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August is Water Quality Month!

August 11, 2023
August is recognized as National Water Quality Month! This is a great time to renew your commitment to protecting and enhancing water quality in Southwest Florida. Let’s face it – most of us live here because we love all of the water resources Florida has to offer. Whether you enjoy going to the beach, fishing,…

How Manatee County Residence Can Prepare for a Hurricane

August 10, 2023
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th, and if you live or work in Manatee County Florida, here is how Manatee County residents can prepare for a hurricane. Sign Up for Alert Manatee If you live or work in Manatee County, you’ll want to sign up for Alert Manatee! You’ll receive alerts…

Tips for Collecting Insects From Our Summer Intern

August 10, 2023
Written by Samantha Walter-Cano, Edited by Olivia Zugay Insects from Samantha’s collection.If you are reading this, that means my task for the summer is over. What task, you may ask? Collecting insects that is! That’s right, I had to collect and pin insects this summer. With over 40 insects of 14 different orders, this was no simple…

Poisonous Houseplants and Pets

August 9, 2023
If you are anything like me, you may have a tendency to collect living beings that require routine care and attention, and the occasional house sitter. Once I realized there were enough cats and dog running around, I turned my attention towards houseplants, which are now in the realm of forty. While the cats and…

Getting Wormy: A Multi-County Approach to Vermicomposting Education

August 9, 2023
UF/IFAS Extension agents in Sarasota and Leon counties have teamed up on a unique approach to help meet a state mandate to ramp up recycling and cut waste heading to the landfill: home vermicomposting. Molly Jameson, of Leon County, and Randall Penn, of Sarasota County, collaborated in 2022 and 2023 to develop and deliver “Vermicomposting 101”…

Hurricane Supply Kit

August 8, 2023
Building A Hurricane Supply Kit The Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1st and runs until November 30th, which means that’s it’s important to have a hurricane supply kit on hand just in case disaster strikes. Circumstances may require you to evacuate your home at a moment’s notice or hunker down and shelter in place to…

Mangoes in Florida

August 8, 2023
Thinking about all those Florida mangoes, what is your favorite way to enjoy fresh Florida mangoes?  Fresh cut, mango salsa, chutney, mango jam, mango butter, smoothies?  In my opinion, mangoes are best when fully ripe and fresh from the tree, eaten over the kitchen sink. Most of the early season mangoes are finished producing by…

August First Friday with Florida First Detector

August 7, 2023
Recap of August First Friday with Florida First Detector In August, we talked about invasive pests on citrus. Historically, the citrus industry has been super important in Florida and continued to be today. Despite challenges in citrus production in recent years, Florida is still a top producer of citrus. The Florida citrus industry was valued…

Healthy Snacking

August 7, 2023
Many people enjoy frequent snacking. There are so many choices to choose from! Some snack choices can be unhealthy and others healthy. Healthy snacking is important at any age. Why not make the most of your snacking by choosing healthy food choices that benefit your health? By choosing nutrient-dense snacks, you are providing your body…

Florida Paintbrush – Wild Weeds

August 4, 2023
Wild Weeds – Weed of the Month Florida Paintbrush Carphephorus corymbosus Florida Paintbrush is a showy, herbaceous wildflower, blooming from late summer into fall. You’ll find this plant in pine, scrubby, and dry to mesic flatwoods, sandhills, and ruderal areas. The large flattop of flowers is very attractive to pollinators and commonly visited by…

Update: Saw Palmetto Berry Poachers

August 4, 2023
As the UF/IFAS Natural Resources Extension Agent for St. Lucie County, I am often stomping through the county’s amazing abundance of nature preserves. I have demonstration sites for biological control of invasive plants and I also teach Florida Master Naturalists and others about the natural systems we have in the county. Usually my excursions end with amazing…

Native Pollinators: Furrow Bees

August 3, 2023
When you hear the word “pollinator”, what is the first insect that comes to mind? If I had to guess, you would probably say honey bee. European honey bees play an important role in agriculture as pollinators and honey producers, but there are hundreds of native pollinators often overshadowed by the beloved honey bee you…
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