Thinking Coastal

Ramona Madosingh-Hector, Urban Environmental Sustainability, Pinellas County Extension

I am sure you’ve been asked the famous Monday morning question many times – what did you do this weekend? Maybe you went swimming, boating or fishing and if you did, you are ONE of the many millions of Florida residents who enjoy the coastal lifestyle.

In a nation with 35 states that border oceans, coasts or Great Lakes including the territories of the United States Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, the opportunities for coastal recreation are limitless. Coastal states border 95,531 miles of ocean and Great Lakes coastline and represent about 99 percent of the total United States coastline1 – that’s a lot of fishing line!

Greasy Spot

By Theresa Badurek, UF/IFAS Extension Agent, Pinellas County Extension
Greasy spot is not that new burger joint in town- we’re talking about a citrus problem called “Greasy Spot”. This unsightly disease is caused by a fungus called Mycosphaerella citri. While the symptoms for this disease are usually evident during the fall and winter, now is the time to treat a diseased tree. So, when you chomp down on the greasy burger at the 4th of July picnic, remember “greasy spot” and you will remember to care for your infected citrus.