I am a protector of the gopher tortoise! Love those things. And they're a keystone species which in simple terms means many other species rely on them. There are dozens (maybe over 100?) other species that depend on Gopher Tortoise burrows. And if you have to move one, remember to keep it going the same direction! They have an awesome sense of direction and will turn themselves around to get where they want to go. So keep them moving the same way.

We have ???? many here on our place. Big uns, little uns, medium sized uns. I love watching them graze. They really chow down like they've missed the last 6 meals. Pigs I tell ya, they're little pigs!

Good job Melanie! I love Gopher Tortoises too and it's so refreshing to see folks here in Sebastian stop traffic in the middle of a busy road to guide one out of harms way ... and yes, (with any turtle) always guide them in the direction they were heading or they will turn around and go back the way they want.

Great tortoise picture. I see them often while hiking, and a friend of mine in Titusville backs up to woods full of them, she has actually named them all.

I was alerted by a friend about the New Guinea Flatworm. I never heard of it but thought I'd share this story with FL gardeners, since we'd be the most likely to spread this invasive dangerous species.

http://www.fox4now.com/news/4-...

Thanks, Sherri. Newe Guinea flatworms - Ick! Let's hope we have some cold weather this winter - that might kill them off! The only saving grace with these tropical invasives is that they can't take the cold.

Still they'll survive in greenhouses and other protected pots that stay warm, I suppose.

Oh geez, another invasive to watch out for! Do other areas of the country have so many exotics introduced to their environments, or we just "lucky"?

Well . . with the huge greenhouse industry in the Homestead area and all over the state here, we (Florida) are a big importer of plants. That's how most of these invasives get here, hitchhiking in pots of imported plants. Last I heard there were over 2500 commercial growers in the Homestead/Miami area.

Current inspection methods only can do so much. Unless they inspect every speck of soil and every millimeter of each plant under a microscope they can't hope to find eggs and larvae of these nasties. Since that would make it too expensive to import the plants, well it just ain't gonna happen.

Eww ... those New Guinea Flatworms are icky; I've never seen them before and hopefully won't ever find any around here. Florida has so many invasives.

Thanks for letting us know about those Sherri!
I do wonder how they destroy plants & bushes & trees though. I hate when articles say something like that & then never explain it. I understand about the rats/people thing but the rest??????

Yes, we might just as well change the name of FL to Invasive City.

While we're talking pests, the Tampa Bay Times has an article today about a rare strain of Whitefly that's threatening tomato crops. And they want to know if you've seen it. Read more here: http://www.tampabay.com/news/b...

I despise whiteflies most of all!!!!! The worst pest in my book!

The danger with the flatworm isn't to plants, but because rats and mice eat them-- then the mice droppings can contaminate the air. A person could develop meningitis, it's called Lung Worm, a parasite in the lungs and has to be treated. The flatworm also feed on good earthworms, slugs, snails, etc...So more like damage to the ecosystem. They favor snails more than anything else.

Also the flatworm vomits a substance that can harm skin, so don't touch them. The way to kill them is to pour boiling water on top of them.

You are to report the worm if you find one, see this article: http://www.slashgear.com/how-t...

Whiteflies are a pain. I don't like hearing about a new rare strain at all. ugh!

sunkissed said:The danger with the flatworm isn't to plants, but because rats and mice eat them-- then the mice droppings can contaminate the air. A person could develop meningitis, it's called Lung Worm, a parasite in the lungs and has to be treated. The flatworm also feed on good earthworms, slugs, snails, etc...So more like damage to the ecosystem. They favor snails more than anything else.

Also the flatworm vomits a substance that can harm skin, so don't touch them. The way to kill them is to pour boiling water on top of them.

You are to report the worm if you find one, see this article: http://www.slashgear.com/how-t...

Whiteflies are a pain. I don't like hearing about a new rare strain at all. ugh!

GEEZ!

Yuck

It looks like most of Florida will see rain and winds from the tropical depression/storm that's in the Gulf right now. Last night, one of the meteorologists was calling for up to 6 inches of rain and 65mph winds in my area. This will be the first time that I have so many potted plants during one of these, so I guess I should make some preparations. I guess I'll put all my hanging baskets (orchids, broms, etc.) on the ground at least, and I'll have to find a drier place for the succulents. What are you doing to prepare?

Fertilizing. Putting Milorganite on the daylilies. Making sure hummingbird feeders and bird feeders are ready. If it rains thru the night, I will leave a crack in the garage door, in case the feral cats want to come in. I dont think they do, but it makes me feel better knowing they can.
Looks like the tract of the system from the gulf will come right over us. I figure since it doesnt have a name, it will be just some well needed rain. Im under oaks. I get scared every time the wind blows anyway. lol. I hope the wind has already blown out most of the dead limbs earlier in the summer.

We have lots of oaks here, too, Pam and are constantly picking up sticks. Just hope we don't have any large limbs come down.

Same here, I had the tree guys here last week so at least one of my oaks has been nicely pruned. The rest? It may be messy if we get much wind, but we are outside the "cone" now. Hope we get good rains anyway.

For the pots, I just move them all under my mango tree, set them on the ground all together with the biggest, heavy ones around the outside of the group to hold them still, and hope for the best.

My orchids are mostly under cover inside the cage now, as we've been having some pretty heavy showers the last few days anyway. Some of them like the generous watering, so they get to stay out.

Tomorrow's my birthday so - hurricane party!

Yay! Party at Melanie's!!