We are excited to announce that Ashley Ellis has joined UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County as our new residential horticulture agent.

Ashley brings expertise, experience and energy to a position key to Sarasota County Extension and one of our best-known roles: landscaping education and support for residents. As head of our residential horticulture program, she’ll take on a range of activities, including providing consultations to homeowners/community associations and coordinating our active Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) program.

Our MGV program includes more than 150 active volunteer members, who provide a wide range of services to our community, including helping answer resident landscaping questions through the Plant Clinic (plantclinic@scgov.net) and maintaining demonstration gardens throughout Sarasota County that serve to educate visitors on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles. In addition, the MGVs have launched and continue working on a multi-year plan for an Educational Outreach Garden to be located at the Twin Lakes Park Extension office grounds. Learn how you can support this effort, as well.

Ashley joins us from Sarasota County’s Environmental Permitting Division, where she served nine years evaluating and supporting development decisions related to county environmental policies. She brings knowledge in native plants and habitats, as well as the regulatory context that influences landscaping decisions in new developments. She is passionate about the opportunities presented by sustainable landscaping strategies for environmental improvements such as water quality and conservation.

In her personal time, Ashley enjoys gardening, traveling and going on nature walks with her husband and dogs. She is also a certified yoga teacher.

Ashley started on June 20 and has already begun meeting with staff, volunteers, and stakeholders to get to know local issues and priorities. You can reach her at ellis.amae@ufl.edu or 941.861.9826.

We are proud to welcome Ashley to the team.

Co-author: Ashley Ellis, residential horticulture agent, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County (ellis.amae@ufl.edu)

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