Category: Natural Resources

When the Rain Brings the Giants

by margaretstewart
June 24, 2026

After the heavy rain in Northwest Florida, many people have noticed large mosquitoes called gallinippers. Psorophora ciliata often seems to appear all at once after storms or flooding. These mosquitoes are a normal part of Florida’s environment. ... READ MORE

Category: Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Flooding, Floodwater Mosquitoes, Florida Panhandle, Gallinippers, Havy Rainfall, Insect Pest, Integrated Pest Management, IPM, Larvicides, Mosquito Control, Mosquito Prevention, Mosquitoes, Northwest Florida, Psorophora Ciliata, Public Health Pests, Standing Water, Summer Pests, UF/IFAS Extension

Volunteers Keep Our Beaches Clean on Earth Day and Every Day

by Dana Stephens
April 22, 2026

Happy Earth Day! UF/IFAS Extension Sea Grant in Okaloosa and Walton Counties and Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County’s Department of Tourist Development, helped celebrate Earth Day by hosting coastal cleanups in both ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Community Volunteers, Events, UF/IFAS Extension, Water

Wise Water Use During Drought

by Larry Williams
April 17, 2026

As of April 16, 2026, the U.S. Drought Monitor is showing Severe Drought for Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties in the Florida Panhandle with the extreme northern portion of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa in Extreme Drought. Just east of this ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Lawn, Natural Resources
Tags: Drought, Dry Weather, Irrigation, Landscape Irrigation, Watering Lawn

2026 Florida Arbor Day Celebration in Niceville

by Larry Williams
January 8, 2026

In celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day, free tree seedlings will be given away on Friday, January 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lannie L. Corbin Municipal Complex in Niceville, located at 100-A Partin Drive, Niceville, Florida. The event ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Natural Resources
Tags: Arbor Day Celebration, Florida Arbor Day, Tree Give-a-way

Okaloosa 4-H Youth Triumph in State Forest Ecology Contest

by Dana Stephens
June 4, 2025

With compasses in hand and determination in their hearts, four dedicated Okaloosa County youth took home top honors at the 2025 Florida 4-H Forest Ecology Contest — a testament to months of tireless preparation, deep curiosity, and unwavering ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Forests
Tags: 4-H, 4-H Youth Development, Okaloosa County, Panhandle 4-H

UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County Collects the Most Peanut Butter Jars

by Dana Stephens
January 6, 2025

UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County collects the most peanut butter jars among 40 Florida counties in 2024! The renowned UF/IFAS Extension Annual Peanut Butter challenge concluded for 2024. The Peanut Butter Challenge “is simple: community ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Events, Natural Resources
Tags: Panhandle Agriculture, Peanut

The Party Boat Experience

by Laura Tiu
August 9, 2024

My son and his girlfriend were visiting last week and wanted to go fishing. Since she had never been deep sea fishing before, we decided that the best course of action would be to take the short four-hour trip on one of Destin’s party boats. Party ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida Sea Grant, Natural Resources, Panhandle Outdoors

Fall Lawn Care & October Plant Clinic

by Larry Williams
October 18, 2023

If your lawn has a history of winter annual weeds such as henbit, wild geranium, annual bluegrass, chickweed and lawn burweed, you can apply a preemergence herbicide to prevent these weeds from emerging. Apply it during October when nighttime ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Invasive Species, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Water
Tags: Lawn Problems, Plant Clinic, Plant Diagnostics, Soil Testing, Weed Control, Weed Identification

Walton County’s Rare Coastal Dune Lakes

by Laura Tiu
September 26, 2023

October is Dune Lake Awareness month and as part of the celebration, Walton and Okaloosa County UF/IFAS Extension Agents are joining together to host a Coastal Dune Lake Tour at Western Lake in Grayton Beach State Park. This free event will ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Research

Plant This, Not That Lecture, Master Gardener Plant Sale

by Larry Williams
September 18, 2023

The plants you bring home from garden centers and nurseries may look beautiful in your landscape but they might be invasive species that could escape your yard and quickly spread into natural areas, becoming an ecological and economic nightmare. To ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Invasive Species
Tags: Florida-friendly Plants, Invasive Plants, Master Gardener Volunteers, Native Plants, Plant Sale, Seminar

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