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Foolproof Palm Care: Scrub Palmetto

One of a handful of native palms, the Scrub Palmetto (Sabal etonia) is a smaller and less common relative to the ubiquitous Saw Palmetto. It is slow-growing and like the Saw Palmetto, produces berries which provide food for wildlife. Its flowers are also a nectar source for butterflies.Planting Site The Scrub Palmetto prefers full sun but will…

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Post-Hurricane Landscaping Tips: Check for ‘Widow Makers’

      As Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension Horticulture Agent Ashley Ellis and FFL Community Educator Forest Hecker were leaving Evacuation Center duty after Hurricane Idalia, they spotted this newly formed ‘widow maker’. Which is a branch, broken off a tree, that is suspended in a tree until it falls much later. Hurricanes can wreak havoc…

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Gopher Apple – Wild Weeds

Licania michauxii   Gopher apple is a low-growing woody shrub that aptly received it’s name since as an important food source for gopher tortoises. The fruit is also edible to humans but virtually tasteless. You’ll find this plant occurring in Florida sandhills, pine and scrubby flatwoods, scrub, coastal dunes, and pine rocklands. Blooms typically…

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September 2023 First Friday with Florida First Detector

Recap of September 2023 First Friday with Florida First Detector For our September First Fridays with Florida First Detector, we revisited some basics about invasive species and their impacts on Florida. An invasive species is a non-native species that causes some kind of damage to humans. This can be economic losses in agriculture or horticulture,…

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Why won’t my tree fruit?

There are a number of controllable factors that combine to create a tree healthy enough to fruit. A healthy tree must have a strong root system, adequate light, proper pruning, proper nutrition, the right age, proper pollination, no mechanical damage, been planted properly, and adequate irrigation. The question, “Why won’t my tree fruit?” is one…

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Is Your Landscape Prepared For The Storm?

Living in the beautiful coastal community of Flagler County, Florida, comes with its fair share of perks, but it also means being prepared for the potential impact of hurricanes. As hurricane season approaches, it’s crucial to not only secure your home but also to take measures to protect your landscape. By planning ahead and following…

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Preparing for Hurricane Idalia

You might say this is a strange title – “meet the barnacle” – because everyone knows what a barnacle is… or do they? As a marine science instructor, I gave my students what is called a lab practical.  This is a test where you move around the room and answer questions about different creatures preserved…

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