Happy Fall! Happy Fall, everyone! Fall is my favorite time of year. As the summer temperatures begin to wane, I feel invigorated. As the end of the month nears, trees’ leaves change to their usual colors of reds, yellows, oranges, and purples. Throughout our community we will see decorations abound, pumpkins aglow, and the sweet…
Master Naturalist students in the field, looking for aquatic invertebrates Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS ExtensionField work is the heart and soul of any good research project in botany or wildlife ecology. When kids—heck, even most adults—picture a “scientist,” usually one of two images comes to mind. First will be the chemist in a full…
The importance of greenspaces within urban areas provides essential habitats for the migrating Eastern Meadowlarks above and the Magnolia Warbler below.Human activities cause changes to wildlife biodiversity co-existing on urban and agricultural lands. For birds, little is known about the factors or extent these human activities impose on their biodiversity as they co-exist in…
Hello, Spooky Season Enthusiasts! October is here, and you know what that means: pumpkins, costumes, and lots of treats! But wait, should treats only mean sugar-laden candies and chocolates? This Halloween, let’s aim for treats that aren’t tricks on our health. Why Should We Care? Halloween may come just once a year, but its…
Welcome to our Lawn Ornament blog series, where we explore one of the plethora of micro-plants that can help create a biodiverse, predominantly green, yet also delightfully colorful lawn that requires much less maintenance than a traditional grass lawn. Many homeowners find it difficult and costly to maintain a “traditional” lawn, one largely dominated by a single…
Many homeowners find it difficult and costly to maintain a “traditional” lawn, one largely dominated by a single turfgrass cultivar. Embracing a biodiverse landscape can help ease the frustration and save money, with the added bonus of providing ecological benefits. This “Lawn Ornament” series will provide a road map to that goal. Along the way,…
“Variety is the Spice of Life” – White, Purplish and Pinkish False Heather – Ideal CompanionsAgain – under the umbrella of variety – I wanted to bring to your attention the fact that many common landscape plants can come in different color variations to the benefit of your plant palette. One such plant which I…
One of the few palms that do better in partial shade, Windmill Palms (Trachycarpus fortunei) are known for trunks bearing a burlap-like fibrous matting.Planting Site The Windmill Palm does best when not planted in area that is constantly in full sun (morning/afternoon sun or dappled shade), and it prefers well-drained soils. At maturity, it gets to…
Adult assassin bug feeding on a cornsilk fly. Photo credit: Megha Kalsi, UFWith a name like “assassin bug,” the tiny creature sounds like it could be the next star of a Marvel action movie. Leggy and intimidating, with black highlights and bright orange warning coloration, it could totally work as a comic book hero. The…
The complex world of honey bees is worth diving deeper into the colony to learn about their society. The Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is the most well-known representative of the honey bee family. This medium-sized bee is responsible for a sizeable percentage of crop pollination around the globe. They also produce wax, honey, and many…
There are many ways to help manage your pastures, one of them being weed management. Weed management involves scouting for weeds in your pastures frequently, being aware of ways to prevent seed contamination, and different ways to control weeds. Here are the steps for better weed control and management. Scouting for Weeds Scout for weeds…
The Foliage Alone is Breathtaking – Lime Sizzler™I am always impressed when an old familiar landscape plant comes in a new form or cultivar. The firebush is an example of a shrub that can be depended on in the landscape; noted for its durable nature and attractiveness. Firebush or Hamelia patens is a versatile shrub…
