The Issue Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) has been in the news recently. It can be a host plant for Ophryocystis elektroscirra (OE), a parasite of monarch butterflies (Danus plexippus). Boiled down, milkweed is a host plant ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture
Bees, butterflies and other insects play important roles as pollinators in our environment. Over 50 major crops in the United States and at least 13 crops in Florida depend on honey bees. Many native plants in natural areas also depend on ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping
Butterflies are not only beautiful to look at in your landscape; they serve as important pollinators and indicators of the health of our environment. Attracting them to your garden and incorporating some features to get them to stay and ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Florida is home to some of the most beautiful flowering perennials. An exceptional one for the panhandle landscape is Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis) as it is showy, deer resistant and easy to care for. Unlike other perennials, it generally ... READ MORE
Category: HorticultureIn our demonstration garden we are enjoying the small but vibrant blooms of our state wildflower Coreopsis, also commonly known as tickseed. After many years of its use in the Florida highways beautification program, Coreopsis was adopted ... READ MORE
Category: HorticultureAn easy to care for perennial to add to your flower garden is the coneflower, Echinacea purpurea. The daisy-like flowers stand tall above the foliage on sturdy 2 to 4 foot stems. Blooms appear about the last part of April or the first of May ... READ MORE
Category: HorticultureHere's a beautiful native perennial wildflower that is easy to grow and generally available in the independent nursery trade. In the wild, you can encounter them at the edges of woodlands and ponds as they prefer moist areas. Blue ... READ MORE
Category: HorticultureButterflies are not only beautiful to look at in the landscape; they serve as important pollinators of fruiting plants. Attracting them to the garden and incorporating some features to get them to stay and reproduce involves advanced planning. ... READ MORE
Category: Horticulture