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
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
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
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
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
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
When I graduated as a forester 37 years ago, the northern range of mangrove trees in coastal waters was about the Merritt Island area roughly 100 miles south of here. However, with climate change reducing the number of extreme cold events it ... READ MORE
Category: , Coasts & Marine, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Natural Resources, Water
Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the United States with over 80,000 acres of parks, nature preserves, athletic fields, playgrounds, dog parks, boat & kayak launches, an arboretum and much more! The list includes over ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Recreation
The Fourteenth State of the River Report (http://www.sjrreport.com) was recently released. The report addresses issues affecting the health of the St. Johns River. The report contains information that should be of interest to homeowners with ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Turf, Water
Cat's Claw Vine - Weed of the Week Cat's Claw vine is a Category 1 Invasive Plant. This woody vine is slowly growing and long lived, with tubers and stolons that form at each node as it creeps across the soil. Additional Information Cat's ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease