on 
The newly opened Sandhills Native Nursery will be at Panama City Farmers Market this Saturday, May 14th. The nursery will be distributing ONLY pre-ordered plant orders at the market. If you are interested in ordering plants for pickup, the window closes at 4:30pm on Friday, May 13th. Place your order at the Sandhills Native Nursery website here.
on 
Tomorrow, May 4th, Dr. Katherine Richardson will be hosting an online class on Gopher Tortoise Friendly Yards. From 9am – 11am CDT, partake in the class by visiting this link. Dr. Richardson is the Gopher Tortoise Program Coordinator with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Gopher tortoises are a threatened species in Florida, making the 350 species that depend on their burrows for shelter also in danger. In fact, the presence of Gopher Tortoises can help save wildlife from wildfires! This webinar will teach participants what they can do to help support this fantastic native species.
on Coming to the Tallahassee UF/IFAS Leon County Extension this Saturday – the 2022 Open House and Plant Sale! From 8am – 11pm CDT, there will be UF/IFAS Extension agents, program partners, local groups, and more ready and willing to help you learn about gardening, natural resources, 4-H youth development, and family and consumer sciences. Participating groups include the Capital City Garden Club, Tallahassee Garden Club, Rose Society, Bonsai Society, UF/IFAS Bookstore, Apalachee Beekeepers Association, and more! 
Additionally, there will be Master Gardener Volunteers available to help you find the right plants. There will be over 3,000 plants – this includes fruits, vegetables, ornamental landscape, and more. Cash, credit, and checks will be accepted. This event also serves as a fundraiser; there will be a silent auction and bouquet sale. These events benefit programs such as 4-H scholarships, school and community gardens around the county, the UF/IFAS Demonstration Garden, and other educational efforts throughout the year.
on 
on 
The North Florida Wildflower Festival is this Saturday, April 30th! The festival will be held in downtown Blountstown; this includes Magnolia Square, the M&B Train Depot Museum & Park, and the Blountstown Greenway bike trail. The North Florida Wildflower Festival is an annual event run by the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, Florida Wildflower Foundation, Florida Panhandle Wildflower Alliance, University of Florida IFAS, RiverWay South Choctawhatchee Apalachicola, and Blountstown Main Street. The festival will feature wildflower and gardening-themed products, plants, arts and crafts, and kids’ activities.
Click on the image to see an expanded list of confirmed vendors. Keep up to date with announcements at the official Facebook event page here.
on The Chain of Parks Art Festival returns Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24. The festival is held across the Bloxham, Lewis, and Randolph “chain of parks” in downtown Tallahassee. Attendees can view and purchase art from 150 carefully selected fine artists. There will also be a number of highlighted events including:
In celebration of Earth Day and through a longtime partnership with Sustainable Tallahassee, the festival will focus on four sustainability initiatives — education, reducing Styrofoam, reducing landfill waste, and reducing food waste. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 23, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 24.
To learn more about the Chain of Parks Art Festival, visit www.ChainofParks.com(1).
on 
Leon County has a mosquito control request form located HERE; services include truck sprays, larvicide applications, domestic inspections, and mosquito fish introductions. Residents can also request to be put on the NO SPRAY list at the previous link. Looking for ways you can curb mosquitoes at your home? Follow the 5 D’s!
on Today from 12-1 pm CDT, UF|IFAS Extension is hosting a Gardening in the Panhandle Live event. Ask experts your gardening questions and learn all about subtropical fruits in the Florida Panhandle. Just follow the event to watch on Facebook Live here.
on 
Bay County has pulled out more than 1.5 million pounds of marine debris from its waterways since Hurricane Michael (2018). Hondo Enterprises is working alongside FWC and the University of Florida IFAS Program to clear the bay of broken-down boats.
Derelict vessels are anything but beneficial. It can damage and destroy shoreline vegetation and seagrasses. Seagrasses are home to about 85% of the marine life the community enjoys fishing and eating. Clearing debris and vessels also impact the real estate values in the area. Bay County counts on clean waterways, boating access, and fishing to fund the local economy.(1)
on Today is National California Strawberry Day, an annual event that kicks off the strawberry season in California. Luckily, even Floridians can enjoy this national day of celebration by planting Florida-safe strawberry varieties. There are a number of specific varieties that do well in the more humid Florida environment: Calibrate, Camarosa, Florida Belle, Florida 90, Rosa Linda, Sequoia, Sweet Charlie, Strawberry Festival, and Tioga. 
While the ideal time to plant strawberries via seed is early fall, it is possible to purchase and plant strawberry starter plants in spring. This is because strawberries require temperatures between 50°F–80°F, and less than 14 hours of daylight. In Florida, these conditions occur throughout the fall, winter, and spring. It is important to make sure the plant has excellent drainage and at least 8 hours of full sun. Strawberries are ready to harvest when three-quarters of the berry’s surface is red. The fruits not only entice local wildlife but also rot quickly, so be sure to harvest regularly once the plant begins producing.
Learn more about successfully growing strawberries in Florida at the UF | IFAS Extension website here.