Due to forecasted inclement weather, the Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale has been rescheduled from Saturday, May 18 to now take place from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2024. Join us for this once-a-year opportunity at the temporary ... READ MORE
Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is an iconic plant of Florida, often dominating the understory of pine flatwoods habitats. Not only is saw palmetto endemic to Florida and the southeastern U.S., but it has also been referred to as a keystone species! ... READ MORE
Category: Natural ResourcesThe UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteers will hold their 2024 Spring Plant Sale 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the temporary UF/IFAS Extension Annex located at the Okaloosa Technical College (OTC) in Fort Walton Beach. The ... READ MORE
Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
In the intricate tapestry of ecosystems, the introduction of non-native species can often have devastating consequences. One such example is the invasive plant species known as Mother of Millions (Kalanchoe x houghtonii). Originally from Madagascar, ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture
In August 2005, large swaths of Biloxi, Mississippi were underwater. In particular, Main Street and historic New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church—0.7 miles from the coastline—were inundated with 12 feet of floodwater. While the levee ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Water
Wetlands are beautiful, important, and valuable components of our ecosystems. But for a long time, they were considered little more than insect-riddled cesspools, places devoid of worth. While not everyone fully appreciates wetlands’ many ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Florida is blessed with an abundance of ecologically diverse state parks. Among them are opportunities to hike, camp, and see wildlife lush forests and wide-open savannas or fish, swim, and paddle through pristine bayous and rivers. One ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
We have an incredibly showy tree making a dramatic splash in our demonstration garden right now. The fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is a native to the eastern and southeastern part of the United States. Its genus name, Chionanthus, ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources
Driving through north Alabama and central Tennessee this week, my eyes were drawn to a stunning display of color on the roadsides. The redbud (Cercis canadensis) trees are a striking shade of fuschia and really pop out in contrast to the ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources
Bugs love weeds. This combination is likely the bane of most homeowners—the stereotypical lawn is typically bug-free and a bright green monoculture of one turf species. But when it comes to the health of the ecosystem, bugs and weeds are ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Natural Resources