News & Updates

HomeAll PostsNews & Updates

Wild About Florida Native Plants – Firebush

August 4, 2022
Why am I “wild” about Florida native plants…….because they are the original settlers who came from all  over the world and found a home in Florida.  They decided that Florida was the perfect place to call home.  Native plants are a good choice for the Florida gardener who wants to work less in the garden,…

Heat, Hydration, and Dehydration: Fire Safety and Preparedness

August 3, 2022
This is the 5th blog in this series. So far, we have covered knowing the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, sources of water, tips to drink more water, and ideas to beat the heat and stay safe. Next, I am going to cover some tips and suggestions about fire preparedness. This platform is the perfect…

Carolina Redroot – Wild Weeds

August 3, 2022
Wild Weeds – Weed of the Month Lachnanthes caroliana Carolina Redroot (photo by Joseph Tauscher) Carolina redroot is a perennial herbaceous wildflower that occurs naturally in wet flatwoods, marshes, bogs, dome swamps, savannas, and coastal swales. Blooms of this plant are a creamy whitish-yellow and are borne in fan-like terminal clusters atop erect stems. The plant…

Preparing to Weather a Financial Storm

August 3, 2022
Recent economic indicators are not positive. Our financial forecasters are seeing storm clouds of inflation and higher interest rates forming. While it all may not be doom and gloom, we might be smart to start preparing to weather a financial storm. Know Where You Stand Now is a good time to take a snapshot of…

Foolproof Lawncare: Bermudagrass

August 2, 2022
Although not a panacea for lawncare issues, Bermudagrass is a hardy turf option, tough enough to handle lots of foot traffic and horsing around (no pun intended). Because of its tough-enough reputation, Bermudagrass is the species of choice for many sports facilities including golf-courses and ball-fields. It also has the advantage of being able to…

Let’s Talk About Ag BMPs: Irrigation Best Management Practices

August 1, 2022
In this session of the “Let’s Talk About Ag BMPs” series, we met with Dr. Vivek Sharma from the University of Florida Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department to discuss Irrigation Best Management  Practices. We got to pick Dr. Sharma’s brain on the definition of Irrigation BMPs, the differences between Traditional and Best Management Irrigation Practices,…

Hydroponics: NFT System

August 1, 2022
Lettuce growing in a hydroponic system. Photo by Jonael Bosques, UF/IFAS Extension, Hardee County. Each year we have less agricultural land available, making it more difficult for farmers to acquire land to grow crops due to urban development increases in Florida. From 2010 to 2019, Florida’s population grew 14.2% to become the third most inhabited state…

Calycanthus floridus, Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub

July 29, 2022
 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, the petals were used as a sachet to freshen dresser drawers. Occasionally, they are used in potpourris. The leaves and fruits release…

Pum, Pum, Pumpkins!

July 28, 2022
When you hear pumpkins you may think of fall, Halloween, and cooler weather. To enjoy all the goodies that pumpkins give us like pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin pie it first begins with a seed. I personally enjoy pumpkin spice latte. Regardless of what you chose to use your pumpkin for, it takes around 100…

Save a monarch, plant a (native) milkweed!

July 28, 2022
By now, you may have seen the recent article stating alarming news about the beloved monarch butterfly population. Many gardeners in Florida enjoy planting for butterflies, observing the unique lifecycle of butterflies, and adding colorful flowers to their gardens. Milkweed is a critical plant for monarchs as it is their food source. If you have grown milkweed,…

Foodborne Illness: More common than you think

July 28, 2022
Turmeric plant in bloom. Have you ever had a foodborne illness? Would you know if you had? Foodborne illness symptoms can mimic the flu, with upset stomach, fever and diarrhea as common issues. So, it’s important to note that we are all vulnerable and anyone can be a victim of a food pathogen. In fact, the…

No Mow Lawns in Florida

July 27, 2022
Turmeric plant in bloom. Are you tired of mowing your yard, applying fertilizers and fighting turfgrass pests and diseases? Many Central Florida residents are seeking more sustainable, low maintenance yards. Lawns planted with turfgrass can be a lot of maintenance, with high inputs of fertilizer and water. Instead of a traditional turfgrass lawn, consider replacing all…
Copyright © 2025 by ThemeREX. All rights reserved.
to top