UF/IFAS
Extension Highlands County

Tag: insects

Bees on a hive frame

Are you a keeper?


February 14, 2023

By Amanda Johnson/ guest blogger Are you interested in learning about beekeeping and the important role that honey bees play in our ecosystem? Look no further! The Heartland Beekeepers Association is offering a Beginner Beekeeping Class for ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agriculture, Beekeeping, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Hometown Gardener, Honey, Insects, Master Gardener Volunteers, Pollination, Pollinator Plants
tips from the Help Desk...Bats

Tips from the help desk…Bats in your belfry, October 2022


November 26, 2022

Tips from the Help Desk... Bats in your belfry by David Austin Residential Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator Bats are known for their scary Halloween personas. That is if bats can have personas. Nevertheless, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, , Wildlife
Tags: Bats, Conservation, Highlands County, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Hometown Gardener, Insects, Master Gardener Volunteers, Mosquito, Pollination, Tips From The Help Desk, Wildlife
Bees on a hive frame

Don’t Worry, Bee Happy


August 10, 2022

The European honey bee The European honey bee has been in the United States for a long time. Brought here in the early 1600s by, you guessed it, Europeans.  The Honey bee may as well be considered native since they've been here as long ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Agriculture, Bees, Classes, Gardening, Highlands County, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Hometown Gardener, Honey, Insects, Master Gardener Volunteers, Pollination, Pollinator Plants, UF/IFAS Extension
The Lovebug doesn't get much love from humans. Read about them here

Tips from the Help Desk… Lovebugs, what’s there to love? June 2022


July 14, 2022

by David Austin, the Hometown Gardener                                                                                                                                        ... READ MORE

Category: Horticulture, Pests & Disease,
Tags: Highlands County, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Hometown Gardener, Insects, Master Gardener Volunteers, Tips From The Help Desk, UF/IFAS Extension
Bees on a hive frame

The Bees are Coming.


January 28, 2022

Bringing the bees Mid to late February in Highlands County is the beginning of the orange blossom bloom. It's January when beekeepers from all over Florida and many other states look for spots to leave their honey bees, as close to the orange ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agriculture, Bees, Classes, Gardening, Highlands County, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Hometown Gardener, Honey, Insects, Master Gardener Volunteers, Pollination, Pollinator Plants, UF/IFAS Extension
Bright red clusters of Penta flowers

Planting for Pollinators


June 29, 2021

Greener is not always better Yards with only green grass and green hedges in them can seem a boring place. Especially when they don't have anything blooming. There actually is a lot more to it than how it looks to you or visitors.  Your yard ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Bees, Birds, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Highlands County, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Hometown Gardener, Insects, Master Gardeners, Pollinator Plants, Pollinators
Is Beekeeping for You? by the Hometown Gardener. text only

Is Beekeeping For You?


August 27, 2020

To bee or not to bee? Could that be the question you are asking yourself? Because of my love of honey, the answer was yes for me. As I learned more about the honey bee and its uniqueness, I became fascinated with this insect. Like the fact ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agriculture, Gardening, Highlands County, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Hometown Gardener, Honey, Insects, Master Gardener, Master Gardeners, Pollination
University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Science logo over the Florida Master Gardener Logo

What’s that black mold on my plant?


March 25, 2020

That unsightly black stuff When a black film we call sooty mold visits your plants and covers the leaves you can be sure of at least one thing. You have an insect problem. Most of you have seen this thin soot like layer on your Citrus, Gardenia, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Gardening, Highlands County, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Hometown Gardener, Insects, Master Gardener, Master Gardeners, Plant Problems
Worker Honey bee feeds on pink salvia flower

Beekeeping, not just a hobby.


August 27, 2019

The incredible honey bee There is nothing quite like a the honey bee. They are one of natures great pollinators. While doing that job they store wonderful honey. They also store pollen, form propolis and they produce something called royal ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: Agriculture, Bees, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Hometown Gardener, Honey, Honeybees, Insects, Pollination, Pollinator Plants, Vegetable
Worker Honey bee feeds on pink salvia flower

Honey Bees, are in the air!


April 2, 2019

The business of bees Honey Bees are everywhere in Highlands County. It's that time of year when the bees are busy making honey. Because Highlands County produces so much citrus and citrus produces a heavy nectar flow, the beekeepers come with ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture, Livestock, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Agriculture, Citrus, Highlands County, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Honey, Insects, Pollination