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Protecting Citrus from Cold Weather

    Frozen satsuma citrus during January 2014 ice storm in NW Florida. Credit: Larry Williams In North Florida, it’s wise to select the more cold hardy citrus varieties. Kumquats and Satsuma mandarins are the most cold hardy of the edible citrus choices. In our area, it’s important to purchase citrus trees that are grafted onto…

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Freeze Protection: What to Do?

For pets, do not leave your animals outside for a long period of time, even if they typically live outdoors. Treat your pets how you would like to be treated. If you are cold, they are cold. If you must leave pets outdoors, reinforce their shelter with straw or blankets. Plants: Cover what you can…

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Mindfulness at the Holidays

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, it’s supposed to be anyway according to all the hoopla. In reality the holidays are stressful. We all feel stressed from time to time and that’s very normal. However; the holidays bring on a whole new set of stressors. There are meals to plan, budgets to…

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Make Your Holidays Bright

The holidays can be a festive and beautiful time of year for many, but for others, it can be a very sad, nostalgic, and lonely time. The holiday season can bring about a range of different emotions. We are all different and experience our lives in our own unique way. Here are 10 tips…

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Better with Butterflies: Them and Us

Welcome to our last butterfly blog of the year. This month I want to summarize all the things we have talked about in the last 11 blogs to encourage you to get involved in protecting these delicate creatures. Butterflies are as essential to our survival as we are to theirs. Many plants cannot produce without…

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Grow a Little Olive Tree

One tree I meant to mention but forgot about in my previous post trying to convince everyone to consider alternative, non-pine Christmas trees is the humble olive. The one I bought three or four years ago is still going strong despite my shockingly poor husbandry. (Among other sins, I let two codominant trunks persist the…

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Caring for Landscape Plants After a Freeze

Selecting the right plant for the right place is important for many reasons, including maintaining healthy plants through a cold spell. Resident of Lake County, Florida live in plant hardiness zones 9A and 9B. Plants adapted to 9A can service temperatures as low as 20-25 degrees for short periods while those in 9B can tolerate…

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Start Healthy Holiday Traditions

Families and friends cherish holiday traditions because they have a way of bringing us closer. They often reflect our values and beliefs and provide a time to relate and communicate with one another. This quality time helps solidify relationships while enjoying and celebrating the holiday season. This year kick your traditions up a notch by…

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