A handful of the “lawn ornaments” that will be featured in this blog series. Top row (left to right): sunshine mimosa, perennial peanut, frogfruit, and fleabane. Bottom row (left to right): pennywort, Lobelia, Florida snow, and blue-eyed grass. Welcome to our Lawn Ornament blog series, where we explore the plethora of micro-plants that can help create a…
Florida Master Naturalist students participating in the 2024 Conservation Science course taught by Extension Agents Ken Gioeli and Andrea Lazzari are bioblitzing. This list is a living document and will be updated throughout January and February 2024. Students will use iNaturalist to observe the plants and animals at environmental preserves around Florida. This iNaturalist app is a powerful geomatics…
This post entertains an ongoing debate that I often hear: Are palm trees really trees? Could our state tree, the sable palm, not even be a tree? This has been argued in many different ways with the answer lying somewhere in the middle. Skip down to the end if you want to read what I think the…
Arbor Day was established to celebrate trees and their beneficial ecosystem services they provide for humans and our environment. Florida Arbor Day is on January 19, 2024, as cooler months are the best time to plant trees, although trees can be planted all year round in Florida. If you want to plant a tree, but…
Spanish moss: creepy or cool? What comes to mind when you think of a southern landscape? Large , graceful oaks draped oh-so-perfectly with Spanish moss ? Spanish moss is a quintessential part of our landscapes “down south” and it is often something that interests our visitors. What do you know about Spanish moss—there are many…
We want our plants to do their best: to grow, to be healthy, to flourish, to bloom, and in the case of fruit trees, to produce. As the Commercial Tropical Fruit Extension Agent for Miami-Dade County, I am often presented with what the grower sometimes believes are major problems, when in fact, the pest (or…
Are you an Extension professional or woman working in agriculture? Do you need help finding resources? There are many organizations and options out there if you know where to look. The Florida Women in Agriculture Association has begun compiling a list of resources for women in agriculture. We are happy to share this as it…
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Bin Liu to our Discover FSHN Series! Dr. Liu is an assistant professor of human nutrition in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida. Her lab‘s research focuses on investigating the effects of calcium on cardiac dysfunctions and developing novel therapies to treat diseases of the heart. In this interview, learn about…
Sarasota County is privileged to source its drinking water from diverse outlets, combining surface and well water to cater to the county’s needs. The Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority contributes roughly half of the county’s drinking water. The Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority draws surface water from the Peace River to…
Thatch is the layer of dead material and organic matter between the soil surface and grass. It gives Florida grasses a sponge-like feel under the feet that springs back when you step. This layer can be a double-edged sword. It provides many benefits but if left to accumulate can have a negative impact on the…