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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

UF/IFAS

Winter and monarch butterflies

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Monarch butterflies are a welcome garden visitor, and they bring joy to any butterfly gardener. People who have experienced raising butterflies, have watched them go through their metamorphosis.

For those who haven’t seen this, monarchs — like other butterflies — go through a complete metamorphosis. They change shape from an egg, to a larva, then a pupa – also called a chrysalis, and then emerge as an adult butterfly.

You may help prevent the spread of Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE), a harmful parasite, by cutting back tropical milkweed plants during winter. When OE infects monarch caterpillars, it may cause them to turn a dark color, lose their shape, live shorter lives, and emerge from a chrysalis malformed or unhealthy. (Courtesy of Nicole Pinson)

To successfully raise butterflies, home gardeners must have nectar and host plants.

Nectar plants are flowering plants that provide nectar for the adult butterflies. Examples  include pentas, rosinweed, jatropha and plumbago, to name a few.

Planting lots of different flowering plants, with many colors and staggered bloom times, helps attract different butterfly species.

Host plants are specific for each type of butterfly you want to attract.

The host plant is where the adult female butterfly lays eggs. The caterpillars hatch from the egg and eat the leaves, sometimes the stem and flowers, too, of the host plants. You should expect some leaf damage because this is normal as the butterfly larvae eat the leaves of their host plant.

Host plants include milkweed, pipevine, passion flower, plumbago and parsley.

Having a combination of host and nectar plants in your garden will encourage butterflies to stay there throughout the year.

Milkweed is one of the most common host plants home gardeners use to attract monarch butterflies. Milkweeds may be native or non-native. There is increased effort by butterfly organizations and the University of Florida/IFAS to encourage gardeners to plant more native milkweed.

Native milkweeds, which can be found at your local native plant nurseries, include white swamp milkweed (Asclepias perennis), pinewoods milkweed (Asclepias humistrata) and pink swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

Some milkweeds grow best in certain types of landscapes. Talk with the nursery to select the milkweeds that would grow best in your location.

A growing concern centers on tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). Tropical milkweed continues to grow and flower throughout the winter, whereas our native milkweeds generally die back to the ground. Tropical milkweed is not native to Florida or the United States, and it blooms and flowers all year – attracting monarchs to lay eggs when they ordinarily would not.

Monarch butterflies are a welcome visitor to home gardens.

But, home gardeners love tropical milkweed, and it is an important plant for nurseries and consumer horticulture. Tropical milkweed is easy to grow, especially for children, and has bright, attractive flowers.

Recognizing this appreciation for tropical milkweed, the current recommendation is to cut tropical milkweed plants back through winter. As a rule of thumb, around Thanksgiving is a good time to cut back your tropical milkweed. Cut it back to the ground, or to about 6 inches from the ground, and repeat as needed.

Cutting back the tropical milkweed plants mimics the natural tendency of our native milkweeds to die back in the winter. This practice prevents monarchs from laying more eggs through the winter.

Another concern is the threat of a parasite that affects monarchs called Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, or OE for short. OE is a protozoan that spreads by spores. When OE infects monarch caterpillars, it may cause them to turn a dark color, lose their shape, live shorter lives, and emerge from a chrysalis malformed or unhealthy.

For those who have raised monarch caterpillars indoors, you may have seen this happen. When OE infects a group of caterpillars, it’s very disheartening to a butterfly gardener.

Ways to prevent OE when raising monarchs indoors are to step up the cleanliness and avoid overcrowding too many caterpillars in an enclosure. Cutting back tropical milkweed in the winter is another way to reduce the spread of OE spores to monarch eggs and caterpillars.

Fortunately, there’s space for tropical milkweed and native milkweeds in home and school gardens.

Continue to experiment with native milkweeds and enjoy the monarch butterflies that visit your garden. If you have kids, grandkids or students, talk with them about this process.

Don’t forget to cut back your tropical milkweed through the winter to reduce the threat of OE and to promote monarch health.

Also, consider joining a citizen science initiative or participating in the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Wings Over Florida program, where you may earn fun certificates for identifying butterfly species at https://floridabirdingtrail.com/wings-over-florida-butterflies/.

Here are some more helpful links:

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN78000.pdf

https://monarchjointventure.org/images/uploads/documents/Oe_fact_sheet.pdf

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/types-of-gardens/butterfly-gardens.html

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/milkweed.html

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-butterflies/brochures/

Nicole Pinson is the urban horticulture agent in Hillsborough County. Contact her at or at 813-744-5519 X 54145.

