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Rain Lily – Wild Weeds

June 2, 2022
Wild Weeds – Weed of the Month Rain Lily Zephyranthes atamasca Rain Lily (photo by Eleanor Dietrich)Rain Lily is a short-lived perennial wildflower that occurs in moist flatwoods, river swamps, floodplains, and can often be found in ditches and roadsides. As the name suggests, this plant typically blooms after a rain shower. Flowering can occur…

Left to the elements: what happens to wildlife during hurricanes?

June 2, 2022
Hurricane Season Starts June 1st! Image credit: David Marks from PixabayAs we enter into this year’s hurricane season and people are reminded to gather appropriate stocks of water, medicines, pet supplies and nonperishables; be ready to board up their buildings and hunker down… have you ever wondered what happens to the wildlife left outdoors to weather a hurricane’s winds…

Better with Butterflies: Painted Ladies

June 1, 2022
This month I want to address the spiritual aspects or symbolism of butterflies across world cultures. Because of their unique lifecycle from humble crawly eating machine into a many colored, graceful flying insect, butterflies symbolize transformation, rebirth, hope and resurrection in many cultures and religions. In parts of Asia black butterflies may represent bad luck…

Make it a tea garden

May 31, 2022
 Southerners and sweet tea When I was a child we drank sweet tea. I didn’t really know where it came from but it was sweet and that suited me just fine. Later, I discovered tea was from the leaf of a plant. I had heard about tea leaves and it still didn’t resonate much. I…

Growing Blackberry in South Florida

May 31, 2022
 Scientific Name: Rubus fruticosus Common Names: bramble, blackberry, European blackberry, black heg, wild blackberry Origin: Europe and Asia Family: Rosaceae Other plants in the Rosaceae family: blackberries, raspberries and strawberries, apricots, plums, cherries, apple Climate: Blackberry grows best in temperate climates. We have some blackberry species that are native to Florida such as wild blackberry. However, wild blackberry does not have marketing…

Fresh and Healthy Summer Salad Mix

May 31, 2022
I couldn’t let May slip away without sharing a video I made showcasing how I make my fresh and healthy summer salad mix.  There is no cooking involved – only chopping some vegetables. This recipe calls for only six ingredients. In honor of national salad month, I share with you this recipe. by Carol…

Asian Vegetables Grown in Florida

May 31, 2022
  As Asian Pacific American Heritage Month comes to a close, let’s spotlight some Asian vegetables Florida growers produce. The below fun facts are from the Asian Vegetables Emerging in Florida series, published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department. Bitter Melon Bitter melon has been used in Asian and African herbal medicine for a long time, and its use…

Stop and smell the jasmine!

May 27, 2022
I like to highlight public places to see plants, and besides our own amazing Master Gardener Volunteer Demonstration Garden on Harborview Road, and the Nature Park in Punta Gorda, the History Park in Punta Gorda is another place to enjoy beautiful, well-cultivated landscapes.  During a recent visit to the History Park I found a wonderful…

It’s Been a Terrific Terrapin Season So Far

May 26, 2022
As the Sea Grant Extension Agent in Escambia County, one of my program areas is to help restore a healthy estuary.  To do this we focus on educating the public how to improve water quality, restore habitat, and manage invasive species, but we also focus on how to monitor fish and wildlife.  The fish and…

This Hurricane Season, Be Prepared for Anything

May 25, 2022
 The 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1. Are you ready? Maybe you think you’re ready—you’ve got some bottled water and canned goods to last a few days. Maybe you plan to get those things, just as soon as you hear the next hurricane will really make landfall near you. But if you’ve been in a grocery store lately,…

World Bee Day

May 24, 2022
When you read the word “bee,” what comes to mind?  Is it an image of a honeybee?  If so, you are in the company of most people.  Not many would argue the sweet benefits of this insect.  However, for me, I picture the clumsy, round bumblebee.  I can sometimes identify with these bees as they…

Researchers show how forested areas affect water resources in Florida

May 24, 2022
When rain falls on a forest, some of that water eventually flows into water bodies like rivers, wetlands, and aquifers. Scientists call this flow of water forest water yield, and how much water yield is produced depends on several factors. University of Florida scientists wanted to know how different features of Florida’s forests influence water…
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