Naturally Florida

While much of the country waits until late April to celebrate Arbor Day, Florida marks the occasion several months sooner. Our subtropical climate makes it safe—and even beneficial—to plant trees during the cooler, drier winter months (with proper irrigation). By doing this now, young saplings have time to develop strong root systems beforefacing the intense heat and storms of the summer season. Perhaps you recently attended an Arbor Day event, or took home a tree to plant in your yard. This episode explores Florida Arbor Day and tips for caring for your tree.

Learn more:

Economic Contributions of UrbanForestry in Florida in 2017 - https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/94000/file/FLUrbanForestry_Infographic.pdf

Wind and Trees: Lessons Learnedfrom Hurricanes (Mentioned by Shannon) - https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/documents/FR173.pdf

How You Can Help:

Plant a tree! Watch this video tolearn how: https://youtu.be/HXdlsJ451b8?si=uy9JFBluX-HjeJCp&t=37

Prune your maturing or mature trees,to ensure they are storm resistant and healthy.

Go to https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarboristto find a certified tree expert to help maintain your trees.

Sources for this Episode: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FR/FR17400.pdf 

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr173 

https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/polkco/2017/09/08/471/ 

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr175 

http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/trees/trees-that-can-withstand-hurricanes.html 

Arbor Day 2024 ‑History & Facts | HISTORY 

Planting andEstablishing Trees – Gardening Solutions 

https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist 

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!

If you're active on iNaturalist, join our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations⁠⁠

THANK YOU to all our loyal listeners that completed our annual podcast survey! If you missed out, no worries, you

In this episode, we explore the world of oysters. What are they? What do they do? What happens when they die?

Learn More:

• Eastern Oyster - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/eastern-oyster

• Eastern Oyster Biology - ⁠ https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/mollusc/eastern-oysters/biology/

• Oyster Reef Habitat - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/oyster-reef-habitat

How You Can Help:

• Consider installing a vertical

• Keep eating oysters! By consuming

Sources for this Episode:

• TBEP Oyster Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) - https://tampabay.wateratlas.usf.edu/oyster-habitat-suitability/

• Historical ecology with real numbers: past and

• Oyster Shell

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!

If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: ⁠⁠https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations⁠

On today's episode we're talking turkey - the wild turkey, that is! Learn all about Florida's wild turkey species, their biology, and even bust a myth or two.

Learn More:

How You Can Help:

Sources:

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the state’s most fascinating plant groups: carnivorous plants. These spooky species have adapted to capture prey in some of Florida’s most nutrient-poor environments. We’ll talk about how they trap their meals, their role in the ecosystem, and where you can spot these unique plants across the state.

Learn More:

• Pinellas Predatory Plants - https://youtu.be/gG0XNhSnSvQ?si=_27ONm-oA3pNOHH6

• Carnivorous Plants - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/carnivorous-plants/

• Carnivorous plants – novel natives with showy flowers - https://www.flawildflowers.org/2022-spring-bloom-report/

• Carnivorous Plants – Both Rare and Well Done – Along the Apalachicola – UPDATED - https://blog.wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/2022/04/carnivorous-plants-both-rare-and-well-done-along-the-apalachicola/

• Florida’s Carnivorous Plants - https://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-1728-floridas-carnivorous-plants.aspx

How You Can Help:

• Do Not Poach them! Many of the species are state or federally threatened, due to illegal harvesting from the wild and the destruction of their wetland habitats. Seeds or plants can be purchased from reputable nurseries and seed sources. Many species available for purchase are native to Florida and can be grown in rain gardens or in sunny spots.

• Support habitat restoration and maintenance through prescribed fire. In Florida, many of these species are also fire dependent, like the ecosystems they grow in – yes, even the wetlands!

• Build memories with these species – seek them out, learn about them with your friends and family - https://www.flawildflowers.org/2022-spring-bloom-report/

Sources for this Episode:

Pinellas Predatory Plants - ⁠https://youtu.be/gG0XNhSnSvQ?si=_27ONm-oA3pNOHH6 ⁠

• Carnivorous Plants - ⁠https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/carnivorous-plants/ ⁠

• Carnivorous plants – novel natives with showy flowers -⁠ https://www.flawildflowers.org/2022-spring-bloom-report/ ⁠

• Carnivorous Plants – Both Rare and Well Done – Along the Apalachicola – UPDATED - ⁠https://blog.wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/2022/04/carnivorous-plants-both-rare-and-well-done-along-the-apalachicola/ ⁠

• Florida’s Carnivorous Plants - ⁠https://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-1728-floridas-carnivorous-plants.aspx ⁠

If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: ⁠https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations

Pollinators are the unsung heroes of Florida’s ecosystems,

Learn More:

How You Can Help:

Sources for this Episode: 

If the title of this episode sounds familiar, you must be a Creedance Clearwater Revival fan like Shannon is!

Well, CCR might have actually been singing about seeing the rain but on today's episode of Naturally Florida, we're talking about smelling the rain. Rather, more accurately, we're talking about the smell before the rain, also known as Petrichor.

Learn more:

Sources:

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is an iconic plant of Florida, often dominating the understory of pine flatwoods habitats. Not only is saw palmetto endemic to Florida and the southeastern U.S., but it has also been referred to as a keystone species! A plant as a keystone species? YES!  

Keystone Species - a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically. 

For most of the year, saw palmetto fronds stand proud and upright showcasing their unique fan-shaped leaves with long, stiff, pointed leaflets and spikey leaf stems. They reflect the sun’s rays with their waxy coated, muted green and sometimes yellow leaves. From far away, saw palmetto may seem to serve little benefit to the environment other than taking up a lot of space. Upon closer inspection, saw palmetto create their own little world for numerous wildlife species big and small. 

Learn More:  

How You Can Help:  

Sources for this Episode:  

The marsh rabbit is a medium-sized rabbit with short, rounded ears, and small feet. It is similar in appearance to the more familiar eastern cottontail rabbit but without the white color of their tail. The marsh rabbit is found in the southeastern United States from southeast Virginia (in the Dismal Swamp), along the east coast to eastern Alabama, and the Florida peninsula and the islands along the coast of Florida. There is a subspecies of the marsh rabbit, which is endangered and only found in (endemic to) the lower Florida Keys. Marsh rabbits live near freshwater and brackish marshes and wet prairies and can even be found in flooded agricultural fields. The main threat to marsh rabbits is habitat loss from human development and fragmentation. Their population also declines due to hurricanes and coastal flooding. This is especially true for the Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit. The Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit population has been declining since at least the 1960s because of the loss and degradation of suitable habitats because of human development. The Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit was once common throughout the Lower Florida Keys (the Lower Florida Keys begins at Big Pine Key and ends at the island of Key West) but is now only found on 13 islands. Sea level rise has been projected to seriously threaten the population and its ability to survive on these islands. The threat of sea level rise has grown because these coastal ecosystems cannot migrate inland due to human development and infrastructure, often called coastal squeeze.  

How You Can Help:  

Sources for this Episode:  

In this episode, we explore the mosquitoes of Florida, covering everything from mosquito biology, types of mosquitoes, mosquito surveillance and control, and ways you can yourself from these important, but sometimes pesky insects.

Learn More:

How You Can Help:

Sources for this Episode:

Special thanks to Alissa Berro, Section Manager, Public Works, Pinellas County for assistance in the script writing of this episode.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!

If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations