A new 2,300-square-foot educational building is nearing completion in the Horticultural Learning Center's Discovery Gardens at the Lake County Agricultural Center, located at 1951 Woodlea Road in Tavares.

The exterior of the block structure is being finished with fiber cement siding, a green metal roof and a wrap-around porch. Pillar Homes of Clermont began construction on the project on June 15.

The building houses public restrooms for men and women, a large classroom, one office, a staff bathroom and a staff kitchen and break room. The primary purpose of the building will help to strengthen the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Master Gardener Program at the Lake County Agricultural Center. Master gardeners will be able to use the classroom for educational programs and the break room and bathroom after working in the gardens.

"It also gives us the ability to expand children's camps and summer camps," said Charles Fedunak, Extension Agent IV. "When it's too hot outside we can bring the kids inside."

Fedunak added, "The new building will be handy when we have events at the Agricultural Center. The thing that has always held us back from hosting larger events is we don't have restrooms in the gardens."

With construction expected to be completed in November, master gardeners are already planning how they can add a natural flair to the facility. Potted plants and an assortment of plantings will adorn the wrap-around porch. In addition, a rain barrel system with a rain garden is being designed for the structure.

The Horticultural Learning Center is an educational resource supporting programs in horticulture, gardening, landscape design and natural resource management. Discovery Gardens is a hands-on learning tool for homeowners, garden enthusiasts, educators and children.