Published January 06, 2021

Food advisory council members named

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The Pasco County Commission has appointed four new members to the Food Policy Advisory Council.

The action came during the board’s Nov. 17 meeting.

New members are Caitlyn Peacock and Dan Mitchell, both at-large; Sanithpriya Pedamella, a certified nutritionist; and Andrea Figart, a Farmers’ Market representative.

The advisory board, created in 2015, promotes nutrition and affordable food options for county residents. Members make recommendations regarding food policies, including ordinances governing food truck operations and community gardens.

The board consists of 11 members and one non-voting member who is employed by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food/Agriculture/Science Program and who works at the Pasco Cooperative Extension Program.

No one applied for a fifth open position reserved for a Pasco County attorney with experience in food systems. Council officials reached out to Welbilt Inc., but no response has been received to date.

Published December 23, 2020

Giving a gift from the heart — and from your kitchen, too

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Whether you are giving a gift, or receiving one, chances are food could be involved.

Gifts of food have been on the rise in recent years — for all occasions, from birthday to holidays.

New companies have been popping up in the food niche, offering specialty gourmet food and gift baskets.

Don’t know what to give someone for the holidays? You don’t have to find just the right thing in the store, you can make just the right thing at home. Food gifts have become increasingly popular. These bread-and-butter pickles were a present from a friend. (Courtesy of Shari Bresin)

Gifts from these companies may be convenient, but there are many reasons to consider making your own homemade food gifts instead.

You may be wondering, what makes homemade food such a good gift?

The answer is simple: It’s because we love to eat.

It’s also one of those feel-good gifts that makes both the giver and receiver happy.

Just about everyone eats and nibbles on treats, so this type of gift typically can be enjoyed by all.

Homemade food also can be comforting — a practical, and a thoughtful expression of appreciation and love.

Christmas cookies and fruitcakes often come to mind, in terms of holiday food gifts. But, there’s a range of other flavorful and unique foods that can be made, with the recipient in mind.

Here are some other reasons to consider giving the gift of homemade food:

  • It’s affordable: You can make recipes that will provide a number of gifts at one time. For instance, you can make a few batches of flavored popcorn and create individual bags of popcorn, with a card and a bow.
  • It’s less wasteful: By giving recipients foods you know they enjoy, you don’t have to worry about giving them something they do not want.
  • It can be unique: If the recipient has special dietary needs, for instance, you can personalize your gift by making a healthier version of a recipe. So, in addition to giving the gift, you’re conveying that you care, which may leave the recipient feeling appreciated.
  • It can be fun for the giver and recipient: By sharing his or her passion, the giver can create a uniquely crafted food gift; the recipient, meanwhile can enjoy something other than a standard store-bought gift.

Some homemade food gift ideas
Mason jars and tins are two popular ways to present gifts.

If you’re crafty, you can dress up these packages, to add a special touch and give them a unique look.

Here are some ideas for gifts to present, in jars and tins:

  • Mason jars holding the dry ingredients for a cake. Just add a card with baking directions.

This gift is ideal for friends and family who love your cakes or want to bake their own with a homemade recipe but don’t know how.

  • Tins of cookies. A tin of soft chocolate chip or sugar cookies is a simple, but pleasing gift, for the afternoon snacker.
  • Jars or tins of seasoned nuts. The type of nut and type of seasoning can vary. Nuts offer a healthier gift option.
  • Jars of dry rub seasoning or herbed salts using homegrown garden herbs. This is a great gift for cooks who enjoy cooking with different flavors.
  • Jars of flavored simple syrups. These are great for those who like to top off their favorite desserts, coffee or just fruit, with a dab of sweetness.
  • Jars of handcrafted tea blends with common culinary herbs, spices and dried fruit. This is a big hit with tea drinkers.
  • Jars of pickled treats that have been canned, such as okra or cauliflower. This can make a surprising treat, and a break from the norm.

Don’t forget about food safety
Food gifts can be enjoyable to make and receive, but care must be taken to be sure that they also are safe. Care must be taken when preparing food gifts and in storing perishable items.

Before sending a food gift by mail or delivery, be sure to check the USDA mail order food safety list for its limits on refrigerated foods.

The USDA’s Complete Guide to Home Canning has dozens of recipes for those that like canning.

