The Neighborhood Gardener
August 2025
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Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are an easy way to return water to our aquifer and prevent stormwater runoff. In nature, rainwater soaks into the soil and down into the aquifer. But with increasing development, pavement and cement funnel rainwater across their surfaces into our waterways, taking pollutants with it. A rain garden sits in a low section of the landscape with plants that like to get their “feet” wet, collecting rainwater temporarily for a chance to “strain” out impurities before draining into the aquifer. We have Florida-Friendly plant suggestions that work well in rain gardens.
Native Plants That Attract Hummingbirds
With striking plumage and rapid aerial acrobatics, hummingbirds are always a wonder to see, and it’s easy to attract them to your garden. To support their high-speed activity, they need to consume large amounts of high-energy nectar. These tiny speedsters prefer red, orange and pink flowers, and use their long tongues to sip the nectar found within. To attract hummingbirds, choose plants with brightly colored, tubular flowers, like coral honeysuckle and firebush. A newly expanded article in Gardening Solutions has native plant suggestions for your hummingbird garden.
The Social Structure of a Honey Bee Hive
Honey bees play an important role as pollinators and producers of the sweet substance we like to enjoy with tea or biscuits. But in order to be successful, they must be part of a well-functioning community working together for a common goal. These small creatures coexist in cohesive units with a unique social structure. A single bee colony can contain up to 60,000 bees, including worker bees, drones, and a queen. Each type of bee serves a specific role. A new article in Gardening Solutions goes through each role and explains how they all work together as one “superorganism.”
Wendy’s Wanderings
“If I’m going to make this dream happen, I better get started.” These words from Master Gardener Volunteer Judee Mundy have been echoing in my mind ever since I heard them. Judee once held a dream — to create a space that would teach, inspire, and spark a sense of wonder. When she moved to Florida, the dream didn’t fade, but — as it does for many of us — life got busy. Eventually, a moment of clarity came: “I’m not getting any younger, and plants need time to grow.” That was the spark. If she was going to make her dream a reality, the time to act was now.
Plant of the Month: Native Milkweeds
One of the most effective ways to support monarchs and other butterflies is to plant native milkweeds. As the larval host plants for these beneficial insects, native milkweeds make a wonderful addition to butterfly gardens. They serve as food and provide habitat, creating a safe haven on the monarch migration route. These flowering plants also provide nectar for other pollinators and play an important role in the local ecosystem. There are currently six commercially available species of native milkweeds in Florida.
August in Your Garden
The hottest days of summer limit planting now to only heat-tolerant annuals like vinca, salvia, celosia, and coleus (pictured). Get started on your fall vegetable garden by planting eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes. Bulbs like walking iris and spider lily can be planted any time of the year, even late summer.
For more month-by-month gardening tips, check out the Florida Gardening Calendar. Three different editions of the calendar provide specific tips for each of Florida’s gardening regions—North, Central, and South.
What’s Going On?
If your Master Gardener Volunteer program or Extension office is having an event, be sure to share it with us.