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Tag: Central Florida

Atala Butterflies and Coontie Cycads: Signs of Damage and How to Protect the Butterflies

by Anne Yasalonis
September 10, 2024

There have been Atala butterflies sightings in and around Polk County, and while there is much information on the butterfly and its history of near extinction, it is important for homeowners and landscape managers to be on the lookout when ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Home Landscapes, Wildlife
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Atala, Atala Butterfly, Ayasalonis, Butterflies, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Gardening, Jschelb, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Wildlife
A field of purple and yellow flowers and green leaves.

Exploring Florida’s Natives: The Florida Violet

by Julia Sirchia
September 10, 2024

You may recognize the delicate, vibrant flowers of the Florida violet (Viola sororia), but did you know that this flower is native to Florida? This annual can add a pop of color to most any garden. Still, it is important to keep the plant’s ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, #SaveWaterFL, Central Florida, Community Garden, Community Gardens, Dade City, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Goals, Horticulture, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Resilient Landscaping, Right Place, Right Plant, Smart Irrigation, Soil, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Water Wise

Create a Wattle in Your Yard

by Anne Yasalonis
September 5, 2024

Are summer storms dropping dead branches and twigs onto your yard? Recycle them and create a "wattle" fence!  Wattles, or hurdles, have been in use since the Middle Ages; originally used as portable fencing for grazing sheep. Over time, designs ... READ MORE

Category:
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Native Plants, Polk County, Polkgardening, UF/IFAS Polk County

Exploring Florida’s Natives: The Florida Maple

by Julia Sirchia
August 27, 2024

Florida has it's very own maple tree! The Florida maple (Acer barbatum), also known as "Florida Red Maple" or "Swamp Maple," gets its name from the color of its leaves. In the autumn, these leaves turn to hues of yellow, orange, and red. This ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, Central Florida, Community Garden, Community Gardens, Fertilizer, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Horticulture, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Native Plants, Native Series, Resilient Landscaping, Right Place, Right Plant, Soil, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office
Set of three photos: purple long beans in a hand, greens in a raised bed, and person planting a transplant into a garden.

Starting a Vegetable Garden in Central Florida: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis
August 26, 2024

So you want to start a vegetable garden... Before you dig in, there are a few basic tips that will help you grow a successful vegetable garden in central Florida. From proper timing for seasonal vegetables, to soil prep, water, fertilizer, ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Vegetable Gardening, Your Central Florida Yard, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Growing Bamboo in Florida

by Tia Silvasy
August 24, 2024

In Florida, we have temperate to tropical climates that allow us to grow many species of bamboo. There are 1,400 of bamboo species in 115 genera worldwide. We also have a Florida native bamboo species, called switchcane (Arundinaria gigantea) ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Bamboo, Central Florida, Clumping, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Invasive Plants, Propagation, Running, Tsilvasy

Exploring Florida’s Natives: The Firebush

by Julia Sirchia
August 20, 2024

The firebush (Hamelia patens), also known as "Scarletbush" or "Firecracker Shrub” gets its name from its vibrant red and orange tubular flowers. Native to Florida, this perennial is a great addition that will add a pop of color to most any ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, #SaveWaterFL, Central Florida, Community Garden, Community Gardens, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Goals, Horticulture, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Native Plants, Resilient Landscaping, Right Place, Right Plant, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office, Wildflowers
Man laying on grass with headphones listening with eyes closed

Weeds in the Home Landscape: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis and Julie SchelbAvatar photo
August 19, 2024

Weeds in the home landscape Weed management can be stressful and difficult for many homeowners, and like many pest problems, the best way to combat problems in the lawn and landscape is through proper maintenance to promote healthy plants. ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Jschelb, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Native Plants, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Weed Identification, Weeds, Your Central Florida Yard, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast
Palm fronds.

Preparing Palms for Hurricane Season in Central Florida

by Julia Sirchia
August 13, 2024

We are officially in hurricane season! On top of the hurricane preparations we have all become accustomed to, there are some common landscaping mistakes that contribute to damage during a storm. Let’s talk about what to do and not to do when ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #RightPlantRightPlace, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardening, Gardens, Goals, Healthy, Horticulture, Hurricane, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Season, Hurricanes, Landscape, Landscape Hurricane Protection, Landscaping, Palm, Palm Pruning, Resilient Landscaping, Right Place, Right Plant, Safety, Tree Safety, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office
Attendees at the Growing Together Symposium.

2024 Growing Together Symposium Connects Agricultural Community with Experts, Resources

by Stella Canfield
August 8, 2024

The Growing Together Symposium made a memorable return on Aug. 1 for its second annual event, bringing together over 45 Central Florida farmers, growers and industry professionals at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC). ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Events, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, , Water
Tags: Ag Bmps, Ag Policies, Central Florida, Extension, Free Event, Greenhouses, Jianjun Chen, Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski, Liz Felter, Outreach, Plant Clinic, Yilin Zhuang

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