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Spreading wildflowers
The State Wildflower license plate has provided wildflowers to more than 400 Florida schools and public places. Get your tag to keep the good work going.
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Creating inspiration
Viva Florida grants help show the way by providing funds for demonstration gardens in public places.
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Seedlings for Schools
Campus gardens for schools get children outside to discover the natural world.
Our Programs
Planting grants supply resources that give wildflowers a dynamic presence in public places, at schools and along roadways. They provide hands-on experiences for adults and children while beautifying communities and parks, and creating an awareness of Florida’s natural landscape.
“My students have learned so much and have been very excited with the process of growing our wildflowers.” – JoAnne McCarty, Sebastian Elementary School
Viva Florida
Viva Florida grants bring native beauty to parks, nature centers and other public spaces. These grants provide funds with which to purchase Florida native wildflowers and plants for public projects that showcase the beauty of Florida’s native wildflowers while demonstrating their varied uses.
Past Viva Florida recipients include:
- Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Sanford
- Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland
- Gillespie Museum, Stetson University, DeLand
- Silver Springs State Park, Ocala
- Rosebud Continuum, Land O’Lakes
- Mounts Botanical Gardens, West Palm Beach
Criteria
- This grant is open to parks, nature centers and other public spaces.
- Projects must have strong educational components.
- Projects must be in highly visible, publicly accessible areas.
- Up to $3,000 per project may be awarded.
- This is a matching grant program; applicants must provide evidence of in-kind or monetary contributions of 50% of more.
The Viva Florida grant program is currently closed. Applications for next year’s program will be accepted January 1 through June 30, 2020. Awards will be announced on August 30, 2020.
Thinking of applying? Join our email news list to receive notice of the application period opening. You may also download last year’s application planning document for an idea of what you will need. This document will be updated prior to opening the 2020 application period.
“Our wildflowers allowed us to promote native wildflower gardening and educate our visitors about the importance of Florida’s native insect pollinators.” – Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Garden
Seedlings for Schools
Wildflowers and classroom resources for Florida schools are provided through this program. Grants include $50 worth of plants, classroom resources and professional guidance on garden establishment. Grants are awarded in late June; plants are shipped in September in time for the new school year. Teachers who are awarded grants are eligible to receive more wildflowers in the spring if fall gardens are successfully established and cared for.
Criteria
- Public, private and homeschool pre-K through grade 12 teachers may apply.
- Wildflower garden must be planted on property accessible to the public.
The 2019 application period is now closed. Applications for the 2020 grant period will be accepted beginning in March.
Thinking of applying? Join our email news list to receive notice of the application period opening.
Learn how other teachers used their grants in the 2018 Seedlings for Schools report.
Thinking of applying? Check out these examples of Seedlings for Schools gardens across Florida.
“The garden is amazing! We are totally enjoying the wonderful flowers.” – Volusia Pines Elementary teacher, Lake Helen
Resources designed to help your wildflower gardens – and gardeners – grow.
Starting your garden
• Planning your school garden
• 20 Easy-to-Grow Wildflowers
• Establishing a small planting of native wildflowers by seed
• Guide for Choosing Native Wildflowers and Plants
• Easy-to-Grow Florida Wildflowers
• Wildflowers for Dry Landscapes
Using your garden
• Linking your garden to curriculum
• Teacher resources
Fun and games
• Wildflower coloring book (Grades K-5)
• Wildflower crossword puzzle (Grades 3-5)
• Wildflower maze (Grades K-2)
• Wildflower word search (Grades 3-5)
Wild About Wildflowers! Activity Guide
Our comprehensive activity guide encourages students to learn about Florida’s native wildflowers and their purpose and place in Florida’s unique habitats. These fun, engaging activities will help students achieve a variety of Florida educational standards in math, science and language. When presented from start to finish, the guide gives students a comprehensive introduction to wildflowers, as well as to flowers in general. Activities are correlated to third- and fourth-grade standards but can be adapted to other grade levels. All activities are suitable for informal settings.