Bougainvillea Trained Up A PergolaWhat is catching my eye in our landscapes these days? Bright and beautiful bougainvillea, of course! Bougainvillea are blooming profusely right now and will continue on through the winter for eight weeks or more. Perfect as a flowering vine, the bougainvillea is also adaptable as a hedge, in hanging baskets, an…
How the Right Foods Can Boost Your Immune System During Flu Season We all know that eating healthy is good for us. But did you know that certain foods can help keep us from getting sick, especially during flu season? In this blog, we’ll dive into the connection between what we eat and how well…
Soil! Does it sound fascinating to you?
Maybe it should. We take our soil for granted. We even call it “dirt”. But soil is actually pretty magical.
It is full of wonderful living microorganisms. They are microscopic, so we can’t see them, but they are there. A teaspoon of good soil can hold up to one…
For thousands of years, in an unbroken chain, seeds have been saved from each harvest to be sown the next season. Seed saving provides many benefits to the seed saver. The costs of seeds has notably risen in the past several years, but more importantly the reliable availability of seeds has come into question. Taking…
While some flowers may be considered old-fashioned, they are still around for a reason – they look good! And as new generations are introduced to old favorites – many of which have new looks – the adoption and appreciation continues. Take petunias for example. As our weather cools off, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ approved petunias are ideal…
The end of the year is almost here and we all know that means holidays and celebrations are in full swing. The best part of any celebration (besides friends and family, of course)? All of the delicious food! While the food we consume around this time of year is no doubt delicious, it also tends…
[CREDIT: unsplash.com, Jp Valery]This November, we celebrated Wildlife Wednesdays with unique stories of gratitude for the animal kingdom. All around us, niche stories of connection, triumph, cooperation, and coexistence are tucked away amongst stands of slash pine, thickets of saw palmetto, and swampy wetlands. When we tune into these stories of gratitude, we develop an appreciation for…
Evolvulus – New Flowers Every dayBlue is an important color in the landscape that is not provided by many flowers in our plant palette. One plant that has been around for decades and is still popular supplies blue flowers in abundance – the genus Evolvulus or Brazilian dwarf morning-glory. Other than the flowers resembling miniature…
Florida black bears have been in the news, frequently, this year! On today’s episode, we chat about the Florida black bear’s diet, behavior, and biology, and provide some tips for co-existing with our resident bears. New Episode from Naturally Florida Naturally Florida (a podcast about Florida’s natural areas and the wild things that live here)…
Low-Maintenance Groundcovers
Groundcovers are low-to-the-ground plants that you can use to help fill out your landscape. Keep reading to learn about some groundcover plants that require minimal watering and care in Sarasota County.
Note: The following information is adapted from the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide.
Legend
Apart from the information presented in the table, the following features will be…
A tired mum I spotted. It didn’t even last to Thanksgiving!As the holiday season approaches, many of us eagerly anticipate the vibrant colors and festive decorations that accompany this joyous time of year. While traditional holiday flowers like mums have long been a popular choice for seasonal décor, there’s a Florida-Friendly alternative that not only adds a…
Fungi Facts Fungi are known as plants that lack chlorophyll and true plant parts rather they are decomposers that can contain mycelium and mycorrhizae. As a member of the animal kingdom, fungi consist of yeast, toadstools, mold, mildew, truffles, and MUSHROOMS. Mushrooms are fleshy spore-bearing fungus categorized as edible and non-edible organisms. There are an…