You also can read the online version of the canning guide free here, broken up by chapter, at https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html.

By Shari Bresin

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

Recipe: Bread-and-Butter pickles

Source: The USDA’s Complete Guide to Home Canning

https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html

Bread-and-Butter Pickles

Ingredients:
6 pounds of 4-inch to 5-inch pickling cucumbers
8 cups thinly sliced onions (about 3 pounds)
½ cup canning or pickling salt
4 cups vinegar (5%)
4-1/2 cups sugar
2 Tbsp mustard seed
1-1/2 Tbsp celery seed
1 Tbsp ground turmeric

Yields: About 8 pints

Directions:
Wash cucumbers
Cut 1/16-inch off blossom end and discard.
Cut into 3/16-inch slices.
Combine cucumbers and onions in a large bowl.
Add salt, cover with 2 inches crushed or cubed ice.
Refrigerate 3 hours to 4 hours, adding more ice as needed.
Combine remaining ingredients in a large pot.
Boil 10 minutes.
Drain and add cucumbers and onion, and slowly reheat to boiling.
Fill hot pint jars with slices and cooking syrup, leaving ½-inch headspace.
Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if needed.
Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel.
Adjust lids and process for 10 minutes at 0-1,000 foot altitude.

Published December 09, 2020

Surprises in the garden, during COVID-19

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Although this year has been “unprecedented,” I have appreciated the extra time I’ve spent in my yard.

These cloudy-looking drops are insect eggs laid on the underside of a beautyberry leaf. (Courtesy of Nicole Pinson, UF/IFAS)

With a less-crowded calendar, fewer people to visit, and a safer-at-home approach, the garden has provided a welcome respite, and a place for learning.

I suppose many of you are in this situation, too.

Allow me to encourage you to enjoy your garden. And, if you don’t have a garden, consider planting a few flowers or container plants — to give you something to grow and take care of over time.

Over time, the eggs turned orange, with a red stripe along the top.

Wander.

Look around.

Notice what’s normal.

Notice what’s not normal.

Scout for things.

Touch plants.

Flip leaves.

This summer, I noticed these two small eggs on my beautyberry bush. The eggs caught my eye because I had not seen them before. They looked like small, triangular drops of cloudy glue. I knew beautyberry, being a Florida native plant, was virtually pest and disease free. I was curious about what laid these eggs and what they would turn out to be.

Leaf-footed bugs are considered plant pests rather than beneficial insects.

Every day, I looked for these eggs. My intention was to monitor them to learn what they would become. As a butterfly gardener, I have watched insects grow and develop. I knew the eggs would likely change color as they matured. I also knew something might eat them the longer they stayed on the leaves.

I made a plan to watch the eggs, and when they began to change color, I would pick off the entire leaf with the eggs and place them in a glass container, like a pickle jar or a food storage container.

The container would protect the eggs from predators, and give me a close-up view of the metamorphosis.

The eggs started off as cloudy-like drops of glue. I began to notice other insects that flew around the plant. I took pictures of them, too, looking for more clues.

Then, about five days later, the eggs changed color. They went from a cloudy whitish color to a reddish-orange color, with a stripe along the top. They looked like a completely different egg.

A few days later, the eggs hatched. To my surprise, two red leaf-footed bugs emerged, quickly moving around – almost like robots or aliens.

Insects look very different at different stages of their life cycle. In Extension, we talk about integrated pest management or IPM. This involves properly identifying the pest or problem before taking action, using best practices, such as correct amount of irrigation and fertilizer to prevent problems; not taking action if it’s unnecessary; and, matching the control to the problem or pest.

I was disappointed these weren’t beneficial bugs, as leaf-footed bugs are considered garden pests. I placed them back into the garden near my bird feeder.

But, this was an interesting project, because I learned so much.

First, I was eventually able to ID the eggs and the bugs. Second, I noted how long the process took (about a week and half). Third, I have photos to share with others. For example, one website that I reference often, BugGuide.net, does not have pictures of the eggs from the beginning stage.

Had it not been for COVID-19, I would not have had this experience. And, this experience reminds me of a quote, attributed to Dorothy Parker (but some disagree that this is her quote): “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”

May you be curious gardeners.

For more information, please visit these links:

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_leaffooted_bugs

https://bugguide.net/node/view/114143

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN10900.pdf

Nicole Pinson is the Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County. Contact Nicole at or at (813) 744-5519, ext. 54145.

Published December 02, 2020

Their stories — and foods — are varied

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A small group of entrepreneurs gathered recently to sell their goods at a drive-thru vendor fair at the University of Florida/Pasco County Extension’s One Stop Shop, at 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

Those wishing to make a purchase could swing by on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to order items and purchase them, from the comfort of their cars.

Hillbilly Farms prepares gluten-free foods. The company’s founders sold the storefront, but are still selling items prepared at an incubator commercial kitchen in Dade City. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

The idea was to support the small businesses, while providing a safe place to shop, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participating vendors included Hillbilly Farms Bakery Shops, Charm City Eats, Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, Superfood Bakeshop, and Chef Sweets of Luminous Concession.

The stories, shared by some small business owners taking part in the event, are as varied as the foods they sold.

Rhoda Mazerolle, of Hillbilly Farms Bakery, previously sold her gluten-free foods from a storefront that she operated with her husband. They have sold that store and have scaled down, but she continues to prepared wholesale foods at the SMARTstart commercial kitchen, at the One Stop Shop.

The commercial kitchen initiative is the result of a partnership between the Pasco Extension Office, which is part of the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, Pasco County and Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc., with assistance from Welbilt, an industrial kitchen company.

Amy Henninger, of Charm City Eats, is a newcomer to the Pasco County area — moving here less than two months ago.

She said the commercial kitchen allows her food truck — which specializes in authentic Maryland cuisine — to operate.

Charm City Eats offers authentic Baltimore cuisine. The company was one of the vendors taking part in a recent drive-thru vendor fair at the One Stop Shop in Dade City.

Charm City Eats offers such foods as broiled crab cakes, slow-smoked pit beef, Baltimore fried chicken, hot chicken and hand-cut fries.

Getting into the food business is a big departure for her, she said, noting she used to run a copier company in Baltimore.

But, the pandemic has been a turning point, she said.

“I’m going to be turning 40 soon, and I was just sick of the corporate world, and quotas and nonsense, and stress and all of that. I just wanted to do something different and work for myself,” Henninger said.

Plus, her fiancé loves to cook.

Like Henninger, Mary Katherine Mason Souter — who owns Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread — was greatly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fact, the entrepreneur said she’s had her shortbread business for years, but it was always a “very, very side hustle, hobby.”

It turned into a full-time career, she said, “100% because of COVID.”

The owner of Lanky Lassie’s estimates she’s baked about 5,000 pounds of shortbread since being laid off from her previous full-time job of doing interior designs and selecting furniture for hotels.

Before turning all of her attention to running a baking company, she did interior designs and selected furniture for hotels.

That came to a halt earlier this year, when she was furloughed in April, then laid off in July.

“Since April, I have made about 5,000 pounds of shortbread,” said the baker, who uses her maiden name, Mason, on her business documents.

Her company’s slogan — “Long legs, short bread” — is a reference to her height, of 6 feet.

She’s grateful for the SMARTstart kitchen.

“Without that kitchen, I would not be able to have my business because in order to be able to ship legally and sell legally online, you have to have your manufacturing license.

“The only way you can have your manufacturing license is to have your commercial kitchen, and it has to be inspected by the Department of Agriculture,” she said.

It turns out that the kitchen is just 2 miles away from where she lives in Dade City.

Dan Mitchell, Pasco EDC’s SMARTstart program coordinator, said “the drive-thru vendor fair was a way for our community to experience the new food businesses that have been developing at the incubator.”

It also gave entrepreneurs a chance to get some feedback and hone their skills, Mitchell added.

Whitney C. Elmore, director of Pasco County Extension, said she’s proud of the vendors who produce their foods at the incubator kitchen.

“They’ve persevered during the pandemic – some had lost their job as a result and we were there, along with Pasco EDC, to provide the resources they needed to start their business,” she said.

“Our vendors provide phenomenal products,” Elmore added, “We were excited to showcase them in a drive-through vendor fair at our One Stop Shop in Dade City.”

Published November 18, 2020

Does an apple a day keep the doctor at bay?

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Stories involving apples abound.

Some say it was the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge.

An apple purportedly fell on Sir Isaac Newton’s head, inspiring him to discover the properties of gravity.

And, did you know the apple is often associated with fertility, peace and love?

