Help conserve water year-round

Native Sage does well in drought.

I remember feeling surprised that Florida has a drought season when I first moved here in the early 70s. It didn't take long to notice the annual dry landscapes and low pond levels. Deep green lush turf takes a lot of nutrients, herbicides, and water. 

How to help? When planting, consider plants native to our area. Learn about changing weather patterns. Spring is a time of drought in Florida. Find out what the watering restrictions are for your community. Learn about best practices for water conservation. 

Here is a link to year-round watering restrictions for Manatee County. Briefly, 

• Irrigation of existing lawns and landscaping is limited to once a day, two times per week.
• Irrigation is only allowed before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. on approved days.

Restrictions apply to all potable (drinking) water and all irrigation waters that come from wells, surface water sources including retention ponds, rivers, lakes, etc. Violations of this directive carry fines up to $10,000 as provided for under Florida Statute 373.129(5).

Great Egret taking a bath in the pond. More photos of its bath here.

Robinson Preserve - Florida Purple Muhly Grass and a Red-Shouldered Hawk

Purple Muhly Grass. Photograph, Terry Barrett. Robinson Preserve.

Robinson Preserve is about a ten-minute ride from Wildewood Springs and is a place many neighbors walk, kayak, bird, and bike ride.

In October and November, the Purple Muhly Grass gives a spectacular bloom.

After flowering the dried flower stalks remain on the plant until Spring. 

The plant adapts to most any sunny location and is becoming increasingly popular. It is completely drought tolerant and hardy throughout the state. The recommendation is to use it in non-irrigated areas to reduce your lawn space so you save more water, eliminate herbicides, and impact the environment less with these permanent no fuss perennials (Florida Friendly Plants).

When I saw the muhly grasses, I also saw this Red-Shouldered Hawk. 

Here is a close up (I took this photo at Save Our Birds). Read more about this magnificent raptor HERE. 

Florida has a native cactus: prickly pear

Nature’s holiday bulbs, prickly pear cactus blooming in December, 2016.

I’ve always thought that cactus plants liked dry air and soil so I was surprised to find that Florida has a native cactus: the prickly pear. 

The cactus bears fruit and is known as Florida's "apple."

The cup-shaped, yellow, orange, or red flowers are showy. Though the plant blooms over several weeks, each flower lasts one day.

In Wildewood, it seems like the prickly pear knows when winter visitors arrive because the blooms begin around the holidays.

The bulbs become fruits called pears.

Prickly pear is drought and heat resistant. It requires lots of space (best planted in the open, not next to buildings) and a sunny, well-drained site. It does not like prolonged wet conditions.

The fleshy, pear fruit is edible and delicious! Just be sure not to touch the pear because it is covered with hair-like thorns.