Tag: nature

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
various water features in Florida

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
burrowing_owls_credit_Brittany_Mason (1) blog

Wildlife Watch: Florida’s burrowing owls are back! Get wise about living with them using Ask IFAS’ bilingual guide

by Lourdes Mederos
January 21, 2026

About this series As residential and commercial development continues to expand across Florida, wildlife is adapting to live closer to people. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) shares ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Adapting, Ask IFAS, Breeding Season, Burrowing Owl, Burrows, Coexistence With Wildlife, Ecosystem, Edis, Factsheet, Land Use, Native Birds, Nature, Nesting Season, Nonmigratory, Predators, Prey, Protected Birds, Protected Species, Protected Wildlife, Spanish, Sustained Residential Growth, Urban Sprawl, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Habitat
someone dressed as a tree out in a park with a family

Complete All Four New Year, New Missions During January-March 2026 and Get a Field Agent Prize!

by Katherine Clements
December 31, 2025

What is Agents of Discovery? Agents of Discovery is an award-winning educational mobile game that turns the great outdoors into an interactive learning experience. Turn your next park visit into a mission and explore nature like never before! ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Natural Resources
Tags: AgentsOfDiscovery, Family, Nature, Pgm_EcoNR, Youth
Person dressed in tree costume outdoors with an adult and two children looking at them

Agents of Discovery: Complete Four Special Missions by Jan 01 for a Field Agent Prize!

by Katherine Clements
November 25, 2025

What is Agents of Discovery? Agents of Discovery is an award-winning educational mobile game that turns the great outdoors into an interactive learning experience. Turn your next park visit into a mission and explore nature like never before! ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Agents Of Discovery, AgentsOfDiscovery, AoD, Family, Family Friendly, Nature, Parks, Pgm_EcoNR, Youth
An image looking up at a canopy of tall pine trees.

Nature and Health: Benefits of Connecting to Nature for Children

by Katherine Clements
October 23, 2025

Today’s youth are spending less and less time outdoors connecting with nature. Why does this matter? For both nature lovers and those who may be a little hesitant when it comes to spending time outdoors, there are a variety of mental, physical, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Health & Nutrition, Natural Resources, Relationships & Family
Tags: Family, Health, Nature, NatureAndHealth, Pgm_EcoNR
photo of tree canopy seen from below, looking up at trees and sky

Nature and Health: Take a Child Outside Week Promotes Connecting Youth with Nature

by Katherine Clements
October 1, 2025

"Nature-Deficit Disorder" Prompts Greater Focus on Getting Children Outside “Take a Child Outside Week” occurs annually from September 24th - 30th, initiated by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences as an effort to raise awareness ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Family, Health, Nature, NatureAndHealth, Pgm_EcoNR

Hands-On Learning: My Experience as a UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County Intern

by Evelyn Spencer
September 25, 2025

Hi all! My name is Evelyn Spencer and I worked as one of the Environmental Education & Outreach Interns for Summer 2025 with UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County. I am currently enrolled at USF's Patel College of Global Sustainability ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Community, Intern, InternSarasotaLife, Internship, Nature, Pgm_EcoNR
This is a view of Welleby Park in Broward County.

Researchers use AI to turn park reviews into science; findings reveal secret to parks people love

by Lourdes Mederos
August 21, 2025

Your five-star review of a park may have more weight than you think. Scientists just turned it into data, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). Researchers at the University of Florida based in Fort Lauderdale used machine learning ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, Cultural Ecosystem Services, Ecosystem Services, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Greenspaces, Jiangxiao Qiu, Nature, Parks, Sustainability, Wildlife

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