Free native trees and plants at Water Matters Day on Saturday

Have a tree-mendous time learning about water conservation at Broward County’s 17th annual Water Matters Day on Saturday in Davie.

Get two free native trees, shrubs or ground covers from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Treetops Park, 3900 SW 100th Ave. in Davie. There will be more than 50 exhibitors at the family-friendly event, with food trucks and interactive educational displays.

Learn how to create drought-tolerant landscapes and attract more birds and butterflies to your yard. There also will be information on rebates and incentives for upgrading to water-conserving devices.

There is $1.50 entrance fee at the park.

“Attendees will learn how to make their yards less water dependent and provide refuge for our native and migratory wildlife,” says Rose Béchard-Butman, NatureScape Outreach Coordinator.

National Wildlife Federation Habitat Stewards and master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. Children can play games and plant native seedlings to take home.

Participants may pick two native or droughttolerant plants and trees, including storm-tolerant Ironwood and Florida thatch palm, red mulberry, lychees and dwarf mangoes and black sapote. Other giveaways include water-saving devices such as rain gauges and automatic shut-off valves for sprinkler systems.

Water conservation is a shared responsibility, says Béchard-Butman.

“We can help protect our drinking water through best management practices in the landscape. Using less fertilizers and picking pet waste will help protect our waters from harmful bacteria and algae blooms.”

For more information, call 954-519-1270 or WaterMatters.Broward.org.

Exotic fruit tree sale

Here’s your chance to buy some of the world’s most edible and exotic fruit trees.

The Tropical Fruit Tree & Edible Plant Sale on Saturday in West Palm Beach will feature thousands of unusual specimens, including dragon fruit, jackfruit, lychee, persimmon, soursop, sugar apple, figs, guava, peach, tamarind, herbs and more.

The sale, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Florida Fairgrounds at 9067 Southern Blvd., is sponsored by the nonprofit Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International. The sale is in the Concourse buildings 6-10. Enter at Gate 8 on Fair Grounds Road.

There will be educational information on the planting and growing of fruit trees, and volunteers and vendors will be available to answer questions. Bring a wagon!

Go to PBRarefruitcouncil.org for more information.

Connect with me:

“Like” Doreen’s Deals on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter, Facebook and sign up for my Freebie Friday Newsletter.

GETTY The Tropical Fruit Tree & Edible Plant Sale will feature thousands of unusual specimens, including dragon fruit.