Blueberries have a limited history mixology but there are several blueberry beverages out there. One common method of using blueberries in drinks is through muddling fresh blueberries in the bottom of the cocktail while mixing to add in the flavor and juice. These drinks should be strained after to remove the heavy pulp and seeds.…
Just recently, I received a great plant from a volunteer – a sharp and pointy agave, large but in its infancy. Despite its young age, it is still an ornery plant for the garden. This agave when planted in the landscape will grow to become a large and lovely plant with green and light green…
Smilax is a common vine that can pop up in unwanted spots in landscapes. Learn about how this plant grows and management techniques with UF IFAS Escambia County Extension. by Beth BollesSource: UF/IFAS Pest AlertNote: All images and contents are the property of UF/IFAS.
HURRICANE SEASON AROUND THE CORNER Hurricane season begins June 1, along with a webinar series on hurricane preparation and recovery topics. The series starts June 1 with a review of the casualty loss deduction for tax purposes and how to determine your basis We’ll continue June 15 with some important tips to help you…
Have you ever wondered, What is pesticide drift and how do I prevent it? When pesticides move away from their intended site they can cause environmental, health, and legal concerns. This and other factors make it important for pesticide applicators, whether in a home garden or a 500 acre farm, to understand what drift is…
A wildfire modeling study found that the risk of spot fires, where lofted sparks ignite foliage or buildings, increases in places where woody plants like shrubs and trees replace herbaceous plants like grasses. Prescribed burning reduces the amount of fuel and is therefore a proactive tool for mitigating spot fire risks. Although conducted in Nebraska,…
In terms of diversity and abundance, the Phylum Arthropoda is the most successful in the Animal Kingdom. Between them all, there are over one million species. They can be found in all habitats, from the deepest part of the ocean to the highest places in the mountains, from the polar region to the most extreme…
A surprising number of plants can be used in our landscapes that are edible. In addition to the many traditional fruit and vegetable plants, there are other plants that are not as often considered, including some ornamentals and even “weeds” that have edible qualities.
In addition, many vegetables and herbs, which are normally grown only in…
My wife and I like to sit on our back porch and watch the sunset each day. We do not make all of them, but we try to make as many as we can. We often see small bats darting in all directions feeding on bugs. Recently we were enjoying a particularly great sunset. The…
Black-eyed Susans. A. Marek, UF/IFAS
If you’re looking for a bright pop of yellow color in your flower garden, look no further than the lovely Rudbeckia. There are actually 9 species of Rudbeckia native to Florida (Atlas of Florida Plants), but the most famous of them are the Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta). This stunning wildflower can…
Most of us in the Florida panhandle realize how important seagrasses are to the ecology of our estuaries. Not only do they provide habitat for commercially important finfish and shellfish, but they also help trap sediments, remove nitrogen from the system, and slow coastal erosion. But seagrasses throughout Florida have suffered over the last 50-60…
In Part 5 of this series, we looked at a group of invertebrates that few people see, and no one is looking for – worms. But in this article, we will be looking at a group that seagrass explorers see frequently and some, like the bay scallop, we are actually looking for – these are…
