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Always wanted to be a UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer?

June 24, 2022
You can apply for the Fall 2020 Master Gardener Volunteer Class now! Master Gardener Volunteer Trainees toured Harry P Leu Gardens in Orlando with Director Robert Bowden.Do you enjoy gardening and want to know more about gardening in central Florida? Is conserving and protecting water quality important to you? Does acquiring new skills or expertise…

Cool Tips for the Outdoor Life in Summer

June 24, 2022
 Got the gardening bug? Craving a walk in the park? Even in the extreme heat of summer some of us just need to get outdoors every day. Nature and nurture calls to us. Gardening and visiting the Fruit & Spice Park over the 3-day weekend (Father’s Day and Juneteenth) I relished the time spent outdoors…

Weekly “What is it?”: Jubilee!

June 23, 2022
  High temperature projections throughout the southeastern United States for June 22, 2022. Map courtesy of weathermodels.com Boy, oh boy is it hot this week. Temperature predictions for today in the deep South look like the grades of a high achiever trying to earn extra credit for everything. I’ve been seeing highs of 104, 103, and 101–and…

Sugarcane Mosaic Virus

June 22, 2022
Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) is a virus of great concern for turfgrass aficionados. This past Winter, a local landscaper and I observed mottled, discolored turfgrass in an HOA located in Naples. We submitted samples of the turf to the molecular scientists at UF/IFAS turfgrass diagnostic services, and received a reports confirming that SCMV is culprit. So…

Whitefly, and Other June Pests in Jacksonville Gardens

June 20, 2022
Whitefly – under the leavesAs we round into June, the pest season heats up. Insects, being cold blooded, respond to the warming temperatures by growing rapidly through their life cycles. Whiteflies are a good example of this. These small pests take about 24 days to go through their immature stages and can live (and reproduce)…

Prickly pears – pain and delight

June 20, 2022
Prickly Pear Cactus – Structurally OrnamentalDid you know that we have a native prickly pear cactus here in Florida?  This low-growing species has attractive yellow flowers and forms a spreading clump.   Prickly pears or Opuntia, such as our native prickly pear, are classic cacti found native to the New World.  In addition to cultivated ornamental…

Have a Hydrated Summer!

June 17, 2022
STOP! Before you keep reading, take a big sip or a couple of sips of water……… Awesome job! Your organs thank you! Hydration- We all know it’s important for life but it can be a real challenge to stay on top of it, especially in the Florida heat and humidity. Proper hydration can prevent some…

Invasive plants can threaten native species by changing seasonal animal behavior

June 16, 2022
Invasive plants don’t just outcompete native plants but can also change animal behavior in ways that disadvantage native plants as well. Invasive cogongrass is a problem in longleaf pine ecosystems. A new study found that when cogongrass invaded longleaf pine ecosystems, cotton rats consumed more of the trees’ seeds than they did in areas without cogongrass. The study found…

Everything you need to know about One Health

June 16, 2022
Last March, the  United Nations Environment Programme  (UNEP) joined the  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  (FAO), the  World Health Organization  (WHO), and the  World Organization for Animal Health  (OIE) to constitute the  Quadripartite alliance for One Health  (see the  previous blog post  on this event). Shortly after, they issued a  new definition…

Lead in Drinking Water

June 15, 2022
Lead contamination poses a serious threat to drinking water safety. Both U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree that Lead is harmful to health, especially for children. There is no known safe level of lead in a child’s blood. Taking action to reduce these exposures can improve…

Common Wetland Types Found in Florida

June 15, 2022
Common wetland types found in Florida include: Descriptions of wetland types: Deep (salt) marsh Cypress dome Wet prairie Hydric hammock Hardwood swamp (bottomland) Cypress wetland Open water Shallow marsh Bayhead All wetland type description are taken from the Florida Natural Areas Inventory The illustration comes from an out of print publication by Lake County…
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