Tag: Residential Horticulture

The Florida Lubber Grasshopper

by Maria Quirico
April 21, 2026

The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera, is a destructive pest in FL. The large, 2-3" yellow-tawny adults have short wings (microptera) making them unable to fly. Their common name, “lubber” comes from the old English word ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Management, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Insects Affecting Plants, Invasive Species, Residential Horticulture
Landscape Fabric w Weeds & Yard Litter

Landscape Fabric was a Garden Mishap!

by Maria Quirico
March 29, 2026

Landscape fabric is called weed barrier or garden cloth. It is a textile typically made from synthetic polypropylene or polyester. I put landscape fabric in all of the beds around my house at the recommendation of the landscape service I was ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Landscape Fabric, Mulch, Residential Horticulture
Pollinator Garden

Good Natives for a Butterfly Garden

by Maria Quirico
March 4, 2026

As spring approaches, gardeners often rush to buy whatever they can find to fill a butterfly garden with color. But the best butterfly gardens contain as many native plants as possible to attract butterflies and other pollinators.Butterflies ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife
Tags: Attract Wildlife, Butterfly Gardening, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Native Florida Plants, Pollinator Garden, Residential Horticulture
Mr Peter Russell gave a wonderful presentation!

FIELD TRIP: Shared Harvest Garden

by Maria Quirico
January 16, 2026

January 14, 2026For our first trip of 2026, 16 MGV and 2 students went to Shared Harvest Garden in Lady Lake, FL,  a volunteer-run, non-profit community garden growing fresh produce for local charities and food pantries, located at 700 Oak ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Bank Donations, Fruit Tree, Gardening, Residential Horticulture, Vegetable Production
Grape Arbor Garden

Discovery Gardens: The Grape Arbor

by Maria Quirico
January 12, 2026

The 9 Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FFL) are guidelines from UF/IFAS to create beautiful, water-wise landscapes that protect Florida's natural resources by using less water, fertilizer, and pesticides, focusing on choosing the Right ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Backyard Fruit, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Gardening, Grapes, Residential Horticulture
close up of onions, carrots, green onions, and eggplant

How to use UF’s Vegetable Gardening Guide for Planting Dates

by Calvin Gardner
June 19, 2024

You may just be finishing up your spring garden, but it's not a bad idea to start thinking about what you would like to plant for the fall. The best part is you can use one of our most trusted publications to help you plan what to buy and when ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture
Tags: Central Florida Gardening, Growing Food, Ocextension, Residential Horticulture, Vegetable Gardening

Harvesting Health: Medicinal Plants for the Central Florida Garden

by Heather Kalaman
June 12, 2024

Central Florida's ample sunlight and moderate rainfall create optimal conditions for cultivating a diverse array of herbs celebrated for their medicinal qualities. Gardeners and herbal enthusiasts in the region can establish vibrant medicinal ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Central Florida Gardening, Demonstration Garden, Exploration Gardens, Garden Education, Medicinal Plant, Ocextension, Residential Horticulture, Urban Horticulture

A Formal Garden Renovation in Full Bloom

by Heather Kalaman
March 12, 2024

If you’ve visited the Formal Garden area of our Exploration Gardens here at UF/IFAS Extension Orange County over the last few months, you’ve probably wondered to yourself… what on earth is going on out here? Whether it was the rapid ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscapes, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Landscape Sustainability, Mulch, Native Plants, Ornamental Horticulture, Ornamentals, Residential Horticulture, Sustainable Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County, Urban Horticulture

Aromatic Sweet Almond Bush

by Jamie Daugherty, Ph.D.
December 28, 2023

One of my all time favorite plants in my backyard are my sweet almond bushes. I first discovered these plants as I wandered around a local lawn and garden center, drawn to their wonderful almond scent emanating from its small, white flower ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn,
Tags: Gardening, Master Gardener Volunteer, Pollinator Garden, Pollinators, Residential Horticulture, Sweet Almond Bush

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