Growing your own leaf lettuce can be a rewarding and tasty experience, but it’s crucial to know the ins and outs of providing the right conditions for a thriving crop. Here’s a concise guide to the optimal growing conditions and care for your leafy greens in the garden: Sunlight: Leaf lettuce thrives in cooler weather and…
Up close view of the muhly grass inflorescence (flowers and seeds) that provide fall color.Plants at Their Peak: Magical Muhly! As late autumn arrives, native Muhly grass ( Muhlenbergia capillaris ) takes center stage in Florida landscapes, showcasing its natural beauty and ecological significance. Muhly grass is a true spectacle during this season,…
Growing up to 90 ft. tall, the Washington Palm (Washingtonia robusta) is one of the tallest in the palm family. At this height, it can be visually over-powering in landscapes with single-story buildings, but makes a great addition to landscapes with taller buildings.Planting Site Washingtonias do best in full sun and prefer well-drained soils. In addition to…
“I’m interested in farming, but I don’t know where to start.” This is a common question, and the typical answer is… plan it out first. When you plant a seed, you don’t just toss it in the soil. You determine what it needs to thrive, gather supplies, determine the correct planting time, and follow…
This November, we’re celebrating Wildlife Wednesdays with unique stories of gratitude for the animal kingdom. From pollination to pest management, follow along with this month-long blog series each Wednesday to learn why we have much to thank the wild, wacky world of wildlife for. In the previous blog, we explored the connection between turkey vultures and climate…
The bright red berries of yaupon holly are particularly eye-catching during the fall. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS ExtensionFor most of the year, yaupon (pronounced “yo-pon”) holly is the nondescript evergreen backdrop to forested areas throughout the Panhandle. But in the fall, these plants are bursting with brilliant red berries. There are 9 holly species native…
It’s fitting that Veterans Day and Thanksgiving fall within the same month, because if there’s one thing we all should be thankful for, it’s the service of our military veterans. In the 246 years since our nation was founded, our veterans have made the greatest sacrifice to protect our safety and our liberties. Every man…
From local garden enthusiasts to aficionados in Facebook groups, the topic of seed saving has an air of sacred duty. Individuals engage the ritualistic seed harvest from the crops they grew or purchased, picking through mounds of wet plant goo, smearing seeds on paper towels, and carefully curating them in well-marked recycled jars. Here in Gainesville, FL…
Introduction The term ‘skeletonizers’ is…
Ghost plant in bloom at Naval Live Oaks reservation in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Photo credit: Shelley W. JohnsonThis time of year is surrounded with creepiness—October is full of haunted houses, scary costumes, and spooky music. Halloween and the Day of the Dead are, at their essence, times when we reflect on the relationship between life…
In both temperate and tropical climates in the Western hemisphere of the world, fall marks a time of transition. Rainy season to dry season, or summer through winter, the natural world around us changes. As oak trees grow heavy with their acorn crops, the wildlife that depend upon them to get through the next season…
Nutrition labels are very valuable because what you eat and put into your body is important. People need to be informed and control what they eat for both meals and snacks. One of the best ways to do this is to read food labels. MyPlate is also a great tool created to help us eat…
