Free, online class:
Beekeeping: Is it for me?
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
6:00pm-8:00pm Eastern Time
Find out if beekeeping would be a good hobby or business for you! We cover the basic considerations for potential beekeepers: startup costs, legal aspects, space needs, physical requirements, risks, equipment needed, and time requirements for hive maintenance. Presented by…
When considering your home, pesticides, and pets, have you ever wondered, “Is my cat or dog safe?” Monday, August 8th is International Cat Day. In honor of our furry goblin overlords, this week’s blog is about their safety. For many of us, our pets are a part of the family. We want to keep them safe,…
The definition of a weed is a plant growing where it is not wanted. Weeds in a pasture can limit productivity, reduce forage growth, and cause livestock harm. Weeds and forage grasses are constantly competing for resource and can be costly for producers.
Characteristics that make up a good plant consists of a preferred perennial…
Why am I “wild” about Florida native plants…….because they are the original settlers who came from all over the world and found a home in Florida. They decided that Florida was the perfect place to call home. Native plants are a good choice for the Florida gardener who wants to work less in the garden,…
This is the 5th blog in this series.
So far, we have covered knowing the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, sources of water, tips to drink more water, and ideas to beat the heat and stay safe. Next, I am going to cover some tips and suggestions about fire preparedness. This platform is the perfect…
Wild Weeds – Weed of the Month
Lachnanthes caroliana
Carolina Redroot (photo by Joseph Tauscher)
Carolina redroot is a perennial herbaceous wildflower that occurs naturally in wet flatwoods, marshes, bogs, dome swamps, savannas, and coastal swales. Blooms of this plant are a creamy whitish-yellow and are borne in fan-like terminal clusters atop erect stems. The plant…
Recent economic indicators are not positive. Our financial forecasters are seeing storm clouds of inflation and higher interest rates forming. While it all may not be doom and gloom, we might be smart to start preparing to weather a financial storm.
Know Where You Stand
Now is a good time to take a snapshot of…
Although not a panacea for lawncare issues, Bermudagrass is a hardy turf option, tough enough to handle lots of foot traffic and horsing around (no pun intended). Because of its tough-enough reputation, Bermudagrass is the species of choice for many sports facilities including golf-courses and ball-fields. It also has the advantage of being able to…
In this session of the “Let’s Talk About Ag BMPs” series, we met with Dr. Vivek Sharma from the University of Florida Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department to discuss Irrigation Best Management Practices. We got to pick Dr. Sharma’s brain on the definition of Irrigation BMPs, the differences between Traditional and Best Management Irrigation Practices,…
Lettuce growing in a hydroponic system. Photo by Jonael Bosques, UF/IFAS Extension, Hardee County.
Each year we have less agricultural land available, making it more difficult for farmers to acquire land to grow crops due to urban development increases in Florida.
From 2010 to 2019, Florida’s population grew 14.2% to become the third most inhabited state…
Calycanthus floridus, Sweetshrub
Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) is a great selection for moist locations. The flowers develop in midspring and have maroon to brown, strap-like petals, and a fragrance like that of strawberries. Historically, the petals were used as a sachet to freshen dresser drawers. Occasionally, they are used in potpourris. The leaves and fruits release…
When you hear pumpkins you may think of fall, Halloween, and cooler weather. To enjoy all the goodies that pumpkins give us like pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin pie it first begins with a seed. I personally enjoy pumpkin spice latte. Regardless of what you chose to use your pumpkin for, it takes around 100…
