Jeremy Rhoden: Become a Pollinator Ambassador!
Do you love pollinators? Are you interested in sustaining or expanding their habitat space? If so, you may want to consider taking part in a program offered by UF/IFAS Extension Marion County, called The Pollinator Ambassador Program.
The Pollinator Ambassador Program was created with three primary goals in mind: inform the average person about the importance of insects and their role in the environment, increase pollinator habitat space, and provide useful data to researchers through citizen science. Our program is in partnership with the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, founded at the University of Georgia, and has led to the installation of more than 2,000 pollinator gardens since its inception in 2019.
The Pollinator Ambassador Program is designed to equip individuals with the resources needed to promote pollinator educational outreach in their community. We do this by providing participants with an in-depth training on pollinator gardening and advocacy that include topics like host and nectar plants, factors that contribute to a successful pollinator garden, and integrated pest management with pollinators, to name a few.
During the day-long training, students will receive educational presentations and hands-on activities, educational resources, lunch and a Pollinator Ambassador shirt.
Following the training, students will take part in a citizen science project where they will conduct two field observation surveys in a pollinator habitat and report their findings to UF/IFAS Extension, Marion County.
The in-person training is open to all Florida residents who are 18 or older. The training will take place on March 14 at the UF/IFAS Extension Auditorium, located at 2232 NE Jacksonville Road in Ocala. The cost of the program is $50.
If you are interested in participating, complete the survey at tinyurl.com/pollinator24. You will be contacted by the end of January with more information.
If you would like more information on the program, contact Jeremy Rhoden at UF/IFAS Extension, Marion County, at Jeremy.K.Rhoden@ufl.edu.
January to-do list
Annuals: Continue using annuals that prefer cooler weather, such as dianthus, snapdragon, petunia and pansy.
Bulbs: Plant gloriosa, crinum and agapanthus now for spring growth, but provide a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch on top to protect them from extreme cold temperatures.
Vegetables: Now is a great time to start Irish potatoes! Use healthy seeds purchased from a reputable supplier. Avoid using potatoes left-over from the grocery store, as they will be more susceptible to disease and can contaminate your soil.
Fruit: If you are interested in planting deciduous fruit trees, January is a great time to do so! This will allow the trees to establish strong roots before spring.
Winter protection: Continue monitoring the weather for cold temperatures. Have blankets and frost cloth on hand, as we will likely still have another freeze. For more information on what you can do to protect your plants from the cold, visit edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_landscapes_and_cold.
Upcoming Events with UF/IFAS Extension, Marion County: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. March 9 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 10, Marion County Master Gardener Spring Festival. Join us as we celebrate the Master Gardener Spring Festival at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion with more than 100 horticultural booths, educational seminars, Florida-friendly landscaping booths, a kids zone and a walk-through butterfly tent. Free parking. Free for ages 12 and younger; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 14, The Pollinator Ambassador Program. Join UF/IFAS Extension, Marion County, to learn more about how you can promote pollinator gardening within your community. Become an ambassador and advocate on behalf of the pollinators. The training costs $50. If you are interested in attending, complete the survey at tinyurl.com/pollinator24; 8 a.m.-noon May 11, Marion County Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale.
— Jeremy Rhoden is the Urban and Residential Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator at the UF/IFAS Extension Marion County. For more information, contact the office at 671-8400. The Extension Service is located at 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala, FL 34470.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Jeremy Rhoden: Become a Pollinator Ambassador!
