Florida's state wildflower, Coreopsis
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JORDI: Welcome to Nassau County Florida. We are always delighted to hear from someone who is interested in plantings from our demonstration garden.
The flowers you are referring to are the state wildflower of Florida called coreopsis. These plants grow best in full sun with moist, well drained soil. Like most wildflowers, these do not respond well to too much water. They generally bloom in the late spring and will return in the fall if the flowers were removed in the spring. Florida also has a variety of coreopsis which blooms exclusively during the fall.
I have provided a link below to a publication from the University of Florida regarding wildflowers best suited for Northeast Florida. I hope you will consider trying some of these seeds as an addition to your new Florida landscape.
In addition, we will be having a program on September 16 at 10am called “Landscape Matters” on wildflowers by Nassau County Master Gardener volunteer Claudie Speed. Landscape Matters will be at the demonstration garden site at the James S. Page Governmental Complex off Nassau Place (the road next to the Merita Bread Outlet). Fall is a wonderful time to visit the demonstration garden as it will be filled with butterflies and birds. I hope you will be able to join us. The program is free to the public. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP061
Mushroom "fairy ring" on northeast Florida lawn
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JORDI: The photos you brought me are similar to the ones I took of my neighbor’s yard. This is called “fairy ring.” Although the name sounds cute, the problem is far from amusing.
The mushrooms are living on decaying material. The material may be dead and dying grass, organic amendments added to the soil before the grass was put down, dying tree roots or landscape debris buried under the soil.
The first step is to remove the mushrooms immediately by hand picking them and placing them in a trash bag. The soil may be compacted and will need to be aerated. A pitch fork or metal rake can be used to break up the soil.
The link below is for a publication by the University of Florida regarding fairy ring which will include fungal applications. Remember fungicides work best to protect the grass rather than cure the problem. Always read the directions on the label of any pesticide before application. Most important is to be sure to identify the problem before applying any chemical – that is the law! It may take as many as five years for the mushrooms to run out of their food source so be vigilant and patient. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LH046
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Rebecca L. Jordi
University of Florida/IFAS
Nassau County Extension
Environmental Horticulture Agent III
543350 U. S. Highway #1
Callahan, FL 32011
904 548-1116 or 904 879-1019
http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu
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