Category Archives: Land Management

Florida Cover Crops Hold Common Ground

One of the great barriers to progress in most policy discussions is an “Us” vs. “Them” battle based on historic generalizations and unawareness of change and current practices of the two “sides”. The bad news is there has been much … Continue reading

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Native Plants and Wildlife

According to the Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, there are more than 4,200 plant species naturally occurring in the state.  Nearly 3,000 are considered native.  The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) defines native plants as “those species occurring within the … Continue reading

Posted in Gardening, Habitat Conservation, Horticultural, Invasive Species, Land Management, Wildlife | 4 Comments

Control Burning Newly Planted Longleaf Pines and Saplings

Controlling competing vegetation and brown spot disease are two main reasons we prescribe burn young longleaf plantations: Longleaf pine seedlings do not like competing vegetation and will stay in the grass stage for years if vegetation is not controlled by … Continue reading

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NISAW 2016 – Working together to remove Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) from Northwest Florida

    Matthew Phillips and Scott Jackson – UF/IFAS Extension and Research works with many partners supporting invasive species management actions and strategies across Florida. One key partner is the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conserva­tion Commission (FWC), Invasive Plant Management … Continue reading

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NISAW 2016 – Air Potato Leaf Beetle, a Biological Control for Air Potato

Air potato (Dioscores bulbifera) is a perennial, herbaceous self-twining vine that can grow over 60 feet in length, enabling it to climb over and smother many native plants. The Florida Exotic Plant Pest Council (FLEPPC) lists air potato as a … Continue reading

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NISAW 2016 – Tropical Soda Apple

Florida ranchers know Tropical Soda Apple (TSA) as the “Plant from Hell”. It was first noticed in south Florida, but its seeds survive in the digestive tract of animals and it spread north through the movement of hay and cattle. … Continue reading

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NISAW 2016 – Climbing Ferns

  Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum) and Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum) are presently the only non-native invasive ferns in Florida. Both ferns reproduce and spread readily by wind-blown spores. Animals, equipment, and even people that move through an area with … Continue reading

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NISAW 2016 – Chinese Tallow Tree

Benjamin Franklin has been blamed for introducing the invasive Chinese Tallow tree to the Southeast when he mailed seeds to a planter after one of his trips to London in the late 1700’s. However, recent DNA work has traced the … Continue reading

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NISAW 2016 – Coral Ardisia, A Pretty Problem

Coral Ardisia (Ardisia crenata) Coral ardisia is also known as coral berry, spice berry, and scratchthroat. It was introduced into Florida in the early 1900’s for ornamental purposes.   In the ensuing years it has since escaped cultivation and become … Continue reading

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The Mystery on Seahorse Key

First let me explain that Seahorse Key is not in the Florida Panhandle but the story is interesting and a similar phenomena could occur here. Seahorse Key is an isolated island 3.6 miles southwest of Cedar Key in Florida’s Big … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Curiosities, Environmental Education, Habitat Conservation, Land Management, Wildlife | Tagged , | 2 Comments