Always a pale gray-green amidst a forest full of browns and dark greens, deer moss stands out not just for its color, but its interesting shape and texture. It really looks more like a sponge than anything else. Also known as reindeer moss ... READ MORE
Category: , Forests, Natural Resources
Over the years, odds are favorable that you have participated in an Arbor Day event. Maybe you planted a tree at your school, picked up a tree from a giveaway, or attended a dedication service with your local city or county. I've written ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Natural Resources
It’s peaceful out there. At the end of the boardwalk, you can look over one of the few completely undisturbed shorelines in the Perdido Key area. Almost every time I’ve visited, an osprey or bald eagle has flown past, hunting for its ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
I am always on the lookout for easily accessible places to get out into nature. Much of my job entails leading other people outdoors and teaching them more about what they're seeing. I've found in my years with Extension that if someone ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
About a year ago, one of my regular blog readers asked if magnolia trees (Magnolia grandiflora) had any particularly redeeming qualities. The one in her yard was constantly dropping leaves and seedpods, and she was tired of it. Little did ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Natural Resources, Wildlife
I absolutely adore cypress trees. They have such a classic, unique, and powerful shape. Plus, they grow in some of the most beautiful places in Florida. Teaching a freshwater wetlands Master Naturalist class these last few weeks, we have ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Most of us are familiar with the Appalachian Trail, the popular hiking route that follows the mountains from Maine for nearly 2200 miles to north Georgia. But did you know you could set off from Fort Pickens at Pensacola Beach and follow ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
We’re highlighting all things Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) in 2021 as the program marks its 20th anniversary. To learn more about FMNP, view the first blog post here. By Justina Dacey and Rick O’Connor If there were ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Unfortunately the Panhandle Outdoors Live events that we have enjoyed for the past several years are not possible right now. Given the limitations of the current situation, the Panhandle Outdoors team has moved ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
From a distance, native azaleas are easily mistaken for honeysuckle vines. With long, arching stamens, you might be tempted to relive your childhood, hoping to pull the pistil from the bottom and find a single drop of sweetness on the end. ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Horticulture