Our crape myrtles have their good years and their less good years, but 2021 has been pretty good for this flowering tree in Charlotte County! Crape myrtle blooms are popping right now catching the eye in both residential landscapes and in ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Somewhat new to our area, the perennial known as the leopard plant is an interesting selection that I first saw about six years ago. Besides large, attractive green leaves, the leopard plant also blooms and prefers shade to part-shade conditions. ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
By Ralph E. Mitchell There is a subtropical/tropical plant in our area that in some parts of the horticultural world is a terrarium plant, a greenhouse resident or coveted house plant. Unfortunately, in many parts of central and southern ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease
By Ralph E. Mitchell While you might think that the title of this article is the beginning of some children’s story, it is not! The giant potato tree is a real plant up to fifteen to twenty-feet tall with amazing purplish flowers. ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture
By Ralph E. Mitchell It looks to be a good year for mangoes. Locally, many mango trees are loaded with fruit promising a sweet June and July harvest. There is hardly any other tropical fruit that almost everybody likes. While mangoes ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
By Kristie Popa – UF/IFAS Charlotte County 4-H Agent Can you imagine the wonderful smell of the orange blossoms or the vivid orange fruit dangling off of the limbs of a citrus trees? As you drive through various parts of Charlotte County, ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture
Updated 03/16/20 As we continue to monitor COVID-19 in Florida, I wanted to take a moment to update our UF/IFAS Extension community about our current status, best practices and next steps. Please call your local UF/IFAS Extension office ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Camp, Clubs & Volunteers, Coasts & Marine, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Crops, Curriculum, Disaster Preparation, Events, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, Livestock, Money Matters, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, Recreation, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, , Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
By Ralph E. Mitchell I sometimes like to grow a plant just to see if I can succeed in the effort. While I tried growing celery several years ago with average success, I did manage to grow some better-than-average stalks this year. You can ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
By Ralph E. Mitchell The title of this article needs a great deal of explaining! First, I am talking about the black olive tree, Bucida buceras, (not a true olive) a common, well-liked shade tree in our area. Secondly, why would a black ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
By Ralph E. Mitchell Is that garlic or Bignonia aequinoctialis I smell? Sometimes identifying plants includes a sense of smell, and the garlic vine, in addition to its beautiful flower color, has a definite, conversation-starting, odor that ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture