While junipers can be a nice feature in the landscape, many that would be commonly used up north just do not do well in our Southwest Florida climate in regard to pest and environment pressures. The native juniper, the red cedar is a ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
To many people a good ant is a dead ant. We do have our share of pest ants in Florida – not to mention fire ants! But, just like many things in life, there are exceptions and there is a good ant to praise. This ant is the pyramid ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
Nothing looks as nice displayed from the front of your house or off a porch than a hanging basket. A hanging basket offers a different planting dimension that can add color and texture to an area not normally landscaped. The containers ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
The “summer snapdragon”, better known as Angelonia, is a great warm-season flower that grows from one to three feet tall and produces three-quarters to almost one-inch wide white, blue, white, lavender, purple, and pink flowers arranged ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
The Canary Island Date palm is a huge and impressive plant found in many neighborhoods where it can reach heights up to sixty feet tall with fifteen-foot fronds. Sometimes referred to locally as the "pineapple palm", will this palm fit into ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
Over fifty years ago, I received a small mail-order Over fifty years ago, I received a small mail-order bougainvillea plant and grew it in on a windowsill indoors up north. I actually got it to bloom, and it brought color and tropical ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
A few years ago, I was given a small Brazilian red cloak plant to try in my landscape. It grew vigorously to about eight-feet tall by the following year and became a stunning specimen in my front flower bed. At Christmas it was festooned ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
Some plants have a number of uses across a broad spectrum – Bahia grass as an example where it is used both in pastures and as a landscape turf. Another crossover plant in the same vein is the turf alternative called perennial peanuts. ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn
County Events are a welcoming chance for 4‑H members to share what they know, teach a skill, and celebrate learning with their club and community. This quick guide outlines what you can enter, how to choose the right category, how to register, ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Clubs & Volunteers, Curriculum
While orchids are not my specialty, I have dabbled with them from time to time. Perhaps the most success I have had is with cattleya orchids. Giant spectacular blooms, fairly easy to care for and somewhat forgiving of my occasional neglect, ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes