Mindfulness
By Kristie Popa We have been hearing about mindfulness more within the past couple of years, but what does it really mean and how does it apply to 4-H? Mindfulness by definition is a mental… Read More
Who ate the crinum lilies?
By Ralph E. Mitchell 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… Read More
Introducing, or reintroducing, the lion’s ear
By Ralph E. Mitchell Bringing you back to the Nature Park in Punta Gorda, I wanted to introduce (or reintroduce) an underutilized perennial that fits into Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, has bright orange flowers from summer on… Read More
Cover your landscape with the blanket flower
By Ralph E. Mitchell Imagine a nice patch of yellow and orange flowers which bloom practically every day – this is the reality of the blanket flower – Gaillardia pulchella. Perfect for hot, sunny areas,… Read More
Worms in a bag – a cryptic caterpillar
By Ralph E. Mitchell 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… Read More
Flax lily – maybe overplanted, but for a good reason
By Ralph E. Mitchell The flax lily has been around for several years now and is a common component in numerous landscapes. There are many great characteristics attributed to this Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ approved plant that… Read More
The ‘Drake’
By Ralph E. Mitchell Planted right in our own Centennial Park parking lot we have an often-under-utilized shade tree called the ‘Drake’ Chinese elm. While my first exposure to this tree was in Sarasota County,… Read More
Termites are in the air
By Ralph E. Mitchell 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… Read More
The golden flowers of Cochran Blvd.
By Ralph E. Mitchell Have you seen the yellow flowering trees in bloom on Cochran Blvd in Port Charlotte? Their relatively short show provides eye-catching beauty that reinforces the appreciation for our subtropical climate! What… Read More
County Events: Planning Your Presentation: Intro, Body & Summary
By Kristie Popa Introduction: start your presentation with an attention grabber. If you catch the audience’s attention within the first ten seconds, they will remain engaged throughout your presentation. You can use a joke, an… Read More