Anyone that has ever put shovel to earth in South Florida knows that our “soil” is actually rock. The rock is a type of limestone known as Miami Limestone, or oolitic limestone, and is not coral as many people think. Limestone Gables didn’t quite have the right ring to it, so we stuck with Coral…
Hey there, fellow nature explorer! Let’s talk about a couple of feathered friends you might run into around wet and watery spots in Pinellas County: the American Coot and the Common Gallinule. You can catch them chilling by lakes, ponds, and marshes, rocking their snazzy red or orange beaks. Now, these two birds might seem like they went…
Fecal pollution can pose major health problems for those who live and play along the Gulf of Mexico. It also can be disastrous for local economies that depend on tourism. This issue is of increasing concern around Pensacola Bay, Florida, where beautiful beaches and a thriving tourism industry draw visitors from far and wide. However,…
October marks the end of most fertilizer restrictions in the Tampa Bay area. Most “summer bans” restrict the application of nitrogen and phosphorous from June 1st through September 30 during the rainy season. During the summer ban other nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, manganese, and iron can be applied. These other nutrients help turfgrass with resilience…
Written by Samantha Walter-Cano, Edited by Olivia Zugay Human Rights Month: Food Insecurity With the rise in prices and the impact of COVID-19 over the past few years, access to food has become harder for many around the world. This December is Human Rights Month, and one of the most basic rights in our world…
Every year in October, people all around Florida go nutty for a good cause. It’s the Peanut Butter Challenge—an annual food drive to fight hunger. Throughout October, people are encouraged to donate unopened jars of peanut butter to participating UF/IFAS Extension offices throughout the state. Once the jars are collected and tallied, they’re distributed to…
If you have read anything to do with pasture management you have probably come across the phrase Integrate Weed Management. So what does this phrase mean and how can you utilize it in your pasture management program? Integrated weed management is both an economically and environmentally sound approach to weed management. This approach involves scouting, prevention,…
Building a garden bed can be daunting to say the least. But here at UF/IFAS we are total nerds about all things gardening and we have some tips on building a garden bed this season. A raised garden bed is simply a structure built to grow plants above the existing soil on a…
PARTICIPATE IN THE LONGLEAF PINE RESTORATION SURVEY Longleaf pineThe Forest Landowners Association is conducting a survey of private landowners in the Southeast to gain insights into the complexities and challenges of longleaf pine restoration on private lands and identify potential opportunities to mitigate these challenges. This survey is for anyone who owns or manages forestland in the…
Florida is no stranger to the powerful forces of hurricanes that sweep through its landscapes, leaving devastation in their wake. Hurricane Idalia, Ian, and Irma have all drastically impacted our local landscapes in recent years. While immediate attention is often focused on the visible damage (ex. uprooted trees, down limbs, etc.) caused by these storms,…
Palmer with ice corer during research project.UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) student Katelyn Palmer spent this past summer conducting research in Greenland. The microbiology and cell science senior worked under UF/IFAS Microbiology and Cell Science Associate Professor Brent Christner. Their work focused on observing microbial colonies found in Greenland and their endurance within the extreme…
Palmer with ice corer during research project.UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) student Katelyn Palmer spent this past summer conducting research in Greenland. The microbiology and cell science senior worked under UF/IFAS Microbiology and Cell Science Associate Professor Brent Christner. Their work focused on observing microbial colonies found in Greenland and their endurance within the extreme…
