My favorite part of spring is when the grey, baren branches of deciduous trees starts to come alive with new light green foliage It is also the time when folks start to look at their trees with a new interest, seeing things they had not noticed ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are all warm weather vegetables from the Solanaceae family They feature prominently in many of our favorite Mediterranean cuisines—from Italian, Spanish and Portuguese to Middle Eastern and North African. All ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
If you were wandering through a nursery looking to add a plant to your landscape, coontie might not be the first one to catch your eye. Zamia pumila isn’t too exciting to look at, but it is an incredible plant with historical and ecological ... READ MORE
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It is clear that spring has arrived, regardless of what the calendar says! Some of our cool season crops, like cilantro, mustard and radishes are bolting and flowering. We often let them do this so our honey bees and native bees have a ready ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Early March has been so warm, it seems like we went straight from winter to summer, doesn't it? And another cool spell is on the way. March is often a weather roller coaster, and it's a transition time in the garden. Cool season crops ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture
A "fencepost mentality"? We don’t often think about the roots of trees until there is a problem. A forester friend of mine called it a “fencepost mentality”. Being underground, they are often out of sight out of mind. However, ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
By now you may have heard that this February, a Phase II Severe Water Shortage was declared in Duval County. We also had some unusually cold temperatures through the winter months that killed many of our landscape plants. But what do those ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension
When should I fertilize? Don’t jump the gun and fertilize the lawn too early. Mid April is the target date to apply the first fertilizer application to warm season lawns in north Florida. What fertilizer should I use? Find a fertilizer ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Many people are still unaware that the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) released an updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map in 2023. The most recent edition of the map until now was published in 2012 and put Duval County in Zone 9A. The average ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Spring is here, and with it comes a flurry of growth and activity in our gardens. Our native bees who are responsible for a large portion of pollination duties are emerging and looking for flowers to forage. It’s only early March, and we ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension