The Loquat Tree: Tasty, healthy fruit & medicine?
Mother Nature offers us some amazing gifts and spectacular beauty. We live on this planet and breathe the air, drink the water and we can enjoy the incredible variety of nutrition she provides. A huge part of our nutrition is derived from plants of all species. Plants also provide medicine and they can also be poisonous to some creatures and …read more
Creating a Backyard Edible Paradise in Florida’s Concrete Jungle
Many city dwellers want to grow their own food these days. This idea is catching on nationwide in every major metropolitan area. This whole urban farming phenomenon is bringing people together and helping to provide local, fresh, sustainable produce close to home. Restaurant owners are always excited to hear about local sources of produce. They know how much better the …read more
A Sustainable South Florida
Better, Tastier, More Sustainable Food Begins in Your Neighborhood Can you imagine how beautiful it would be if we all had plenty of organic fruits and vegetables within our reach locally? Today more and more people are rethinking just about everything and local food production is high on the list. Once upon a time almost every person had food from …read more
Healthy Cooking with Pink Kitchen
Healthy Cooking with Pink Kitchen It is estimated that 1 out of every 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer. That is an astounding figure that I find difficult to wrap my brain around. Although modern medicine has undoubtedly helped save many lives, approximately 40,000 women lost their battle with breast cancer in the U.S. in 2011. …read more
Green Lawn Without the Turf Grass
Unfortunately, there is still the belief out there in suburbia that a lush green lawn with no plants, trees (or LIFE!) is what makes a great looking yard and a good neighbor. Times are changing, luckily, and the new paradigm of a good looking yard includes native, drought tolerant plants, canopy and lots of birds and butterflies. But for some, …read more
“Raise Me Up”
Even with the power lines in view, this picture for me is a powerful reminder of the beauty that surrounds us here in south Florida. This spectacular sunset was caught by simply turning to look while stuck in traffic at a standstill on US 41. Native pines and sabal palms are the dominant plants, the sky is clear and it looks as if …read more
“Waters We”
I recently had the privilege of having lunch and a wonderful walk with southwest Florida artist Caroline Krieger Comings. We dined at her home, walked the property, and took a hike at the Billy’s Creek Filter Marsh in Fort Myers off Marsh Avenue. The project, spearheaded by Mary Rawl, filters and cleans the water that flows into Billy’s Creek, which …read more
Brown (Yard) Is Beautiful!
It’s February in Florida, and except for the occasional freak storm, there is no rain falling for another 3 – 4 months at least. Many people new to our state are under the impression that Florida, especially south Florida is a tropical rainforest. Not even close. The southern end of our peninsula is considered sub-tropical; we DO get cold weather, …read more
“Awful” Soil Just Fine for South Florida Native Plants
Look at this! Just look at it! Hmmmm. Not very dark, not very loamy. I can’t see any organic matter. You can’t be seriously considering this stuff for planting flowering plants, can you? I mean, come on! Well, in most parts of south Florida, in neighborhoods, and on “improved” lots everywhere, this is what we have to work with. Most …read more
