Hello Avid Readers and welcome back! This week we will be celebrating slightly in advance of Pollinator Week. Our vegetable and flower gardens serve as a point of pride for many of us green thumbs. We want to protect our veggies from pests, but it is important to keep our pollinator friends in mind. So,…
June offers hotter temperatures, humidity and possible thunderstorm activity. In addition, school is out and many people take time to go on vacation. This leaves less time for landscape and garden chores. But there are things to do in the June landscape and garden here in the Northwest Florida area. In today’s article, I’ll share…
The sun is shining and the heat is here…it’s summertime in Florida! Whether you’re a native Floridian or just visiting, it’s always important to remember to practice sun safety here in the “Sunshine State.” What are the best ways to protect your skin from the sun? Wear a wide brimmed hat; a wide-brimmed hat will…
Life can be full of wonderful experiences. Falling is not among them. There is nothing pleasant about losing a sense of control, panicking while searching for a way to stabilize oneself, then feeling all kinds of pain after landing on the ground. A flurry of worrying questions may emerge in the aftermath of a…
As the warm sun rays beckon the arrival of summer, we often think of joyful moments, relaxation, and adventure. However, for many children, summer break can be a time of uncertainty, particularly when it comes to access to proper nutrition. Fortunately, there is a solution: the Summer Break Spot Program. In this blog, we will…
Pinellas County is the first “Bee City USA” county in the state of Florida. The “Bee City USA” program is a recognition program from the Xerces Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to invertebrate conservation. “Bee City USA” designation can apply to a city or county, and there is even a “Bee Campus USA” for schools. To qualify, a…
Photo by Juliet Johnson of Mandarin Garden Club member’s garden in June 2023
Plants should be looking good in full growth. If our yard has a well-balanced ecosystem, pests and diseases are usually minor. Birds need caterpillars to feed their young. Bees and butterflies are busy gathering nectar and pollen while they are pollinating our…
A wide selection of St Augustine grass cultivars is available on the market. The wide selection brings about versatility. Some cultivars, such as Bitterblue, ProVista and CitraBlue, will do well in partial shade, while Floratam needs full sun. Many people would like the option to purchase St. Augustine and found out that seeds are not…
Marigolds are commonly used in decor as garlands, necklaces and wreaths during Hindu weddings or in Hispanic celebrations such as Day-of-the-Dead (Nov. 1st).
Hi! I’m Karen Stauderman, a Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent for the University of Florida based out of Volusia County. Often in extension, we receive lots of questions on what to grow…
Florida is full of options for growing fruits at home and an often overlooked option is the pomegranate. Pomegranates are best adapted to a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers. This does not match Florida exactly but they do have decent cold tolerance and some varieties can produce a good crop. However,…
Use Asiatic jasmine as a turf substitute in the landscapeAsiatic jasmine is a common groundcover used in many local landscapes that can in fact make a nice turf alternative in selected sites. Actually, not related to jasmine – so don’t count on the flowers – Asiatic jasmine is a groundcover that is versatile and even…
June 6th is World Pest Day. And what better way to “celebrate” the pests which eat our crops than to expose their wicked ways. We should be aware that, around the world, we all fight some of the same insect pests. The following are the 10 most common plant crop pest insects worldwide. You may even…
