Category: UF/IFAS

FIELD TRIP: The Olive Grove, Brooksville, Florida

by Lake County Master Gardener Volunteer
September 19, 2026

Written by MGV Cathy Keller September 16, 2026, was a break from the oppressive, drippy Central Florida heat. In contrast, it was sunny, breezy, and low humidity, so the outdoor visit was a delight! Husband and wife Cambren and Dede Davis ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, AGRICULTURE, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Bonsai, Mushrooms, Olive Grove, Olive Oil, Olive Tree Bonsai, Olives

Florida Lawn Insect Control

by Lake County Master Gardener Volunteer
September 15, 2026

Written by MGV Clayton Yuen Florida’s Five Most Destructive Lawn Insect Pests: What Homeowners Need to Know A lush green lawn is a source of pride for many homeowners, but beneath the surface, insect pests may be quietly causing extensive ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Armyworms, Chinch Bugs, Florida Lawns, Lawn Insect Pests, Mole Crickets, Sod Webworms, White Grubs

It May Be a Little Pushy – But It Only Wants to Help

by Lake County Master Gardener Volunteer
September 12, 2026

Written by MGV Linda Knight While visiting the Discovery Gardens Rose Garden, I noticed a Corky-Stemmed Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa) had pushed its tiny, pale yellow-green flower to the top of the perfectly trimmed Dwarf Yaupon ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife, WORK & LIFE
Tags: Corky-Stemmed Passiflower, Florida Host Plant, Gulf Frittilary Butterfly, Julia Butterfly, Passiflora Suberosa, Zebra Longwing Butterfly

A Bluebird on Your Shoulder

by Lake County Master Gardener Volunteer
September 11, 2026

Written by MGV Paula Bleakley The phrase “bluebird on your shoulder” symbolizes happiness or good fortune. Who doesn’t smile when they see a picture of a chubby little bluebird in its pretty orange vest? But having one in your own backyard ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, AGRICULTURE, Clubs & Volunteers, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife, WORK & LIFE
Tags: Attracting Bluebirds, Bird Baths, Eastern Bluebirds, Nest Building

What do Elephants have to do with Bee Fences?

by Maria Quirico
August 11, 2026

MGV Giles Paget-Wilkes, self-described multi-national citizen and lead of the Discovery Gardens apiary, gave a fascinating talk on the development of Bee Fences on Mount Elgon in Kenya to humanely ward off elephants (Bee Fences protect crops ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, AGRICULTURE, Conservation, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: African Bees, Bee Fences, Elephants, Human-Elephant Conflict, Kenya, Mount Elgon

Independence Day & Prickly Pear Cactus

by Maria Quirico
July 20, 2026

The Role of Opuntia and the Revolutionary War “The Redcoats are coming, the redcoats are coming!” This famous historical warning from the American Revolutionary War refers to the approach of the British Army. In addition, British officers ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, AGRICULTURE, Crops, Curriculum, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Insects Affecting Plants, Mealy Bugs, Red Dye, Residential Horticulture

FIELD TRIP: Nehrling Gardens in Gotha, FL

by Maria Quirico
May 31, 2026

Fourteen Master Gardener Volunteers (and family) toured Nehrling Gardens in May 2026. Theresa Schretzmann-Myers (Board of Directors Vice President) was our excellent tour guide. Ms. Theresa fed us history, facts, stories, and anecdotes in ... READ MORE

Category: AGRICULTURE, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water, Wildlife, WORK & LIFE
Tags: Attract Wildlife, Botanical Garden, Conservation, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Native Plants, Sustainability

The Florida Lubber Grasshopper

by Maria Quirico
April 21, 2026

The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera, is a destructive pest in Florida. The large, 2-3" yellow-tawny adults have short wings (microptera) making them unable to fly. Consequently, their common name, “lubber” comes from the ... 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 Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife, WORK & LIFE
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Insects Affecting Plants, Invasive Species, Residential Horticulture

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 Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, WORK & LIFE
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Gardening, Landscape Fabric, Mulch, Residential Horticulture

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 Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife
Tags: Attract Wildlife, Butterfly Gardening, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Native Florida Plants, Pollinator Garden, Residential Horticulture

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