Are you familiar with how the  was created, and when? This is a good time to learn because statewide networks of Extension Services all over the United States are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. In the mid-19th century the US Government established land grant colleges in each state. These colleges, focusing on agriculture and mechanical arts, were funded by endowments established by the sale of large amounts of land. Florida’s first land grant college, , was established in Lake City in 1884. About 20 years later the Florida Legislature combined the Florida Agricultural College with three other state schools …

If you’re looking for plants to use to decorate in and around your home for , there are lots of choices. This time of year  provides a wealth of colorful yellow, orange, and purple blooms, as well as plants with eerie formations and “spooky” names to help you set just the right environment for your jack-o-lanterns, scarecrows, witches, and ghosts. Starting with fall color, , , , , and  provide both yellow and orange blooms for your Halloween designs. , , , and  have orange flowers, while the blooms of , , , and  are all yellow. , , and …

In March of this year, I attended a workshop on  at the . There were several very interesting presentations, but one in particular, “Grow Bucket Gardening,” really caught my fancy. According to the class description, using grow buckets would help me water more efficiently, reduce weeds, and reduce the costs associated with growing vegetables. The presenter, Kay Robbins, had used this approach for a number of years with consistent success. She was particularly fond of growing tomatoes in grow buckets, but she was quick to say that peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, okra, and squash would also work well. The concept is …

Many of us feel a sense of serenity and a connection with nature when we’re around a body of water. Florida has more than 10,000 miles of rivers and streams, nearly 8,000 lakes, over 700 freshwater springs, and the second longest coastline in the United States. With all the news in recent years about the health of our waterways, we are becoming more and more aware of the challenges of maintaining our gardens and lawns in a Florida-Friendly way. Even if we don’t live on the water, we all live in a watershed area that ultimately drains into a body …

You may have heard that the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. What you may not know is that the “and Gardens” part of the Jacksonville Zoo’s name was added in 2004. This represents a mini-milestone for Jacksonville’s own botanical gardens – a 10th birthday within the grander centennial celebration. In recent years I have gone on quite a few Saturday Garden Walks at the zoo. These botanical adventures are led by knowledgeable horticulture department employees who talk about plants and other points of interest based on the theme of that day’s walk. Some of …

Spring is finally here! If you’re like many gardeners, you lost some of your tender or tropical plants to the freezing weather in January and February. If you have some space in your garden for new plants, why not select trees that provide delicious fruits you and your family can enjoy? When purchasing a fruit tree it pays to do your homework up front. Many years ago after we first moved to Florida, I bought a peach tree for our yard. I visualized a lovely tree teeming with scented blossoms in the spring, followed by delicious juicy peaches in early …

Are you (or do you wish to be) a Florida-Friendly gardener? If so, the  invites you to have a  visit your yard. This team of volunteer Master Gardeners will not only confirm your successful practices; they will also suggest how you can make your outdoor environment even more Florida-Friendly. If you aren’t familiar with the Florida-Friendly concept, go to http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ to see what is involved. You may be surprised to know you probably already employ some or even all nine Florida-Friendly practices: 1. Select plants that do well in our area and place them in a location where they will …

Why use  in your garden? Seems like a simple question, but there’s more to it than just making your yard more esthetically pleasing. It’s a smart gardening practice for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, mulch retains moisture, reducing the need to water plants. The  recommends a two to three-inch layer of mulch, stopping an inch or two away from base of the plant. For trees, don’t mulch within 12 inches of the trunk, and don’t mulch citrus trees at all. Mulch thicker than the recommended depth may reduce airflow and cause the retention of too much moisture. “Volcano …