Introduction Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta), invasive to North America, are aggressive and cause painful stings. They are red to black and range from 1/8” to ¼” in length and normally have a deep red thorax and solid black ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
The world of online plant shopping is wonderful in allowing gardeners to find plants that are not readily available in local markets. There are numerous reputable sources of plant material available online; however, there are also some unreliable ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
The University of Florida Extension Office in Okaloosa County is now accepting applications for the 2026 Master Gardener Volunteer training course. We are looking for people who enjoy gardening and want to help others learn about plants, ... READ MORE
Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Darrow’s Blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii) is both a beautiful and edible edition to your garden! This time of year, the red, blue, purple, and green foliage plus the oncoming fruit crop really stand out. In shadier environments leaf color will ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables
Nature doesn’t waste nutrients, and your garden doesn’t have to either! What is ‘chop and drop’ gardening? Chop and drop gardening involves ‘chopping’ plant material, and then ‘dropping’ it in place, where it decomposes naturally ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
¿Y si la próxima lluvia pudiera ayudar a regar su jardín, reducir su factura de agua y, al mismo tiempo, apoyar el medio ambiente de Florida? Eso es exactamente lo que aprendieron los participantes durante nuestro reciente taller Rainwater ... READ MORE
Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, WaterWhat if the next rainstorm could help water your garden, lower your water bill, and support Florida’s environment at the same time? That is exactly what participants learned during our recent Rainwater Harvesting 101: Rain Barrel Workshop. ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Euglossa dilemma: Florida's Brilliant New Orchid Bee If you've spotted a dazzling, iridescent green bee darting through your garden, you may have encountered one of Florida's most fascinating recent arrivals — the Green Orchid Bee (Euglossa ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Wildlife, Work & Life
At the Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension Office, we've been cultivating a Food Forest to showcase the most productive, unique, and often underutilized fruits and crops suited to our distinctive southwest Florida climate. Through this ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Work & Life
Everglades tomato is a wild type of current tomato that thrives in Florida's hot humid summers. The small red fruits, about the size of a dime, are abundant and tasty. This is an indeterminate type of tomato and can easily grow 6 to 10 feet ... READ MORE
Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension