At 3 o’clock expect rain. Those were the words I heard over and over when I first moved to the Tampa Bay area. It took time for the wisdom to sink in. Here in Florida we receive the majority of the 54.2 inches of average rainfall during the ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research, WaterI moved to Florida thirteen years ago and instantly hated it. It was flat, hot and humid with few redeeming qualities. It took about five years and a departure from the urban areas for the beauty to really sink in. The green swamps with hidden ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Turf, Water, Work & LifeMonarch butterflies are an ambassador of the insect world. We have all seen a monarch butterfly, brilliant orange and black flying gracefully from flower to flower in our landscapes. Many of us take for granted this gossamer visitor, and think ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, WildlifeI was a curious child, always dipping homemade nets into the ponds in my neighborhood, playing in the muck, watching birds and trying to catch frogs. It never occurred to me as I grew older that these ponds were an important resource. The ditch, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, WaterI’ve often thought about the public’s opinion of scientists as one most closely related to “the man behind the curtain” in the movie The Wizard of Oz. Scientists are often seen as an enigmatic figure, acting in secrecy to create things ... READ MORE
Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, WildlifeI am not a traditional horticulturalist. I admit it, but I am involved in the world and work of Horticulture. Horticulture for those that aren't familiar is the study of plant cultivation, disease diagnosis, breeding for variety and trait, irrigation ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life