The green apple is one of 7,000 varieties of apples. The fruit offers a broad range of flavors and textures, and can be enjoyed in many forms, such as a caramel apple, a candy apple, in a cake, as a pie, freshly sliced or baked. (Courtesy of pixabay.com)

In one superstition, a girl cuts a long single apple peel and drops it to the floor. Whatever letter the peel looks like is said to be the initial of her future spouse.

There also is a story from ancient Roman times involving apple seeds. According to that tale, a person would toss apple seeds into a fire, while saying the name of his or her heart’s desire. If the seeds popped loudly, the love would be returned; if the seeds silently burned, it would not.

Apples also have been given as traditional gifts, and it is widely known that teachers receive apples from appreciative students.

Ever wonder how New York got its nickname as ‘The Big Apple?’ Well, it turns out that happened because big apples were given as prizes at New York horse racing events in the 1920s, or so the story goes.

The apple also is often used symbolically in logo designs and business branding, including for one of today’s largest technology companies.

You may already be familiar with some of these stories involving apples, but did you know that  fruit has an entire month devoted to it? That’s October.

And, there’s a National Apple Day, too. That’s Oct. 21.

So, is the old adage true. Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

After all, that’s what it said in an 1866 Wales publication.

As in many things in life, it may not be entirely true, but it’s not altogether false, either.

Keeping the doctor at bay requires lots of healthy choices and a variety of foods. But, eating two to four servings of fruits and vegetables daily is recommended, and after all, an apple is a fruit.

Fortunately, there are lots of ways to enjoy apples.

There are more than 7,000 varieties of the fruit, according to The Farmer’s Almanac.

They offer wide a variety of color, taste and texture — pleasing to many palettes.

Some apples are sweet; some, tart. Some are super juicy and others, not so much.

They can be eaten whole, dried, baked, sauced, and converted into juice or cider.

Here are some ways apples can improve your health:

  • Eat the whole apple, including the peel, to add fiber to your diet, to help lower cholesterol.
  • Carry one with you, they provide quick access to a healthy snack, reducing your hunger and helping you to avoid junk food.
  • Use applesauce to replace fat, when baking cakes and muffins.
  • They help with allergies. Research published by The National Institute of Health says quercetin, an antioxidant in apples, can prevent histamine release.

By Shari Bresin

Alisa Boderick, Pasco County Extension intern, contributed to this column.

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

So, now that cooler weather is here, you may be baking more often.

Here’s an apple pie recipe that you might like to try.

Crust ingredients
2 cups non-rising flour
3 to 4 Tablespoons of cold orange juice
Pinch of salt
⅓ – ½ cup of solid Crisco shortening
About 3 to 4 Tablespoons of water (don’t want it runny, just so that the flour turns into a solid)

Filling ingredients
5 to 6 apples, Granny Smith works best
1 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon of cinnamon
Small pat of butter
Pinch of salt
Pinch of flour

Directions
Put the flour, orange juice, water, salt and shortening into a bowl.
Use a pastry blender to mix ingredients to create a dough, and avoid touching with hands.
Once mixed, split dough in half (one for bottom crust and one for top).
Put each dough between two pieces of wax paper and roll it out using a rolling pin, about the size of the pie pan.
Carefully remove wax paper and put bottom half in pie pan.

Peel and cut apples into small pieces (or slice if you prefer).

Marinade the cut apples, sugar, cinnamon, butter, salt, and flour in a bowl for as many minutes as you’d like. This is optional, but makes the pie juicier.

Place in bottom crust and then place top crust over it. Add a couple of small holes in the top crust so steam can escape.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Published October 28, 2020

Use care in watering — or face fines

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Here’s a friendly reminder from the folks at Hillsborough County Public Utilities: Pay attention to the county’s watering restrictions.

Residents living in unincorporated Hillsborough County are allowed to water their lawns twice a week, and those restrictions are effective throughout the year, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

To help conserve on water, make sure your watering systems have no leaks, that spray patterns are directed properly and that the sprinkler heads are in working order. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County)

The ordinance covers all sources of water, except for reclaimed water.

These are the watering rules:

  • Lawn watering must be done before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., and property owners can only water once on the designated days.
  • Addresses ending in 0, 1, 2, or 3 can water their lawns on Mondays and Thursdays.
  • Addresses ending in 4, 5, or 6 can water their lawns on Tuesdays and Fridays.
  • Addresses ending in 7, 8, or 9 can water their lawns Wednesdays and Saturdays.
  • Locations with no addresses, such as common areas, and locations with mixed addresses, such as office complexes, can water their lawns on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Hillsborough County Code Enforcement enforces the county ordinance for year-round watering restrictions.

