The UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County congratulates the newest graduates of the Florida Master Naturalist Program in St Lucie County. On Monday, March 7, 2022, eighteen students successfully completed the Florida Master Natural Program (FMNP) ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources
If you’re like me, then there’s a tree in your neighborhood that provides you with a sense of 'grounding' - a connectivity to life's natural rhythm. That sense of connectivity is just one of the many life-sustaining benefits which trees ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests
Many of us love watching the critters in our backyards. Birds, butterflies, squirrels, frogs, and lizards all depend on certain plants for survival. When selecting plants for our landscape, we can choose plants that are not only beautiful but ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Springtime brings many birds to the Central Florida area. Florida is home to over 500 bird species. We have some species like the Northern Cardinal that live here year-round, while others stopover during the spring as they migrate back north. To ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Let’s begin by stating what a diamondback terrapin is. I have found many Floridians are not familiar with the animal. It is a turtle. A turtle in the family Emydidae which includes the pond turtles, such as cooters and sliders. The ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
The month of March is the last of winter. For todays hike we returned to Gulf Islands National Seashore/Ft. Pickens where it was 63°F, overcast with a strong breeze from the northwest. A cold front is coming through to remind us that winter ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Snook… Wait did you say Snook in the Florida panhandle? Yep… they are not common, but they have seen here. For those who do not know the fish and do not understand why seeing them is strange, this is a more tropical species ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
The use of cover crops between growing seasons can improve nutrient cycling and soil health among other things. Researchers in the UF/IFAS soil and water sciences department (SWS) conducted a study on the benefits of a summer cover crop in organic ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Research
A pristine habitat and a giant bat The flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) is a bat species that gets its name from its size, literally a bat as big as a fox that flies. Its wingspan goes to up about between 3 and 4 feet, making it one of the ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Fruits & Vegetables, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Wildlife
My mom is an expert (and thanks to her, my daughter also) at making meringue. If you’ve ever attempted this pie topping, you know there’s a bit of an art to it. At its core, meringue is simply the raw protein of an egg white and some ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water