuals interested in pursuing beekeeping as well as show a committed effort to increase urban beekeeping in the local community. Expenditures awarded from this fund will be used for but not limited to course registration costs, the purchase of course educational materials and required supplies.