Soil! Does it sound fascinating to you? Maybe it should. We take our soil for granted. We even call it “dirt”. But soil is actually pretty magical. It is full of wonderful living microorganisms. They are microscopic, so we can’t see ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Stewardship of Florida’s Public Lands Florida is blessed to have over 10 million acres of state-owned conservation public lands. Various state agencies, including the Florida Forest Service, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Horticulture
Utilizing mulch in your yard is a cost-effective tool that is so often overlooked. It's surprising to see how many landscapes lack the benefits of mulch. (more…) READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn
Amaryllis for the Holidays and Beyond It’s about time to start decking those halls! I love using natural materials and plants as holiday décor, and one plant known for merry and bright is the amaryllis. The amaryllis we buy for our ... READ MORE
Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Fall Wildflowers at Julington-Durbin Creek Preserve By Walter Bryant, MGV Any time of the year is a good time to visit the Julington-Durbin Creek Preserve but, in the fall, the native wildflowers blooming in the sandhills are especially ... READ MORE
Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture
Dilemma: To Prune or Not To Prune in November! Are you tempted to cut or pull spent plants that have gone to seed? Isn't a neatly trimmed bed delightfully satisfying and aren't you dying to clean it all up after the chaos of this mad, hot summer? Wait! If ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
People usually ask about planting a butterfly or pollinator garden in the spring, just before our weather turns hot and dry. October, though, is the best month for starting wildflower seeds, therefore it has been selected as Native Plant Month. When ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Poisonous Plants in and Around Your Florida Home. Disclaimer. The following information is intended for use in Duval County. Florida is a diverse state with different growing conditions. If you garden outside of Northeast Florida, check ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
The blueberry bushes planted at the Duval County Extension office are chock full of berries just about to ripen. I can hardly wait until I am able to snack on some as I work. If you also love these sweet little berries, you should incorporate ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes
For the Commercial Horticulture Audience: Our landscape plants require water to grow. Sometimes we do not receive enough water from rainfall. The rain that we do get can disappear into our sandy soils. In Jacksonville, we tend to run in to ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Horticulture