The 59th annual land judging competition sponsored by the Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District was held in late February at the Quattlebaum House at the Manatee County Water Treatment Plant. More than fifty students answered test… Read More
At the annual Manasota Regional Envirothon held in early February, over 120 students representing nine Manatee and Sarasota county high schools, competed at Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey. The Envirothon is an outdoor environmental team competition for… Read More
Updated 03/15/20 As we continue to monitor COVID-19 in Florida, I wanted to take a moment to update our UF/IFAS Extension community about our current status, best practices and next steps. Please call your local UF/IFAS Extension office… Read More
When fresh fruits and vegetables are eaten raw, there is an increased chance for food-borne illnesses to occur. Since the U.S. per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables is greater than 259 pounds per year, (USDA 2018), safe… Read More
Sustainability, what is it all about? It is a question that needs discussion. Can we adopt sustainable practices for energy, water, food, stuff? The products we buy, the way we maintain our home and landscape, the cars we… Read More
HOUSEPLANT PESTS by Amy L. Stripe, Master Gardener Volunteer 2008 Types and Identification Most common pests that prey on houseplants are fairly easily detected. Mealybugs are small (1/5-1/4 in. long), soft-bodied insects with a cottony appearance that cause… Read More
In celebration of Arbor Day and the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, the City of Bradenton has once again partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to provide free trees to residents of the city. 600 trees will be… Read More
Bring Us Your Bulbils! In a previous blog, we discussed the pernicious Air Potato vine (Dioscorea bulbifera) and the charismatic bright red or orange biocontrol beetle (Lilioceris cheni). The air potato beetle was discovered, researched, reared and made… Read More
Gardening with native plants can increase your chances of success in challenging areas. Landscapes come in all shapes and sizes; small and sunny, sandy, shady and wet and sometimes tucked in the back corner of a building. In order… Read More
By Norma Kisida, Master Gardener 2012 Whether a full-time or a seasonal resident, we want the most from our landscape. Here in sunny Florida we are fortunate to be able to have colorful plants all year, if we… Read More