Violations may result in citations starting at $100.

The release also provides this advice, from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Science: A rule of thumb is to water the lawn when 30% to 50% of the lawn shows signs that the grass has folding leaf blades, a blue-gray color, or footprints are visible in the grass.

It’s also a good idea to check to make sure that the sprinkler system is working properly and that there are no leaks, broken sprinkler heads or misdirected spray patterns, the release added.

To report properties that are not adhering to watering restrictions, call Code Enforcement at (813) 224-8993.

Learn more online at HCFLGov.net/WaterRestrictions.

For more information on conserving water, visit HCFLGov.net/WaterConservation, or call the Water Conservation Hotline at (813) 663-3295.

Published October 21, 2020

Pasco Extension gets a new home

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Pasco County Extension is operating out of a new building at the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

The organization, which operates under a partnership between the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Pasco County, also has adapted its programming to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whitney Elmore enjoys her new office at UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County. She said most programming is being done online now, but things will change once the threat from COVID-19 subsides. (B.C. Manion)

Dr. Whitney Elmore, director of UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension, recently provided a tour of the new office to a reporter from The Laker/Lutz News.

The 6,400-square-foot facility is a massive upgrade from the Extension’s old office. It features a large, open classroom area — with the potential of adding a sliding wall, to convert the space into two rooms. It also has a small kitchenette and several offices.

“It’s a fantastic new opportunity, not only for the team, but for the citizens — to be able to come here and enjoy it —  a very functional space,” Elmore said.

The new office, which opened in June, was about five years in the making.

It was constructed through a $1.1-million state grant combined with $244,000 in funding from Pasco County and $197,000 from the Pasco County Fair Association. The fair association applied for the state grant, which required local matching funds.

“Now, we have this nice, new facility that really meets our needs, and again, is an excellent educational facility,” Elmore said.

Though the doors are open, people aren’t streaming in yet — as Extension takes precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, following UF/IFAS and Pasco County protocols.

Like other operations throughout Florida, the Extension office closed when Florida went on lockdown.

Then, Extension pivoted.

“We went virtual, quickly. It’s not a surprise, because that’s what Extension is, anywhere — we adjust, we’re flexible, we’re adaptable.

“Honestly, I can’t be prouder of this team. I’m not surprised, but I can’t be prouder of the team.

Receptionist Michelle Jedych loves Pasco County Extension’s new office, at the Pasco County Fairgrounds. She said it provides an inviting venue for people who are coming there to receive services.

“They just, literally, overnight, said, ‘OK, we’re not in person — which has been the standard for 100 years for Extension —  we’re going to make the best of this, we’re going to adjust and we put everything on line.

“So, they just picked up and ran with it,” she said.

Even those who were not particularly comfortable with technology made the switch.

“They knew this is what had to be done. There was not one complaint. There was not one grumble from this team,” Elmore said.

The staff stays focused.

“We are very mission-oriented. We have servant’s hearts. The public needed us in so many ways, and that shifted some, especially with what we call ‘pandemic’ gardening.

“The horticulture questions went through the roof, with people working in our community gardens. Our community gardens employees were considered essential because that’s food systems related and those continued on, not missing a beat.

“We set up dozens of online learning opportunities. We partnered with the Pasco EDC, the Sheriff’s Office, you name it, to offer a wide variety of learning opportunities,” Elmore said.

The efforts received a tremendous response.

“Just our social media engagement went up about 4,000%, in a month,” the Extension services director said.

“We had people from other countries that were tuning in. Definitely, other parts of the state. They learned about us and they also learned about Pasco County,” she said.

Extension and the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., also work together at a facility, called the One Stop Shop, on Lock Street in Dade City. The facility has a commercial kitchen and Pasco EDC offers programs aimed at helping entrepreneurs to establish businesses, and to help existing businesses thrive.

“We had people wanting to come from Miami to use our commercial space, at our One Stop Shop, because of some of the learning opportunities. It put a spotlight on Pasco County, and not just on Extension,” Elmore said.

Concerns about COVID-19 have caused a significant reduction of in-person classes and events.

“We do have some very small, in-person, teaching events. Those typically revolve around people needing to get a license, a certification, to continue or get new employment,” she said.

The University of Florida UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County now has a new facility at the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

Some changes made to remain safe during COVID-19 will become permanent.

“At the end of the day, it’s been in a lot of ways, very beneficial,” she said.

Online programs are not only safer, they’re more convenient, Elmore said.

Extension has introduced new programming, which Elmore expects to continue on — even after in-person activities pick up.

“It opened up lines of creativity and collaboration, across program areas that we never really explored before, that just make sense now,” Elmore said.

Despite valuable changes that have resulted from COVID-19, there have terrible consequences, too, Elmore said.

“There are tremendous negatives to what has transpired. Economics. Jobs. People getting sick and dying.

“We have experienced that loss in our Extension family. Dorothy Moore, she was one of our master gardeners. She passed away in July, in Dade City.

“That was a hard hit for us. Emotionally, that took a toll,” she said, plus it required Extension staffers who had been in contact with Moore to quarantine for 14 days.

Published October 07, 2020

Hype over Asian hornets threatens innocent insects

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The world was turned on its head when “Jaws” was released in 1975.

The phenomenally successful movie made people wonder: Was it safe to go back in the water?

Concerns over safety, however, led to the millions of shark deaths.

Yellow jackets, another common Florida wasp, also are mistaken for ‘murder hornets.’ Yellow jackets are beneficial. They prey upon insect pests. (Courtesy of Celeste Welty/Ohio State University)

While 1975 could arguably be called “the year of the shark,” this year might be called the year of “the insect.”

Headlines have honed in on giant Asian hornets, also known as “murder hornets,” and that has created confusion — putting innocent insects in harm’s way.

The invasive giant Asian hornet was trapped in the state of Washington in 2019, and it also was captured across the border, in Canada.

This invader is native to Asia and most likely accidentally introduced to the United States, through a shipping container on a cargo ship.

The state of Washington quickly mobilized local beekeepers and state agricultural biologists to track, trap and destroy the hornets effectively leaving Washington state, and the rest of the U.S., murder-hornet free.

Just recently — at the end of August — there were more sightings in the state of Washington, so experimental traps are being set to see if they can find out more about them.

When the insect was first discovered in Washington, a news story was published raising alarms nationwide —leading to hundreds of reported sightings.

Those sightings were not murder hornets.

But, the fear  prevails.

Jun-ichi Takahasi, a specialist on the species from Japan, says that the hornet earned the “murder hornet” moniker from its aggressive behavior, its ability to deliver extremely painful stings and for the possibility that just a few stings can be fatal for humans, according to a report published this May.

Understandably, the public is concerned.

Beekeepers are concerned, too, since the hornet is adept at killing adult honeybees and feeding the larvae to its young.

Florida, popular for its beaches and warm winters and hot summers, has a conducive environment for invasive plants and species.

It has vines that choke the life out of native plant populations and pythons that choke the life out of native wildlife.

The giant Asian hornet has a yellow head, a black thorax, and yellow and black or brown stripes along its abdomen, making its size and color quite distinctive compared to any other insect in Florida. (Courtesy of Allan Smith-Pardo/USDA APHIS PPQ)

Florida also has plenty of wild areas where invasive pests can hide.

However, there have been no verified sightings of murder hornets in Florida, or nearly anywhere else in the U.S.

Still, the fear about murder hornets could endanger Florida’s native and beneficial insects that just so happen to resemble the now-famous hornet species.

These beneficial insects could be in jeopardy, just as sharks fell victim to human overreaction and sensationalism.

Here’s a look at some of the insects that could be at risk.

The most common wasp species mistaken for the giant Asian hornet is the cicada killer, also known as ground hornets.

Large and intimidating, cicada killers are not harmful. In fact, they help control the population of damaging plant-eating cicadas. There are a few species in Florida and throughout the Caribbean. Generally, they are not aggressive, but they are capable of stinging, if provoked.

Although not considered dangerous, any of the wasp species can be harmful to those with allergies, small children and the elderly.

It’s best to not encourage them to live close by using mulch to cover bare soil and, if necessary, using labeled insecticides can rid an area of the wasps.

Cicada killer colors, depending on the species, appear red to black with large, yellow spots. While the cicada killer is large, compared to other wasp species at 1.5-inches long, they pale in comparison to the giant Asian hornet which can grow to more than 2.5-inches long.

