What do we really lose when we lose a tree? A thousand silent voices removed from the universal chorus. The tree is not a stand-alone unit, a single entity, a monument of stony bark, the tree is they. A connected symbiosis of lichens, fungi, ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Wildlife
About this series Rising costs have brought on rising concerns. From grocery shelves to gas pumps, the ripple effects of the COVID pandemic continue to surface in economies worldwide. Adding the start of hurricane season to the mix makes ... READ MORE
Category: UF/IFAS
A lawn by any other name... The "lawn" is a cult phenomenon in the United States. Somewhere along the line, we associated a monoculture of a single grass species with the ultimate achievement in landscaping. Unfortunately, this mindset ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
In celebration of Arbor Day and Earth Day, the City of Bradenton and Manatee County has once again partnered with Keep Manatee Beautiful and the Arbor Day Foundation to provide free trees to residents. City of Bradenton and Manatee County ... READ MORE
Category: Community Volunteers, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFASHow riotous the morning, draped in silver and pomegranate, new shoots gasping forth from soil tended carefully. Buds on branches swell and burst with leaves fresh and trembling in their newness. A haze of moisture in the morning air left staggering ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
As if by magic, overnight, tucked neatly beneath a cap of mulch, or peaking deftly between blades of grass, mushrooms appear in all shapes, sizes, and colors imaginable. What we observe, recognized as mushrooms, are the reproductive spore producing ... READ MORE
Category: , Home Landscapes, Natural Resources
Trees provide innumerable benefits to our community. I have written about their beauty, their ecosystem services, and their care on several occasions. I am a lover of all things tree, constantly fascinated by their growth and structure, the ... READ MORE
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Horseshoe crabs are a vital part of Florida’s coastal ecology. Local scientists are working with community members to gather information about the species on Miami Dade County’s beaches. Want to help? Mark your calendars for February ... READ MORE
Category: UF/IFAS
Plant a Rainbow The first green shoot seeking the sun, tendrils grasp, life encircled in each new node, our eyes witness to the verdancy of soil, seed, and sun. Gardening is a vibrant and reaffirming experience. Hands with knuckles caked ... READ MORE
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Tomato growing in Florida can be a tricky endeavor. It starts out well as you watch the deep green and fragrant leaves unfurl, climbing with fuzzy fervor seeking the sun, only to walk out the next morning with your coffee to discover the chewed ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension