Respecting the Rip
It was disheartening to read that even with double red flags flying, 22 people had to be recused from the Gulf near Destin, FL recently, and one person lost their life. In that spirit, I believe it is important to review information on the importance of respecting...
Horseshoe Crabs; the Ancient Mariner
Growing up in the Pensacola area, I do not remember seeing many horseshoe crabs around here, but I do remember them. What I actually remember was how common they were further east in the Panama City and St. Joe area. These animals are big fans of grass beds, as are...
The Florida Master Naturalist Program Training Local AmeriCorps Volunteers
By: Laura Tiu and Sheila Dunning For the second year in a row, University of Florida Extension Agents Sheila Dunning (horticulture) and Laura Tiu (marine science) taught a Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) Coastal Module to a newly recruited AmeriCorps...
Miniature Plants with Sizeable Character
Some of the world’s smallest flowering plants grow in aquatic environments. And a number of these tiny aquatic plants grow natively right here in Florida! Aquatic plants of all kinds display an amazing array of adaptations for growing in water. They can tolerate...
Beavers – Engineering Marvel or Farmer’s Frustration
Even though the “work” beavers do can sometimes cause frustration to land owners, they are truly amazing creatures. A number of questions have come into the Extension Office lately about managing beavers, so it is a good time to discuss a little about the history and...
Local Bluebirds Have Started Nesting
Bluebirds are very energetic birds. If you enjoy watching wildlife in your yard, now is a fantastic time to put up a few bluebird houses. You might gain hours of entertainment watching all the hard work these small birds put into gathering materials to build nests and...
Aquaponics: A Growing Hobby
There has been an increasing demand by clientele for information and training on small-scale food production methods to meet the growing demand for locally produced food and for personal consumption. One of the University of Florida Extension’s high-priority...
Slow the flow: Why should we care about stormwater runoff?
Stormwater runoff is water from rainfall that flows along the land surface. This runoff usually finds its way into the nearest ditch or water body, such as a river, stream, lake or pond. Generally speaking, in natural undeveloped areas only 10% of rainfall is runoff....
NISAW 2017: Bamboo
Standing in the midst of a stand of bamboo, it’s easy to feel dwarfed. Smooth and sturdy, the hollow, sectioned woody shoots of this fascinating plant can tower as tall as 70 feet. Unfortunately, bamboo is a real threat to natural ecosystems, moving quickly through...
NISAW 2017: The Kudzu Bug
A few years ago, Florida is extended a warm welcome to a new pest – The Kudzu Bug! The kudzu bug was first documented in the US in 2009 in Northeast Georgia. It has quickly spread throughout the southeast. At first, a pest that attacks kudzu sounds pretty good but...