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
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
From a society standpoint, we are encouraged to think about the greenhouse gas removing qualities of trees, specifically, their ability to take up a lot of carbon dioxide. Running quick numbers, 1 cubic foot of concrete results in about 150 ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Achoo! It’s pollen season. You might sneeze, and you might have to wash your vehicle to remove the green, dust-like coating that comes from plants. We asked Lynn Barber, the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ agent at UF/IFAS Extension ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes
Broward does it best! Every year for the past 22, Broward County, FL has been educating its citizens on the importance of water conservation with Water Matters Day. This year, it falls on March 9th, from 9 AM - 3 PM at Tree Tops Park, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes the much-awaited 2024 Garden and Plant Festival! This year, we're thrilled to present the theme, "Sustainable Garden Paradise," where we'll delve into the world of eco-friendly plants, ... READ MORE
Category: Events, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Wax myrtle (Myrica/Morella cerifera) is one of those evergreen shrubs that mostly lives out its life in the background. Neither tall and imposing (on average, up to 12’; rarely as tall as 20’), nor full of showy flowers, it is nonetheless ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Natural Resources
If you are allergic to oak trees or pine trees, you’re about ready to cry, or perhaps you already are because your eyes are so watery you can’t see. I wrote about pollen in a previous blog, and can’t seem to stay away from the topic. Pollen ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources
With 2024 already under way, why not add planting a new tree to your list? Adopt-a-Tree makes it easy. If you are not familiar with Adopt-a-Tree, here is a quick synopsis. Adopt-a-Tree events seek to give Orange County residents an opportunity ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation