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Florida has a bounty of plant life and a bounty of resources to assist us in our cultivation. Here is a selection of many useful sites, organizations and tools.
**Click the images to be linked to the websites** **The list is regularly updated.**
- Area Garden Clubs: .
Florida Federation of Garden Clubs
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Native Plant Society – Citrus Co Chapter
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Florida Government Agencies:..
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FYN, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program –
Citrus County Water Resources – 3600 W. Sovereign Path, Suite 226, Lecanto, FL 34461-8070 – Telephone: 352-527-5708 – Provides free help on maintaining a landscape with lower impact to the environment, beneficial to everyone. http://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/homeowner.htm
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FL Exotic Pest Plant Council. Index and annual list of Florida’s invasive plants.
-Quick link to the 2019 list of invasive plants
-Also explore the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
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SW FL Water Management Dist. – SWFWMD
The agency in charge of our water resource. Also offers many great free and fee publications on water, conservation and youth education.
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Florida agricultural information including: turf care, crops in season, farmers markets, vineyards, u-pick farms, children’s programs, nutrition and recipes.
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Citrus County Mosquito Control. Information on Operations and their integrated mosquito management practices..
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US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICECRYSTAL RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE – Established in 1983, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is the only refuge created specifically for the protection of the threatened Florida Manatee, This unique refuge preserves the last unspoiled and undeveloped spring habitat in Kings Bay, which forms the headwaters of the Crystal River.
CHASSAHOWITZKA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE – Comprises over 31,000 acres of saltwater bays, estuaries and brackish marshes at the mouth of the Chassahowitzka River, from Weeki Wachee to Crystal River. It is part of the The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which encompasses Crystal River, Chassahowitzka, Egmont Key, Passage Key and the Pinellas National Wildlife Refuges.
ELLIE SCHILLER HOMOSASSA SPRINGS WILDLIFE STATE PARK
An up close experience with Florida wildlife.
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One of the best sites for looking up specific plants, learning about their requirements, if they are toxic or harmful to Florida’s environment.
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Florida Friendly Plant Database. Click and pick menus help you select the right plant for the right place.
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Find Gardens and Parks by region
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Bug ID Guide
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Caterpillar ID guide. Left side allows for selection by state, right side narrows results by body type.
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The Bird Expert wizard, will ask questions to help you identify your bird – quickly by state. body shape and colors; by flight style; or a longer step by step search.
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Hardiness Zone Map
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Heat Zone Map
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A comprehensive searchable database of vascular plants in the State of Florida. Florida is the third most floristically diverse state in the United States, with over 4,200 species of native or naturalized ferns and seed plants. The Atlas provides a source of information for the distribution of plants within the state.
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The FL Wildflower Foundation is a beautiful site, packed with information. Their purpose is to enrich lives with Florida native wildflowers through education, planting and research projects.
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The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center site is an invaluable source of wildflower information. A must for anyone who is interested in native plants.
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- Gardening sites:.
One woman’s journey from Northern gardening to Florida gardening.
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Interested in becoming a Master Gardener? This very informative website discusses what becoming a Master Gardener means, requirements to become a Master Gardener, and what you need to do to pursue your quest. Their curriculum section is a great self-paced resource and reference, whether you are considering becoming a Master Gardener, or just want to learn more about gardening and horticulture.a great self-paced resource and reference to assist you in your quest.
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A blog devoted to the subject of accessibility within the garden, both public and private. Written by a paraplegic gardener.
The companion Facebook page here.
Methods for organic lawn care
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IFAS Composting Page
Other Useful links:
IFAS Compost publication EPA Compost page Sarasota Extension Compost Page
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Tree care information provided by the International Society of Arboriculture.
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New root wash method for properly planting bare-root, containerized and balled and burlapped (B&B) trees and shrubs.
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Gardening articles for you! Tips, fruit & veg information, grasses, ornamentals, pollinators, frost protection, pruning, podcasts and more.
Also: Pages on how to grow a variety of edibles in Florida.
Site with lots of useful Florida garden information and garden question forum.
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A site with general landscaping information for the U.S.
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The Master Plantsman E-zine
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- Edibles:.
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The Edible Plant Project, is a nonprofit organization working to promote edible landscaping and local food abundance in North Central Florida.
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- Nature information:.
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Author Doug Tallamy makes the case for landscaping with native plants.
Consumer Notice – Roundup
Alternatives Check out the Consumer Notice guide with organic, homemade, and agricultural alternatives to Roundup.
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The manatee is a protected native species found in all parts of the State. Citrus County supports the largest concentration of manatees in a natural spring area and frequently can be seen around Homosassa and Crystal River.
Also: How to prevent watercraft manatee injuries Manatee facts
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Provides knowledge to engage people in resolving threats to cranes.
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Monarch Butterflies Monarch Butterflies are struggling to survive. Learn about them, their conservation and how to help in your own community.
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CTF works to preserve Florida’s natural areas and wildlife corridors, working with private landowners to protect their farms, ranches, and timberlands. Founded by a group of professional conservationists to address the need to protect rural land and natural areas in Florida. To date, the CTF has helped to preserve over 10,000 acres of special Florida lands.
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Enables people from all walks of life – “citizen scientists” – to advance scientific research. Provides a database of more than 3,000 vetted, searchable projects and events.
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Gather valuable phenology information for scientists by making regular observations at specified sites on the same plants or group of plants from year to year. You may observe a plant that is in your backyard or neighborhood.
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Lost Ladybug Project. Ladybug species distribution is changing. Several native ladybugs that were once very common have become extremely rareand ladybugs from other places have greatly increased both their numbers and range. Help look for ladybugs and send in pictures. Good kid activity!
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Sunflower Project – Programs to identify where pollinators are declining to improve habitat.
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By the University of Florida Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab. The goal is to learn more about the nesting preferences, diversity and distribution of native solitary bees and wasps, share the information gained and provide a forum for those interested in participating in the science and art of indigenous beekeeping (and wasp-keeping!)
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Project Squirrel’s goal is to understand urban squirrel biology, including everything from squirrels to migratory birds, nocturnal mammals, and secretive reptiles and amphibians. To gain data on squirrel populations across the United States,squirrel monitors are asked, when possible, to distinguish between two different types of tree squirrels – grey and fox. The scientists at Project Squirrel will also use this project to understand the effect that participation in citizen science has on participants. By contributing to Project Squirrel and documenting your experience, you can provide valuable information that will eventually be used to recruit other citizen scientists.
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Learn about the wetlands in your community and help conserve amphibians by reporting the calls of local frogs and toads. Volunteers have trained to collect data and ongoing analyses of this data has been used to help develop practical strategies for the conservation of these important species.
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Earth Eco Water Challenge – Building public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world, by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies.
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An annual 4-day event in February, that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are. Scientists use the GBBC information, along with observations from other citizen-science projects, such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, and eBird, to get the “big picture” about what is happening to bird populations.
Other bird count projects: Project Feeder Watch eBird Nest Watch Bird Sleuth
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Homosassa River Garden Club 