Category: Horticulture

From Wasteland to Wonderland: A Food Forest Journey Part 4 – Iguanas: A Challenge, A Question, A Lesson.

by Giuseppe Di Giacinto
May 12, 2026

  The challenge with iguanas has been, without a doubt, the toughest part of working on this food forest. At times, it felt like they made my life almost impossible. But somewhere along the way, a different mindset was necessary. ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Extension, Food Forest, Iguanas, Plants Damage, Uf Ifas Extension Solutions

From Wasteland to Wonderland: A Food Forest Journey PART 3

by Giuseppe Di Giacinto
April 1, 2026

As this food forest continues to evolve, the focus has shifted from site preparation and design to one of the most exciting and revealing phases: plant selection and performance. This stage has brought both rewarding harvests and unexpected ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Alternative Lawns, Alternatives To Pesticides, Edible Landscape, Edible Landscaping, Food Forest, Horticulture, Sustainability, Sustainable Landscaping
Photo of Ironwood Tree

A Nearly Perfect Tree

by Donna Corbelli Castro
February 25, 2026

Is there a perfect tree? I think this question has fueled much of historic plant exploration and discovery.  Sometimes it is beauty that draws us, like the Jacaranda tree native to Brazil, with its beautiful lavender blooms each spring.  ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Wildlife
Tags: Black Ironwood, Broward County, Ironwood, Krugiodendron Ferreum, Urban Trees, Water Matters Day

From Wasteland to Wonderland: A Food Forest Journey PART 2

by Giuseppe Di Giacinto
February 13, 2026

Restoring degraded urban landscapes is rarely linear. It requires observation, adaptation, and a willingness to rethink initial goals. After the first phase of plant relocation and site assessment, it became clear that the project needed a more ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Work & Life

From Wasteland to Wonderland: A Food Forest Journey PART 1

by Giuseppe Di Giacinto
January 28, 2026

Every transformation begins with a question. For me, it started with a thought: What if a forgotten piece of land could come back to life? From this question, a vision began to take root. There was a garden along the west side of the FLREC ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Colorful Fruits And Vegetables, Cultural Foods, Florida Gardening, Food Forest, Fragrant Trees, Home Landscape, Horticulture, Therapy, UF/IFAS Extension, Work&Life

Portrait of a Career in Urban Horticulture – Michael Orfanedes

by Donna Corbelli Castro
January 7, 2026

Third in a series highlighting those who have chosen careers in horticulture - "How did we get here?" Man can not live on tech alone We are increasingly becoming a society based on technology, however, we must remember that careers in agriculture, ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Arboriculture, Broward County, Careers, ISA, Michael Orfanedes, Newsletter, Newsletter2, PPQ, Trees

Stories from The Yard: Stewardship and Florida-Friendly Beauty in an HOA Community

by Lorna Bravo
November 30, 2025

Growing a Garden with Purpose: Commitment to Stewardship As a UF/IFAS Urban Horticulture Agent, I work with passionate homeowners and Master Gardener Volunteers who are reshaping what Florida-Friendly landscaping in HOA communities can look ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, NATURAL RESOURCES, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Broward, Florida-Friendly Landscape, Invasive Species, Master Gardener Volunteer, Protect Waterfront, Right Place Right Plant

Stories from the Yard: Creating Florida-Friendly Outdoor Spaces You’ll Love

by Lorna Bravo
October 22, 2025

Growing a Garden with Purpose: Creating a Space to Enjoy and Relax Join us as we share real stories from local gardeners and homeowners who are transforming their yards into Florida-Friendly landscapes. Discover useful tips, successes, and ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, NATURAL RESOURCES, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: #IFASWater, #urban, Florida-Friendly Landscape, Invasive Species

How to Grow a Forest – My 25 Year Experiment

by Donna Corbelli Castro
September 23, 2025

Why make a forest? I was born in Buffalo, NY and then moved to Durham, North Carolina after college.  Both of these areas were less populated and had lots of forested areas near the urban centers.  South Florida, I soon discovered, had hardly ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, NATURAL RESOURCES, UF/IFAS Extension, , Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: 2022 Blogger Award Winner, Bird Habitat, Climate Change Solutions, Earth Day, FFL, Florida Friendly Landscapes, Low Maintenance, Making A Forest, Microforests, Miyawaki, Most Impactful, Newsletter, Newsletter2, Plant More Trees, Planting A Forest, Recipe For A Forest, Urban Forest

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