Category: Environment

Gopher Tortoise Friendly Yards

Debbie Roney Smith 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.

 

UF|IFAS Leon County Extention Plant Sale

Debbie Roney Smith 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.

Baker County: Agriculture Management Practices

Debbie Roney Smith on
The UF/IFAS Extension and the Florida Department of Agriculture are hosting a free event focusing on Agriculture Management Practices. The event will occur on Wednesday, May 4th from 8am – 9:30am CDT. Presentations will focus on soil and tissue sampling, interpreting your results & application of findings, as well as technical assistance and cost-share opportunities. You must register for the event beforehand; breakfast will be provided.
Contact: Alicia Halbritter, UF/IFAS Extension Baker County Agriculture Agent at 904-259-3520 or aliciah1221@ufl.edu
Register online:bakerbmp.eventbrite.com

North Florida Wildflower Festival

Debbie Roney Smith 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. 

Chain of Parks Art Festival

Debbie Roney Smith 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:

  • “The Village,” which features children’s art programs for young guests to participate in pop-up studios and make crafts
  • A Saturday Evening Groove, featuring Tallahassee Night Live from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23
  • A scavenger hunt, which will award the first 100 guests who complete the “festival passport” to win a prize
  • Four professional chalk artists from across the country who will create 3D chalk art for photo ops
  • A juried competition in which winning artists vie for $10,000 in awards
  • A live reenactment of Jacques Le Moyne in his French encampment

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).

Managing Mosquitoes, Leon County

Debbie Roney Smith 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!

Bay County’s Waterway Cleanup

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Bay County Waterways (2008)

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)

National California Strawberry Day Florida Style

Debbie Roney Smith 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. 

Spring Equinox Celebrations

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is the Spring Equinox, an annual date celebrating the arrival of spring. The dawning of spring brings warm, windy days, blooming flowers, and more light. It has been praised for eons around the world in various ways. For instance, in ancient Egypt, the Festival of Isis was held to celebrate the arrival of spring and rebirth via the worship of the goddess Isis. In Iran, the celebration of the coming of spring is called No Ruz which means ‘new day.’ It is a day dedicated to cleaning the house, repairing old items, and bringing in fresh flowers. Ostara is another beautiful spring celebration, often marked by nature worship, rituals, and fulfilling food.