Category: Wildlife

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

Stories from the Yard: Fostering a Healthy Environment for Pollinators

by Lorna Bravo
March 10, 2026

Florida-Friendly Landscaping for Pollinators: Growing a Garden with a Purpose Join us as we share real stories from local gardeners transforming their yards into Florida-Friendly Landscaping for pollinators. Discover practical tips, successes, ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water, Wildlife

Small but Mighty: MGVs Connecting Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles with HOA Communities

by Lorna Bravo
March 1, 2026

Article by UF/IFAS Extension Broward County Master Gardener Volunteer Catalina Franco-Cicero Growing Community, One Master Gardener at a Time: The Isles Garden Club Story In the heart of Pembroke Pines, Florida, the Isles Garden Club's Florida-Friendly ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, NATURAL RESOURCES, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Broward County, Build Community, Master Gardener Program, Master Gardener Volunteer, Volunteers

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

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

Stories from the Yard: Our Path to Florida-Friendly Landscapes

by Lorna Bravo
September 1, 2025

Growing a Garden with Purpose: Teaching, Sustaining, Inspiring Join us as we share real stories from local gardeners and homeowners who are changing their yards into Florida-Friendly landscapes. Learn helpful tips, successes, and challenges ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, NATURAL RESOURCES, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water, Wildlife
Tags: Conserve Water, Florida Gardening, Florida-Friendly Landscape, Invasive Species, Master Gardener Program, Storytelling, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Environments

Career Paths Around the Tree of Life

by Donna Corbelli Castro
August 6, 2025

Agriculture literally is the tree of life for everyone on the planet. Without agriculture, we could not support the population as it exists now. In fact, it was agriculture that enabled many countries to establish. Previously in history, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, NATURAL RESOURCES, Professional Development, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, , Wildlife
Tags: Agriculture, Arboriculture, Careers, Certifications, Ecology, Green Industry, Horticulture

Growing More Than Gardens: The Transformative Journey of Master Gardener Volunteers

by Lorna Bravo
July 5, 2025

Introduction: Sowing the Seeds of Change Volunteerism holds a unique power—the ability to transform not only landscapes but lives. When people unite with a shared purpose, fueled by a passion for learning and a commitment to service, the ... READ MORE

Category: Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, NATURAL RESOURCES, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Broward County, Build Community, Community, Giving, Growing Food, Journey, Master Gardener Program, UF/IFAS, Volunteers

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