By Ralph E. Mitchell The eastern cottontail rabbit is a natural part of both rural and urban environments in our area. When these rabbits become abundant in urban areas, things can get a bit ticklish when it comes… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell Tiny, but terrible, the two-spotted spider mite is the bane of many ornamental and edible plants. Only one-fiftieth of an inch in length, when working in groups, this plant pest mite sucks the sap… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell A papaya is not a true tree, but a tree-like or arborescent plant. This large herbaceous plant is relatively short-lived, but can be a great producer of high-quality fruit. I have grown them for… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell One spring/summer plant pest that really bugs me is the leaf-footed bug. Just as its name implies, the back legs of this insect have leaf-like projections easily seen by the naked eye. The leaf-footed… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell In early March, some residents of Charlotte County began seeing small, dark-colored grasshoppers in their landscapes. These are baby Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers which emerged earlier from the ground as they hatched out from last… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell It is good to know the botanical name of a plant as the common name can be varied and confusing. For instance, the plant known as Thunbergia grandiflora, is commonly known as the Bengal… Read More
When is a Hosta not a Hosta? A Hosta is not a Hosta when it is an African False Hosta! Also called just plain African Hosta, this little plant can make an amazing specimen in your landscape. A… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell A recent program at our yearly Landscape Gardening Series was one on “Lilies and Iris” presented by our own Thomas Becker, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ UF/IFAS Education/Training Specialist. One plant in the lily family that Tom… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell I have heard that one of our soil’s best attributes is for keeping plants upright – our Florida terra firma takes a great deal of ridicule! “Moon sand” or “beach sand” are common terms… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell Can you grow a coconut palm in Charlotte County? The short answer is both “yes” and “no”. While this magnificent symbol of the tropics makes a wonderful landscape feature in some places, it is… Read More
