When you think of pollinators, what comes to mind? Many immediately think bees, however, bees are not the only insect pollinators out there! While bees are very important and necessary to our ecosystems, butterflies, beetles, and flies are ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Water lilies so captivated the attention of French impressionist painter Claude Monet that he created over 250 paintings featuring them. Their beauty is quite striking—we are not accustomed to seeing flowers blooming on the water’s surface, ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources
I spent this past Saturday working at a "Pollination Celebration" held at the Panhandle Butterfly House. Located for over 20 years in Navarre, they’re now in the heart of downtown Milton, Florida. The facility is centered in a restored ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources
Century plants (Agave americana) look wild. They grow as thick succulents for years, giving the impression of an aloe plant on steroids. They squat intimidatingly on the ground, boasting giant blue-green leaves and no showy flowers. Their ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources
The garden journey of a Master Gardener Volunteer is always fascinating. UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Master Gardener Volunteer, Jessica, shares how she started a food forest in her yard. To learn even more, take a listen as we chat with Jessica ... READ MORE
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The “summer snapdragon”, better known as Angelonia, is a great warm-season flower that grows from one to three feet tall and produces three-quarters to almost one-inch wide white, blue, white, lavender, purple, and pink flowers arranged ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Growing up a fan of Indiana Jones, the swashbuckling adventures of searching for archaeological treasures were embedded deeply into my youthful psyche. As a teenager, I would lose myself in National Geographic stories and photography, captivated ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources
Over fifty years ago, I received a small mail-order Over fifty years ago, I received a small mail-order bougainvillea plant and grew it in on a windowsill indoors up north. I actually got it to bloom, and it brought color and tropical ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
A few years ago, I was given a small Brazilian red cloak plant to try in my landscape. It grew vigorously to about eight-feet tall by the following year and became a stunning specimen in my front flower bed. At Christmas it was festooned ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes
While orchids are not my specialty, I have dabbled with them from time to time. Perhaps the most success I have had is with cattleya orchids. Giant spectacular blooms, fairly easy to care for and somewhat forgiving of my occasional neglect, ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes