The winter season is one of the most difficult times to keep up an apiary. The temperature and weather become highly unpredictable. Cold wind can whisk away unsecured hive components and stray bees. Snow can block air openings on your hives, preventing proper ventilation and stopping bees from coming out to search for food. Simply … More Winter Beekeeping Tips
The Division of Plant Industry (DPI) is comprised of nearly 500 employees who are passionate about their work protecting Florida’s native and commercially grown plants and agricultural resources by working to detect, intercept and control plant and honey bee pests. DPI employees are loyal to their roles in public service, many having served at the … More DPI Helpline: People to People
As temperatures drop you might find yourself around a camp fire spending time with friends and family. Whether you’re planning to stay warm, make s’mores or light up the fireplace, keep in mind to burn local firewood. The phrase “local firewood” refers to “the closest convenient source of wood that you can find.” The alternative … More Firewood 101: Don’t Move It
Written by Paula Dwyer, Division of Plant Industry Public Information Officer of South Florida When you think of Christmas, insects don’t often come to mind. (Unless, of course, they are falling off your tree, which is another subject entirely.) However, certain insects have played a prominent role in a few Christmas folktales, so settle in … More All About the Folklore of Christmas Insects
Written by Paula Dwyer, Division of Plant Industry Public Information Officer of South Florida Growing crops in Florida can be tough, considering the aggressive insect pests and diseases that have set up shop in Florida’s warm and humid climate. But the challenge for the grower doesn’t always end once the crop is harvested. Sometimes they … More Day In The Life: DPI’s Christine Zamora is on the Job Helping Growers Get Their Plant Products Delivered
With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s safe to say most of us are ready to ring in 2021, but DPI still has work to do this year, including the inspections and regulations of the movement of holiday trees! Holiday trees take four to seven years before they are ready to harvest. They are shipped to many states, including Florida, to be put up in celebration of the holiday season. It’s easy to let big questions go unnoticed, … More Holiday Trees: State Line to Living Room
While the world stayed in and avoided contact with other people during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, the plants kept growing and the insect pests kept up their usual diet of destruction. It’s a fact. We humans may have slowed our pace a tad, but outside? Not a bit. To ensure the safety … More Flexibility, Teamwork and COVID-19: DPI Inspectors Make their Work Count during the Pandemic
This Thanksgiving, the DPI blog is saying thank you to the people who work so diligently to detect, intercept and control plant and honey bee pests threatening Florida’s native and commercially grown plants and agricultural resources. Even without challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has been a big year for the Division of Plant Industry. The division has succeeded in persevering … More To the People Behind the Numbers, Happy Thanksgiving
To celebrate a spirit of gratitude this Thanksgiving season, DPI employees were asked what they are thankful for at the Division of Plant Industry this year. This blog is meant to be an encouragement to staff and the Floridians they serve. Melissa Costello Customer Service Analyst Four months with DPI. “I am so thankful for … More Grateful: A Thanksgiving Blog
So, what’s in your backyard? It’s native plant month, and what better time to talk about some great native plant choices you might want to consider for planting around your home and yard. What’s in a name? But before we begin our exploration of Florida native plants, let’s review what constitutes a “native” plant. The Florida Native Plant Society provides this … More What’s in your Backyard? Protecting Florida’s Native Plants
