Florida blueberries are a favorite of many Central Floridians. They are tasty, good for you, and fun to pick at local farms. But did you know that you can also grow blueberries in your home landscape? Thanks to low-chill varieties, with proper site preparation, plant selection, and maintenance, home gardeners in Central Florida can enjoy fresh blueberries right from their own yard. WHAT VARIETIES CAN BE GROWN IN CENTRAL FLORIDA YARDS? Blueberries are native to eastern North A

Once upon a time, a grand hotel stood on the shores of Lakes Mirror and Spring on the present site of Spring Lake Shopping Center. The Florence Villa Hotel was founded by Dr. Frederick Inman and his wife, Florence (for whom Florence Villa was named). It evolved from their original home as guests suggested they convert it to a hotel in the late 1800s. By 1905 it boasted 45 rooms. Dr. and Mrs. Inman eventually built a home called Spring Lake Terrace that was situated just north

Drive past a blueberry farm in Polk County and it is easy to focus on the neat rows, irrigation lines, and heavy clusters of fruit. What often goes unnoticed is that these farms are rooted, both biologically and historically, in a much older story. Long before cultivated blueberries were bred for Florida’s climate, native species in the genus Vaccinium were already thriving across our natural landscapes. If you’ve spent any time walking through a preserve or natural area in P

GULF COAST MAKERCON April 18, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Yuengling Draft Haus. Browse innovative product booths, see workshops by industry experts in aerospace, AI, arts, and more. Watch Combat with over 30 fighting robots, shop the maker market, and kids can visit the Deconstruction Zone to dismantle electronics and learn about them. General admission is free. gulfcoastmakercon.com TBBHF MUSIC FEST April 25 & 26 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Fes

FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL April 10 - 19 at the Enzian Theater. This Oscar-qualifying festival will premiere the best in current, independent, and international cinema. This is one of only a handful of Oscar-qualifying Festivals in the U.S. in all three shorts categories: Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, and Documentary Short Subject. Ten days and over 180 films. Purchase tickets at floridafilmfestival.com . SCIENCE & WINE April 25, 7 p.m. at the Orlando Science Center

ADULT SKATE NIGHT April 9, 8:30 – 11 p.m. at Skate World Lakeland. Grab your friends and roll into a night just for the adults! On the second Thursday of every month, people ages 16 and over are welcome to skate to their favorite music under the disco ball. Admission is $10, skate rental is $5. FB @skatelakeland SUN ‘N FUN AEROSPACE EXPO April 14 – 19 at SUN ‘n FUN. Drive or fly in for a mix of world-class airshow performers including the USAF Thunderbirds, military demo team