Attracting Backyard Birds: Bird Feeder Selection (WEC162/UW192)
Today, more than 50 million Americans put out a billion pounds of bird food each year. Bird feeders can be used to supplement the food provided by native plantings. They also provide a way to observe birds at close range. This 8-page fact sheet suggests useful guidelines for selecting feeders, food, feeder location, cleaning feeders, and managing for cats and squirrels. Written by Emma V. Willcox, Mark E. Hostetler, Martin B. Main, and Maena Voigt, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, April 2011.http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw192

Calendula, Alyssum, Gerber Daisy and Pansy are all blooming now

There are plenty of annuals that are blooming right now and even a herbaciuos perennial, the gerber daisy which is the sturdy yellow blooming plant in the upper left hand corner. The pansies, alyssum and the orange calendula are all winter annuals so don't expect them to last once the weather starts to get hot, which I hear is in the forecast for next week! Both the gerber daisy and the calendula make great cut flowers too!

Bougainvilleas are blooming now

Bougainvilleas are now in bloom with their fantasticly bright colors. This large growing shrub or tree can get up to 35 feet tall and wide so be careful were you plant it. This plant also does best when you ignore it so, don't water it a lot or give it much fertilizer and you may notice that it flowers best when it is totally neglected!

Walter's viburnum are blooming now

Our native shrub or small tree Walter's viburnum, Viburnum obovatum, is blooming now. This viburnum has small leaves which makes it easy to topiary or prune into a formal hedge or shapes. Walter's viburnum can grow from 8-25 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. The small flowers are a great nectar source for butterflies and the berries that are produced will attract birds. In the spring, this shrub can be covered in flowers for two to three weeks. Here is a link to our bulletin on Walter's Viburnum in case you want more information.

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/shrub_fact_sheets/viboboa.pdf

Golden trumpet trees are in bloom

These gorgeous trees are bright and cheery when they bloom in the spring before their leaves emerge. The large, bright yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers can be seen from far away. The golden trumpet tree, Tabebuia chrysotricha, can grow 25-35 feet tall and wide. I have seen them blooming in Orlando so they are hardy enough for Brevard County. For more information, check out the link to our bulletin below.

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/tabchra.pdf

Redbud is in bloom

Redbuds are in bloom now and though their flowers are small they are colorful. This tree is great because it is small growing, 20-30 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide, and spring blooming. After the flowers fall the leaves will come out and be an attractive tree for the rest of summer. Interestingly, the flowers are also edible but make sure that they are growing in an area where no pesticides have been sprayed! For more information on redbud check out our bulletin http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/cercana.pdf

Cherry Laurels are blooming now

The cherry laurel trees (Prunus caroliniana) are in bloom all over the county now. These trees can grow 25-40 feet tall with a 15-25 feet wide. For those of you who might have lost plants this winter, the cherry laurel tree is hardy from zones 8-10A so you won't need to worry about winter freezes killing this tree. This is also a great tree to plant to attract birds to your yard. For more information check out our bulletin at the link below.
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/prucara.pdf

The Insect Community on the Soil Surface (ENY859/IN876)

It’s easy to find and collect insects, related arthropods, and other invertebrates from the soil surface using simple materials that are readily available. This 7-page fact sheet describes several collection methods and introduces common invertebrates that are found on the soil surface in agricultural fields and gardens in Florida. It was written by Harsimran K. Gill, Robert McSorley, and Lyle Buss, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2011.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in876

Purple Tabebuias are starting to bloom

Not much is blooming now but if you are lucky, you may drive by some purple Tabebuia trees, Tabebuia impetiginosa. I just started noticing them begin to bloom last week and now they are becoming quite colorful. These are the first of the Tabebuias to begin blooming. Because they are deciduous trees, their blooms are very noticeable. They are a small growing tree reaching a heighth of 12-18 feet and a spread of only 10-15 feet.

Great ground cover for a Wall

This winter has been cold (actually this is the second winter in a row that has been cold - what's up with that) and since there is so much brown everywhere I have decided to start featuring plants that are blooming each month. So, here is my first entry for that new endeavor. This fantastic ground cover is Baby Sun Rose or Aptenia cordifolia. This succulent plant starts easily from cuttings that can be put into either soil or water for rooting. I planted my baby sun rose in full sun and it took the winter for it to actually become established and start to thrive. It can now handle a freeze and a drought with no problem. It will also grow well in the shade. As a special note, you can plant this in a hanging basket and you may be visited by a hummingbird because I have seen it with my own eyes!!