Tag: Landscaping

Longan fruits on tree. Closeup of fruits on right. Picking them on left.

Suncoast Grown and Gathered: Longans for August

by Forest Hecker
August 31, 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, Work & Life
Tags: FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_HortRes

Red, White, and Blooming: Master Gardener Volunteers Revamp the Flagpole Garden for America’s 250th!

by Forest Hecker
July 2, 2026

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, the Master Gardener Volunteers of Sarasota County are marking the occasion in the most fitting way they know how — with plants! This July 4th, visitors to Twin Lakes Park ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Master Gardener Volunteer, Pgm_HortRes

Suncoast Florida Drought Update: What It Means for Your Landscape, Water Supply, and Fire Risk

by Forest Hecker
June 4, 2026

How Bad Is the Current Drought? Since the end of our rainy season in early fall, rainfall totals across west-central Florida have dropped dramatically. Local meteorologists report this has been one of the driest fall–winter periods in over ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Drought, Fire, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_HortRes, Pgm_Water
Two orchid bees in the foreground with a firebush in the background

Precious Pollinators: Green Orchid Bee

by Forest Hecker
May 28, 2026

Euglossa dilemma: Florida's Brilliant New Orchid Bee If you've spotted a dazzling, iridescent green bee darting through your garden, you may have encountered one of Florida's most fascinating recent arrivals — the Green Orchid Bee (Euglossa ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_Chemicals, Pgm_HortRes, Wildlife
A bin of UFBest peaches. Yellow and red plump fruit.

Suncoast Grown and Gathered: May Stone Fruit! Peaches and Plums in Abundance?

by Forest Hecker
May 27, 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: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Work & Life
Tags: FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Pgm_HortRes
Red ripening Mayhaw apples on a twig that is being held up to camera.

Suncoast Grown and Gathered: May Apple Haws! Fruitful native and ecological powerhouse!

by Forest Hecker
May 5, 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: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes
Tags: Agriculture, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Landscape, Landscaping, Nature, Pgm_HortRes, Wildlife
Pop-up, in-ground sprinkler head and home irrigation system.

GI‑BMP Training: Protecting Water Quality in the Florida Keys

by Liah Continentino
April 28, 2026

The Florida Keys are characterized by coastlines, coral reefs, and marine life. Here in the Keys, protecting and conserving water is essential not only to our health but also to our economy, many of our jobs, and our way of life. Water conservation ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Water
Tags: Best Management Practices, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Landscaping, Professional, Water

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

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