Category: Horticulture

Cosecha de agua de lluvia 101: Construcción de un barril de lluvia

by Sara MacDonald
May 29, 2026

¿Y si la próxima lluvia pudiera ayudar a regar su jardín, reducir su factura de agua y, al mismo tiempo, apoyar el medio ambiente de Florida? Eso es exactamente lo que aprendieron los participantes durante nuestro reciente taller Rainwater ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Rainwater Harvesting 101: Building a Rain Barrel

by Sara MacDonald
May 29, 2026

What if the next rainstorm could help water your garden, lower your water bill, and support Florida’s environment at the same time? That is exactly what participants learned during our recent Rainwater Harvesting 101: Rain Barrel Workshop. ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Letting plants grow naturally helps pollinators

by Sara MacDonald
March 24, 2026

In a residential landscape in Florida, a simple change in how shrubs are trimmed is improving plant health and helping pollinators like bees. Many ornamental shrubs, including Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis spp.), were previously trimmed into ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Recreation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

How to Protect Your Landscape Plants from Cold Weather

by Sara MacDonald
January 30, 2026

Even in Florida, cold weather can damage landscape plants—especially tropical and container-grown ones. A little preparation before a cold night can help protect your plants and save you time and money in the spring. Why Cold Damages Plants Many ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

How Insects Grow: Why Cockroach Nymphs Cause Confusion

by Sara MacDonald
October 15, 2025

Have you ever spotted a tiny bug running across your counter and thought, “Oh no, it’s a baby cockroach!”? Don’t panic just yet; not every small brown insect is a cockroach. In fact, many insects go through stages that make them look ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Community Volunteers, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Horticulture, NATURAL RESOURCES, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: #UFBugs, Extension, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Guía de siembra de otoño para el sur de Florida

by Sara MacDonald
October 14, 2025

¡Octubre es el mes perfecto para comenzar tu huerto de otoño en la región! Las temperaturas más frescas, las lluvias ocasionales y los días más cortos crean condiciones ideales para plantar una variedad de verduras y hierbas. Ya seas un ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, Gardening, St Lucie County, UF/IFAS Edible Gardens, UF/IFAS Extension

Colaboración en Extensión: Compartiendo Ciencia y Construyendo Comunidades

by Sara MacDonald
September 30, 2025

La semana pasada fui la conferencista invitada en un evento de Lunch & Learn. El programa se organizó en colaboración con Love Your Block de la Ciudad de Port St. Lucie. En esta ocasión compartí los principios de Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Lawn, NATURAL RESOURCES, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Work & Life
Tags: Conservation, Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, St Lucie County, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Collaboration in Extension: Sharing Science, Building Communities

by Sara MacDonald
September 25, 2025

Last week, I was the invited speaker for a Lunch & Learn event, hosted in collaboration with Love Your Block by the City of Port St. Lucie, where I shared the Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles to help homeowners create sustainable, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Clubs & Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Home Management, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Conservation, Extension, Florida Friendly Landscape, St Lucie County, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ and Edible Gardens

by Sara MacDonald
September 11, 2025

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) encourages homeowners and communities to use research-based practices that conserve water, reduce pollution, and protect natural resources. These nine principles are often applied to traditional residential ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Recreation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Florida Friendly Landscape, UF/IFAS Edible Gardens, UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Horticulture

Growing Knowledge: Teaching Kids About Vegetable Gardening

by Sara MacDonald
September 3, 2025

Recently, our Master Gardener Volunteers and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Sun Grove Montessori School. We introduced students to the joys of vegetable gardening. Gardening is more than planting seeds. It’s a hands-on way to learn ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Community Volunteers, Fruits & Vegetables, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Gardening, Kids Gardening Activities, STEM, UF/IFAS Extension, Urban Horticulture

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