Brevard Discovery Garden

05/24/2026

📢🌿Brevard County Master Gardener Spotlight: Amanda Mitskevich🌿📢

We are so fortunate to have Amanda supporting the Master Gardener nursery team in the Brevard Discovery Garden. But that’s not all she does! You’ll often find her volunteering at the Master Gardener Desk in the main office on Mondays, helping support plant sales at Discovery Garden events, and participating in My Brevard Yard site visits.

💚 Why she became a Brevard County Master Gardener Volunteer:
Amanda was inspired to become a Master Gardener Volunteer from a My Brevard Yard visit with Sally. After purchasing a home with an overgrown yard full of thriving plants, Amanda and her husband discovered many of them were Florida-Friendly and native species.

Having lived in Brevard for nearly 30 years, they realized they had never really explored gardening in Florida or learned about native plants. That experience sparked Amanda’s passion to learn more, and she has now been volunteering as a Master Gardener for over a year. We are so happy to have her smiling face in the program!

🌼 Her Favorite Plant & Tip:
Amanda loves planting Corkystem Passion Vine near flowering shrubs like Firebush and Beautyberry. The vine attracts Zebra Longwing and Gulf Fritillary butterflies as a host plant, while the berries help attract birds and encourage new plants to grow naturally around the yard.

🌱 What she enjoys most:
Amanda is truly a people person who loves helping others, whether it’s solving gardening challenges, selecting plants that make someone smile, or connecting with fellow Master Gardener Volunteers. She especially enjoys learning from others who share her passion for plants and gardening.

💫 Fun Fact:
Amanda and her husband have two “Moo Cats”! 🐾(Don't ask us what they are, we don't know!)

👏 Thank you, Amanda, for sharing your enthusiasm, kindness, and love of Florida-Friendly gardening with the Brevard community!

05/23/2026

🦋 Back by Popular Demand - 2026 Butterfly Appreciation Day on June 24, from 10am - 12 Noon!

Last year’s Butterfly Appreciation Day filled the room… and this year we’re taking it to the next level! Whether you attended in 2025 or missed out completely, this year’s program features ALL NEW information on butterflies, pollinators, butterfly ID tools, and creating pollinator habitats — even in small spaces.

Plus, attendees will enjoy a guided butterfly walk through the Brevard Discovery Garden! 🌿

Free admission, but seating is limited. Reserve your spot on Eventbrite today!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-butterfly-appreciation-day-tickets-1989609350125

Location: 3695 Lake Dr, Cocoa, FL 32926

05/22/2026

Let there bee flowers! Did you know that bees prefer daisy-like flowers with broad petals that offer a large landing pad?

For more suggestions, take a look at this UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions article:
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/gardening-for-bees/

05/21/2026

Help pollinators start right in our own landscapes! Check out this great UF Florida-Friendly Landscaping resource for choosing plants that support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife while thriving in Florida conditions 🐝

05/20/2026

The garden is looking great thanks to our Master Gardener volunteers. The demonstration gardens are open to the public for self-guided tours from 9am-11am on Wed and Fridays starting in June. We look forward to seeing you in the garden! Location: UF/IFAS Brevard Extension, 3695 Lake Dr, Cocoa, FL 32926

05/05/2026

Grow It From Seed!! Hands-On Workshop at Brevard Discovery Garden 🌱

Ready to take your gardening to the next level? Join us for a fun, hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to grow plants from seeds!

📅 Friday, May 22, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM (ET)
📍 UF/IFAS Extension – Brevard County

Step into the Brevard Discovery Garden for an outdoor, walking workshop where you’ll learn practical seed-starting techniques you can use at home. Best of all—participants will take a plant home! 🌿

👟 What to bring:
• Closed-toe shoes
• Water (stay hydrated!)
• Hat / jacket (weather-ready)
• Chair (optional)
• Notepad (you’ll want to remember these tips!)

Whether you’re brand new to gardening or looking to sharpen your skills, this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow plant lovers and grow your knowledge 🌼

Click on the Eventbrite link below to reserve your spot.

Learn how to grow plants from seeds and seed saving!

04/30/2026

Master Gardener Spotlight! John will be leading the tour of the Brevard Discovery Garden on Friday, May 1. Sign up on UF IFAS Brevard County Extension EventBright (link in comment).

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DAWawR6ow/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🌿✨ Brevard County Master Gardener Spotlight: John ✨🌿

John has been a dedicated Master Gardener Volunteer with Brevard County for nearly TEN years! He generously shares his time and knowledge with our community.

You’ll often find John in our main office in Cocoa at the Master Gardener Help Desk, where he assists residents with plant questions, offering guidance and research-based solutions. His commitment to helping others succeed in their gardening ventures is truly appreciated.

🌱 Beyond the desk, John is a familiar and hardworking presence in the Brevard Discovery Garden. From weeding and planting to mulching and general upkeep, he plays a vital role in keeping the garden beautiful, welcoming, and educational for all who visit.

🌼 John also contributes behind the scenes in countless ways—helping schedule and coordinate educational events, preparing materials and brochures, and even leading garden tours. His willingness to step in wherever needed makes a lasting impact on both our team and the community we serve.

💚 John is not only a dedicated volunteer, but also a joy to work with. His positive attitude and steady support make him an invaluable part of our program.

💫 In his spare time, John continues to give back by volunteering with hospice, showing his compassion and commitment to serving others extends far beyond the garden.

👏 Thank you, John, for all you do to grow knowledge, beauty, and community here in Brevard County! We love you!

04/29/2026

Heads up! Join Master Gardener John Haase for a guided tour of the Brevard Discovery Garden on Friday, May 1 at 10 AM (that’s this week!).

Along the way, you’ll learn practical tips on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™—perfect for creating a beautiful, low-maintenance, and environmentally responsible yard.

🎟️ Space is limited—grab your ticket on Eventbrite before it fills up!

Come tour the Brevard Discovery Garden and learn Florida-friendly landscaping principles!

04/28/2026

Were you at the Spring Fling + Bees, Butterflies & Blooms Festival on Saturday … or wish you had been? 🌼

This reel captures the energy, the smiles, and the magic of the day!

Stay tuned to our page to learn about upcoming events and workshops!

04/27/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴!
What an unforgettable day at the 𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 + 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝘀, 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 & 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹! We welcomed over 1,000 visitors—more than double the number we expected—and the garden was buzzing with energy from start to finish.
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Our 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 were packed, the 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘆 nearly sold out of its native and Florida-Friendly plants, and our vendors and exhibitors stayed busy all day connecting with the community. The food vendors kept everyone smiling with a wide variety of delicious menu options!
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A heartfelt thank you to our Master Gardener volunteers, Brevard Backyard Beekeepers, vendors, exhibitors, presenters, and every single person who came out to support us. Your enthusiasm and support make events like this possible and help the garden continue to grow as a place for learning and inspiration. 💛
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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁?
Our next big semi-annual festival will be coming this fall! Our nursery volunteers are already hard at work collecting seeds and planning propagation throughout the summer so that a fresh selection of plants will be ready to go home with you in October.
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In the meantime, stay tuned right here on our page—we’ll be sharing details on upcoming educational workshops in the nursery and garden over the next few months.
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𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻!

BTW, we're sharing just a few of the awesome photos taken on Saturday. Be on the lookout for more pictures posted here throughout the week.