Fragrant water lilies (Nymphaea odorata) 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 ... 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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Fourteen Master Gardener Volunteers (and family) toured Nehrling Gardens in May 2026. Theresa Schretzmann-Myers (Board of Directors Vice President) was our excellent tour guide. Ms. Theresa fed us history, facts, stories, and anecdotes in ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Over time, we have learned how building so much “gray” infrastructure (roads, buildings, parking lots) affects our water quality. To offset these impacts, we’ve started using green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to bring back trees, ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources
I was recently in coastal North Carolina with Extension colleagues from around the country. In addition to attending presentations on natural resource programming, we attended field tours built into the meeting. I joined a group visiting ... READ MORE
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The UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteers will hold their 2026 Spring Plant Sale 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at the temporary Extension Annex located at the Okaloosa Technical College (OTC) in Fort Walton ... READ MORE
Category: Events
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
Despite the cold snap that has dropped in on us this week, spring is arriving in northwest Florida. Pollen is coating cars, azaleas are in bloom, and bees are buzzing all over our blueberry bushes. During a recent trip to the trails ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources