Have you ever seen an insect mimic? Flies are exceptional bee mimics, presenting with black and yellow coloration to avoid predation. Some flies, as shown below, are often mistaken for bees or wasps because of this. Today’s blog will focus ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Did you know that the first pollinators were beetles? Shifting the perspective from butterflies to beetles, this blog will focus on beetles as pollinators. Beetles are known to be the first pollinators, dating back to the early cretaceous period ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
When you think of pollinators, what comes to mind? Many immediately think bees, however, bees are not the only insect pollinators out there! While bees are very important and necessary to our ecosystems, butterflies, beetles, and flies are ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper Eastern lubbers are common in Central/Southern Florida. Eastern lubbers are common in Central/Southern Florida. This time of year, you may see many small black grasshoppers with neon yellow or orange markings. ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
What is a seed? This might seem like a simple question, but seeds play a much larger role than their tiny form might let on. Seeds are one of the most important means of plant reproduction. They carry the genetic material from parent plants ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
In Florida, annual dry periods and drought conditions in the fall and spring are completely normal. But during periods of extreme drought and below-average rainfall, like the conditions we are experiencing this year, there are some cultural ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Water
Heat Wilt v. Permanent Wilt Some plants may 'wilt' in extreme heat when a plant’s water loss (via transpiration) exceeds water absorption. Or it may be a tactic the plant uses to conserve water as a protective measure against extreme temperatures. But ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, HorticultureMature Trees Mature trees, especially older ones, develop an extensive network of roots and can survive on rainfall exclusively. Some of these roots run very deep, which is why supplemental watering is usually unnecessary. Most mature shrubs ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Water
Ideally, the requirements of a tree/shrub (or any plant for that matter) should align with the conditions of the planting site (right plant, right place). When a plant's growing needs are matched to the environmental conditions, you may notice ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, WaterThe amount of water a plant needs depends on many things. A few factors include the plant type, age and size, the environmental conditions, and soil type. When you do water, aim for deep, infrequent waterings to encourage strong root systems. ... READ MORE
Category: Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes