This is a fantastic lesson in sustainability and the essential role that attitude plays in paradigm shifts. Thank you for this much needed and thorough series on embracing a Mixed Mowable Species Lawn. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/2023/05/11/the-time-for-mixed-mowable-species-has-come/ These blogs should be used in magazines and newspapers throughout Florida. The public needs to understand that there is an alternative to fighting with their lawns and overusing fertilizers and pesticides. Many people are just not aware there is another way.

Thanks! Your blog is referenced in the Starter Guide!

I absolutely love this series you are doing! I wrote a similar blog entitled "The Time for Mixed Mowable Species Has Come", a bit before your series. Yours is a great follow- up and is wonderfully written. Thank you for doing this and showing everyone how much better it is when we embrace a diverse lawn. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/2023/05/11/the-time-for-mixed-mowable-species-has-come/

i work as a beekeeper. few questions… think they’d target my virgin queens? (which i just considered writing my following, and initial question, due to queen predation, on behalf of dragon flies) is there any advice to encourage habitation, near my bees, in taylor county florida?

Thank you for the reminder! I need to do more! - I seem to have less time since retiring.

Christmas morning 2020. Golden Eagle sighting Florida, Blue Cypress Lake Water Management Area. Did anyone else see a juvenile, Golden Eagle in Florida 2020? If so, when and where?

Thank you for reading and implementing changes going forward!

This was great! So many ideas that make sense. I’m done shopping and wrapping for this season but will try to implement sustainable ideas for any upcoming holidays or events.

Wonderful article. So informative and hopefully let folks know you can still enjoy this beauty using specific varieties.

Thank you. I had a large Allamanda in our Garden in Pompano Beach. We also had a 12 week old German Shepherd Dog. When learning of the poisonous nature of the plant, we removed it. It was a lovely part of thee garden for a short while.

Very nice

There are a few financial assistance programs, if you qualify, that might be able to help. You should contact the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This is a federally funded program that helps people with past-due energy bills. Applications are accepted by Salvation Army who will make payments directly to FPL. To apply or get more information, call Salvation Army’s Electric Assistance Line at 941-556-0234. Here is their website as well: https://salvationarmyflorida.org/sarasota/ You can also call the emergency rental assistance program line at 941-861-7368. In addition to rental assistance, they also help with past due utility payments (electric, water and sewer). Here is their website: https://www.scgov.net/government/health-and-human-services/covid-19-coronavirus/sarasota-county-cares/emergency-rental-assistance-program Hope this helps! Please let us know if we can assist with anything else.

Hello Ray, Having the 'perfect' shade tree starts with planting the right plant in the right place. Because Poinciana trees can grow 50 ft. wide, giving them enough room to spread out will preclude having to do frequent pruning. As the tree matures, branches lower than 5ft. from the ground can be pruned to provide clearance under the canopy. Additional information on pruning shade trees is available at: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP276

Can anyone please me or note someone. That will help pay my electric bill. Please

Please please I need help to pay my electric bill. It will be true off tomorrow. I need assistance to pay my bill please help. Thank you Johnny Smith.

How do I train a Royal Poinciana tree to be a perfect shade tree

Thanks for talking about how water purification works. I'm glad these systems are in place for our safety. Water purification is so convenient for our everyday lives, yet it doesn't get recognized very much.

I have been a food judge for years and I am wishing to update my information for judging for two reasons, First I had a house fire and lost all my plastic sleeved noted data I had labeled for breads. and jellies, jams, marmalade's, and conserves, and wish to replace and update to be a better cook, baker, and caner for good safe fresh ideas and recipes.

Hi, Linda. This year, we required individuals to register for specific shopping periods at the plant sale, to limit crowd size as a way to help protect the health of visitors, volunteers and staff. As you noted, the event has filled to capacity. You might wish to check occasionally, though, in case another customer cancels. Thanks!

Hello, I see that all spots are taken for the event. Will any walk-ins be allowed? Thank you,

Please call the emergency rental assistance program line at 941-861-7368. In addition to rental assistance they also help with past due utility payments (electric, water and sewer). Hope that helps! You can also just dial 211 to get information on other available financial assistance programs.

great article Study in Greece

I need help with my water it was turned off yesterday

So great to share the outdoors of Cape Cod and Sarasota with your grandchildren! What happy memories and amazing experiences they will have!

without any doubt, grocery is much important for make healthy finess.

Lots of good idea for our Christmas week with the grands. They earned Junior Ranger badges at the Cape Cod National Seashore this summer and we want them to continue to explore and enjoy our natural world. Katherine, I am also a MGV

There is a pine rockland native plant in southern Dade Co. that could also be an alternative to Wedelia. Pineland lantana (Lantana depressa) has bright yellow flowers and can be a ground cover or small shrub. It is a nectar plant for both butterflies and moths and the berries provide food for birds. It can be found in native plant nurseries or sometimes through Connect to Protect at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

The following comment has been posted for our chemicals in the environment agent, Carol Wyatt-Evens: Hello. Thank you for reaching out about the use of NEEM oil around beneficial insects, such as ladybeetles and their larvae. NEEM oil can negatively affect beneficial insects if there is direct contact with the insects while applying the product. The best way to avoid this is to be sure to do the applications either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Since beneficial insects move up and down in the canopy, applying any product during these particular times will reduce the potential of harming beneficial insects. Another option that works well for controlling aphids is to use a water blast to knock the aphids off the plant. This works since aphids are usually concentrated on the new flush at the terminal points of the plant. So, it’s a very localized water blast. The water will not kill the insects but the water blast will most likely break off their mouthpart which is piercing the plant. Breaking off their mouthpart renders them unable to continue feeding. As well, the water might knock off the beneficial insects without affecting them. I hope this was helpful in answering your question! Thank you for your efforts in protecting beneficial insects. -- Carol ___ Olá. Obrigado por entrar em contato sobre o uso do óleo NEEM em insetos benéficos, como joaninhas e suas larvas. O óleo NEEM pode afetar negativamente os insetos benéficos se houver contato direto com os insetos durante a aplicação do produto. A melhor maneira de evitar isso é fazer as aplicações no início da manhã ou no final da tarde. Uma vez que os insetos benéficos se movem para cima e para baixo no dossel, a aplicação de qualquer produto durante esses momentos específicos reduzirá o potencial de prejudicar os insetos benéficos. Outra opção que funciona bem para controlar pulgões é usar um jato de água para derrubar os pulgões da planta. Isso funciona porque os pulgões geralmente se concentram no novo fluxo nos pontos terminais da planta. Então, é uma explosão de água muito localizada. A água não matará os insetos, mas a explosão de água provavelmente irá quebrar sua parte bucal que está perfurando a planta. Romper sua parte bucal os torna incapazes de continuar a se alimentar. Da mesma forma, a água pode eliminar os insetos benéficos sem afetá-los. Espero que isso tenha sido útil para responder à sua pergunta! Obrigado por seus esforços em proteger os insetos benéficos. -- Carol

Olá! O óleo de neem é prejudicial às joaninhas? Pergunto isso, porque estou com uma quantidade considerável de pulgões em meu quintal, porém estou observando o surgimento de joaninhas aqui também. Já identifiquei até umas larvas delas (joaninhas). Estou com receio de matar às joaninhas, caso use óleo de neem nas folhas infestadas por pulgões.

This is the very ideal guideline I think to reduce the use of food and also save money. Use of minimum level groceries helps us to stay clear of our environment and also stay healthy and safe.

When we have a big garden and a lot of stuff to maintain, we need a four-wheeled garden cart; otherwise, it is hard to maintain or move out soil from one place to another. By the way, great content there. I love it.

I absolutely agree with your method of outreach, Karen. Glad to hear she was so receptive and allowed you to turn off her system while she is away. Great job being proactive and educating her on the issue of overwatering! Her plants will thank you.

Good news...my neighbor called long distance and had us turn off her sprinkler system entirely...with innundating rains no need to sprinkle at all....my sharing of info worked....thanks for support. One on one communication is always best first step. Karen MG 2010

Thanks again....I have sent my neighbor IFAS and other literature and u tube videos on use of water sensors and overwatering plant and tree diseases. Now the live Oak tree is oversaturated and stressed losing leaves like it is the winter. I prefer good relations here and hopefully she will be back this month so we can discuss in person. I am going out with a coffee can to document amount of water with viewable sprinklers on. I hate to file a complaint....in person and visuals are best. Maybe she will share more information. Sincerely, Karen Pariser , Master Gardener

Hi Jim, thanks for your question. No, the contestant does not have to be a Sarasota County resident. However, we would like to mostly encourage local applicants in nearby counties to participate rather than all of Florida. Thank you!

Does the youth need to be a resident of Sarasota County? Of Florida?

Its a real nice Thank you for sharing.

Wonderfully written and very well explained article Karen. Great work!

Hi, Karen! Thanks so much for your vigilance when it comes to water conservation. It's very important to have those conversations with your neighbors when you sense something amiss. So, according to the county, yes, residents with city and well water must follow the same watering restrictions, which you can find here: https://www.scgov.net/government/public-utilities-water/customer-services/water-restrictions. There is an online form at the end of the page for reporting a watering violation. You can also call (941) 861-6790 or send an email to utilitybill@scgov.net. As for when to report, I would say it's up to your own discretion. It's always better to handle things sooner rather than later, but it can be tricky when the person is away from home. Best of luck to you, and please reach out with any other questions you might have!

Please comment, are water sensors legally required with the use of well water? My neighbor is flooding the street and sidewalks.... have sent her photos, another neighbor also e mailed her about flooding...too much water. She had her installer reduce zone watering times...but sprinklers still going on after torential rain. I asked her if she has functional water sensors...no response. Waiting to see if she has her landscaper adjust again. She is out of town. How long should someone wait before reporting...and to whom do you report? Fpl and frontier cannot finish their burying of lines since water table is so high due to this continual state of water oversaturation. We are in city of Sarasota.

Ruth Walsh, former Master Gardener, enjoyed my re print on my personal Facebook page. She noted a friend now living in Arizona has an extensive collection of Sansevieria. Kp

I have at least ten gopher tortoises on my property that seem to subsist almost exclusively on this stuff so I won’t get rid of it

Thank you for asking. This would fall outside the scope of what our local office could identify. You may want to reach out directly to the Nematologists. This email nemalab@ifas.ufl.edu and phone 352-392-1994 is for the Nematode Assay Lab, UF/IFAS, Entomology and Nematology Department. This is their website https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/nematology-assay-lab/

Can anyone help me identify nematodes via picture threw single lens microscope

Wonderful review of terminology....looking forward to reading all.

Very precise and informative. Thanks

This is very informative and useful you share. Thank you very much.

Super informative!! Composting food waste instead of landfill usage would replenish soils that have been stripped of nutrients. We must take action now to avoid further damage to Earth’s delicate ecosystems!

Great article; love the fact that there is indeed a sterile variety for folks to utilize! Where is Renee's lovely visage....Kevin is not the author! KP

I love This Topic!

What a wonderful addition to your staff. Donna is the best. She was raised on horticulture here in Long Island NY.

Welcome, Donna! So great to have you with us.

I read today that the only way your St Augustine can compete is letting it grow tall 3 plus inches. The weeds like it short grass long. I'm with you on helping the lawn out by pulling the bigger sections

Is it possible to purchase an Explore Your World backpack?

I use dawn soap, Eason salts and vinegar. It kills and the grass will grow over but you have to keep at it. That is rosin salts

Hi Gustavo, I agree 100%! It is very sad, but I don't think people do it out of dislike for insects. I think it is wanting to rid their home of a specific insect - mosquitoes. We need to understand how and why outdoor lighting attracts insects in the first place. People would benefit by changing the existing lightbulbs to LED bug lights. It would be 100% safer for our beneficial arthropods as well as reduce electric cost and light pollution! An added benefit is that it would also eliminate the frog and lizard frass found around the light since it's the insects that attract the predators in the first place. Hopefully, this blog will shed a little light on the subject!

It's so sad to read how the zippers kills more non biting and beneficial insects than mosquitoes.

Love this blog, it would be awesome to note that irrigation uses 63,534 gallons a year if you are watering twice a week per current irrigation restrictions. I am waiting for our rainy season to add more pollinator plants and that means less grass to water!

So true, Debbie! Composting is a great and sustainable way to use up your food waste if you have a bin at home. For those who may be interested, check out this quick tutorial on composting here: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/natural-resources/waste-reduction/composting/quick-tutorial/.

Eggs, nut butters, stale bread, and vegetable/fruit waste can be composted. This enriches the soil that adds more nutrition for foods grown in the soil. Enriching the soil also keeps nematodes and fire ants at bay!

Hi, Patricia. We're researching your issue, and will post a reply here once available. Thanks!

I live on the ocean in a condo with a balcony facing east. We moved from Coral Gables where we had many plants outside and few problems. I have a large wall trellis on the north wall of the balcony. I planted confederate Jasmin there (three times). At first it did great but in each case the white flies killed it. They also invaded nearby plants. There is some wind protection in this spot and we are on the sixth floor so I don't think there is too much salt spray. Is there any vine that would work here?

good advice SMR used to require builders to install Empire Zoysia East of Loraine Road, as they were the pioneering effort and major grower in this area. A few years they dropped the requirement for the reasons in the article. PS. as a sod grower of both St. Augustine and Zoysia SMR mows BOTH at the same height. Lee Gast, Chameleon Pest Control, Inc.

Hello Sandra! Gardening in Florida is definitely different than gardening in the far northern regions of the country! Summertime growing is particularly difficult in Florida because of the combination of significant heat, high humidity, and frequent heavy rain. This combination is also the perfect recipe for major pest and disease issues. There are not many plants that will thrive in Florida when planted mid-summer, but a few to try are peppers, eggplant, sweet potatoes, ginger, and Cuban oregano. We taught a class two weeks ago on Herbs for Florida and focused on hot-season herbs. Today we taught a class on hot season veggies and the recording will be on our YouTube channel by the end of the week: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkaYUPVpk0P6ibpyrFKHwLAi2cJGRen51.

Hello Alice, The black trunk and branches on your croton is likely a fungus called "sooty mold", which grows wherever aphids live. The best way to get a positive ID on the black stuff and the tan spots is to send our office a few good pictures of your plants so that we can see it with our own eyes. Here's email address: CooperativeExtensio@scgov.net. Once we are certain as to what is causing the discolorations, we can help you make a plan to treat the problem.

What disease (or critter) turned the trunk and branches of my Croton black? Whatever it is, it can be scraped off. The leaves have gotten tan spots on them.

I love it too, and for the same reasons.

I love Florida Snow in my lawn and the heck with St Augustine grass. I grew up in a part of the US where a plant like St, Augustine grass would be considered a weed due to way it grows. Florida Snow is low maintenence and feeds beautiful butterflies, bees, and more. I'm glad it killed most of the St. Augustine grass in my lawn.

I just found out about this series and I am bummed that I missed registration for it! I will have to keep up through the vlogs. We are filling in our pool and going to turn or screened in pool area into a raised garden. This is still a few months out as once the concrete it done we then have so much building to do with the beds. What is a good starter for a edible garden. In New Hampshire I found I could grow anything, not so much here in Bradenton.

Good morning, Lynn. We suggest you contact the UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County office for information and guidance (note that each of Florida's 67 counties has a distinct Extension office). You can find the Manatee County Extension website at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/manatee, and contact them by email to manatee@ifas.ufl.edu or by phone at 941-722-4524. Best, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

I live in manatee county. Where can I buy a pecan tree?

Yes, but I am wondering if this plant has just been “spreading” over time. I’ve lived in SW FL 70 years and this is really my first encounter with FL. Snow!

I use a brick.

Thank you, Lance! It has been such a fun series to put together and it is 100% inspired by all of the wonderful questions we get from folks who are inspired to grow some of their own food. And stay tuned! We have a total of 25 classes in the series and are about 2/3 of the way through. Each class topic gets its own blog post.

Thank you, Lance! It has been such a fun series to put together and it is 100% inspired by all of the wonderful questions we get from folks who are inspired to grow some of their own food. And stay tuned! We have a total of 25 classes in the series and are about 2/3 of the way through. Each class topic gets its own blog post.

Love this series. You had me at free.

Love this series. You had me at free.

Thank you for this inspiring observation on the importance of NOT turning every bit of land into something unnatural just to suit our selfish short vision tendencies. As a garden enthusiast I am often reminded of the impulse to transform nature into my vision without considering what is best for the natural eco system and in doing so I inadvertently loose sight of the balance and beauty of nature left to it's own wisdom. Silly humans and their big brains! More like this please.

thank you for sharing this information

Hello Gena - and great question! I am the Sustainable Agriculture Extension Agent with the University of Florida in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. I frequently help people with questions just like yours. This is an excellent publication about the best management practices for horse pastures in Florida: https://floridadep.gov/file/9394/download?token=TL8XsQCA. One of the things that you will read about in this publication is the number of horses that typical Florida pasture can handle without becoming severely over-grazed. A good rule of thumb is that you need 2 to 5 acres per horse to maintain a healthy pasture. If you do not have enough land, it is important to note that you will need to provide your horses and donkey with supplemental feed. Over-grazed pasture is problematic on many levels, including that it can quickly fill in with weeds, many of which are toxic. This is a great resource for identifying the weeds growing in your pasture and quickly determining whether or not they are toxic: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/toxicplants/#/tabs/plant-gallery/gallery. If you would like to talk about your pasture, you are welcome to reach out anytime. My email address is sarahbostick@ufl.edu

Hello! I have bought property in North Port Florida and plan to have 2 horses and a donkey. How do I know if the grass is safe and healthy for grazing? Thank you for checking! :D

Night time temperatures below 70 degrees are also necessary for the fruit to set. If temps are above 70, usually they will flower but the flowers will not set fruit and just drop off.

Night time temperatures below 70 degrees are also necessary for the fruit to set. If temps are above 70, usually they will flower but the flowers will not set fruit and just drop off.

Good morning, Juana, and thank you for your interest in our programming. We currently do not have any bread baking classes scheduled. But, many of our events are repeated from year to year, and we expect the bread baking events will be added later. You can find all of our current events by visiting https://ufsarasotaext.eventbrite.com, our Eventbrite listings page which is updated regularly with new information. Thanks, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.

Organocide BEE SAFE products work on all stages of fungus gnats It's made up of food grade oils and OMRI listd for organic gardening. It's also safe to all pollinators.

Organocide BEE SAFE products work on all stages of fungus gnats It's made up of food grade oils and OMRI listd for organic gardening. It's also safe to all pollinators.

Are there are bread baking classes being offered in 2021? Thank you

Hi, Edmund. Thank you for reading, and for your input. We've revised the blog post to list the upcoming webinars individually, as bullet items with active links. Hope that helps, and looking forward to seeing you at future events! - UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Hi, Erika. We have share your post with our waste reduction agent, Randall Penn, and will post here any reply he might share. In the meantime, you might want to check out the "Let's Make Some Black Gold!" composting classes that Randy leads, which delve into home composting options and also offer the option to purchase a start-up GeoBin (the class is free; the bin costs $25). The next event is Feb. 17, via Zoom, and you can learn more and register by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/136343411815. Thanks, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Hi, Erika. We have share your post with our waste reduction agent, Randall Penn, and will post here any reply he might share. In the meantime, you might want to check out the "Let's Make Some Black Gold!" composting classes that Randy leads, which delve into home composting options and also offer the option to purchase a start-up GeoBin (the class is free; the bin costs $25). The next event is Feb. 17, via Zoom, and you can learn more and register by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/136343411815. Thanks, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Now that Sunshine Community Compost is charging monthly for compost drop-off, are there any other alternatives? We can’t do home composting, I can’t find anyone doing home composting in my neighborhood to add my compost to, & we don’t produce quite enough compost to justify the monthly cost (and the 30 minute drive each way from South Sarasota—Palmer Ranch area) to Sunshine Community Gardens. I found a local community garden but they require membership to donate your compost. I was able to drop off once at Orange Blossom Community Garden but when I went back the next week the gates were locked. I’m really trying hard to compost! Thank you for any help you can offer.

Now that Sunshine Community Compost is charging monthly for compost drop-off, are there any other alternatives? We can’t do home composting, I can’t find anyone doing home composting in my neighborhood to add my compost to, & we don’t produce quite enough compost to justify the monthly cost (and the 30 minute drive each way from South Sarasota—Palmer Ranch area) to Sunshine Community Gardens. I found a local community garden but they require membership to donate your compost. I was able to drop off once at Orange Blossom Community Garden but when I went back the next week the gates were locked. I’m really trying hard to compost! Thank you for any help you can offer.

Just read your blog. Used the Hyperlink to the Eventbrite page only to not be able to find the workshop on "Community Gardening and Composting" listed.

Great Blog! Thank you for sharing your experience with e-bikes.Keep posting such great articles

Hi, Margie. The easiest way to get a copy, in these times of COVID-19 and office closures, likely will be to visit the Southwest Florida Water Management District publications page and order a (free) copy: https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/resources/free-publications?keywords=florida-friendly&sort_by=title&sort_order=ASC. Hope that helps!

This weed is my chickens' favorite weed to eat. They seem to instinctively know what is good for them which makes me believe it is probably high in calcium.

Where do I get the landscaping guide?

Hello Marsha, The clues and their answers are located on tree tags attached to the trees and not on any signage describing the trees. Hope you have fun!

Hello Marsha, The clues and their answers are located on tree tags attached to the trees and not on any signage describing the trees. Hope you have fun!

Hi Carol, Some persons have visited more than one locations in past years and although visiting more than one location is not prohibited, only one clue submission is entered for the prize drawing.

Hi Carol, Some persons have visited more than one locations in past years and although visiting more than one location is not prohibited, only one clue submission is entered for the prize drawing.

Can i do both parks and submit my answers to the clues?

Can i do both parks and submit my answers to the clues?

You didn't answer Patty's good question. Am I correct to assume that the clue and answer are on the tree? Are the "tagged" trees obvious? As opposed to the signage describing the tree? Sounds like a good outdoor event. Thanks for doing it.

You didn't answer Patty's good question. Am I correct to assume that the clue and answer are on the tree? Are the "tagged" trees obvious? As opposed to the signage describing the tree? Sounds like a good outdoor event. Thanks for doing it.

Great idea!

Great idea!

Hi Patty, To participate in TreeQuest, visit any of this year's locations: W. Blalock Park - Monty Andrews Arboretum or Twin Lakes Park, between Jan. 15 and Jan. 29, look for the tagged trees, and click on the clue submission form link posted in the blog to submit clue answers. The clue submission link will remain active for 2 weeks, and will be deactivated on Jan. 29, 2021.

Hi Patty, To participate in TreeQuest, visit any of this year's locations: W. Blalock Park - Monty Andrews Arboretum or Twin Lakes Park, between Jan. 15 and Jan. 29, look for the tagged trees, and click on the clue submission form link posted in the blog to submit clue answers. The clue submission link will remain active for 2 weeks, and will be deactivated on Jan. 29, 2021.

Hello. I would like to participate. Where do we find the clues? Thank you.

Hello. I would like to participate. Where do we find the clues? Thank you.

Hi, Ann Marie. The rain barrels offered for sale by Sarasota County come in one size, with dimensions (approximate) as follows: 36 inches tall with a 24-inch diameter (across). Hope that helps!

looking to put a rain barrel (small) from drain spout. Are there different sizes? If not what are the dimensions? thank you

So well said Adelaide! We are such a consumable Nation. It is important to be reminded about what is truly important. Happy 2021!

Saw a baby gopher tortoise munching on pulsey today. Would love to be able to post the photo I took. A sweet little plant that bees and gopher tortoise like is a keeper to me!

i am taking the lawn out of my yard and need ground cover. this, along with mint and clover are great because i will never have to mow it, and it rakes out if i need to grow something else

It grows and thrives on its own. It's pretty to look at. I've decided to let it keep going and completely take over my lawn. I can't afford to replace my lawn AGAIN, and pusley is free.

If you live in Florida, I'm sure anyone with this weed in their lawn would be happy to give you some!

I'm sotty to tell you this, but I think you're fighting a losing battle. :-/.

Edible? How interesting? I don't suppose it's one of the new super foods, is it? At least it's a green vegetable! Do you cook it or eat it raw, or both? I would guess you want to eat it before it flowers, before it gets too mature and - tough and bitter(?).

RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! This plant will take over COMPLETELY any area you plant it. Luckily, it is gorgeous to look at, but it now comprises about 95% of my lawn. You can see blades of grass popping up in between, but it is all pretty little weeds now. The advantage of it is that it grows out, not up. So I don't have to mow my lawn as often as I used to.

I Ike the way you think.....

I need help with a 5 yr. old Foxtail Palm and always well cared for with fertilizer and watering . All of a sudden it is now yellowing , a little droopy but still making new fronds. I bought a special Palm fertilizer at Home Depot with extra nutrients and it has not look any better , maybe worse. What is causing this to happen , and have been a Florida Palm grower for many years in my yard . Thanks

And as soon as you step on your neighbor's lawn, his yard is infected with this scourge. You do not want this weed. Florida should quarantine people with this weed in their yard instead of someone that may or may not have the Boogy-Woogy wuhan flu.

Hi there! So, when it comes to water piping, one popular choice is chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). CPVC can withstand hotter temperatures (usually around 200 degrees F, but it varies by brand). It is a bit more expensive than standard PVC piping but a much better choice for hot water applications. However, plastic does have a tendency to crack in freezing temperatures. Copper pipes can also withstand quite a bit of heat and have a tendency to crack less than CPVC. They are widely used for all kinds of plumbing but just happen to be a more expensive option. Hope this was helpful!

So glad this article was a help to you and your cousin! Yes, fixing leaks is a great way to passively save a lot of water over time.

Hello Lisa, The plant has an annual lifecycle meaning that the plants currently in bloom will die once they set and disperse seeds, so digging them up to replant is hit or miss. You can try to harvest some of the current season's plants, keeping as much of the root system intact as possible, maintain the plants in a conducive growing environment long enough for them to set seeds, harvest the seeds, then try to germinate them next March. I've enclosed a link to an article on germinating these seeds published by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA).

Thank you for the insights you shared. what pipes are fire resistant...?

This “flower” will wipe out all grass and spread rapidly. The roots are like ginseng and hard to remove all the way. Roundup works! Atrazine slows growth. While staying locked down till this Covid-19 is done, picking this weed will give you hours-days-weeks of sore finger fun.

Nice blog! Keep sharing such an informative blog like this.

great post! Kudos to the writer :)

Thank you for writing about this topic. It's something that most people don't think or know about and it really does make a difference! We have to stop being a throw-a way society, and it starts with our own habits and practices.

Yes, "Flower Power"-Thank You for reminding us of this wonderful gift from Nature!

where do i find this? if i dig it up off the side of the road and plant it - will it adapt and grow?

I like the Richardia Grandiflora- the flowers are pretty and it is a nectar plant for bees and butterflies and we need to help out both. I am a pollinator gardener and find this is fast growing ground cover. If it gets out of control, I just pull it out of spots. I would never use chemical pesticides on it because then you kill the pollinators. I think as we rethink wildlife sustainable gardening we will find that weeds are really wildflowers.

Good morning Angie, It is great to hear that you are interested in how to grow tomatoes! If you are new to gardening or find yourself having less success than you would like, I invite you to join us every Monday from noon to 12:30 for an Edible Gardening webinar series. We spend the first ten minutes teaching about one very specific topic that gardeners commonly struggle with. The last twenty minutes of each session is for participants to ask any edible gardening questions they would like to ask. Here is the link to register for the series if you are interested: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/edible-gardening-series-mulching-topic-4-of-10-webinar-registration-117046965625. And if you are not able to attend the live webinars, you can watch past webinars on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkaYUPVpk0P7xnDkvNlQS2fqK1WFj8Hjk.

I'm interested in any class to participate or zoom...or basic information for growing as of now. Any input welcomed! thank you

I'm hoping to be accepted to be part of the upcoming classes. Ty

I am eager to attend these...informative events, have my plot of dirt, earth to soon start planting...need some expertise advise

Very inspirational. Good luck to you.

Thank you, Marguerite! We get out to parks a few times a month and it's always a nice break. It does me good just to read articles like this that recognize the importance of green. Nicely done!

Thanks for sharing.. Great post..

All animals love this! Deer and bunnies, BUT also gophers! My yard is the only one with gophers and we have figured out why. Now the weed must go because of all the dirt mounds everywhere. Btw- this plant is edible even for humans.

My cousin has noticed an increase in her water bills, but she isn't aware of where she is using more water. She thinks that she might have a leak in her pipes somewhere. Getting a professional to fix it for her could be really useful and allow her to save a lot of money. I liked what you said about how she should check the irrigation system, toilets, bathroom, kitchen, and laundry rooms.

Great job!

Thank you for sharing this. This helped a tons!

I recognize that patch of land Sarah and glad nature made use of it during your absence. I'll be interested in seeing the transformation back to the original purpose.

Hi, Marie! So glad to hear that you will be taking our course. We agree that water conservation is important for all levels. Our agent Randy has recently developed and released a Canvas course for businesses called Green Business Partnership Best Management Practices (BMPs). Though it does not have a strict focus on water conservation, it covers a large number of sustainable practices, including waste reduction and energy consumption. Businesses that successfully complete the course do get a certification! You can read the blog about it here and register for the course here.

Thank you for writing about water conservation! I’m looking forward to talking this course! Water conservation at the individual level is great but we also need to work at the corporate level. Is there a water conservation survey or certification for corporations?

Thank you very much for this article about Millipedes and another, "Compost Happens" that I have found and perused this afternoon. This is a great way to spend a very hot Florida afternoon following a not quite so hot but very humid morning of gardening. This morning I tore out a pile of tall grass that went into my compost pile; then, I spread cardboard boxes and buried them in purchased mulch. Sigh! I have used up all the oak leaves from early Spring, and I wanted to hide the composting boxes Tomorrow, I will use some of your composting tips and I will hunt for Millipedes .

Hi, George. We've reached out to our gardens program coordinator with your question, and will post a response soon! – UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Hi Diana, That's great that you have a picture of it! You can send me the picture via email and I'll work on trying to ID it for you. My email: carol.wyattevens@ufl.edu. I look forward to seeing what it is. Regards, Carol

Need info on starting a fall raised vegetable garden using 2x6 10 feet long boards Thinking 10ft long 4ft wide. 5.5 inches high. How do I start? make the box ? size set in place use round up to remove grass and weeds use something to remove grubs and insects let it set for 4 weeks or so till the soil - remove roots add 2 or 3 inches of oak chips received from tree company add 3 or inches of soil. add fertilizer plant seeds and seedlings water and pull weeds Please let me know what I'am doing wrong or right. Any comments and information would be greatly appreciated.

Good info, Carol! You might find this info interesting too:) https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/collierco/2018/06/01/creeping-worms-inside-are-most-likely-millipedes/

I have saved a bug not sure what it is, however another bug attacked it and it was a very large looking Wasp Black with Yellow stripes. I have pictures of it. Would love to know what kind of wasp it is.

Great information Sarah. I appreciate it. We are living in uncertain times and this information is like a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you so much. I will warn my neighbors about it.

Good morning, Kathy, and thank you for your question. Working with our partners across other Sarasota County departments, we have established a process that allows contactless purchases. In a nutshell, find the Eventbrite listing for any of our upcoming Rain Barrel Workshop events by pointing your web browser to https://tiny.cc/ufsaraext_rainbarrel, open any of our listings (please note that other Florida counties also have Extension offices offering rain barrel events), and then follow the instructions to order and pay for your barrels online. You'll be provided information about where and when to pick up your barrels, including the option to request help with loading the barrel(s) from a county staff member. Hope that helps!

Can rain barrels still be purchased during covid lockdown?

Congratulations to all the individuals for making a difference!

Hi, Michael. We've forwarded your question (and contact information) to our Plant Clinic help desk, at plantclinic@scgov.net, so that our Master Gardener Volunteers can provide you with information and solutions. Thanks, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.

i want to get some info on palms and their requirements ,,, soil/ph. etc. what are some good resources ** what filters should i put on my city water ?

Hi, Bobbie. Unfortunately, as noted in the blog post, the state has put a temporary hold on any new air potato beetle requests until such time as it can get caught up with backlog. And, given there is no pre-determined time for when new requests will be accepted, your best bet is to frequently visit the link noted in the post. Hope that helps! - UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Are potato beetles available for Sarasota, FL

Hi Diane - My name is Carol and I'm an Extension agent at the UF/IFAS Extension in Sarasota. I feel your frustration with the arthropods that continue to destroy your plants! Snails and slugs can do some major damage if left unchecked. Your attempt at using beer is a very good idea, but sometimes not effective if there is a large number of snails/slugs. I do applaud you for trying the least invasive method to start! There are still some great IPM strategies you can use; cultural control and mechanical control methods used in conjunction with biorational products should be effective. There are some essential oil products on the market that utilize cinnamon oil and have proven to work against the slugs and snails. You can also use low-toxicity products that contain sulfur or boric acid, but they may not give you the control needed. Other products that have proven effective, but are a bit more toxic (though still relatively safe around pets and wildlife) have iron-based active ingredients, such as iron phosphate or sodium ferric EDTA. I would recommend refraining from using products containing metaldehyde as it is very toxic to pets and wildlife. Below are links to two really good fact sheets produced by researchers at UF/IFAS. Both discuss information regarding slug and snail characteristics, life cycle, and control measures. I hope there may be something that will help resolve your slug/snail problems. • https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in893 - Terrestrial snails affecting plants in Florida • https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in891 - Terrestrial slugs of Florida Best of luck, and I hope this information has been helpful. -Carol

Hi, Patrick. Our apologies for failing to notice your inquiry prior to the webinar, and, in that regard, this response won’t help you for this event. However, should you run into this situation again in the future, Eventbrite embeds the webinar URL/link in both a confirmation popup window and a complementary confirmation email that the system generate once attendees complete the registration process. Typically, the links are of the form https://ufl.zoom.us/j/###########?pwd=###############, where the first ### string is the Zoom-assigned ID for the meeting and the second ### string is the Zoom-assigned password. Note that some email systems incorrectly route such emails directly to spam or junk email folders, in rare instances, and attendees have “missed” these confirmations because of that. By all means, though, if you don’t recall receiving such a confirmation email for any meeting/webinar for which you have registered (through Eventbrite), please don’t hesitate to reach out to us in advance. We do record many of our webinars and, after some minor editing to add titles, etc., post them to our Youtube page: http://tiny.cc/ufsaraext_youtube. As yet, we don’t know if this webinar will be included in that set. Best, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Hello, Your blog seems really useful for us. We also want to draw your attention to our Vegetable Garden’ at https://oakia.com/starting-a-vegetable-garden/?ref=dv #gardening #oakia.com#vegetablegarden #garden

You are absolutely right! It is taking over and killing my St. Augustine lawn that I love. It is wrapping all around it and killing it. I go around every few days trying to pull it up by the roots and get rid of it. It's a big job since everyone around me lets it go in their yards. I hate these little purple flowers because of the destruction it does to my lawn. I know that it's good for the bees but I have plenty of flowers for the bees. It seems like nothing kills it without killing everything in your yard. So, I will keep mowing it short and pulling it up by the roots.

I need help getting rid of snails in my front yard plant garden and surrounding my house. They are eating and destroying my plants. I've tried beer; doesn't get ahead of problem. Am physically killing each one I find and sprinkling salt around areas I find them. Seems to be slowing them down. I live in Central Florida. Do you have any better ideas? Diane

Great! It will be fun.

I’ll follow along!

I was signed up for an event today on Eventbrite, it was supposed to be at 1:30 when I went online, there was no link to be connected to the webinar.

Thank you for your comment, Barbara! 20" is quite an impressive amount.

Thank you!!!! I can't wait to hear new information!!!! My firsties love working in our garden!

Hi Richard, I am glad that you saw two and that the blog helped you. In the future, please feel free to fill out the form (see link in the blog), and I might be able to help identify an organism or two. Email will work too. Cheers, Armando

Hi Sarah, I am not sure, probably mating, perhaps you did not catch them on the right time :). Do you have any pictures of that event?

Thank you for your posting. We saw two yesterday in Sarasota Bay and spent hours on Google trying to figure out what they were. Fortunately we found your blog.

Hello Armando! I saw a cluster of about 100 sooty sea hares off of a sea wall near Fort DeSoto in Pinellas County last month. They were just swimming and swirling around, but didn't seem to be making physical contact with one another. Any idea what they were doing or why so many were clustered together?

Awesome blog! Why anyone would think they need to water right now is way beyond me. We got 20" of rain in the first week of rainy season here in Miami Dade County.

You may be the first person to have ever written this phrase, "cube shaped droppings". Congrats!

This article was very informative and an enjoyable read!

So glad you found the blog helpful! It's wonderful to hear that your sister is thinking about using reclaimed water - it's a great and inexpensive way to practice sustainability. Best of luck to you both!

It's good to know that wastewater need to be treated before it can be reused. My sister wants to use water more sustainably in the coming months. I'll share this information with her so that she can look into her options for getting the right equipment to help with this.

Great share, Carol. Do you have tips for fireplace/chimney during springs? https://cleaningstartup.com

Hello Mr. Ventura, Thanks so much for reaching out to UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County with your question about soil testing. It is great to hear that you have had all the invasive Brazilian pepper trees removed from your yard. There are a few different ways that you can go about getting your soil tested before planting sod. If you would like to test only for pH and salinity, you can make an appointment to drop off samples at our office in Twin Lakes Park by emailing mgorman@scgov.net. However, since you had some major tree removal recently done, I would recommend also testing for micro- and macro-nutrients. A quick web search on a term like “soil testing lab near me” will show a list of firms that provide analyses (make sure to select a lab that is actively testing soils). You can also mail soil samples to the University of Florida soil testing lab, in Gainesville. This is a quick and inexpensive option, if you don’t mind making a trip to the post office (or have the ability to send from home). Here is a link to UF’s soil testing form, including instructions for collecting, preparing and shipping samples: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/SS/SS18700.pdf. (Note: If you choose to use UF’s soil testing lab and need help filling out the form, just let us know and we can help.) Best, Sarah Bostick Sustainable Agriculture Agent UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

I’d like to have my tested before I lay sod. The land has been recently cleared of Brazilian pepper trees and I’ve been told that the soil is no longer suitable for any other vegetation. Where can I deliver this sample in Sarasota? What do you require? Thank you, Dan Ventura

Hi, Maria. You can find information about UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County events by visiting that office's Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ufifas-extension-manatee-county-8304772301. Additionally, you can visit the office's main web page at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/manatee, or try to contact office staff by phone at 941-722-4524 or email to manatee@ifas.ufl.edu. Hope that helps!

Florida Limited Commercial Maintenance License To whom it may Concern: I need info on how to sigh up for class online/In person manatee county. How to obtain the right books for this particular license. thank you

Thank you for sharing these FAQ about photovoltaic solar technology. We got many of our questions answered that were popping in mind. Thanks for sharing this article with us, really appreciative article and hope you will write more!!

Thank you Karen. I also love how they move and swim.

Armando, this is my favorite sea creature, not around like they used to be....see them sailing..playing in deep tidal pools...with children squealing for joy....wonderful article Karen Pariser Master Gardener

I would love to know too, since I'm trying to get rid of my awful grass

Evan's description of 'How to Grasshopper' made me start looking for a net! Great story and good ideas for family fun. thanks for sharing!

Beth, come to Crawfordville Fl. You can have all you want from my back yard. Yes its pretty, but the nuisance of it far out weights the novelty of it.

Sure, my back yard. Free. But you have to pull the whole plant up. Seriously, you do not want this plant. It will kill all grass and gets every where. I once thought it was pretty to until it took over every flower bed.

recycling is a really important issue, should be considered more. thank you

I concur!! Animals feed on the leaves too! I love it!

Thank you for sharing some new and amazing! Have a beautiful day! Be safe!

Thank you Shelly, and indeed, they are lovely animals. Do you have a picture of the small purple one?

Thank you.

Please correct the error... INTRACOASTAL Waterway ..not INTERCOASTAL

Beautiful I love it thank you so much for this great read!

Adorable. Love that you guys are able.to encourage the young generation to appreciate the green world around us.

I found a huge one once near Anna Maria City Pier (then Fast Eddy's). It was at least 15" across. Lovely animals. Also on Anna Maria I've seen hundreds at a time of the small purple ones near the shore. I like the series!!

Thank you Dr. K. The mottled sea hare is indeed an amazing creature. I am getting a lot of reports of sightings right now in Sarasota Bay and the Gulf. I hope you get to see one soon.

Amazing creature . . . Interestingly I’ve never come across one myself in all my times on FL waters . . . never too old to be amazed though . . . Found a great video of one swimming at https://youtu.be/c_NuHC_zkLQ

I have this all over my lawn and it has pretty much taken over the turf. Personally I think it is incredibly beautiful and the more I observe it, I notice it attracts a huge amount of insects for its nectar; from honey bees to butterflies, especially the White Peacock butterfly. It would be really important to consider these when decided if or what to use to control it.

Good morning, and thank you for your question. Since conditions can vary widely across a state as ecologically and environmentally diverse as Florida, we suggest you contact your local Extension office: UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County, at alachua@ifas.ufl.edu or (352) 955-2402. Agents and staff at that office would be able to provide you information more specific to the Newberry area.

Does bahai grass need to be treated for chinch bugs in Newberry, FL?

Thank you, Barbara. I appreciate your feedback. Thankfully we got 3/4 inch of rain over the weekend. It was great for our landscapes and our pools! I hope Miami-Dade received some rain too.

Outstanding blog! Same issues through-out SFWMD and Miami Dade County Water & Sewer Department advises our water usage peaks during the later months of dry season every year. Drought before our rainy season begins could become a yearly event.

Good morning, Lynda. We're sorry to hear of your difficult situation, especially given these trying times. Unfortunately, we do not administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); we provide ancillary education. If you are still having issues with assistance, we suggest you visit https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1244 or https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/access/ebt/customer-service.shtml to find staff who can help you. Best, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

I need to know why I didn’t get my food stamp on April 10 on the day my food stamp is supposed to be on my card I got some for March 29th but I didn’t get my April stamp I didn’t get no letter saying I was cut off food stamp so please call me tomorrow morning when you open up.

Thank you

Thank You Sara! I will print & absorb! It's nice to get real Solar Info --- it's too bad that "Florida" doesn't help with this more..... after all we are the Sunshine State!

Good morning, Dawn, and thank you for your interest in our programming. Our faculty members regularly repeat classes throughout the year, in part to allow individuals the opportunity to find a date and time that works best with their own schedules. You can find all of our latest/current offerings by visiting https://ufsarasotaext.eventbrite.com. Note that we are transitioning many of our classes to online webinars, at least for the near future, as we do our part to help stem the spread and effects of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. The safety and health of our community, staff and volunteers is a priority for the University of Florida and Sarasota County Government.

Hello, Will you be having another class like this in 2020? I am on a waiting list until 2021, master gardening class. I would pay to take this class as I am impatient and really want to bring more of the songbirds I had in NC. please let me know if you will be hosting another Event: Native Plants for Native Birds, this year! Thank you, in advance, Dawn Rendsland

Thanks Katherine, These are great resources. I can't wait to share them with my parents and use them myself in my new online lessons. Thank you for putting this list together.

It is important to avoid the air blower hand dryers that are seen in public rest rooms. They blow the water into the air, carrying germs and viruses with it. Most people don’t take the time needed to wash their hands properly, so blowing contamination into the air is not good.

Does anyone know where I can buy some seeds?

Hi, Edward. As we noted for Corrine (in an earlier question/comment re this event), the course will be offered again on June 24, and you can register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starting-a-prepared-food-business-at-home-registration-94438737807). We’ve also reached out to the course instructors to let them know of your interest re the availability of materials. Best, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Hi, Corrine, and thank you for your interest in our programming. The course will be offered again, and there is a June 24 event already set up (you can register, if you like, at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starting-a-prepared-food-business-at-home-registration-94438737807). We've also reached out to the course instructors to let them know of your interest, should they currently be planning other events. Best, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

When may materials be online or another class for Prepared Food Business at home?

Would this class be given again some time soon in later March or in April?

We would like to schedule a speaker o address how Hidden Bay Conco Associate can start teaching their home owner how and why they should be compositing Please call Debbie 941 485 1850

I agree it would be great to see Nutritious You nominated. From their plant-based raw vegan food to their eco-friendly packaging, minimizing environmental impact is clearly a priority. In addition, the store uses its platform to organize bi-monthly beach clean-ups.

Hi again, Judi. Just dropping a note, here, from Sarah and Maria, to let you know that they have two Cottage Foods classes scheduled for next week. Here’s the info: Feb. 11, 12:15-2:45 p.m., North Sarasota Public Library • https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starting-a-prepared-food-business-at-home-registration-91341523957 And one closer to your area: Feb. 13, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Port Public Library • https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starting-a-prepared-food-business-at-home-registration-91342342405 Hope that helps, and thank you!

Nutritious You, Siesta Key, FL deserved to be nominated as a Sarasota Green Business

I nominate "Nutritious You" and Marina Sommers, the owner and the Health Coach & Raw Food Chef www.NutritiousYou.com

Hi Karthik - Unfortunately, it's impossible to name just one method for getting rid of bed bugs. They are insidious little insects that require using a multi-approach system (integrated pest management, or IPM) to rid your home of the pests. I'm glad to hear you have had some success with foggers/bombs, but I don't normally recommend them as they tend to be ineffective. Foggers are not able to penetrate deep into the cracks, crevices and other areas where the bed bugs hide. Sometimes, the active ingredient in the fogger can cause a 'splintering' of the bed bug colony, which leads to even more headaches for the homeowner. If you choose to use foggers for a bed bug infestation, it's important to make sure that bed bugs are listed/shown on the label. Over the years, bed bugs have built up resistance to pyrethroids. So, making sure the product used has an alternative active ingredient (such as imidacloprid) is important as well. If someone is trying to treat an infestation on their own without the help of a professional pest control company, I have a list of informational sources that I encourage them to read prior to treating the infestation. I am happy to share the resources with you if you are interested. It's a wealth of information, so it would be overwhelming to list it all here. If you'd like more information, you are most welcome to contact the office directly. Thank you for sharing your success regarding foggers. I was glad to hear that they have worked for you! -- Carol

This lady conducts wonderful classes. Don't hesitate to sign up for them.

