I often wonder how folks could predict the coming winter weather PRIOR to our modern technologies. According to early folklore, it was the persimmon seed that was used for the forecast. As the saying goes, if you slice the seed in half, it will ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture
Every time I go to the beach, I love to walk along the shoreline to see what may have washed up from the ocean – usually several beautiful shells, oftentimes sargassum seaweed, maybe even part of a crab exoskeleton. Unfortunately, I usually ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Community Volunteers, Conservation
August 31st, is Diatomaceous earth (D.E.) Day! D.E. is a highly porous white or pink powder made from the sediment of fossilized algae found in bodies of water. The sediment are the skeletal remains of single-celled plants called diatoms. ... READ MORE
Category: Horticulture, Pests & Disease,
August is National Water Quality Month, which means it is a great time to learn a little bit about the water in our area and actions we can all take to ensure our waterways are clean and healthy. The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water
Summer is the time of year when people are easily lured to yard and estate sales. The finds can be great ranging from antiques to nearly new items. One thing to keep in mind, is when choosing wooden items like furniture and frames, and baskets, ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Home Management, Work & Life
Calycanthus floridus, Sweetshrub Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) is a great selection for moist locations. The flowers develop in midspring and have maroon to brown, strap-like petals, and a fragrance like that of strawberries. Historically, ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture,
Sea turtle nesting season in Flagler and Volusia Counties spans from May 1 to October 31. As we start to see more nests marked off on the beach, your best bet will be that they belong to a loggerhead sea turtle. Florida is the epicenter of ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, UF/IFAS Extension, , Wildlife
June 8 is World Ocean Day! The UN officially recognized World Ocean Day in 2008 to cultivate public interest in the protection of our oceans. I hope you celebrate by spending some time near the ocean and by learning more about the importance ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Camp, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Events, UF/IFAS Extension
Hurricane season is here and preparing for the 2022 hurricane season is more challenging than ever due to a prediction of an above-normal season, supply chain issues, and raising supply and fuel costs. To combat these challenges, it is important ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Disaster Preparation, Events, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
In a 2021 in-service-training, Scholarship in Extension 2.0 Virtual Workshop, the Central District Regional Specialized Agents (RSAs) and Associate District Extension Director (DED) reviewed program development implementation and evaluation, ... READ MORE
Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension