A Valentine You Can Send to Nature! I'm blogging this February 14th to report that recently I underwent an actual bona fide 180 on one of my opinions! This was an almost entirely new experience for me because, like most people, I'm right ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Wildlife
While you have undoubtedly seen a star upon a Christmas tree, have you ever seen this star-shaped mushroom growing from the soil of your potted plants? This holiday season, I am reminded of the Earthstar mushroom. Earthstars Are Growing Slightly I ... READ MORE
Category: Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Orchid Pests and What to Do about Them Orchids are beautiful and interesting plants. They make wonderful gifts for green-thumbed friends eager to learn how to grow them. Orchids are excellent house plants in chillier places, or festooning the ... READ MORE
Category: Pests & Disease
Look Out For These Florida Terrestrial Snails Their helical shells, tentacle-like eyes, and slimy muscular bodies are all highly distinguishable features that make snails easy to recognize. Florida is home to a variety of native and non-native ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Summer in Florida brings forth many things: onerous heat, perpetual rains, exciting vacations, and renewed physical activity. Before the cool fall harvest and reclusive winter, it is not too late to enjoy this season of growth. Purslane (Portulaca ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
At last, spring is here!* With the warming weather and longer day lengths, plants that have been dormant over the winter start to wake up. New leaves are growing on the trees, flowers are beginning to bloom, and if you have a loved one with ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
What do you think about during this time of year? Early winter may carry different associations for some: post-holiday fatigue or relief; another abrupt change in pace at home or at work; or that familiar determination to fulfill a New Year's ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Home Management, Work & Life
Like many people seeking enrichment during the COVID-19 pandemic, I sought discovery of new hobbies including indoor plant cultivation. I started with a few houseplants. Their growth and beauty would be a physical reflection of hard work and ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
One of my favorite parts of living in Florida is having more access to tropical fruit. The classic sweetness of mango, the distinct and delicate flavors of guava and papaya, and the almost chocolaty taste of sapodilla are simple yet profound ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Work & Life
It's that time of year again when the variety of produce available at the farmers' markets dwindles and you're largely limited to hardy, heat- and drought-tolerant Florida vegetables like eggplant, okra, Seminole pumpkin and Malabar spinach. ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Pests & Disease