Cane toads are well known for posing a threat to our pets. They are one of many invasive animal species we have here in Florida. In this episode you will learn all about this invasive toad species, how it became established in Florida, impacts of its presence, and ways you can help. In this episode,…
What are saturated fats?Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and are primarily found in larger quantities in animal foods and some plant foods like coconut oil, palm, and palm kernel oil. Excess consumption can increase “bad” LDL cholesterol in your blood, one of the risk factors for developing atherosclerosis (hardening) of your arteries (American…
What is World Pest Day?
Today, June 6th, is National World Pest Day! World Pest Day was first celebrated on June 6, 2017 and has since become an annual event. The day is recognized to bring awareness to the problems pests can cause and the importance of pest control. It also encourages the support of…
Today, June 3rd is the United Nations World Bicycle Day. Being an extremely passionate cyclist, I decided to write a blog post to share, not only the benefits that riding a bike has brought to my life, but the positive impact it can have on the world. You get friends: More often than not, people who ride…
The UF/IFAS Disaster Preparation & Recovery website offers resources to help Floridians prepare for and deal with natural disasters. From hurricanes to floods, tornados to thunderstorms, natural disasters can impact our lives with little notice. But there are ways to prepare for them and effectively deal with their aftermath. This website offers vital information from…
Wild Weeds – Weed of the Month Rain Lily Zephyranthes atamasca Rain Lily (photo by Eleanor Dietrich)Rain Lily is a short-lived perennial wildflower that occurs in moist flatwoods, river swamps, floodplains, and can often be found in ditches and roadsides. As the name suggests, this plant typically blooms after a rain shower. Flowering can occur…
Hurricane Season Starts June 1st! Image credit: David Marks from PixabayAs we enter into this year’s hurricane season and people are reminded to gather appropriate stocks of water, medicines, pet supplies and nonperishables; be ready to board up their buildings and hunker down… have you ever wondered what happens to the wildlife left outdoors to weather a hurricane’s winds…
This month I want to address the spiritual aspects or symbolism of butterflies across world cultures. Because of their unique lifecycle from humble crawly eating machine into a many colored, graceful flying insect, butterflies symbolize transformation, rebirth, hope and resurrection in many cultures and religions. In parts of Asia black butterflies may represent bad luck…
Southerners and sweet tea When I was a child we drank sweet tea. I didn’t really know where it came from but it was sweet and that suited me just fine. Later, I discovered tea was from the leaf of a plant. I had heard about tea leaves and it still didn’t resonate much. I…
Scientific Name: Rubus fruticosus Common Names: bramble, blackberry, European blackberry, black heg, wild blackberry Origin: Europe and Asia Family: Rosaceae Other plants in the Rosaceae family: blackberries, raspberries and strawberries, apricots, plums, cherries, apple Climate: Blackberry grows best in temperate climates. We have some blackberry species that are native to Florida such as wild blackberry. However, wild blackberry does not have marketing…
I couldn’t let May slip away without sharing a video I made showcasing how I make my fresh and healthy summer salad mix. There is no cooking involved – only chopping some vegetables. This recipe calls for only six ingredients. In honor of national salad month, I share with you this recipe. by Carol…
As Asian Pacific American Heritage Month comes to a close, let’s spotlight some Asian vegetables Florida growers produce. The below fun facts are from the Asian Vegetables Emerging in Florida series, published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department.
Bitter Melon
Bitter melon has been used in Asian and African herbal medicine for a long time, and its use…
