Tag: Landscaping

Exploring Florida’s Natives: Muhly Grass

by Julia Sirchia
March 12, 2026

If you’re looking to create visual interest in your Florida landscape without adding extra maintenance to your to-do list, muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is a standout choice. This beloved Florida native is known for its delicate, ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Home Landscapes
Tags: Coastal Landscaping, Exploring Florida's Natives Series, Fall Blooms, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscape, Landscaping, Native Gardens, Native Plants, Rocky Soil, Sandy Soil, Semi-evergreen, Smart Landscape

Exploring Florida’s Natives: Scarlet Sage

by Julia Sirchia
March 5, 2026

Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea), also called red salvia, scarlet salvia, or tropical sage, is a blooming Florida native. Red, pink, or white flowers attract all kinds of pollinators, a few being hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Keep reading ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, Home Landscapes
Tags: Butterfly Garden, Butterfly Gardens, Exploring Florida's Natives Series, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Flowering, Flowers, Full Sun Gardens, Gardening, Gardens, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Native, Native Gardens, Pollinator, Salvia Coccinea, Scarlet Sage
A harvested and cut Painter's Cherilata fruit (pink sphere with pink/white flesh) on a backdrop of Pond Apple leaves.

Suncoast Grown & Gathered: Painter’s Cherilata — February’s Berry Cheesecake Fruit!

by Forest Hecker
February 24, 2026

At the Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension Office, we've been cultivating a Food Forest to showcase the most productive, unique, and often underutilized fruits and crops suited to our distinctive southwest Florida climate. Through this ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes
Tags: FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_HortRes
American Groundnut. On the left the light purple/pink flowers and hefty brown tubers. On the right the trellis and garden we grew it in. On the far right are the seeds/beans we collected. Green as they ripen.

Suncoast Grown & Gathered: Native Groundnuts! A Wintertime Staple?

by Forest Hecker
February 20, 2026

At the Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension Office, we've been cultivating a Food Forest to showcase the most productive, unique, and often underutilized fruits and crops suited to our distinctive southwest Florida climate. Through this ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes
Tags: Edible Gardening QOTW, EdibleGardeningSeries, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Nature, Pgm_Gardens, Pgm_HortRes, Wildlife

Skip-a-Week of Irrigation

by Melissa West
February 6, 2026

There is still time to Skip-a-Week of Irrigation By Doris Heitzmann, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program Manager If you have an automatic sprinkler system, the winter months are the perfect time to save water and increase the health ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: 'Skip A Week', Conservation, Florida Friendly, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Lawn, Pinellas, Pinellas County, Pinellasco, Sprinkler, Water
Close up of milkweed flowers

Landscaping with Native Milkweeds in Sarasota County

by Ashley Ellis
January 27, 2026

We often see gardeners using non-native tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica L.) in their landscapes—sometimes without realizing it was recently added to the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas list as ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Conservation, Environment, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Nature, Pgm_HortRes
A collage of five scenes: underwater view, palm trees with skyscrapers, a manatee underwater, a coastal scene, and a natural spring.

New to Florida? Join Water Wednesday for Practical Guidance on Florida’s Environment

by Yilin
January 22, 2026

Florida is home to unique weather patterns, water resources, landscapes, and ecosystems. For many new residents, adjusting to these conditions can raise practical questions about everyday life, from lawn care and home maintenance to storm preparedness ... READ MORE

Category: Disaster Preparation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Management, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Climate, Environment, Landscaping, Nature, New Residents, Water, Water Wednesday, Wildlife
Beautyberry stem with berries

The Importance of Using Native Plants in Zone 9

by Lisa Strange
December 2, 2025

In zone 9, native plant material is one of the most impactful choices one can make for the environment. Native plants are adapted to our climate and soils, making them more resilient, water-efficient, and less dependent on fertilizers or pesticides. ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: #TaylorCounty, Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Landscaping, Native Plants, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Taylor County

2025 Master Gardener Volunteer Year in Review for Clay County

by Wayne Hobbs
November 26, 2025

The Master Gardener Volunteer year in Clay County runs from November to November and what an amazing year it has been. Throughout 2025, our 71 volunteers donated over 5000 hours back to community! This comes in a variety of ways including: ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida Friendly, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardening, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer

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