Going Batty
With their uncanny ability to silently function in total darkness and hang out in creepy locales, it is no wonder that bats are the perfect icon for Halloween. Florida is home to 13 species—some common and some relatively rare. A…
Author: Les Harrison
Protecting Your Yard
Local scale insects are plant parasites that feed on the juices drawn directly from the plant’s vascular system. In general, they can be divided into two main categories: armored or soft. North Florida has both kinds. Some are very particular…
Lively Summer Gardens
Most birds have a few distinctive calls that identify them. The northern mockingbird is the exception, with its ability to mimic or mock the call of other birds, hence the common name. They have also been observed imitating non-avian sounds.…
Blooms and Berries
Vaccinium is a low maintenance native plant genus with dependable spring blooms. The plant also produces edible berries that are a favorite of birds. Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboretum) is the only North American member of the Vaccinium genus capable of reaching…
Winter Wonderland
From a home landscape perspective, the winter months should be free from pests. But while insect activity is at an absolute minimum, foliage is still at risk. White-tailed deer, a native herbivore, frequently stray into suburbia during the depths…
Water Monitoring
One often overlooked landscape task during late autumn is watering the lawn and landscape.
Scale Insects are Lions in Winter
One of the many beneficial changes associated with the cooler season in the Tallahassee area is the severe reduction in insect activity.
Flowering Cherry
Late autumn into early winter is the ideal time to brighten any home landscape with the Taiwan Cherry.
Milkweed and Monarchs
Fall is the time to start removing milkweed from the residential wildflower garden. To prepare for next year’s crop of milkweed, collect seed now.
Transplant Those Shrubs with Care
Master gardener offers advice for moving plants to new locations in your landscape
Getting Ready for Springtime Blooms
Everything you need to know about domesticating wildflowers seed beds
Irrigation Season Requires Measured Approach
Quench your lawn’s thirst, but don’t drown it
Root Crops, Hardy Annuals Dig the Cool
Autumn and early winter offer many opportunities for home landscape and garden activities
Plant veggies now, enjoy second harvest
Now is the time to add annuals and bedding plants to the home landscape to complement the autumn season’s color. These may be started with seeds in some cases, and there are many species and cultivars readily available in retail…
