As published in the Miami Herald What wild things dwell in that uncultivated, unkempt portion of your yard? You know the area I’m talking about — the one where you occasionally dump leaves or hastily pulled weeds, rather than walk around to the compost bin.

One of the few plants of its type that can endure the heat, humidity and inundation of a South Florida summer, the Seminole pumpkin offers another benefit: You can eat it.

My respect for butterfly conservationists just shot up a thousand percent — especially those who identify and photograph these aerial jewels. Tuesday, I tagged along as Jaret Daniels led a group of butterfly conservationists to Bahia Honda State Park and the National Key Deer Refuge in the Florida Keys. They were searching for the state-listed endangered Miami Blue butterfly as well as Bartram’s hairstreak and the Florida leafwing, two candidates for federal listing. Armed with his…

Can warblers find food here? Guided by the stars, the winds, and the Earth’s magnetic fields, migratory songbirds – the warblers, thrushes, vireos, tanagers and buntings that spend the summer in North America and the winter in the Caribbean and South America – are beginning to pass through South Florida now. Traveling from 30 to 100 miles a day, the birds need twice the amount of food during migration as they otherwise require. But will they find enough food here to help them…

A combination of peach, pear, cinnamon, honey and just a touch of brandy best describe the alluring flavor of the sapodilla. Sapodilla fruit are soft and sweet, with a delicate aroma hinting of the beauty to come. The sapodilla is native to Central America, but its unique appeal carried it centuries ago to Southeast Asia, where it has undergone a wonderful transformation. The Maya described it as dainty, fragrant and well tasting – a delicate fruit indeed. Sapodilla is de …

Royal poinciana is a Florida favorite

In Florida we have a unique opportunity to create an edible landscape we can enjoy year round. Fruit trees are an essential part of any edible garden. However, a tree may not always be possible or functional in all yards. The Rose Apple provides a unique ability to have a fruit tree with out having a traditional tree that would take up a lot of space, offering a bounty of fruit in the fall and spring….

As published in the Miami Herald As a horticulturist in a public garden I often hear, “I have this (insert plant name here) and it has (insert problem here), what should I do?” While it is true that there are likely corrective measures to be taken, perhaps pruning, pounds of fertilizer or ounces of pesticide will do the trick. The first step is taking time before planting to do some research and plan what will work best for your needs. There are a few very common mistakes that can…

If you are even slightly interested in native plants, you have heard of (and smelled) white stopper. It gives off a wonderfully musky scent, slightly reminiscent of skunk, but not offensive.

As published in the Miami Herald Most of the country is winding its gardening down and focusing instead on the new school year and autumn preparations — composting those old annuals, collecting seeds, digging it all under to go fallow.

However, our extreme southern gardening is really just beginning. Now, finally, we can grow some fruit and vegetables without the fear of them frying to a crisp under the summer sun or rotting in our tropical summer downpours.

As published in the Miami Herald South Florida can be a difficult place to carve out your tropical paradise, with calcareous soils, a distinct wet and dry season and a bevy of plant pests, but by choosing the right plant and putting it in the right spot, you not only conquer our poor soils and extreme rainfall patterns, you can also often forgo using supplemental irrigation, pesticides and fertilizer. Over my 20 years of writing and teaching about horticulture, that theme has run through it …

As published in the Miami Herald Pruning is done to control size or shape, to promote flower and fruit production, to remove unhealthy portions of a plant and to open trees up to make them less likely to fall or break apart during a storm. True pruning is an art which takes time and thought. Before you make your first cut, study the plant's natural shape and try to picture this plant in three to four years. Try to maintain that shape in your mind as you prune. This will help you to make…

As published in the Miami Herald There are many questions when it comes to planting a new tree or shrub. How large should the hole be? Is it necessary to amend the soil or to add fertilizer? How often should a new planting be watered? What type of mulch should be used? The answers to these questions are simple and can generally be applied to most new plantings. Your first step in planting is to dig a hole for your plant. The hole should be dug just as deep and slightly wider than the …

Spend a little time in the garden and you are bound to see them, most likely scurrying across your patio or hanging out along the top of a fence. Familiar yet strange, your typical backyard possum may be off putting, but learning a little about them may help you appreciate them a bit more.

Here in South Florida, even outdoors, it is possible to grow the tropical tree from which chocolate derives. But you’ll need an awful lot of cacao trees to harvest enough fruit to actually make chocolate. Don’t despair, though, as there are other botanical opportunities for bringing chocolate into your life.

South Florida’s planting season is quickly approaching. I like to go with a theme. Maybe you want to plant a native garden or a butterfly garden. Or maybe you want to try something different.