Tag: Central Florida

Unlocking the Forest: A High-Tech Nature Walk at Alafia State Park

by ambernorris
October 15, 2025

Equipped with binoculars, field guides, and AI technology, we set out for a crisp fall morning adventure at Alafia State Park. We discovered that today’s nature walk isn't just about what you can see, but what technology can help you hear, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: 4-H, AI, Anorris, Central Florida, Hillsborough County, State Parks, Technology, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Youth

How to easily grow Florida native milkweed in sandy landscapes

by Anne Yasalonis
October 10, 2025

To support monarch butterflies, the University of Florida and other conservation groups recommend Florida native milkweed species as host and nectar plants. Currently, there are three native milkweed species that are most commonly found ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, , Wildlife
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Butterflies, Butterfly, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Gardening, Master Gardener Volunteer, Milkweed, Monarch, Native Plants, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Pollinators, Sandy Soil, UF-IFAS, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Fruit Trees for Your Central Florida Yard: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis
October 10, 2025

Fruit Trees for Your Central Florida Yard In this episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast, Anne and Julie talk about growing fruit in central Florida. There are so many varieties of fruit trees from temperate to tropical that it’s ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Fruit, Fruit Trees, Jschelb, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Chinese Crown Orchid – An Invasive Species you Need to Know

by Tia Silvasy
September 30, 2025

Introduction Chinese crown orchid, Eulophia graminea, is a relatively new invasive species spreading through the state of Florida. It was first found in mulch in Miami, FL in 2007 and is now listed as a Category II invasive species by the ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, Crown Orchid, Invasive Species, Tampa Bay, Tsilvasy

9/18/25 Palms Workshop–In Person in Orange Co.

by Hannah Eason
August 26, 2025

BEWARE! AFTER THIS CLASS, YOU WILL NEVER LOOK AT PALMS THE SAME AGAIN! Palms are popular plants that represent a slice of Florida paradise! There is a science to growing pretty palms that will thrive in Florida, from wild places to managed ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Central Florida, CEU, CEUs, Cflandscapes, Commercial Horticulture, Commercial Lawn And Ornamental, Continuing Education, Continuing Education Unit, Cpo, Education, Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardening, Gardening Class, Hkalaman, Hwooten, Landscape, Landscape Architect, Landscape Design, Landscapes, Lawn And Ornamental, Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance, Limited Lawn And Ornamental, Nutrient Deficiencies, Ocextension, Orlando Events, Ornamental And Turf, OT, Pa, Palm, Palm Diagnostics, Palm Fertilizer, Palm Problems, Palms, PCO, Planning, Plant Diseases, Plant Pests, Pruning, Right-of-Way, Row, Streetscape, Sustainable Landscaping

Fragrant Plants for Your Central Florida Yard: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis
August 25, 2025

Fragrant Plants for Your Central Florida Yard In this episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast, we talk all about our favorite fragrant plants. What type of garden scents do you prefer? Some people like heavy florals while other people ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Plants, Jschelb, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Pollinators, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Growing Happy Houseplants: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis
August 18, 2025

Growing Happy Houseplants In this episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast, we talk all about how to successfully grow houseplants. Join us as we chat about how to select a houseplant for your home’s light conditions, basic tips for house ... READ MORE

Category:
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Growing Houseplants, Houseplants, Jschelb, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Urban Wildlife Corridors

by Anne Yasalonis
August 6, 2025

An important and growing landscaping trend is gardening for wildlife. This important conservation effort can help our native small wildlife populations with plants that attract and support a wide variety of our native species, especially birds, ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Wildlife
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida Native, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Flowers, Gardening, Hurricane Preparedness, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Native Plant Month, Native Plants, Polk County, Polkgardening, Pollinator Plants, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Scaring neighbors and causing community tension: Study uncovers cost of invasive chameleons

by Lourdes Mederos
July 22, 2025

When exotic chameleons creep into a suburban Florida neighborhood, they bring more than their color-changing charm. They can also spark confusion, curiosity and social chaos. A new study by scientists at the University of Florida Institute ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Central Florida, Chameleon, Diane Sturgeon, Exotic Pet Market, IFAS, Invasion Science Institute, Invasive Reptiles, Invasive Species, Invasive Species Management, Lourdes Mederos, News, Non-native Species, Orange County, Panther Chameleon, Public, Residential Neighborhood, Societal Effects, Society, Species, Species Introduction, Stakeholders, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, University Of Florida, Warm Climate, Wildlife Managers, Wildlife Trade

Summer Flowers for Central Florida Yards: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis
June 26, 2025

Summer Flowers for Central Florida Yards In this episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast, we talk about summer flowers. Summer weather in central Florida is hot and humid, but summer flowers can put on a spectacular show without much effort ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Native Plants, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Summer, Summer Flowers, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Wildflowers, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

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