Category: Horticulture

A tile mosaic of birds, trees and flowers.

Love Butterfly Gardening? Here’s How to Take It to the Next Level

by Ashley Ellis
February 22, 2026

If you’ve planted milkweed (Asclepias spp.) for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), passionvine (Passiflora incarnata or other native Passiflora spp.) for Gulf fritillaries (Agraulis vanillae), or added nectar flowers to bring in swallowtails ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Pgm_HortRes, Sarasota County Extension
Close up of milkweed flowers

Landscaping with Native Milkweeds in Sarasota County

by Ashley Ellis and Forest HeckerAshley Ellis, Residential Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator in Sarasota County.
January 27, 2026

We often see gardeners using non-native tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica L.) in their landscapes—sometimes without realizing it was recently added to the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas list as ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Conservation, Environment, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Horticulture, Landscape, Landscaping, Nature, Pgm_HortRes
herbs in a community garden plot, mostly rosemary and curly leaf parsley with a sign that says all things grow with love

A Scent-sational Invitation to You!

by Mindy Hanak
November 14, 2025

Join me for an herb-alicious good time at your local Sarasota County library. Our “Breaking the Rules – herb trio” One Seed classes are scheduled November 2025 through January 2026. These classes are a bit social so whether you are a novice ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Companion Planting, Container Gardening, Cooking With Kids, Edible Gardening, EdibleGardeningSeries, Event, Food, Garden, Growing Food In Florida, Healthy Eating, Herbs, Horticulture, Kids Gardening, Memory, Nutrition, Pgm_Gardens, Recipe, Tiny.cc/ufsaraext_oneseed, Ways To Save
Image of several adults standing in a wooded setting, watching an instructor point to something in the distance

ex•plore: Your Adventure Guide to Sarasota County

by Mike D'Imperio
October 30, 2025

Are you looking to find more ways for you and your family to ex•plore all Sarasota County has to offer? From award-winning beaches to natural areas and trails, from mangrove tunnels to fishing holes, birding sites, gardens and more, Sarasota ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Events, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Events, Explore, Family, Family Friendly, Hiking, Outdoors, Pgm_Water
raised garden beds with food and flowers growing, a garden sign, a garden arch trellis with cattle paneling and a succulent garden at the other end.

ex•plore: Edible Gardening with Extension

by Mindy Hanak
October 30, 2025

Let’s Ex.plore what we’ve been up to! We’ve been busy at our UF/IFAS Sarasota County extension campus located in Twin Lakes Park off Clark Rd. We’ve added an edible garden demo area featuring different garden beds of varied heights ... READ MORE

Category: Events, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Edible Garden, Explore, Garden, Grow, Pgm_Gardens, Produce, Vegetable Gardening
photo of seeds featured in the one seed breaking the rules edition - cilantro, flat leaf parsley, and dill

Breaking the Rules! ‘One Seed’ at a Time

by Mindy Hanak
October 10, 2025

Breaking the Rules- why just one when you can have three? Herbs, that is! Okay- maybe we aren’t breaking a ‘rule’, but instead of just sharing one type of crop to grow - we are busting out a trio of herbs in our ‘One Seed’ packets ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: Edible Gardening, Food, Growing Food In Florida, Health, Herbs, Horticulture, Nutrition, One Seed, Pgm_Gardens, Pgm_HortRes, Seed Library

Pesticide Safety Awareness: Protecting Yourself and the Environment

by Lisa Hickey
September 5, 2025

Be safe and reduce your pesticide exposure. Whether you are a backyard gardener using pesticides or a professional pesticide applicator, precautions are necessary before and during the use of pesticides. The use of pesticides comes with significant ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Tags: Awareness, Pest Control, Pesticide Awareness, Pesticides, Pgm_Admin, Safety, Weed Control

An Open Door to Growing More: Become a Master Gardener

by Ashley Ellis
July 28, 2025

Are you passionate about plants, sustainable landscapes, and community education? The UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County office is now accepting applications for the 2026 Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) training course! We’re looking for ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Landscape, Master Gardener Volunteer, Pgm_HortRes

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