Join this season’s Florida Conversations to learn more about landscaping in Florida. Explore how the land-grant and Extension system emerged from 19th- and early 20th-century legislation with speaker Michael Masucci, and how those historical roots continue to shape UF/IFAS Extension’s work in the rapidly growing Tampa Bay region, including programs serving Hillsborough County today.

The program will also examine the nine principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, a research-based framework that helps homeowners and communities create attractive landscapes that conserve water, reduce pollution, and protect Florida’s natural resources. The principles are outlined at the official Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ website, FloridaFriendlyLandscaping.com (also available at ffl.ifas.ufl.edu).

Florida Conversations is free and open to the public. The series is underwritten by the Tampa Bay History Center Endowment Fund at the University of South Florida, with media sponsorship from WUSF Public Broadcasting, and is co-sponsored by USF Libraries and the Tampa Bay History Center. Online reservations are encouraged.

About the Speaker

Michael Masucci is a Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ community educator with UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. He works with homeowner association boards, community leaders, and residents to implement research-based practices that conserve water, reduce pollution, and support healthy, resilient Florida landscapes.