Category: Uncategorized

Reassessing Meatless Monday: A Scientific Perspective on the Role of Meat in Sustainable Diets

by Bridget Stice and Jasi RomeroAvatar photo
November 3, 2025

By Bridget Stice, UF/IFAS Extension Polk Meatless Monday campaigns urge the public to skip meat one day a week to "improve health and protect the planet". While reducing excessive consumption of any food can be beneficial, blanket campaigns ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Health & Nutrition, Livestock, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, , Water, Wildlife
Tags: Agriculture, Beef, Bstice, Featured, Livestock, Meat, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkco, SFBF, Sustainability

How to easily grow Florida native milkweed in sandy landscapes

by Anne Yasalonis and polkmgAvatar photo
October 10, 2025

To support monarch butterflies, the University of Florida and other conservation groups recommend Florida native milkweed species as host and nectar plants. Currently, there are three native milkweed species that are most commonly found ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, , Wildlife
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Butterflies, Butterfly, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Flowers, Gardening, Master Gardener Volunteer, Milkweed, Monarch, Native Plants, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Pollinators, Sandy Soil, UF/IFAS, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Fruit Trees for Your Central Florida Yard: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis and Julie SchelbAvatar photo
October 10, 2025

Fruit Trees for Your Central Florida Yard In this episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast, Anne and Julie talk about growing fruit in central Florida. There are so many varieties of fruit trees from temperate to tropical that it’s ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Fruit, Fruit Trees, Jschelb, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Southwest Small Farmers Network Meeting Fall 2025

by David Outerbridge
October 7, 2025

On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, the Southwest Florida Small Farmers Network held our late summer/early fall meeting at ECHO Global Farm in Fort Myers, FL. The focus of the meeting was Community Food Systems, Agroecology, and information on ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching,
Tags: Southwest Florida Small Farms Network, Southwest Small Farmers Network
closeup of monarch butterfly on leaves

Monarchs and Milkweed: An Important Update

by polkmg and Anne YasalonisAvatar photo
September 25, 2025

Ahhhh, monarch butterflies…  Their life cycle and fascinating migration patterns, as well as their striking beauty make them intriguing and beloved to gardeners and scientists alike.  The following blog post covers some of the latest ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Butterflies, Milkweed, Monarch, Native Milkweed, Native Plants, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Tropical Milkweed

Fragrant Plants for Your Central Florida Yard: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis and Julie SchelbAvatar photo
August 25, 2025

Fragrant Plants for Your Central Florida Yard In this episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast, we talk all about our favorite fragrant plants. What type of garden scents do you prefer? Some people like heavy florals while other people ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes,
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Plants, Jschelb, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Pollinators, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Growing Happy Houseplants: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis and Julie SchelbAvatar photo
August 18, 2025

Growing Happy Houseplants In this episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast, we talk all about how to successfully grow houseplants. Join us as we chat about how to select a houseplant for your home’s light conditions, basic tips for house ... READ MORE

Category:
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Growing Houseplants, Houseplants, Jschelb, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

Summer Flowers for Central Florida Yards: A New Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis and Julie SchelbAvatar photo
June 26, 2025

Summer Flowers for Central Florida Yards In this episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast, we talk about summer flowers. Summer weather in central Florida is hot and humid, but summer flowers can put on a spectacular show without much effort ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes,
Tags: Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Native Plants, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Summer, Summer Flowers, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Wildflowers, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

A Gardener’s Story with Betty: A Special Bonus Episode of Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

by Anne Yasalonis and Julie SchelbAvatar photo
May 30, 2025

A Gardener's Story, A very special bonus episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast A Gardener’s Story is special bonus episode where we sit down with a UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer who is dedicating their time and ... READ MORE

Category:
Tags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Central Florida, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Florida-Friendly Plants, Gardening, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkgardening, Polkmg, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Polk County, Your Central Florida Yard Podcast

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