According to the University of Florida/IFAS Invasive Species Council, invasive species are organisms that are non-native to an area, introduced by humans, and are causing an environmental or economic problem. For residents and visitors to Florida, this definition… Read More
With the start of rainy season upon us, it also means residents will begin to see termite swarms, specifically West Indian drywood termites (Cryptotermes brevis). Here in the Florida Keys we have two economically damaging termites, Asian subterranean… Read More
Community programs of all sorts are consumed today by planning and implementing programs in a rapidly shifting environment due to the COVID-19 outbreak. But we also need to keep an eye on the future and start planning for… Read More
Also known locally as wild tomato or currant tomato, the Everglades tomato is a wonder for gardeners in the Florida Keys. The tomato blooms and fruits all year long, is tolerant of our alkaline soil, brackish water, salt… Read More
Roselle, a relative of hibiscus, was once used widely as an edible plant in Florida. The flowers are less showy than other hibiscus varieties, but their calyces (sepals at the base of the flower) are amazing! As the… Read More
The Farm Bureau’s annual Thanksgiving price survey estimates that Thanksgiving Day accounts for $282 million of uneaten turkeys that end up in the trash. Added to our overall food consumption, we throw away 34 million tons of food… Read More
As gardeners, we are aware of skin irritations due to contact from plants such as, Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum), and Manchineel (Hippomane mancinella), found right in our Florida Keys backyards. But, the eyes, the eyes! Corneal Endothelial Toxicity, a toxicity… Read More
Here in the beautiful Florida Keys, we have no shortage of tidal shoreline and coastal landscapes, in addition to some unique natural habitats. This provides a fantastic opportunity to observe many of nature’s beautiful creatures. Especially this time… Read More
What is killing my trees? This has been a common thread of some calls our office, and other departments within the County, have received recently. Distorted growth, severe stunting, and shoot proliferation have all been reported on mature… Read More
By: Lisa Krimsky, Betty Staugler, Brittany Scharf, Krista Stump and Rebecca Burton Florida’s lingering red tide has left many concerned residents with unanswered questions. Over the past 14 months since the bloom began off the coast of Southwest… Read More
