Queen Conch (current scientific name Alger gigas, formerly Strombus gigas) is such an iconic animal in the Florida Keys that local born residents are called “conchs,” especially those living near Key West, Florida. Most locals have ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
We all are feeling the pinch of inflation. Everywhere from gas to the grocery store. Now, with the holiday season looming I am feeling anxious about my spending. All of the things that make the holiday special like decorations, meals, and ... READ MORE
Category: , Money Matters, UF/IFAS Extension
Para acceder a esta comunicación en español, por favor utilice este enlace. Hurricane Ian made an impact as it passed west of the Keys. Though we were spared the worst, strong hurricane-force wind gusts and fast-moving storm surge caused ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Visiting different properties around the Keys, I’ve noticed an increased number of Mexican petunia plants, Ruellia simplex, covered in white patches. These aren’t mealybugs or whiteflies, it is caused by gall mites and it's the plants ... READ MORE
Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease
Please Report Signs of Disease We are asking for divers and snorkelers to be on the lookout for long-spined sea urchins with and without signs of disease. The long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum is a keystone species on Florida’s ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
In March 2022, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Florida has reached the threshold of 1 million registered recreational boats! If you add in the number of commercial boats for charters, flats guides, trap ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Witch’s broom is a symptom of stress in woody plants that causes deformed or stunted growth on newly expanding buds and leaves. This stress causes the disruption of stem elongation, leaf development and expansion, and can cause a broom-like ... READ MORE
Category: , Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease
We rely on professionals – individuals with special expertise and training, such as biologists or planners to make decisions about best practices to guide development, policies and operations. When it comes to climate change, who is the ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, Work & Life
The holidays are not here yet, I know. But the media is reporting holiday chaos. With shipping disruptions and limited supply they insist that we need to be shopping NOW! Maybe this year we can rethink what and with who we want to celebrate. After ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Home Management, Money Matters, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Chives are a perennial member of the onion family. Onion chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) are both reliable pops of green in a Keys herb garden. They produce attractive edible flowers and provide a source ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes