A New Yorker cartoon shows a lady shopping a garden center bench for plants. She has three choices at three price points: annuals, $6; perennials, $10; eternals, $749.95. No matter what the cost, plants don’t live forever. And if they did, what would they cost? They’d probably cost more than $749.95. Even though we know …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/08/18/plants-dont-live-forever/
Cupheas are perennials that produce bright orange, red, yellow or purple flowers all summer and fall. Some species are called cigar plants due to their tubular, cigar shaped flowers tipped in red or yellow (like a lit cigar). Others are sometimes called firecracker plants because their cylindrical flowers are bright red or orange (looking …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/08/17/plant-cupheas-for-summer-flowers-hummingbirds-and-more/
If you are one of the many that have taken advantage of the frequent rain in order to establish a new lawn, keep an eye open for “grass worms”. Though truly caterpillars, not worms, these destructive, chewing insects can wreak havoc on new sod. Tropical sod webworm larvae are destructive pests of warm season turfgrasses …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/08/17/grass-worms/
July’s hot summer weather has given way to August’s 31 days of what will likely be temperatures and humidity equally elevated and intense. Wishes for November’s cooler thermometer reading are already creeping into daily conversations. The lawns and gardens in Wakulla County have rains as a mitigating factor to counteract the wilting potential of normal …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/08/11/summer-irrigation-tips/
Growing in containers can be one of the most versatile ways to add color, texture and mobility to the landscape. However, gardeners generally reach for finicky annuals to fill their pots with pizzazz. The problem with this strategy is that most annuals and perennials need to be watered constantly, fertilized regularly, and changed out with …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/08/11/surefire-shrubs-for-containers/
Ethnobotany lies at the intersection of culture, medicine, and mythology. The “witch doctors” and voodoo practitioners, the followers of the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria, and the wise elders of ancient Chinese civilizations are all ethnobotanists. So, too, are the modern day field biologists who discover and develop medicinal plants into an estimated half of our …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/08/11/ethnobotany-where-history-and-medicine-meet-the-forest/
Many folks may not realize it at first, but everyone is using pesticides. Have you recently used a mold or mildew removal cleaner in your bathroom? Do you apply flea & tick powder to your pet? It is a misconception that only farmers, ranchers and lawn and garden enthusiasts are pesticide users. So, let’s all keep safety in …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/08/01/safety-and-best-management-practices-essential-for-pesticide-use/
The Jackson County Master Gardeners will host a “Gardening in Containers” Workshop on Saturday, August 19 from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Jackson County Extension Office, 2741 Penn Ave., Marianna, FL. The workshop will give you simple tips on growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers in containers. Bring your own unique container. Plant material …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/08/01/gardening-in-containers-workshop-august-19/
Florida’s panhandle has received quite a bit of rain this summer. In the last three months, depending on the location, approximately 15 to 35 inches of rain have come down, with the western panhandle on the higher end of that range. In addition to the rain, we all know how hot it has been with …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/08/01/recent-weather-fueling-fungi/
I encountered pickleweed (Salicornia sp.) on a recent trip to Utah. I first noticed the plant growing in the bank of a pond at a salt factory. A sample was pulled for further investigation and it was determined to be some type of pickleweed. Pickleweed also happens to be a common name for a plant …
Permanent link to this article: http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/08/01/pickleweed-a-novelty-plant/