The giant Asian hornet has a yellow head, a black thorax, and yellow and black or brown stripes along its abdomen, making its size and color quite distinctive compared to any other insect in Florida.

The common paper wasp, commonly mistaken for a ‘murder hornet,’ is beneficial. It helps to pollinate plants and makes a great biological pest control, controlling damaging caterpillars. (Courtesy of Russ Ottens/University of Georgia)

Another wasp — the common paper wasp — also is commonly mistaken for a ‘murder hornet.” The paper wasp typically keeps to itself, but it can sting, if provoked.

Paper wasps are beneficial. They help to pollinate plants and they make a great biological pest control, controlling damaging caterpillars.

They can sting to protect their nests, but they typically are not a problem.

If they do become a problem, careful application of a labeled aerosol spray in the evening, after the wasps have returned to their nest, can address the issue.

Yellow jackets, another common Florida wasp, also are mistaken for “murder hornets.”

Yellow jackets are more aggressive in defending their homes than other wasp species, but they, too, are beneficial. They prey upon insect pests. Yellow jackets are distinctive in their coloration, which consists of a black body with bright, yellow stripes.

Another ground-dwelling wasp — the bald-faced hornet — also sometimes is mistaken for the giant Asian hornet. But, the bald-faced hornet wasp has very distinctive black and white coloration, and dwells in aerial nests.

The bald-faced hornet also is not a threat.

All of these wasps are hornets. Hornet is just a term for wasps that typically have above-ground nests. Yellow jacket is a term generally reserved for those wasps with underground nests.

People are concerned about the potential spread of the giant Asian hornets.

But, they can rest assured that the United States Department of Agriculture and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are vigilant.

They are constantly monitoring for invasive pathogens, insects and viruses that have potential to do harm to the native bees and wildlife, including the vitally important European honey bees, which surprisingly, are not a native species.

As sharks have been killed needlessly over the past four decades, innocent insects are being killed more frequently because of mistaken identity.

Those actions lead to potential ecological damage, as populations of native and non-native beneficial species are affected.

Many of these insects help pollinate crops, home gardens and ornamental plants.

They also can serve as important food sources for other animals.

Florida is rich in plant and animal diversity — so mistaken identities are understandable, but caution and patience should govern our reactions.

To learn more on this topic, visit:
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – FDACS.gov
Florida Wildlife Commission – MyFWC.com
University of Florida/IFAS Pasco Cooperative Extension Office – SFYL.ifas.ufl.edu/pasco/.

Controlling wasps
Wasps play a beneficial role and should not be killed unnecessarily, but occasional control may be needed. If so, here are some things to keep in mind:

  • For yellow jackets (wasps nesting below ground), call in a licensed, pest control operator. These wasps are aggressive, and it’s difficult to get to the nests.
  • For hornets, or wasp species with small nests, use aerosol sprays labeled for their use on wasps. These types of spray can be sprayed from several feet away from the nest, to help avoid stings.
  • For large, aerial nests in trees, consult a licensed professional for removal options.

Need help?
If you believe you have spotted something unknown to our state, potentially dangerous, or simply unusual, there are resources to help with identification, and if necessary, offer control strategies.

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Service can help with identification and can help you learn more about the insects.

The Florida Wildlife Commission and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services also are good sources of information.

Source: Whitney C. Elmore, is the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension director and an Urban Horticulture Agent III.

Dr. Whitney C. Elmore is the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension director and an Urban Horticulture Agent III.

Published September 23, 2020

Walking toward better health

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Pasco County Extension has kicked off a virtual 10-week walking program to promote good health through physical activity.

The program, planned by UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension encourages people to start taking steps to improve their health.

The 10-week program calls for those taking part to walk 30 minutes a day, wherever they choose, while tracking their progress for accountability and support through a virtual community, according to a Pasco County news release.

All are welcome.

The benefits of walking are known. It reduces the risk of heart disease and some cancers, improves blood pressure, blood sugar levels, energy, mood and more, the release says.

The virtual walking program will run from Sept. 14 through Nov. 22. An optional virtual kick-off event is set for Sept. 11 at noon.

Register by Sept. 8, at tinyurl.com/lwffall2020.

The program registration fee is $14.99 per person, and all ages are welcome.  Sign up with friends as a team or individually, or request to be assigned to a team.

For more information, contact Shari Bresin at (352) 518-0156 or .

Published September 02, 2020