Recently in our Master Gardener intern class I presented information about the Southern Magnolia tree. During my research, I was intrigued by the history of this beautiful and captivating tree. Magnolias evolved on Earth as far back as 95 million years ago during the Cretaceous period making the Magnolia the first known flowering plant. At this time bees were not in existence, therefore Magnolias evolved to be pollinated by UF/IFAS prehistoric insects. Today we know them as b

Naked Ladies is just one of the names of the lily, Lycoris. Other names are: Surprise lily, Magic lily, Resurrection Lily, and Red Spider lily. The flowers appear on their UF/IFAS own in late summer, just a bare stalk with a beautiful flower on top, no leaves...hence “naked” ladies. Another name is Hurricane lily because the flowers often come up after a good hard rain or a hurricane. Whatever you call them, these lilies are long-living. Many times you can see them in Northwe

Urban Legends About Urine Damage Colorado State University Dog urine damage is a common problem for home lawns, and one that has generated numerous home remedies and commercial products claiming to be cures for the spots. This lawn problem is misunderstood when it comes to causes and cures. Dog spotting on turfgrass is caused by the deposition of a high concentration of nitrogen (N)-containing compounds and associated salts on a small area in the lawn. These de

There are many ways to design a lovely home landscape while keeping in mind Photo: Lois Scott the needs and challenges of your furry friends. Paths of Dead Grass... Dogs tend to cause wear on turfgrass in specific areas, often near or along fences, which provide them good visibility. They like to patrol their territory. That’s why you might see your dog walking the same path over and over again every day. Often, it’s around the perimeter of the yard. Create paths or

Photo: Barbara Holder As far back as I can remember, I have always dug in the dirt, played with rocks, water, and flowers. A year ago, when we moved into a new home, there was an area of erosion beside a concrete brick wall. My husband said, “We need to extend the wall.” I said no, it’s a waterfall! After a few months of research, including reading and watching videos, I was ready to dig in! Steps included: Determine how big a pond and/or waterfall that you desire. Measur

When I first moved to Florida from the north, I planted tomatoes in pots in the yard. I was successful until one day I went to check on the tomatoes and the plants were bare! I looked at each plant closely and discovered 3-inch green caterpillars with black horns had invaded my plants. My husband and I picked them off the plants and flung them out of our yard. Now, I was told that any insect that causes damage to your plants is considered a pest. So all this time I’ve be

Florida’s extended growing season and abundant sunshine make the perfect opportunity for creating a culinary herb garden. Culinary herbs offer a low maintenance option with less pest and disease issues than many other plants. Culinary herbs usually require well-draining soil, a little sun, and not much else. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, in Florida you can enjoy fresh herbs at nearly any time of year. Rosemary Photo Credit: Andrea Light Florida has an ab

Blackberries (Rubus spp.) will not quickly jump into your mind when you think of fruit production in Florida. In fact, when you do think of blackberries, you will most likely envision viny plants infiltrating your gardens and attacking you with their tiny spines. These are dewberries and are not known for large or consistent fruit. Though scientifically of the same name, bush varietals are a world apart. Bush blackberries fall into the rosacea or rose family. They are deciduo

Foodscaping is a relatively new concept in horticulture which interplants edibles with ornamentals, or utilizes ornamentals that are also edible. One plant that exemplifies this is sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). This plant is in the grass family, ranging in color from green to red, resembling bamboo from afar. In the landscape, it makes a wonderful backdrop or feature, drawing the attention of passersby. Clumping Sugarcane UF/IFAS Photo Types of Sugarcane Chewing Cane Sug

Irrigation is quite a controversial topic in horticulture. Far too often, clients come into the office with struggling grass or detrimental fungal concerns in their gardens. The “go-to” conversation concerns the cultural practices being utilized in the landscape. Cultural controls include the homeowner’s landscaping and gardening practices. These can cover several topics, including proper fertilization, dealing with garden waste, and, of course, irrigation. While all these t

With all the rainy days in northwest Florida lately, you’d be forgiven for wondering if your property would be better suited to being one giant pond. More importantly, you may begin to wonder where all that runoff will end up. It will likely flow onto non-permeable surfaces, run to your local storm drain, and ultimately end up in the Gulf of America. That thought may be a little unsettling for most of us, given the amount of pollution that water carries. That certainly is a c