UF IFAS Extension Baker County Garden Spot

06/06/2026

05/18/2026

Saw palmetto grows wild in Florida’s natural areas, but it’s also a useful plant for larger home landscapes provided it is kept away from structures in fire prone areas. For added interest, look for cultivars with more silvery foliage including ‘Sericea’, ‘Cinerea’, or ‘Glauca’.

Saw palmetto is great for wildlife! Small, fragrant flowers attract bees in spring and the berries are an important food source for many mammals and birds. Additionally, it is a host plant for the larvae of the palmetto skipper and monk butterflies.

Some people believe that extracts from the berries could be an alternative treatment for prostate cancer, despite statements from the American Cancer Society that say there is no evidence of this. Because of increasing interest in the berries, a harvesting permit is now required to protect and preserve these plants. Anyone harvesting the berries must acquire a “Native Plant Harvesting Permit” issued through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Division of Plant Industry (DPI).

05/14/2026

African blue basil is a sterile hybrid of an East African camphor basil and a standard garden variety called ‘Dark Opal’. The amount of pollinator activity on this selection makes it a benefit to any garden. African blue basil is alive with pollinators when in bloom. Although edible, African blue basil has a bit of camphor flavor from one of its parents that some may not care for. This plant is more heat tolerant than other basils. Because it does not produce seed, African blue basil does not need to be pinched back in order to keep the plant growing like other basils.

04/25/2026

The book fair is here…all are welcome! Stop by and stock up for summer reading 📖

04/21/2026

Come celebrate National Arbor Day with us and take home a free native tree for your landscape! 🌳

03/11/2026

Blooming now! Fringetree, also commonly called Grancy Greybeard and old man’s beard, is a small deciduous tree that bursts into bloom in the spring. The flowers are composed of narrow, ribbon-like petals that are snowy white. In fact, the fringetree’s botanical name means “snow flower.”

03/05/2026

Ready to turn your passion for plants into a profitable business?

Join us at NFREC–Suwannee Valley for our Starting a Successful Hydroponic Business Short Course! In this hands-on class, you will learn:
🌱System Selection & Setup: Learn to identify and operate various production systems, including Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), vertical towers, and floating pools.
🌱Precision Nutrient Management: Gain practical experience in evaluating water quality, mixing 🌱specialized fertilizers, and monitoring nutrient solutions for optimal growth.
🌱Integrated Pest & Crop Control: Practice insect scouting methods and learn biological exclusion techniques to protect high-value crops like microgreens, herbs, and tomatoes.

📅 Dates: March 23-24, 2026
📍 Location: Live Oak, FL
🔗 Register Now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starting-a-successful-hydroponic-business-short-course-tickets-1735379860879?aff=ebdssbdestsearc

02/06/2026

You may be aware that broccoli is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables along with kale, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi and Brussels sprouts. What you may not know is that these vegetables are all actually members of the same species—you read that right, species. Brassica oleracea includes broccoli as well as those vegetables previously mentioned. Learn more here: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/broccoli/