We are fortunate to have several whale species that have been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico including humpback whales, Rice whales, fin whales, sperm whales, sei whales, and orca whales. Recently, however, we have seen multiple reports of whale sharks near shore in Destin and Panama City Beach. Whale sharks, however, are not whales,…
Carrollwood Village Park is the most visited park in Hillsborough County with over 1.2 million visitors per year. Now, the park features a newly installed native butterfly garden thanks to the Viva Florida grant from the Florida Wildflower Foundation and a partnership with UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Native butterfly garden at Carrollwood Village Park. Credit: Tia Silvasy The garden broke…
Adding fuel to the argument to use fire as a healthy forest management tool, University of Florida scientists say important pollinators survive the temporary displacement, while a common disease carrier often loses the battle. A pair of documents recently posted to EDIS, UF/IFAS Extension’s peer-reviewed online journal, detail bees’ and ticks’ relationships with fire. “Bees that…
August is recognized as National Water Quality Month! This is a great time to renew your commitment to protecting and enhancing water quality in Southwest Florida. Let’s face it – most of us live here because we love all of the water resources Florida has to offer. Whether you enjoy going to the beach, fishing,…
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th, and if you live or work in Manatee County Florida, here is how Manatee County residents can prepare for a hurricane. Sign Up for Alert Manatee If you live or work in Manatee County, you’ll want to sign up for Alert Manatee! You’ll receive alerts…
Written by Samantha Walter-Cano, Edited by Olivia Zugay Insects from Samantha’s collection.If you are reading this, that means my task for the summer is over. What task, you may ask? Collecting insects that is! That’s right, I had to collect and pin insects this summer. With over 40 insects of 14 different orders, this was no simple…
If you are anything like me, you may have a tendency to collect living beings that require routine care and attention, and the occasional house sitter. Once I realized there were enough cats and dog running around, I turned my attention towards houseplants, which are now in the realm of forty. While the cats and…
UF/IFAS Extension agents in Sarasota and Leon counties have teamed up on a unique approach to help meet a state mandate to ramp up recycling and cut waste heading to the landfill: home vermicomposting. Molly Jameson, of Leon County, and Randall Penn, of Sarasota County, collaborated in 2022 and 2023 to develop and deliver “Vermicomposting 101”…
Building A Hurricane Supply Kit
The Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1st and runs until November 30th, which means that’s it’s important to have a hurricane supply kit on hand just in case disaster strikes. Circumstances may require you to evacuate your home at a moment’s notice or hunker down and shelter in place to…
Thinking about all those Florida mangoes, what is your favorite way to enjoy fresh Florida mangoes? Fresh cut, mango salsa, chutney, mango jam, mango butter, smoothies? In my opinion, mangoes are best when fully ripe and fresh from the tree, eaten over the kitchen sink. Most of the early season mangoes are finished producing by…
Recap of August First Friday with Florida First Detector
In August, we talked about invasive pests on citrus. Historically, the citrus industry has been super important in Florida and continued to be today. Despite challenges in citrus production in recent years, Florida is still a top producer of citrus. The Florida citrus industry was valued…
Many people enjoy frequent snacking. There are so many choices to choose from! Some snack choices can be unhealthy and others healthy. Healthy snacking is important at any age. Why not make the most of your snacking by choosing healthy food choices that benefit your health? By choosing nutrient-dense snacks, you are providing your body…