I took this class. It is AWESOME! Don't hesitate to sign up. Very informative. You will leave feeling very confident about using your PC.

When I first noticed this weed in my,neighbor's yard I was amused. It made for a pretty effect and I discovered that you can actually sit and watch the,flowers spring open in the morning. But, now all I hear from one other neighbor is his constant complaint that it is taking over all the lawns. Good to know there are effective treatments to be rid of it, temporarily, at any rate.

What's your go-to method of getting rid of bed bugs? I've had decent success with bug bombs.

Great share, Carol. Looking forward to learning more.

thats sad then you spread it to others that hate it...

I am from Pine Shores Presbyterian Church. We are wanting to be evaluated to see what we can do to be more Green.

Hi, Judi. Everyone's back in the office following the holidays, and we have a reply for you: _____ Good morning Judi, Thank you so much for being in touch with us. We are happy to hear that some of the classes that we are offering this winter resonate with the work that you are doing to help small business owners succeed. Dr. Maria Portelos-Rometo and Sarah Bostick, who are teaching the “Start a Prepared Food Business at Home” class, would be happy to bring the event to the Englewood/Venice area. Is there a particular month, week, and/or time of day that would be ideal? Are there other classes or topics that would be interesting to your participants? Please reach out directly to Sarah, our Sustainable Agriculture Extension Agent, at sarahbostick@ufl.edu. Hope that helps!

Hi again, Bill. Wilma replied with the following: Mason bees are pretty cool. Here are a couple of articles from UF/IFAS (EDIS and Gardening Solutions), then the U.S. Forest Service and the Bee Conservancy. Hope this helps. Wilma • https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN98200.pdf • https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/pollinator-hotels.html • https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/mason_bees.shtml • https://thehoneybeeconservancy.org/why-bees/mason-bees/

Linda: Randy notes that there is a drop-off site in Sarasota, maintained by Sunshine Community Compost (https://www.sunshinecommunitycompost.org/), but nothing in south Sarasota County, to his knowledge.

Linda: Randy notes that there is a drop-off site in Sarasota, maintained by Sunshine Community Compost (https://www.sunshinecommunitycompost.org/), but nothing in south Sarasota County, to his knowledge.

Good afternoon, Judy, and thank you for your comment/question. We have shared the information with the agents who will be leading this class, and will post their reply here when available. Best.

Hi, Linda. Thanks for contacting us with your question. We have reached out for information to our solid waste agent, Randy Penn, and will post it here as soon as we have it available. Best.

Hi, Linda. Thanks for contacting us with your question. We have reached out for information to our solid waste agent, Randy Penn, and will post it here as soon as we have it available. Best.

Good afternoon, Bill, and thank you for contacting us. We have shared your question with Wilma Holley, our Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program specialist, and we'll post the information here when available. Thanks!

Good Afternoon, My name is Judi Jenkins and I represent Life Realized Inc. a community based non-profit in Englewood, Florida. Part of our mission is to help small business owners acquire the skills necessary to succeed. We also try to encourage sustainable living. Several of your classes would be of great interest to many of our members. For instance, the "Start a Prepared Food Business" class is of great interest. Would it be possible to arrange for some of the presentations to take place in the Englewood/Venice area? I would be glad to assist in the arrangements as far as acquiring locations and other organizational details. Thanking you in advance, Judi

Are there locations where I can drop off my composting in the sout end of Sarasota?

Are there locations where I can drop off my composting in the sout end of Sarasota?

Do you have information about Mason bees? Thank you.

I recommend you contact https://gtmnerr.org/ , and see if they would not be on the look out for horse shoe crab. They are already in the field....you might be able to expand your tagging mission. Good Luck, David

I agree! i wish I could fine somewhere to buy it to fill my lawn in entirely;)

Hi, Janet. We don't have any research on the effects, if any, of "Florida snow" on domestic animals. As with any situation like this, though, we'd recommend watching your pets closely if they're eating any plant.

Regarding the benefits, i do not know either but my 4 English MaStIfFs love the stuff. They are known to have sensitive stomachs so maybe they're seeking it out for that. Will do further research. Janet

I am now aware of the epidemic of plastic and don’t want to ingest it anymore. It is frightening and a serious problem. Thanks for making me more aware of this critical problem. I will be more mindful and will do my best to try to eliminate as much of plastic that I can. Just think of what it is doing to our bodies?...

Hi Larry, Thank you for contacting me about this program. We will have a volunteer training early in 2020, and I will add you to the contact list for that training. Our next surveying season will start in the Spring. Thanks again, and I will be in touch.

Hey Armando, Just finished the habitat eval class and would love to help out with this project. B.S. Biology, M.A Zoology. South sarasota resident.

I have to say, I love this Mexican clover as a lawn alternative. Saves on water, looks great, and helps to sustain bee populations!

The green lime excelled was its unabashed sense of pure silliness and unbridled excess. Come on, it even had its own goofy swingin' theme song to go along with the melodramatic outer space hijinks, futuristic go-go dancing, and laughable alien monsters. Many historians believe The Green Slime contains possibly the worst extraterrestrial creature effects ever caught on film stock, but we salute its rowdy sense of unpretentious fun which embraced the wild youth culture of the tempestuous era. What great article, I like it

Hi Amy. I have shared your message with Derek. Thank you!

Hello - I had the pleasure of meeting Derek Wiberg at Waltz Fish Market. We had a fascinating conversation. He Gabe me a card with info about his work. I am unable to find his card and would like to learn more from him. Also, he graciously covered the dinner tab for me and my daughter. I would like to thank him. Is someone there able to Relay this message to him so we can reconnect? He

Hi Sherry - since I'm not sure what type of grasshopper it is, would you be able to send a picture to the plant clinic for identification? (plantclinic@scgov.net). The large Eastern lubber may be the culprit, but I would need to know more about the insect to give you proper guidance. They usually do not eat enough to cause any permanent damage, but not sure if this is the case with your palms. Lubber adults are usually found during July and August. I am happy to help, please contact our office directly so we can discuss the insect problem.

Concerned about grasshoppers eating our palm fronds. This our second summer her from Maine. What should we do or not do.

“Thank you for your comment. However, we aren't positioned to provide you with an answer. Perhaps you could contact your physician or a naturopathic medical practitioner for additional information.”

Ive read a small article that this plant can help with acid re-flux. Now of course I have been researching how, dosages and how to ingest. Unfortunately I can not seem to find any valuable or credible information on that. Can you offer some guidance or maybe a link that can assist me? Thank you

People are so sick and tired of mosquitoes that they keep inventing new ways to kill them. Amateurs and experimenters recommend rubbing herbs all over the place, while the manufacturers keep producing new electronic devices. So many methods, tips, and products exist that exists. But mosquitoes still remains to be a big stumbling block. How do we knock of them and clear the confusion once and for all.

Good information. Thank you.

Thanks for this. May I also suggest Protein drinks, ( Ensure, Glucerna, Nutrament) especially if you have elderly who may suffer from diabetes or struggle with eating.

Hi, Nina. We've shared your question with our residential horticulture agent, Dr. Pat Williams, and will post his reply here when available. --UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Hi, Kay. You will need to contact your local Extension office to get that answer. Each office schedules its own programs, events, workshops, etc. You can reach UF/IFAS Extension Walton County at walton@ifas.ufl.edu or 850-892-8172, and view more information at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/walton. Hope that helps! -- UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Great article, Carol----thanks so much! We loved your presentation at Sarasota Garden Club on March 18th.

Is there any rules in a HOA /community association that can prevent a person from removing grass and placing a Florida friendly garden example lantana and portulaca? I have placed mulch to sustain and reduce water consumption. Please advise

Will this be available in Walton County?

Thanks, Jodie! We love sharing tips, tricks, and new and old information.

I grew up with my father teaching me of all these varieties of old southern landscape gems. So glad to see you're teaching others about them as well. Keep the gems coming and alive

Hi, Cindy. We don't sell products here, nor give direct referrals. We would suggest that you contact our Plant Clinic (861-9807 or plantclinic@scgov.net) and speak to one of our Master Garden volunteers who staff these help desks. They can provide you with advice on what type of fertilizer would best meet your needs, when to apply it (noting the various fertilizer-use restrictions for the county and municipalities), and likely offer you general information on purchasing. Hope that helps!

Quite a few of my palms are yellow and looking at an agricultural YouTube video I was told that I should purchase 8-2-12 fertilizer. Is this something that I am able to purchase through the county extensions?

Hope better days

Lovely idea for me as a counselor. I have been a home economics teacher and used adventure- based education with at risk youth in the Sarasota youth and families YMCA

I don't recall seeing them until the last year or so and I've lived here for 26 yrs. Are they indigenous to the US ? The little extra work getting ride of them doesn't bother me much except for when they attach to screens, especially my pool cage. I work full time, so it is hard to always check, but if left unchecked, birds swoop in to check out this possible food source and poke holes in the screen. Thanks for all you folks do !

