Today we honor all who have served. Thank you, veterans, for your courage and dedication to our country.

If you are in an area predicted to reach freezing temperatures, don't forget to protect your plants! Remember, ghosts not lollipops: use a cloth to cover the plant all the way down to the soil. buff.ly/ZGWQSCG

Asteraceae is an enormous family of plants, including asters. Of the 400+ species of asters found in Florida, 41 of them are *only* found here! We've shared a few asters, but visit UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions to learn of a few more surprising members of the family: buff.ly/AttADOm

Your radishes might be ready to harvest this month! Not only are radishes easy to grow, they come in a range of flavors, shapes, sizes and colors, making them a fun plant to grow with kids. More about planting radishes at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/hpx88tF

Do you want to start a pollinator garden but are worried about shade? Turns out there are many shade-loving plants that attract pollinators! FFL Coordinator Stephanie Means at UF/IFAS Extension Duval County has many recommendations, including rouge plant (photo by Stephanie Means): buff.ly/FemO7Gq

For many, November ushers in a busy season. Connecting with nature can be a respite, and there are still plenty of flowering options to plant this month. For the text and printable versions of this infographic, visit UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/MyjAZP4

November is a good time to apply horticulture oils to control scale insects, like cycad aulacaspis scale. Horticultural oils are best applied during cooler months. Learn more about this major cycad pest and its control at Ask IFAS: buff.ly/caCw5mC

Tonight's the night to light up those jack-o'-lanterns! May you all have a delightfully safe and spooky Halloween, from everyone at the UF/IFAS Master Gardener Volunteer program!

As we approach November, take time to reflect, share a meal and perhaps get outside to enjoy the cooler weather. It's a good time to plant kale, cabbage, turnips and more. Find the text and printable versions of this infographic on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/xRd5yxD

Florida is "home sweet home" year-round for cardinals. The bright-red males are easy to point out as they fiercely defend their territory. Harder to spot are the females, which have light brown feathers with only tinges of red. More about cardinals at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/LfFeoGu

Our last “Healthy Harvest” Monday features Florida-Friendly herbs. They add a pop of flavor to any dish, and their unmistakable scents make herbs an ideal choice for sensory gardens too. More in this Ask IFAS pub co-authored by our statewide coordinator Wendy Wilber: buff.ly/zON0gkV.

More creepy-crawly critters for October! While they get a bad rep, spiders are beneficial, preying on pest insects and keeping their populations in check. Read about six Florida spiders you might encounter on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. buff.ly/1ZdKzrp

Fall can bring out "fuzzy" caterpillars, but don't touch! Some have barbed hairs that easily break off and cause sudden or gradual building pain. This Ask IFAS pub can help you ID stinging crawlies like this hag caterpillar (Photo by Lyle Buss, UF/IFAS). buff.ly/xMbArOQ

Using organic gardening principles not only reduces chemical use, it benefits your local environment and prevents pollutant runoff. Learn more about organic vegetable gardening at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/xq6cTgY

This week's “Healthy Harvest” features legumes suited for Florida gardens. They're fiber-rich and easy to grow, even in poor soil. Learn about bush beans, Southern peas and more in this UF/IFAS publication co-authored by our statewide coordinator, Wendy Wilber. buff.ly/frs54Gh

Is Halloween your favorite holiday? Is the front yard already full-on spooky? For a garden that also shows your deliciously dark side, we have some plants. From night-blooming moonflowers to wickedly funky foliage, suggestions for your goth garden: buff.ly/TNuNTXI

In honor of World Food Day, let’s celebrate home gardens! Growing your own vegetables can give you access to a healthy diet and maybe even a deeper relationship with nature. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions has a series of articles on sustainable home food production: buff.ly/QdJ497X

With October comes beautyberry. The native shrub dazzles this time of year with jewel-like clusters of purple fruits, attracting birds and other wildlife. Ideal for naturalized settings, beautyberry can be planted throughout the state. Learn more at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/fGXitg9

“Healthy Harvest” Monday! Tubers and root vegetables are hearty, healthy options for the Florida garden. This UF/IFAS publication, co-authored by our statewide coordinator Wendy Wilber, discusses the history, benefits and recommended care of these vegetables. buff.ly/D8M51e6

Welcome to spooky season, gardeners. This month's newsletter features not-so-scary organic vegetable gardening, but also spiders! Plus a selection of ghoulishly mysterious plants for your goth garden. Read the October Neighborhood Gardener on our website: buff.ly/hOQghCf

Break out the yellow, orange and purple! Fall is a fab time to add a porch planter or redesign an existing one to match the season. From ornamental grasses to bromeliads, crotons and okay, fine -- even mums, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions has ideas for your fall planter: buff.ly/zRb244a

Pine needles are dropping! Put them to good use for an October gardening task: gather the pine needles and use as mulch in your garden beds. Reusing plant material is sustainable and saves money. More monthly tips can be found in the UF/IFAS Florida Gardening Calendars: buff.ly/3iD4DVd

Mondays in October we'll be sharing publications from the new Ask IFAS series “Healthy Harvest,” co-authored by our own statewide coordinator Wendy Wilber and featuring the wide variety of healthy food Florida producers grow. This week: Fruits and nuts! buff.ly/NCWr6Cm

Amaryllis, gladiola and society garlic can be planted in autumn with no chilling requirement. With incredible nutrient and water storage capacity, bulbs are resilient during extended periods of cold, heat and drought. More bulbs for Florida at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/fAHue2M

There's more to October than box-store mums. Plant sweet-smelling alyssum, warm-colored calendula and more. There are plenty of flowering options for the fall garden bed. Find the text and printable versions of this infographic on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/rU8qBds

Happy World Vegetarian Day! There are many high-protein plants that grow in Florida, including peanuts, pigeon peas, amaranth, winged beans and more. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions has growing tips on all of these, but why not start with peanuts? buff.ly/ZdumY9z

It's National Coffee Day and soon you might be able to celebrate with a cup of Florida-grown coffee! UF/IFAS researchers are exploring it as a new crop, but South Florida gardeners can grow this attractive shrub now (and even roast the beans). More at Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/lfNhmmO

What the kale? How is it nearly October? Gardeners throughout Florida can seize the short window of time this month to plant strawberries. And there's more to plant. Find the text and printable versions of this infographic on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/NObr0O9

The two-spot cotton leafhopper is a serious pest of okra, eggplant, roselle, sunflower, tropical hibiscus and more. There is a new alert out to growers about this pest damaging crops in South Florida. More at UF/IFAS News: buff.ly/AJHSWr0 Photo: Alexandra Revynthi, UF/IFAS

The gopher tortoise is a keystone species, meaning many other wildlife species rely on them to survive. Florida's only native tortoise, these endangered animals are protected by state law. More about the gopher tortoise at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/yd3QT3L

Jaboticaba is a unique tropical tree with fragrant flowers and grape-like fruits that cling directly to the bark. The patient South Florida gardener will be rewarded with a tasty bounty. Learn more about September's featured plant at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/1y0SFov

Happy first day of autumn! In Florida, fall is an excellent time to plant vegetables and even those with limited space can join in. Edible container gardens can be on window sills and patios, along fences and balconies, and even on roofs. Learn more at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/zqdgjug

Ahoy there, mateys! It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day, so we've brought aboard the eastern lubber grasshopper. Many gardeners might like these land lubbers to walk the plank. Arrrr ye curious? Learn more about these hungry pests at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/lFKnxVo (📷 Adam Dale, UF/IFAS)

Did you know that Florida has some truly great botanical gardens? They can be a source of inspiration for your own landscape, a place to learn more about our great state or even entertaining guests. Learn more about Florida's botanical gardens at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/DSFXwr0

"Lawn shrimp” are harmless amphipods, not shrimp. But finding a pile of tiny dried-out crustaceans in your pool drain can still be a nuisance. (📷: thirty_legs, some rights reserved, @inaturalist.bsky.social) More about lawn shrimp at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/yTUV7Vw

Kids can have green thumbs too! Children reap many benefits from being outside and interacting with nature, both physically and mentally. We have suggestions on ways to get kids interested and engaged in gardening at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/7IWddOC

We're buzzed about the September issue of the Neighborhood Gardener newsletter! There's some coffee talk, an eye-catching tropical fruit tree, the importance of curb appeal and more: buff.ly/BYjaatU

The hibiscus are blooming. There are 35 species of native hibiscus, like this marsh hibiscus which produces large, beautiful flowers, adding a tropical feel to the landscape. Learn more about hibiscus in Florida at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/kEJDWpO

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2025 Great Southeast Pollinator Census! Don’t forget to submit your count data by September 17th to the GSEPC website: buff.ly/8xH473f .

Florida is facing higher temperatures, stronger storms and water challenges. What can you do in the garden to adapt and conserve? We have suggestions for climate-smart gardening on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/tFaP2IA

Congratulations to Alachua County Master Gardener Volunteers for winning the 2025 David Gibby Search for Excellence Award at the International Master Gardener Conference! They were recognized for their restoration of the Haile Community Butterfly Garden. More about Alachua MGVs: buff.ly/hyryWG9

Raised beds are an excellent option for growing your own food. They can increase yields and reduce maintenance in the home garden. Get details on how to build your own raised beds at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/qMfr5rN

You can't change the temperature, but you can bring the colors of fall to your landscape with orange and yellow blanketflower, scarlet sage and many more. Find the text and printable versions of this infographic on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/2P4KZFN

Happy Labor Day to all, with a special shout-out for our Master Gardener Volunteers and UF/IFAS Extension agents and researchers!

As we approach fall (okay, "fall"), September brings different crops to plant, like beans, onions and turnips. Find the text and printable versions of this infographic on UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/WE1N2Vf

Want to spread the love and create more plants? There are several ways to propagate plants; which method you'll use depends on what kind of plant you're propagating. More on plant propagation at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/U0mI9M0

That weird thing clinging to your tree? It might be a native bromeliad! These "air plants" get their energy the same way other plants do—by photosynthesizing. Learn more about Florida's native bromeliads on Ask IFAS: buff.ly/AdbzIH5. (Photos by J.H. Frank, UF/IFAS)

The invasive Cuban treefrog preys on Florida’s native treefrogs and harbors diseases of concern for amphibians. They vary in appearance, but any treefrog longer than three inches is likely a Cuban treefrog. Learn more at Ask IFAS about these invasive frogs and what you can do: buff.ly/zXRRSgt

It's time for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census! Get inspired to create sustainable pollinator habitats at home and in your community by joining this community-science effort to collect important data on these beneficial insects. Learn more about the project at our website: buff.ly/ClesAwl

If you have pets, you know that they're an important part of the family. How can you protect them from dangerous plants *and* keep your precious plants safe from them? Learn more about gardening with pets in mind – aka “petscaping” – at UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: buff.ly/OiCSwnE