Splash into new online irrigation and landscape resources with the UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension’s Mobile Irrigation Lab site! This site is intended to serve as a resource hub for landscape, irrigation and water conservation information. The Mobile Irrigation Lab site also provides access to free online courses that anyone can take but, they are a…
It is no secret that it can be difficult hiring a landscape and/or pond professional that meets all of your community’s needs. Luckily, there is a website full of presentations and resources for hiring a landscape and pond professional. This site is intended to provide resources to maintenance professionals, pond committees, HOA members, realtors, or…
Levy County Extension hosts the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS) Extension Master Gardener volunteer (MGV) training program. Meeting Thursdays, January 26 – April 13, 9 am – Noon, Levy County Extension office, 625 North Hathaway Avenue, Bronson. Addressing challenges of gardening in North Florida; making the most of limited (and…
Bring out the pumpkin spice and apple cider – autumn is here! However, nothing screams autumn more than fall-colored leaves. Despite Florida’s warm climate, there are some trees here that turn beautiful shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall. On your next drive or walk through your neighborhood, look out for one of…
It’s that time of year where daily afternoon showers bring a lot of rain. One way to take advantage of this rain is by installing a rain barrel. Rain barrels collect water that falls from your roof. This water can be stored and used for your indoor plants, landscaping, and lawn. There are many benefits…
Recap of December First Friday with Florida First Detector On December 2nd, we covered the basics of invasive snails and slugs. Snails and slugs are a type of mollusk called a gastropod. Slugs are different than snails in that they typically lack a visible shell. For slug identification, we look at characteristics like the body…
Stormwater ponds are commonly seen throughout the state of Florida. Typically, each is built with the intention to prevent flooding by giving rainwater an area of low elevation to run to and filter stormwater prior to it entering larger watersheds sheds. Stormwater basins are great at diverting and catching rain to prevent flooding. However, more…
Planning to decorate with a holiday tree in your home this year? Why not think outside the box? In Florida, there is no reason to limit your search to pines and cedars. Other evergreen species abound, and some of them make their own, edible ornaments. Visit a nearby nursery and give your imagination free rein…
Introduction The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is the only resident brackish water turtle in the United States. Ranging from Massachusetts to Texas. This estuarine turtle spends much of its time in coastal wetlands such as marshes and mangroves but have been found in seagrasses. They feed primarily on bivalves, have strong site fidelity, and live…
Most of us have heard of invasive cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica). It arrived in the early part of the of the 20th century near Mobile Alabama and has spread across the lower southeast. It is an aggressive growing grass with serrated leaves and silica imbedded in its tissue. This makes it very undesirable for livestock and…