Thank you, Debbie. We appreciate hearing that the new format is helpful. We strive to find new ways to connect with our community, and that includes making it easier for community members to find us and our services. Please feel free to contact us (or anyone in the directory) any time you need help.

I love that you've posted the directory on line. Your web improvements with photos is to be commended!

Hi, Pattie, and thanks for your interesting in our programming. You can find more information about the home composting program by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/d/fl--sarasota/%22let's-make-some-black-gold%22-and-compost-and-extension-and-ifas-and-sarasota/?page=1 (our Eventbrite listing site). From there, pick a date and location that work for you, and follow the link to learn more about the program. Additionally, you can find a wealth of composting information at http://sarasota.ifas.uf.edu/compost, our composting pages. Hope that helps, and we look forward to seeing you in the future!

Hi, Pattie, and thanks for your interesting in our programming. You can find more information about the home composting program by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/d/fl--sarasota/%22let's-make-some-black-gold%22-and-compost-and-extension-and-ifas-and-sarasota/?page=1 (our Eventbrite listing site). From there, pick a date and location that work for you, and follow the link to learn more about the program. Additionally, you can find a wealth of composting information at http://sarasota.ifas.uf.edu/compost, our composting pages. Hope that helps, and we look forward to seeing you in the future!

Please tell me about the Home Compost Program in Sarasota County. How can I get information? It was featured on channel 7 ABC news in Sarasota, FL.

Please tell me about the Home Compost Program in Sarasota County. How can I get information? It was featured on channel 7 ABC news in Sarasota, FL.

Thanks! I've long wondered what moth makes those cocoons. There are always lots of them on the walls of my house in Tavernier, FL.

Thanks, very helpful as I don't want to bother the moth population but they are kind of disgusting when all over the house, front door, pool cage etc.

Good morning, Dongyi. Congratulations on your academic achievements, and we thank you for your interest in joining us at UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County. Unfortunately, the application period for this position closed in February 2019. You can, however, find currently available positions at UF/IFAS by visiting http://personnel.ifas.ufl.edu/jobs.shtml or at Sarasota County by visiting https://www.scgov.net/government/career-opportunities. Best of luck!

Sustainability Outreach Specialist Hello Ms. Sara Kane, I am very interested in the position of Sustainability Outreach Specialist but did not find any application link from the website. I graduated from the University of South Florida, master of Global Sustainability. I have several professional sustainability project management experience. If this position is still open, can you please send me the apply link or I can provide my resume and cover letter from email. Please let me know if you need any further information, and expect to contact in the future. Sincerely, Dongyi

Hi, Janine. YGrene (https://ygrene.com) and RenewFinancial (https://renewfinancial.com/) currently are the approved providers. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any further questions or issues.

Can you give the names of the approved pace providers?

weed killer called atrazine will kill it off witout killing your st Augustine grass. note: if you have more weed than grass, when you kill the weed, it will look like you killed the grass too... it will take 6-12 months for your grass to grow back (spread)in that area.

Hi, Rose. We would suggest you contact one of our Plant Clinics (http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/plantclinic). Staffed by trained Master Gardener volunteers, the clinics (which can be found at our Twin Lakes Park office and locations around the county) offer help with landscaping issues, pest identification, and a range of gardening, lawn and other horticultural topics. Hope that helps!

Hi, Rose. We would suggest you contact one of our Plant Clinics (http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/plantclinic). Staffed by trained Master Gardener volunteers, the clinics (which can be found at our Twin Lakes Park office and locations around the county) offer help with landscaping issues, pest identification, and a range of gardening, lawn and other horticultural topics. Hope that helps!

These are great suggestions, but I'm looking for a short list of small trees that are appropriate for an "alley" in a mobil home park. No need for flowers, but looking for trees where birds might perch or even nest. Not very tall, not wide.

These are great suggestions, but I'm looking for a short list of small trees that are appropriate for an "alley" in a mobil home park. No need for flowers, but looking for trees where birds might perch or even nest. Not very tall, not wide.

Hi John, I've added you to our PACE email list. You will receive any email updates moving forward. Please direct any questions to sustainablesarasota@scgov.net Thank you!

ok i must have gotton lost in the shuffle i was signed up to receive updates ? can you tell me how to apply or get the correct paperwork ?

Wild killer weed .. it is super pretty with all the flowers .. but spreads like crazy and convers the lawn from the top until it kills it .. now I have patches of dead lawn all over ... what is the best way to get rid of it

Hi, Tracy, and thank you for your interest in PACE. The ordinance seeking the general policies for PACE passed in October 2017, but that was only the first step. Agreements had to be negotiated with the four PACE providers, a step which was completed in July. They then had to negotiate agreements with the Sarasota County Property Appraiser and Sarasota County Tax Collector, which only recently was completed. Providers now are editing their program documents to comply with requirements. Once that is complete, they will be eligible to launch their programs. If you would like to be notified when the program is fully available, you can email sustainablesarasota@scgov.net and we will add you to the PACE list. -- UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

This was signed by SRQ county over a year ago, I am curious if it is common for the implementation to take this long to get up and running or if this is because of our county government.

Hi, Kristy. Thanks for the question. Attendees need not have a high school degree, but must pass a pre-class test and get a passing score on a post-class test to receive a certificate. Hope that helps! — UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

are you required to have a high school diploma to obtain certificate and this class?

Hi, Diane, and thank you for your interest in our programming. We will be offering the free "Cooking with Herbs and Spices" class again on Jan. 29 (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cooking-with-herbs-and-spices-registration-51201090841?aff=ebdssbdestsearch) and March 11 (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cooking-with-herbs-and-spices-registration-51203377681?aff=ebdssbdestsearch). Each will be hosted at our Twin Lakes Park office. -- UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

I was surprised that you did not mention that cypress mulch should not be used due to the negative environmental impact on gulf coast communities.

I was surprised that you did not mention that cypress mulch should not be used due to the negative environmental impact on gulf coast communities.

When will this be offered again?

Is there a weed killer to kill this weed. Too many bees and killing lawn. What brand

Crucial times

Hi, Pam. Per Marguerite, the post author and our commercial horticulture agent: The USDA plant database lists Richardia scabra as native to warm areas of both North America and South America. Here is a link to the plant distribution map - https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=RISC. Hope that helps!

Hi, Trish. We checked with Sara, the post author, and she noted that PACE has been approved in Sarasota County and the agreements have been signed with the PACE providers, but now we are waiting for them to complete their paperwork with the tax collector and property appraiser. Once those are complete, the programs will be able to launch in the unincorporated area of the county, and a message will be sent to stakeholders at that time. We expect them to finish by the end of November for the unincorporated areas of the county. Note that the cities also are working on consideration of opt-in resolutions, which would enable the programs in their jurisdictions. We don't have a timeline on that, however.

Is this a native plant? I noticed at St. Sebastian State Park that this plant is COVERED in native pollinators, but I don't want to put it on my property if it's not native. Thanks for any guidance!

What is known and not known about the quantities of nitrogen entering the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers coming from septic tanks, livestock, fertilizer or other sources?

This past summer I visited both the Tampa and Orlando municipal wastewater reclamation facilities. Staff at each one boasted of their sales of biosolids to farmers for fertilizer use. What is known and not known about the qualities (nitrogen, phosphate content, for example) of these biolsolids when they leave these and other plants and in what quantities are they being applied in areas that drain to the St. Lucile River and/or Calooahatchee River, and if they are applied properly or subject to best management practices or state or federal regulations? I understand there is a state biolsolids committee that recently began meeting to study this issue.

Is the program ready to go yet?

You are providing a crucial service for our area. Our communities need share this information . I am on your team and am working with my development to get us in compliance with county ordinance and make the optimum plans to manage our storm water ponds. I am all in for anything I can do to help you spread your message Thank you. Eileen Engber

Here's a video from Doug Caldwell, UF|IFAS Collier County Extension on this species: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srscVpv6cJI

The agreements have been signed with the PACE providers, now we are just waiting for them to complete their paperwork with the tax collector and property appraiser. Once those are complete, the programs will be able to launch in the unincorporated area of the county and a message will be sent to all on our email list at that time. The cities are also working on consideration of opt-in resolutions, which would enable the programs in their jurisdictions. We expect them to finish this fall, we're hoping by November.

Can you tell me when the PACE program will be available in Sarasota? We had storm damage to windows (steam between panes) from Irma that our insurance will not cover. We bought a house on Siesta June 2012 and one or several previous owners installed reflective window tinting imporperly, and it made our claim void. We need to upgrade a wall of windows to hurricaine grade, and want to utilize the PACE program, so that we can make the repairs properly. Any ETA would be helpful

Look forward to returning & visiting this happy gardening space!

Hi, Barbara. First, thanks for your interest in the PACE program and your question. Second, per our sustainability team: Sarasota County approved agreements with four PACE providers on July 11. The providers now are working on agreements with the county's tax collector and property appraiser offices. Once those are complete, the programs will be able to launch in the unincorporated area of the county, with a message sent to stakeholders at that time. The cities also are working on consideration of opt-in resolutions, which would enable the programs in their jurisdictions. If you would like to be added to the stakeholder list, please email sustainablesarasota@scgov.net.

Is the program inception in sight?

Hi, Richard. We've consulted with our commercial horticulture agent, Dr. Marguerite Beckford, who noted there isn't much information available, likely because no one typically has to deliberately plant pusley to get it to grow. We have, though, identified a couple of University of Florida publications that might help you. The first is titled "Food Plots for Whitetail Deer," and can be found at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw262. The second is an archived publication titled "Managing Native Vegetation for Wildlife," which can be found at http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/IR/00/00/18/31/00001/FR24100.pdf. Note that archived publications might contain information (typically in tables or lists) in need of updates. Hope that helps!

Well done! Thank you. It makes me glad to be part of such a vibrant garden.

I manage a property that focuses on deer management. I have noticed on the edges of my fields that have either drown or are hit hard by the heat and drought conditions, that Florida Pusley grows and looks good, also the deer have heavily browsed on it as well. I haven't been able to find any data that discusses the health benefits of Pusley for deer. Is there any information/website or a person to speak to that i can follow up with.

I love this "SCW logo blog 3" logo

Hi, Criss. Our co-workers at UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County have written a blog post (https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/charlotteco/2018/08/02/an-algae-problem/) that seems to address a number of your questions, including the extent of previous red tides and actions you can take now. The post also has links to a number of other sites/agencies that have red tide-related information, from U.S. EPA to Mote Marine Laboratory. Beyond that, we also are offering another round of our "Florida Waters Stewardship Program" workshop series, which addresses a wide range of water quality and quantity issues to help residents better understand and protect our resources. You can learn more about that workshop series at https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/charlotteco/2018/08/02/an-algae-problem/. And, as always, you always can reach out to us directly at 941-861-9900 or Sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu with any questions. Best, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

I am trying to weed through all the outraged comments and heart wrenching videos on Facebook pertaining to the current red tide status. There are people who say this is the worst red tide we’ve had in a decade but they act like it has never happened like this ever before so I’m confused. Has red tide been documented yearly for any extended period of time? I’m just trying to figure out if this is something that naturally occurs or if it truly is much worse and is really due to governmental neglect and excess of capitalism. The Okachobee (sp.) lake seems to bear the brunt of the blame. What can I do to get involved to help the wildlife impacted. I thank you in advance for any insight you can provide.

Hi, Rebecca, and thanks for the interest in our programming. We will, indeed, be offering this class again: monthly, through September. You can find a session that works best for you at https://www.eventbrite.com/d/fl--sarasota/%22happy-with-your-hoa-landscape%22-and-sarasota/?q=%22happy+with+your+hoa+landscape%22+and+sarasota&mode=search. Note that we also are offering a range of other HOA-related events. Thanks, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Will you be offering this class again? Would love to attend!

I love this delicate little plant. I have them all over my yard, and I also have lots of bees and butterflies. It's beautiful, requires no care, and seems to be drought and salt tolerant, it's too bad most people don't see it that way, doesn't require watering either, so it saves on valuable resources. The iguanas don't seem to like it either- a real plus. Maybe we should all learn to live with this little native species....

Thank you for sharing your experience with the program and incredible impact! One of the great things about the Green Business Partnership is that the program can help businesses of all sizes make a difference and save money. Thank you for your participation and dedication to sustainability and building our green economy.

Hi Joe, We are still finalizing agreements with the PACE providers. Once finalized, they will go to the Board of County Commission for approval. We are estimating 3-6 months and when that happens we will be sending out emails and updating this post. We will also have informational workshops on PACE and other financing programs.

Hi, Ben. Thanks for letting us know about the link. UF/IFAS Extension offices recently migrated web content to a new server, and links pointing to the old site might not have been updated. We now have replaced the outdated link with one that points to an active page at EDIS. Best, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County.

The NewtownNation Farmers Market will be there.

Dear Sara Kane, thank you for the above helpful information. Is there any update on when the program is expected to come on line? .

Hi, I noticed the "Florida pusley weed biology" link to the pdf does not work. Is there anyway this can be fixed.

Good article Lee, We joined in 2016 and we are a small company (2) Employees. In 2017 we recycled over 40 tons of flooring tile and 6 tons of engineered wood. I know it doesn't sound like much but if we can do this or more each year in our area, I believe we will make a considerable impact over time. We are very proud to be associated with the Green Partnership and look forward to lessening our foot-print on our planet. Looking forward to our sustainable impact in 2018 - Dustless Demolition LLC

Thank you for your interest in PACE. If you live in Manatee County you would not be eligible for our Sarasota County program but would be eligible to work with the PACE providers that have been agreed to by Manatee Co. I found this article with more information about the PACE program in Manatee County. It has the PACE providers contact information and you could reach out to them to learn more.

My house is located in Manatee county but has a Sarasota address in 34243 zip code. would I be eligible for this program ?

Hi Joe, The PACE program will be available in Sarasota County (unincorporated) and the cities in Sarasota County (municipalities: The City of Sarasota, the City of North Port, the City of Venice and the Town of Longboat Key - incorporated) will be able to implement a resolution in their cities that would allow them to opt-in to our PACE program. Each city's commission would have to decide whether to opt-in or not once the agreements have been approved for the PACE providers in Sarasota County. Please let us know if we can answer any more questions - sustainablesarasota@scgov.net

Will the PACE program be available in unincorporated sections of Sarasota County? Thank you.

Will the PACE program be available for unincorporated sections of Sarasota County? Thank you.

Hi Armando. John Stevely, here. I was the former marine extension agent in this region. I know Angela emailed you about the festival. Would be great if you got on county extension web site. There will be a big sea grant extension program at the Festival so it is legit. Hope to see you at dock talks.

Thank you for the follow up. Look forward to crossing paths soon.

Good morning, Chase. I've copied your comment and forwarded it to our commercial and residential horticulture agents: Marguerite Beckford and Dr. Pat Williams, respectively. Your work sounds like a great fit for what they bring to the community. Best, Kevin

Kevin I just ran across your blog reading through the IFAS website. I was hoping to make contact with you. We ( TREES and Turf Inc. ) have been treating yellowing Slash Pine for years in Florida. I have some great before and after pictures of the declining trees restored. Our business is based on the monitoring and treatment of urban trees. I am a certified arborist and have been working in the tree industry 13 years. It would be great to have your contact and introduce myself. I can be reached at 651-777-4417 Thanks Chase

Great job! Keep up the good work!

Hi, Robert. That's a little outside the scope of what we do here, but you might be able to find answers by checking with someone with the emergency management program at Sarasota County. Your best bet would be to check with the county's Call Center phone line (staffed 24/7) at 861.5000 and explain to them your question. They then can guide you to a contact in emergency management (or, perhaps, another department).

Tisha: Thanks for your comment. A great source for this type of information would be to contact or visit one of our Master Gardener Plant Clinics. Plant Clinics are staffed by volunteers who receive extensive, University of Florida-designed training on a host of horticulture issues. To make it easy, you might try sending an email to plantclinic@scgov.net or calling 941.861.9807. If you'd like to visit a clinic in person and chat with a volunteer, you can find locations and dates/times at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/home-landscapes/horticulture-residential/master-gardener/plant-clinic/. Let us know if you need more.

Tisha: Thanks for your comment. A great source for this type of information would be to contact or visit one of our Master Gardener Plant Clinics. Plant Clinics are staffed by volunteers who receive extensive, University of Florida-designed training on a host of horticulture issues. To make it easy, you might try sending an email to plantclinic@scgov.net or calling 941.861.9807. If you'd like to visit a clinic in person and chat with a volunteer, you can find locations and dates/times at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/home-landscapes/horticulture-residential/master-gardener/plant-clinic/. Let us know if you need more.

I've been ask to do a beach project on Casey Key. I know what beach plants to use after hours of research,and that with the removal of the invasive plants I need to provide suitable coverage for new plantings. I wanted to see about if I can use natural shell from my stairs down out through my dune area? If you could lead me to who I can get this info from, I would love your help. Who do I contact. Thanks so much for your time.

I've been ask to do a beach project on Casey Key. I know what beach plants to use after hours of research,and that with the removal of the invasive plants I need to provide suitable coverage for new plantings. I wanted to see about if I can use natural shell from my stairs down out through my dune area? If you could lead me to who I can get this info from, I would love your help. Who do I contact. Thanks so much for your time.

Question: What effect, if any, do trees play in either diverting or modifying damaging hurricane force winds? PS: Thank you for the University of Florida, IFAS Extension document titled, "Wind and Trees: Lessions Learned from hurricanes" written 2007 and revised June 2017.

This is truly the future, and I am so proud of Chris and his cutting edge thinking!

Ton: Our horticulture team notes that, in our area, chinch bugs are active March through November. But, damage begins in May or June, when the weather turns hot and dry. Turf grass damage tends to first appear in the sunniest, driest areas of the lawn, such as along the edge of a street or driveway or in an open, south-facing area. Chinch bug damage does not occur in cool weather, nor does it generally occur in shade, regardless of the temperature. Although chinch bugs tend to avoid wet areas, overwatering will seriously damage or kill your lawn. Never apply extra irrigation in an attempt to control chinch bugs. Chinch bugs have developed resistance to many insecticides and satisfactory control requires careful attention. More information about chinch bug management is available at the UF/IFAS Extension publication at the following link: http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/comm-hort/pdf/turf/chinchbugmanagementonStAugustinegrass2007LH03600.pdf Hope that helps, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

What is the season for chinch bugs on siesta key florida this year? Are they doing their thing yet? Or do temperatures have to be warmer than now in March 2017? Do cooler nights, as we have been experiencing (sub 60 degrees), keep them under control? Does too much watering help or hurt infestation?