Florida-Friendly Fall Plants

To get great Fall color consider adding the following Florida-Friendly Plants.

Gazania - annual

Coleus - comes in many varieties

Beauty Berry

Herbs - Purple Basil adds Fall color

Celosia - annual

Save the Date - Nov. 5th for the Walkabout

Plant a Pollinator Garden.

September is National Pollinator Month so help out our hard working friends by establishing a pollinator garden. Pollinators need your help! There is increasing evidence that many pollinators are in decline.  However, there are some simple things you can do at home to encourage pollinator diversity and abundance.

Plant a Pollinator Garden. The most obvious need for pollinating species is a diversity of nectar and pollen sources.  Consider the following when choosing plants for your garden:

• Choose plants that flower at different times of the year to provide nectar and pollen sources throughout the growing season
• Plant in clumps, rather than single plants, to better attract pollinators
• Provide a variety of flower colors and shapes to attract different pollinators.  
• Whenever possible, choose native plants.  Native plants will attract more native pollinators and can serve as larval host plants for some species of pollinators. 

To create a design that will invite your favorite pollinators to your garden look at this chart.


Avoid or Limit Pesticide Use. Pesticides can kill more than the target pest. Some pesticide residues can kill pollinators for several days after the pesticide is applied. Pesticides can also kill natural predators, which can lead to even worse pest problems. Consider the following when managing pests in your garden:

• Try removing individual pests by hand if possible (wearing garden gloves)
• Encourage native predators with a diverse garden habitat
• Expect and accept a little bit of pest activity
• If you must use a pesticide, choose one that is the least toxic to non-pest species, does not persist on vegetation, and apply it in the evening when most pollinators are not as active. Read and follow label directions carefully.

Florida-Friendly Fence Plants

Click here and go to page 22

Looking for Florida-Friendly fence plants to create a screen?  Above is an excerpt from our Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Pattern Book.  The link shows a sample plan that offers variety creating a great screen and diversity in your yard.  The back of this book lists plant material that will thrive in Manatee County.  Attention needs to be paid to the light conditions, soil types and watering needs of each plant to match it to your site conditions.

Avoid the monoculture.  Planting a screen that consists of only one variety can cost you in the end.   Using one plant variety to create a hedge has been popular because it can provide even growth and a straight line
to guide pruning.  A monoculture hedge does have a few problems. What if an insect or disease strikes your hedge? All of your shrubs could be lost or you could end up with random large dead holes


A better alternative is to plant a hedge using a variety of large and small shrubs and trees. Generally, something that requires screening will need it the year round, so evergreens naturally predominate in any list of screening plants. But don’t be afraid to add a deciduous plant. A few deciduous plants can provide wonderful color. When choosing plants for screening, check the available space carefully and know the mature height and width of the plant. Be sure that the plants you choose will fit in the allotted space without an undue amount of maintenance. If you have to frequently prune your plants to keep them in check, it’s more than likely you used the wrong plant for that location. Also, when mixing several different types of plants, be sure to choose ones with similar growth and water requirements.

Put some fireworks in your yard

Put some fireworks in your yard this 4th of July.  Red, white and blues gardens can be achieved with a number of plants here in Florida.

Scarlet Salvia, Saphire Salvia, Dusty Miller

Blue Iris

White Penta

Red Penta

Blue Plumbago

White Plumbago

Powder Puff

These plants can give you a POP of color to enjoy while you are celebrating this 4th of July.

Install Now, Harvest Later

Now is a great time to install a rain barrel.  I know, it's dry and we need rain.  However, it is a great time to clean out those gutters and install so that when the rains finally get here you are prepared.  Rain barrels are available for $16.75 and you can attend a workshop on how to install and maintain one for free.  Register at http://combo71611-eorg.eventbrite.com/ for the July 16th workshop.

Composting Toilet

In planning a trip to a Florida spring I found advertised "composting toilets". I teach both worm and landscape composting but am unfamiliar with human waste composting so I decided to do a little research.  Maybe we need to add a new class!

Composting toilets are toilet systems which treat human waste by composting and dehydration to produce a useable end-product that is a valuable soil additive. They come in a variety of models and brand names as well as different shapes and designs to enhance the natural composting process. They use little or no water, are not connected to expensive sewage systems, cause no environmental damage and produce a valuable resource for gardening.  Sounding good so far.

Some disadvantages are:
• Maintenance of composting toilet systems requires more responsibility and commitment by users and owners than conventional wastewater systems.
• Removing the finished end-product is an unpleasant job if the composting toilet system is not properly installed or maintained.
• Composting toilet systems must be used in conjunction with a graywater system in most circumstances.
• Smaller units may have limited capacity for accepting peak loads.  Wait, what?  Okay, size matters!


I now find myself looking forward to visiting a toilet.  My August blog will definitely include a report from the John.

I am not sure the residents of Manatee County are ready for a full class on this type of composting although it does have some great environmental advantages, maybe we'll mention it in our other composting classes.

Weekend Plans? Get Out and Enjoy our Wetlands

It is American Wetlands Month - Enjoy some this weekend!

Plant ID & Nature Tour - DeSoto Memorial/Riverview Preserve

May 14, 2011

Stroll through DeSoto National Memorial and Riverview Pointe Preserve with a Master Gardener volunteer to learn more about Florida's native plants and inhabitants of a coastal habitat.  This program is suitable for all ages. 

This tour is FREE and will take place from 9:00 - 11:00am.  Call the Master Gardeners at (941) 722-4524 to register.

Plant ID & Nature Tour - Robinson Preserve

May 15, 2011

Stroll through Robinson Preserve's salt marshes with a Master Gardener volunteer to learn more about Florida's native plants and inhabitants of a coastal habitat.  This program is suitable for all ages. 

This tour is FREE and will take place from 9:00 - 11:00am.  Call the Master Gardeners at (941) 722-4524 to register.

May is American Wetlands Month

Emerson Point

Identify your watershed and find the wetlands in your neighborhood. Learn more about them and share what you learn with someone you know! Encourage neighbors, developers, and state and local governments to protect the functions and values of wetlands in your watershed.

Although wetlands are best known for being home to water lilies, turtles, frogs, snakes, alligators, and crocodiles, they also provide important habitat for waterfowl, fish, and mammals. Migrating birds use wetlands to rest and feed during their cross-continental journeys and as nesting sites when they are at home. As a result, wetland loss has a serious impact on these species. Habitat degradation since the 1970s has been a leading cause of species extinction.

Wetland functions include water quality improvement, floodwater storage, fish and wildlife habitat, aesthetics, and biological productivity. The value of a wetland is an estimate of the importance or worth of one or more of its functions to society. For example, a value can be determined by the revenue generated from the sale of fish that depend on the wetland, by the tourist dollars associated with the wetland, or by public support for protecting fish and wildlife.

Visit http://wetlandextension.ifas.ufl.edu/ or  http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/outreach/facts_contents.cfm for more info.

Explore some of Manatee County wetlands at 
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/edwardchance-gilley.html
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/terraceia.html
http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/natural-resources/resource-management/preserves.html.        

Snow Effects Downtown

The white fluff floating in the breeze as you drive on US 41 through downtown Bradenton belongs to the Silk Floss Tree Chorisia speciosa.

Silk Floss Flower

Silk Floss Tree seed in the floss

Trunk of the Silk Floss Tree

As you wait for the traffic light to turn green you can let your imagination take you to colder climates with snowy days.  Just don't stay away too long or car horns may bring you back to reality. 

Earth Day Is Here!!! Happy Day.

 Green Up Your Day!

History of Earth Day
Find a Recycling Center

Earth Day Count Down - 1day to go

Compost it! 

Compost helps improve soil so it holds more water and plants grow better. Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn, instead of bagging them. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally. Food scraps and kitchen waste also make good compost, and you save money on fertilizers or other additives. Earth Machine compost bins with compost class available to Manatee County Residents for $40. Visit http://manateefyn.eventbrite.com/ to register for a class or go to http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/fyn/CompostInformation.shtml for more information.

Earth Day Count Down - 2 days to go

Recycle the rain!

Harvesting rainwater using a rain barrel helps supplement irrigation for a small cost. Storing rainwater also helps reduce stormwater runoff, which can lead to reduced levels of pesticides and fertilizers in our water. Visit http://manateefyn.eventbrite.com/ to register for a class or go to http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/fyn/rain-barrel.shtml for more information.

Earth Day Count Down - 3 days to go

Shower power! 

A full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, but taking a five-minute shower saves water by using 10 to 25 gallons. Put a little timer or clock near your shower so you can see how fast you are. Save even more water, and money on your water bill, by installing a water-efficient showerhead, or ask your landlord to install one if you rent.  Exchange your high volume showerhead for a low flow (2 gallons per minute) showerhead at the Manatee County Utility Complex, Bldg 4412, 4410 66^th Street West, Bradenton. Visit http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/thepowerof10/ to find out your water usage using the water calculator

Earth Day Count Down - 4 days to go

Be sensible! 

The Earth might seem like it has abundant water, but in fact only one percent of all water on the planet is available for humans. Buy fixtures and products that are water efficient – you can use less water to get the same job done just as well. When you go shopping, look for the WaterSense label to find water efficient products. Visit http://www.h2ouse.org/index.cfm for more information.

Earth Day Count Down - 5 days to go

Reduce your carbon footprint! 

Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 pounds per year. Save up errands and shopping trips so you need to drive fewer times. If you commute to work, ask if you can work from home at least some days, and you'll reduce air pollution and traffic congestion - and save money. Visit http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/road.html for more information

Earth Day Count Down - 6 days to go

Make it a full load!

Run your dishwasher only when it's full. Don't pre-rinse dishes - tests show pre-rinsing doesn't improve dishwasher cleaning, and you'll save as much as 20 gallons of water per load. When you buy a new dishwasher, look for one that saves water. Water-efficient models use only about only about 4 gallons per wash. Visit http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/florida_water_star_gold/ for more information.

Earth Day Count Down - 7 days to go

Read the label!

You might not realize it, but on a pesticide container, the label is the law. Pesticide product labels provide critical safety information for handling and use. Pesticides are powerful substances, but when used according to the label they are safe and effective. So … always use pesticides safely, at home or in the field. Always read the label. Visit http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/label/ for more information.

Earth Day Count Down - 8 days to go

Don't let pet waste run off!

You can help reduce polluted storm water runoff by just picking up your pet's poop and dispose of it properly. Leaving pet waste on the ground increases public health risks by allowing harmful bacteria or organic material to wash into the storm drain and eventually into local waterbodies. So remember - always scoop the poop! Visit http://www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/stormwater.html and http://sarasotabay.org/nar-poochesfortheplanet.html for more information.

Earth Day Count Down - Day 9

Don't be a drip - fix that leak!

Take the Water Conservation Pledge

 
Leaky faucets can waste thousands of gallons of water each year, like money down the drain. Repair or replace old or damaged fixtures. If you're not sure you have a leak, check the water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak. Visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water_efficiency/what_you_can_do.html for more information