Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping

Suncoast Grown and Gathered: November Acerola Cherries

by Forest Hecker
December 20, 2024

At the Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension Office, we've been cultivating a Food Forest to showcase the most productive, unique, and often underutilized edible plants suited to our distinctive southwest Florida climate. Through ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: Eating Locally Grown, EatingLocallyGrown, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Grown And Gathered, GrownAndGathered, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_HortRes, Suncoast Grown And Gathered, SuncoastGrownAndGathered

Polk County Businesses are Choosing Florida-Friendly Landscaping™

by Julie Schelb
December 13, 2024

Along with the many residents of Polk County who have chosen to implement Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) in their yards and apply for recognition, we now have businesses and even municipalities participating. If you are not familiar ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping
Tags: Davenport, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, UF/IFAS Polk County, Winter Haven

Do You See What I See?

by Donna Corbelli Castro
December 12, 2024

Let Heaven and Nature Sing As 2024 draws to a close, and as we reflect on the past year... do you see what I see? I see trees, plants and flowers growing that weren't there last year. Hopefully, you planted some too, and are enjoying ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Management, Horticulture, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Birding, Calliandra, FFL, Gardening, Herbs, Nature, South Florida, UF-IFAS, Veggies, Winter

Exploring Florida’s Natives: Grass Pink Orchids

by Julia Sirchia
December 12, 2024

Orchids are often beloved for their variety of beautiful, colorful blooms and dainty appearance. The most common are considered epiphytes, meaning their roots get moisture from the atmosphere instead of the soil. That is why most orchids are ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture
Tags: #invasivespecies, #RightPlantRightPlace, Exploring Florida's Natives Series, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Grass Pink Orchids, Native Series, Orchids, Protect Native Plants, Right Place, Right Plant

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: How One Girl is Giving Back

by Jasi Romero
December 9, 2024

Meet the Young Girl Inspiring Our Community with Her Peanut Butter Donation At just nine years old, London Brandt, is already making a difference in her community. Inspired by the kindness she sees around her and her desire to help those ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Community Volunteers, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Charity, Donate, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter

December 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector

by Morgan Pinkerton
December 9, 2024

Recap of December 2024 First Friday with Florida First Detector We finished out the calendar year talking about stink bugs and related insects. We focused on invasive insects in the subfamily Heteroptera. The subfamily Heteroptera includes ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Bagrada, Biosecurity, FFD24-25, FloridaFirstDetector, Fruit, Hemiptera, Invasive Species, Sample Submission, Spotted Lantern Fly, Stink Bug

Holiday Decor from the Garden: Ideas and Inspiration

by Anne Yasalonis
December 9, 2024

It is the time of year when you pull out the holiday decorations, untangle twinkle lights, and decide if you want to purchase that giant Santa you saw at the store. But wait! Before you make that purchase, consider using natural items and plants ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Christmas, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Gardening, Holiday, Jschelb, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Natural, Plants, Polkgardening, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Ambrosia Beetles: Small Insects, Big Impact

by Heather Kalaman
December 6, 2024

Ambrosia beetles are small, yet impactful, insects in Florida, playing both beneficial and harmful roles in local ecosystems. Our state is home to both native and invasive species, which aid in breaking down dead wood, contributing to nutrient ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Avocado Tree, Beetles, Florida Friendly, Florida Friendly Landscaping Agent, Pests, Plant Pests, Sustainable Landscape, Tree Pests

Have a passion for plants but lack a green thumb? Dig into the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Management Certificate Program

by Lourdes Mederos
December 5, 2024

Consumers are digging into gardening now more than ever. Several factors account for the increasing popularity, including growing food, relaxation, therapy and sprucing up your green areas and patios, according to a survey by the National ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Conservation, Crops, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: #accessibility, Air-layering Plants, Certified Horticulture Professional, Environmental Horticulture, Environmental Horticulture Department, Environmental Horticulture Management Certificate, Fertilizers, Florida Nursery, Florida Nursery Growers And Landscape Association, FNGLA, Food, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Gardens, Green Areas, Growers, Horticulture, Horticulture Department, Horticulture Therapy, Industry, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Native Plant Habitats, News, School Gardens, Training, UF-IFAS, Water Conservation

Understanding Plant Status: Native, Florida-Friendly, and Invasive Species

by Tia Silvasy
December 5, 2024

There is a lot of confusion about plant status and it's important to know the plant status so you can make the best decisions about selecting the right plants for your landscape. Let's start with some definitions! What is a Florida native ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, Florida Native Plants, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Invasive Plants, Plant Status

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