As I drove into the entrance of the Murdock Administration Building, I glanced at the landscape and noticed that something was amiss. The large magnificent crinum lilies normally on display were mere stubs of… Read More
As we explore the landscaping at our new facility at Centennial Park in Port Charlotte, we continue to find new things. A staff member discovered an infestation of bagworms nestled amongst some flax lilies… Read More
Over the weekend I noticed weak-flying subterranean termite swarmers drifting through the air. This is not as much a fearful observation as it is one of keeping a vigilant eye out for this wood-destroying… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell I often like to write about what is going on in my own yard. I’ve recently noticed numerous pushed up mounds of soil in my turf and have identified the culprit… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell I often ask people who want to control pests this question: “Do you prefer to mop up the floor or shut off the faucet?” This relates to the logic of whether… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell They creep in slowly with their unassuming soft-bodied nature settling in on plants like a meeting of tiny, friendly jelly donuts. Unbeknownst to the gardener, these insects, known as mealybugs, have… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell There is a subtropical/tropical plant in our area that in some parts of the horticultural world is a terrarium plant, a greenhouse resident or coveted house plant. Unfortunately, in many parts… Read More
My reaction to a stinkbug on one of my plants is to squash it as quickly as possible – I have no qualms about handpicking pests – even stinkbugs! However, in the same neighborhood… Read More
Updated 03/16/20 As we continue to monitor COVID-19 in Florida, I wanted to take a moment to update our UF/IFAS Extension community about our current status, best practices and next steps. Please call your local… Read More
By Ralph E. Mitchell The title of this article needs a great deal of explaining! First, I am talking about the black olive tree, Bucida buceras, (not a true olive) a common, well-liked shade tree… Read More
