Category: HOME LANDSCAPES

A fire burning on the ground among pine trees and grass.

Stay Informed About Wildfires

by Dr. Shelly Johnson and Natural Areas Training Academy
April 28, 2026

Florida is a fire-adapted landscape. That means fire is a natural and beneficial part of the ecosystem with many plants and animals evolved to rely on fire. It is not uncommon for natural areas managers to use controlled, planned wildland fire ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, , Disaster Preparation, Forests, HOME LANDSCAPES, NATURAL RESOURCES, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Communications, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Natural Areas Training Academy
Master Gardeners working in the garden

Volunteers Are the Heart of Extension: Celebrating Service During Volunteer Appreciation Week

by Candi Dierenfield
April 17, 2026

Volunteers at the Heart of UF/IFAS Extension Across Florida, volunteers quietly strengthen communities, support families, and expand access to research‑based education. Within UF/IFAS Extension, volunteers are more than helpers. They ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, , HOME LANDSCAPES
Tags: Candi Dierenfield, Florida 4-H Volunteer, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer, Volunteer Appreciation Week, Volunteer Spotlight, Wendy Wilbur

Bat roosts in Florida are protected as of April 16th

by Dr. Shelly Johnson
April 9, 2026

Bats are an important part of our ecosystem in Florida, as the only major predator of night-flying insects. To ensure bats continue providing natural pest control, all bats in Florida are protected. Bat roosts are provided extra protection during ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, AGRICULTURE, Conservation, HOME LANDSCAPES, NATURAL RESOURCES, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Communications, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Bats, Chiroptera, Conservation, Exclusions, IFAS Extension, Maternity Colony, NATA, Natural Areas Training Academy, Natural Resources, Shelly Johnson, Wecdept, Wildlife, Wildlife Ecology And Conservation

Preserving Strawberries: A Guide to Freezing

by Melanie Thomas
February 16, 2024

As we relish the flavors of locally grown strawberries, their sweet aroma and vibrant hues evoke the essence of sunshine captured in each bite. In the wake of Valentine's Day, where strawberries often take center stage, let's dive into the art ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, Work & Life
Tags: Food Preservation, Food Safety, Freezing Fruit, Strawberries
birder in longleaf pine savanna

Fire in Florida Forests: Rekindling the Flame

by Dr. Shelly Johnson
June 18, 2023

Let’s travel back in time—to an early 16th century summer. You’re standing in an uncut longleaf pine forest in Florida; you have a ¼ mile view in every direction. Yellow and purple flowers dot the landscape of wiregrass, saw palmetto, ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, HOME LANDSCAPES, NATURAL RESOURCES, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Fire, Firescaping, Forest, Land Management, Natural Areas Training Academy, Natural Resources, Shelly Johnson, Tag/Florida-Youth-Naturalist-Program/, Wildlife
River grass beneath the Ichetucknee River.

A ChatGPT Poem: Water Conservation in Florida

by Kaitlin Robb Price
April 17, 2023

April is Water Conservation Month! Since it is also National Poetry Month, we thought it would be fun to ask ChatGPT to write us a poem about water conservation in Florida. Here is the unedited response: “Sure, here's a poem about water conservation ... READ MORE

Category: HOME LANDSCAPES, NATURAL RESOURCES, Water
Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, H2OSAV, Irrigation, Lawn, UF IFAS Water Agents, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Conservation, Water Conservation Month
an alligator swimming with eyes above water

ADDING ACCESSIBILITY TO THE MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER TRAINING PROGRAM

by nladd
April 15, 2023

2023 - Central District All Faculty Symposium - Horticulture, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, Florida Friendly Landscaping™ C. Chairez, UF/IFAS Extension, Orange County, Orlando, FL and E. Pabon, UF/IFAS Extension, Osceola County, Kissimmee, ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: 2023, 2023 Central District All Faculty Symposium, C. Chairez, Central District Symposium, Clarissa Chairez, E. Pabon, Eva Pabon, Extension, FFL, Florida Yards And Neighborhoods, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, FYN, Horticulture, IFAS, IFAS Extension, Orange County, Osceola County, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County, UF/IFAS Extension Osceola County
White Ibis birds in a wetland.

UTILIZING DIGITAL PLATFORMS TO INCREASE PROGRAM OUTREACH IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

by nladd
April 15, 2023

2023 - Central District All Faculty Symposium - Horticulture, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, Florida Friendly Landscaping™ C. Gardner, UF/IFAS Extension, Orange County, Orlando, FL. Situation: The population of Orange County is ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: 2023, 2023 Central District All Faculty Symposium, C. Gardner, Calvin Gardner, Central District Symposium, Extension, FFL, Florida Yards And Neighborhoods, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, FYN, Horticulture, IFAS, IFAS Extension, Orange County, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County, Urban Environment
Alligator in water.

VIRTUAL PLANT CLINIC CELEBRATES THREE YEARS OF SUCCESS

by nladd
April 15, 2023

2023 - Central District All Faculty Symposium - Horticulture, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, Florida Friendly Landscaping™ W. Lester, UF/IFAS Extension, Hernando County, Brooksville, FL Situation: When COVID-19 made it difficult ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: 2023, 2023 Central District All Faculty Symposium, Bill Lester, Central District Symposium, Extension, FFL, Florida Yards And Neighborhoods, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, FYN, Hernando County, Horticulture, IFAS, IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, W. Lester, William Lester

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