Florida Native Plant Sale set for Saturday

BRANFORD, Fla. — The Florida Native Plant Sale is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday in Branford. The sale, which is sponsored by the Sparkleberry Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, will be off U.S. Highway 27 behind the North Florida Pharmacy. There will be signs. There will be a wide variety of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees all priced at reasonable prices.  The Sparkleberry Chapter meets in Branford on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Hatch Park. For more information, visit the website at sparkleberry.fnpschapters.org.

 

Drug Court holding Recovery Symposium

DALTON, Ga. — The Conasauga Drug Court along with Providence Ministries, Carter Hope, Georgia Hope, Highland Rivers, Daily Reporting Center, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery are sponsoring a Recovery Symposium on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mack Gaston Community Center in Dalton. This event is designed to inform the community of recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol as well as awareness/opportunities/resources for families and individuals with substance abuse issues. There will be speakers throughout the event and panel discussions to offer information. More than 20 agencies that can provide services to the individuals and families seeking recovery will exhibit. Food will be provided.

 

UGA-Tifton set to host annual turf conference

TIFTON, Ga. — The 71st annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference will be held on Tuesday, May 16, at the Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The conference will focus on plant breeding, fertilizer and herbicide management, and will feature researchers from five universities, according to Brian Schwartz, turf grass breeder on the University of Georgia Tifton campus. The response of grasses to the unseasonably warm temperatures over the winter is expected to be a major topic of discussion.  Turf grass that was fertilized prematurely may have died back temporarily when freezing temperatures moved through the South in early April. Schwartz said in extreme cases, the turf would die entirely and have to grow back in from the sides over the course of the rest of this year. This year’s conference will begin at 8 a.m. and will run until 3 p.m. An optional field tour of turf grass research plots will be held after the conference. For more information or to register for the event, go to ugatiftonconference.caes.uga.edu or call 229-386-3416.

 

Lowndes prepared for Relay 

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Hundreds of participants are expected to raise funds to battle cancer Friday, May 5. Relay For Life kicks off that evening at Lowndes High School. The night serves to honor cancer survivors as well as lost loved ones, according to organizers. “Your donations to Relay For Life help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, critical patient care services, education and prevention initiatives, and so much more,” according to the Relay For Life website. Relay For Life begins with an opening ceremony and survivor and caregiver laps. The laps honor the lives of people affected by cancer and honors those who have overcome the disease. A luminaria will be held at sundown. Bags containing candles will be personalized, representing each individual. The candles will be lit inside the bags, lining the track and lighting its path. The evening will also be filled with food, games, activities and entertainment, according to organizers. Events are scheduled to begin 7 p.m. Friday, May 5, and will last into the night. Lowndes High School is located at 1606 Norman Drive. As of Tuesday, Lowndes County has 56 teams and 308 participants who have raised more than $59,000 for the cause, according to the Relay For Life website. More information: Visit relayforlife.org/lowndescountyga.