Category: Natural Resources

New Air Potato Beetle Species Release

by Tonya Ashworth
November 11, 2025

They are small but mighty. A new species of air potato beetle is being reared and released in Florida to wage war against the invasive air potato vine. First, a little background on the enemy. The air potato vine was introduced in Florida ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease
Tags: Air Potato Beetle, Air Potato Vine, Invasive Plant, Invasive Species

Clean Your Pruning Tools

by Duval MGV
July 14, 2025

There are diseases in the landscape that are spread by the very tools that we use to take care of them. When we prune out diseased limbs and branches we could be moving the disease from sick plants and spreading it to healthy plants. In this ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Disease, Duval, Florida Gardening, Gardening, Landscape, Management, Pruning

Questions About Trees and Storms

by Duval MGV
July 10, 2025

As afternoon storms are now a regular occurrence, many thoughts turn to the trees around our home. You may be wondering if they are safe, or if they can hold up against the wind of a thunderstorm, tropical storm, or even a hurricane. Hopefully ... READ MORE

Category: Forests, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Duval, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Hurricanes, Landscape, Pruning, Storms, Trees

Lethal Bronzing, a palm disease on the rise

by Larry Figart
July 9, 2025

If you have palms in your landscape or are thinking of planting palms you may want to know more about Lethal Bronzing. Lethal Bronzing (LB) is a serious disease of palms that has become more prevalent in NE Florida. It is often called ... READ MORE

Category: Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Diseases, Duval, Figart, IFAS, Lethal Bronzing, Palms, Urban Forestry

Arbor Day, A time for appreciating what trees do

by Larry Figart
January 10, 2025

While National Arbor Day is always in April, many Floridians do not know that Florida’s Arbor Day is the third Friday in January. In 2025 that date is Friday, January 17th. This early date is perfect for planting trees in our area. The trees ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS
Tags: Climate Change, Ecosystem Services, Trees

A Park With A Purpose

by Stephanie Means
December 31, 2024

Jacksonville has a secret park that provides a lot more than green space for sporting events and a place to walk the dog. Nestled in the heart of the historic Avondale neighborhood and bounded by pavement on all sides, Native Park provides a ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Wildlife
Tags: Conservation, Duval, Florida Friendly, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Native Plants, Park

Backyard Birding and Migration

by Tonya Ashworth
October 29, 2024

A few weeks ago, I visited the home of my Master Gardener friend, Ginger. She has a bright, colorful yard with lots of plants and is a very knowledgeable backyard birder. There were several different types of bird feeders and multiple kinds ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Wildlife
Tags: Backyard Birds, Bird Feeders, Bird Migration, Birdbath, Birding, Painted Bunting

Blame it on the Rain

by Tonya Ashworth
September 6, 2024

Over the last couple days, parts of Jacksonville experienced urban flooding that had people in my neighborhood of Springfield moving their cars blocks away to higher ground. Drivers had to find alternate routes home as streets became impassable. ... READ MORE

Category: Disaster Preparation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Stormwater Runoff, Urban Flooding

Milkweed is for More Than Monarchs

by Stephanie Means
July 19, 2024

Milkweed: we all know it as the poster plant for pollinator gardens, but did you know it feeds many other insects beyond the beloved monarch butterfly? (more…) READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Butterfly Garden, Butterfly Gardening, Conservation, Duval, Extension, Florida Friendly, Florida Friendly Landscaping, Milkweed, Monarchs

Jax Native Park Turns 100!

by Duval MGV
July 10, 2023

100 years ago, in 1923, the incredibly forward-thinking members of the Avondale Garden Circle began planting native species in a park that the City of Jacksonville set aside in the 1921 plat of the Avondale neighborhood. Their goal was to ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Recreation
Tags: Florida Native Plant Society, Ixia Chapter, Jax Native Park, Native Northeast Florida Plants, Native Park

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