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Captivating Carnivorous Plants of Central Florida

February 13, 2024
Plants that grow in tropical environments (such as Florida) are faced with nutrient deficient soils.  Many of the swamps and bogs, wet flatwoods, and even dry mesic flatlands are poor in Nitrogen and Phosphorus. These elements are essential for growth.   Luckily these areas are also home to many insects which are rich sources of Nitrogen,…

Attracting Florida Butterflies

February 13, 2024
Arguably the most popular insect in our landscape, Butterflies are beloved by all.  Now everyone can easily start a Butterfly Garden to attract and raise butterflies … guaranteed!  Here are two easy steps on How to Attract Butterflies and keep them coming to visit your garden. Adult Nectar Source. Adult butterflies feed mostly on nectar and…

Salvias for Your Florida Garden

February 12, 2024
What better way to add color into your Florida Garden than to include the versatile Salvia.  This is one of the largest genera of flowering plants with a thousand species worldwide.  Salvias will grow in full sun to shade, sandy soil to mucky soil, in ground or in containers.  And, Salvias are fast growing, flower…

Succulents

February 12, 2024
What makes a plant a succulent? Succulents are plants with the ability to hold water in their thick, fleshy tissue. Water storage can occur in leaves or stems. A cactus holds water in the stem while a jade plant holds water mostly in the leaves. What are some types of succulents that grow well in…

Managing House Geckos

February 9, 2024
 Introduction Among the ten species of geckos found in Florida, only one, the Florida Reef Gecko (Sphaerodactylus notatus), is native to the state, the additional ten non-native species found in the state having arrived in cargo or via the pet trade. Among them are the Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) first identified in 1910 in Florida, the Tropical…

Be Heart Smart this February During American Heart Month

February 8, 2024
American Heart Month is observed every February to raise awareness about heart health and encourage people to adopt heart-healthy lifestyles. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, but the good news is that you can do a lot to protect your heart and stay healthy.…

A call to action: UF/IFAS scientists, compost industry, policy makers join to promote compost standards, practices in Florida

February 8, 2024
A pitchfork mixing food and garden compost. Food waste is one of the main drivers in Florida’s dependence on landfills, which fuel greenhouse emissions and promote climate change. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), landfills contribute annually up to 14 percent of emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas, and are a major contributor to global warming.…

Handwashing is critical to good health

February 7, 2024
Why is handwashing important? Handwashing is one of the best ways you can help stop the spread of infection and stay healthy. It is one of those personal hygiene activities we need to prioritize. Bacteria and germs can enter your body and make you sick if you don’t properly wash your hands. Bacteria can get…

Color in the Holiday Landscape: Lipstick Tree/Bixa orellana

February 6, 2024
We promised to share new blogs on many of the beautiful plants that will create an incredible show of color during the winter holidays.  Plants in this series are suitable for zone 10a to 11 b. Please note we recommend you plant any of the featured plants in the series when our rainy season begins…

Bitter Melon: a New Crop in Florida

February 5, 2024
Introduction: Florida, known for its diverse agricultural landscape, is embracing a new addition to its crop repertoire – bitter melon. This unique and resilient vegetable is making waves in the Sunshine State, offering farmers a fresh opportunity for cultivation. In this blog post, we will explore the journey of bitter melon as a new crop…
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