Adding plants in and around a community stormwater pond is a great way to boost the ecosystem services provided by your water feature. Emergent plants in a pond's littoral zone (the shallow shelf-like area between a pond's bank and deep water) ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Water, Work & Life
Having A Variety of Flowering Plants Increases Pollinators in Your Garden The spring-like temperatures bring us hope and excitement of new planting opportunities. Wandering around my yard yesterday, I saw bees buzzing around my azaleas, camellias ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Why celebrate bees? Celebrate the importance of bees to our food crops and support local beekeepers on May 20. More than 90 crops rely on honeybees for pollination in the US including fruit, fiber, nut and vegetable crops. The crops pollinated ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife
Celebrate Earth Day with Native Coreopsis Flowers North Florida is bursting with blooms for Earth Day. The dazzling display of yellow Coreopsis flowers across fields and along roadways are complimenting the beautiful array of pink and purple ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
I often get calls on how to control pickerelweed. Although this beautiful aquatic plant is a Florida native, it can spread prolifically leaving pond owners with the assumption that it's an invasive weed. Invasive plants are non-native species ... READ MORE
Category: Invasive Species, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Free Nutrients: My oak trees have been dropping leaves like crazy this fall and winter. WooHoo, free nutrients for my planted shrubs and perennials. I created large plant beads so the leaves can drop in and provide a mulch layer that decomposes ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Turf
Wonders of your Backyard There are so many wonders of nature in our own backyards or at a local park. They key is to slow down and look really closely. There are frogs, lizards, dragonflies, birds and unusual plants to be explored. Don't worry ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Wildlife
Attracting Butterflies and Moths to your Yard For those of us that want to attract butterflies and moths to our yards, we must focus on the four things they will need; Sun, Water, Shelter and Food. A butterfly garden should have plenty ... READ MORE
Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife