Long-time and aspiring green thumbs can ask the experts their gardening questions when “Gardening in the Panhandle LIVE!” returns starting Feb. 4.
The monthly series is presented virtually, hosted by UF/IFAS experts in each topic, and aired concurrently on both Zoom and the “Gardening in the Panhandle” Facebook page. Events are live on Thursdays from noon-1 p.m. Central time/1-2 p.m. Eastern time.
“We put this program together last year after the pandemic caused us to rethink how we could continue to share this helpful information with gardeners throughout the Panhandle,” said Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County horticulture agent and coordinator of the series. “With this virtual format, we’re not limited to one location or even one time. The recordings are posted and anyone can go find this advice when they need it.”
Recordings are closed captioned and uploaded to a YouTube playlist (tinyurl.com/GardeningLive). Last year’s series can be viewed there now.
“We’re excited to cover several of the most popular topics again this year – surely with new questions and interests joining in – and also offer a few new and unique ones, like beekeeping and tree selection and maintenance,” McConnell said. “We’re fortunate to have UF/IFAS specialists from around the state join each panel, to bring in topic-specific voices of expertise.”
The first event will discuss those pesky garden intruders, weeds, with the panel featuring Chris Marble, an assistant environmental horticulture professor at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (REC) in Apopka. Marble will be joined by UF/IFAS Extension Northwest District agents Beth Bolles (Escambia County), Mark Tancig (Leon County), and Larry Williams (Okaloosa County).
The remainder of the schedule is as follows:
March 11: “Spring Vegetables” with Josh Freeman, UF/IFAS North Florida REC in Quincy; Matt Lollar, UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County; Sheila Dunning, UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County; and Evan Anderson, UF/IFAS Extension Walton County
April 8: “Lawns” with Bryan Unruh, UF/IFAS West Florida REC in Jay; Pat Williams, UF/IFAS Extension Wakulla County; Mark Tancig, UF/IFAS Extension Leon County; and Larry Williams, UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County
May 13: “Herbs” with Beth Bolles, UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County; Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County; Mary Salinas, UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County; and Trevor Hylton, UF/IFAS Extension Leon County and also affiliated with Florida A&M University
June 10: “Ornamental & Turf Diseases” with Phil Harmon, UF/IFAS plant pathology professor based in Gainesville; Stephen Greer, UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County; and Larry Williams, UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County
July 29: “Beneficial Insects: Predators!” with Adam Dale, UF/IFAS assistant entomology professor based in Gainesville; Beth Bolles, UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County; Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County; and Danielle Sprague, UF/IFAS Extension Jefferson County
Aug. 12: “Open landscape topics Q&A” with Beth Bolles, UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County; Mark Tancig, UF/IFAS Extension Leon County; Matt Lollar, UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County; and Evan Anderson, UF/IFAS Extension Walton County
Sept. 9: “Beginning Beekeeping” with Amy Vu, UF/IFAS Extension coordinator for the Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab in Gainesville; Ray Bodrey, UF/IFAS Extension Gulf County; and Evan Anderson, UF/IFAS Extension Walton County
Oct. 14: “Invasive Species” with Stephen Enloe, associate professor at the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants in Gainesville; Pat Williams, UF/IFAS Extension Wakulla County; Gary Knox, UF/IFAS North Florida REC in Quincy; Sheila Dunning, UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County; and Ray Bodrey, UF/IFAS Extension Gulf County
Nov. 4: “Houseplants” with Marc Frank, UF/IFAS Extension botanist at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Herbarium in Gainesville; Pat Williams, UF/IFAS Extension Wakulla County; and Stephen Greer, UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County
Dec. 9: “Selecting and Maintaining Trees” with Larry Figart, UF/IFAS Extension Duval County; Mark Tancig, UF/IFAS Extension Leon County; and Larry Williams, UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County
Zoom seats are limited, so registration is required for those wishing to attend the live session on that platform. Each month’s registration is posted a week before the event date. The first session’s registration is available now at tinyurl.com/y53amzkm.
Registering also allows participants to submit questions in advance, which will be addressed during the live event. Participants on both services are also able to ask questions during the event using the comment features, which will be answered as time allows.
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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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