Botanical Gardens to host Earth Fest

LARGO -- The Florida Botanical Gardens, as well as all other parts of Pinewood Cultural Park, will be abuzz with Earth Fest 2002 activities from Wednesday through Saturday.

Saturday's activities also coincide with the weekend of Earth Day, which is celebrated nationally and throughout the world.

Between Wednesday and Friday, at least eight Pinellas County elementary schools and some home-school groups will participate in Earth Fest workshops, sponsored by 4-H and the Cooperative Extension Service.

Among the workshops in which kids will take part are recycling, earth foods, marine life and butterflies.

Elementary schools scheduled to participate are Starkey, Perkins, Gulfport, Mildred Helms, Anona, Sunset Hills, Blanton and Forest Lakes, plus various home-school groups, said Janet Harper, a Pinellas County 4-H agent. "There is even a waiting list for the event," she said.

Then, on Saturday, it's family day at Pinewood Cultural Park. Although most activities will be in the Florida Botanical Gardens, visitors will be able to see other venues including the historic Heritage Village, the extension service office and the Gulf Coast Museum of Art.

Family activities will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The event will highlight existing green successes and promote "earth-friendly" initiatives in the community.

Also, visitors will be able to see gardening and planting demonstrations and displays and be eligible for giveaways such as free mulch and seedlings. And visitors will be able to exchange their medical thermometers containing mercury for mercury-free replacements, while supplies last.

There will be live entertainment and tours, children's activities and refreshments for sale.

Here is a partial schedule of what is going on for the family at the Florida Botanical Gardens:

Master gardener plant sale -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Butterfly House display and caterpillar petting zoo -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wildlife tour with Jerry Shrewsbury -- 10 a.m.

Bird feeder building project -- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ceremonial Champion Tree planting -- noon. This program will include audience participation and musical entertainment by Suzanne McDermott at 12:15 p.m.

Palm tour, Jerry Shrewsbury, 1:15 p.m.

Trail of Trees by Tim Wormack of the National Tree Trust, 2 to 3:15 p.m. More Champion Tree planting will take place. Also, Lenny Flank, a reptile handler, will have a live "creature feature."

Other exhibits will take place throughout the day Saturday, including a special children's activity area. Some activities may have a small fee.

At the Heritage Village bandstand, a variety of entertainers are scheduled, as follows:

Storytelling by StoreeBrooke and LilliStarr, 10 to 11 a.m.

Trail of Trees by Tim Wormack, 11 a.m. to noon.

Abasi Ote, African music, Noon to 1 p.m.

Storytelling by StoreeBrooke and LilliStarr, 1 to 2 p.m.

Abasi Ote, 2 to 3 p.m.

Katie Adams, music and storytelling, 3 to 4 p.m.

At the Gulf Coast Museum of Art there will be ongoing activities for the family, including environmental art projects, live music, a dunk tank, a moon walk and food.

Also, Friends of the Florida Botanical Gardens will have its second annual Jazz in the Gardens concert from 6:30 to 10 p.m. It will feature Duke Earl, a jazz ensemble. There will be a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres. The cost is $5. Reservations are not necessary. For information, call the Botanical Gardens, 582-2200.

Family Earth Fest is presented by the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners, the Pinellas County Environmental Foundation, the county's Department of Environmental Management and Pinewood Cultural Park. Major sponsors include Time Warner, Bay News 9, the St. Petersburg Times and Florida Power.

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