Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping

Monarch butterfly caterpillar feeding on a leaf

Which Milkweeds Are Truly Safe for Monarchs?

by Sara MacDonald
August 18, 2025

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been hearing the same question repeatedly: “Which milkweeds should I plant to help monarch butterflies?” It’s a great question, but the answer isn’t simple. Many gardeners want to do the right thing. Yet, ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #ufbugs, Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, Invasive Species, Master Gardener

2026 Master Gardener Volunteer Recruitment & FAQs

by Clarissa Chairez
August 18, 2025

Do you love gardening? Or maybe you just want to learn more? Are you interested in being a part of a community of volunteers and sharing your gardening training with the residents in our county? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Find ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Horticulture, Landscape, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Master Gardener Volunteers, New Vegetable Gardener, OC MGV, Ocextension, Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County

Florida’s Hidden Invaders: Invasive Plants in Our Yards Part 1

by Clarissa Chairez
August 18, 2025

Walk through almost any Florida neighborhood and you’ll probably spot a few invasive plants without even realizing it. Many were originally planted for their beauty, drought tolerance, or easy care—but those same qualities make them quick ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species
Tags: Florida Friendly, Florida Gardening, Florida Wildlife, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Floridas-hidden-invaders, Garden, Gardening, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Invasives, Landscape, Landscape Management, Native Plants, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County

The Longleaf Pine: A Keystone of Florida’s Pine Grassland Ecosystems

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
August 15, 2025

Keystone species are critical because entire ecosystems rely on their presence to remain balanced. If removed, the ecological structure may collapse. They differ from indicator species, which reflect the health and maturity of an ecosystem rather ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Longleaf Pine, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension, Urban Trees
Forest Hecker with Jackfruit tree in Sarasota loaded with 25lb fruit!

Suncoast Grown and Gathered: July’s Heavyweight Jackfruit!

by Forest Hecker
August 14, 2025

At UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, we've been cultivating a "Food Forest" to showcase the most productive, unique, and often-underutilized fruits suited to our distinctive, Southwest Florida climate. Through this project, we aim to inspire ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Work & Life
Tags: Ag, Agriculture, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_Gardens, Pgm_HortRes, Suncoast Grown And Gathered, SuncoastGrownAndGathered
Bee hive comb with baby bees.

Suncoast Grown and Gathered: Beekeeping for Sweet Summer Honey!

by Forest Hecker
August 14, 2025

One of the most rewarding ways to get Suncoast Grown & Gathered honey? Starting your own backyard beehive! Whether you’re interested in harvesting your own honey or boosting pollination for your foodscape, beekeeping in Florida can ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes
Tags: Agriculture, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_Chemicals, Pgm_HortRes, Suncoast Grown And Gathered, SuncoastGrownAndGathered
Butterflies on a shrub.

Grow Your Green Expertise with the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Professional Certification

by Sara MacDonald
August 12, 2025

Florida’s landscapes are more than just beautiful; they’re vital to protecting our water, supporting wildlife, and maintaining our state’s natural charm. But keeping them thriving requires more than a good eye for plants. It takes science-based, ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, Native Plants Florida, Pollinator Friendly, UF/IFAS Extension, Water Conservation Landscaping

Suncoast Grown and Gathered: August Dragonfruit

by Forest Hecker
August 11, 2025

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 suited to our distinctive southwest Florida climate. Through this project, ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes
Tags: EdibleGardeningSeries, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_HortRes, Suncoast Grown And Gathered, SuncoastGrownAndGathered

Florida’s Hidden Invaders: Invasive Houseplants

by Clarissa Chairez
August 11, 2025

For much of the world, tropical plants are grown strictly as indoor houseplants because they need warm temperatures to thrive. But here in sunny Florida, many of these “houseplants” can survive year-round outdoors—and that can become a ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Invasive Species
Tags: Florida Friendly, Florida Gardening, Florida Wildlife, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Floridas-hidden-invaders, Garden, Gardening, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Invasives, Landscape, Landscape Management, Native Plants, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County

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