WEBINAR – The Florida Meadow — A Future of Ecological Enhancement

“The Florida Meadow — A Future of Ecological Enhancement” was originally broadcast live on June 17, 2026. View the recording above.

Meadows are dynamic, human-created plant communities — graminoid- and forb-dominated landscapes that offer both ecological value and striking visual appeal. In this presentation, we explore what makes meadows thrive in Florida’s unique environment, from the principles behind their design to the practicalities of installation and long-term management.

A garden with clusters of red, yellow, and blue wildflowers surrounded by green grass and foliage under sunlight.
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Presenter: Dr. Gage LaPierre

Gage LaPierre is a UF/IFAS Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences and founder and manager of the UF/ IFAS Native Plant Nursery Project. LaPierre has devoted his research efforts to native groundcover restoration and enhancement, and is co-author of The Florida Meadow Manual: Creating and Maintaining Resilient Green Spaces (University Press of Florida, 2026).

A man wearing a cap and patterned shirt crouches in a garden, surrounded by green plants, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
Dr. Gage LaPierre