Abacoa Community Garden

09/02/2026

We continue with our Pollinators!
How about our hummingbirds! 🌸

This week’s featured pollinator is the hummingbird! There are three species of this flighty creature in Florida: black-chinned, rufous and ruby throated hummingbirds. These pollinators feed on nectar from hundreds of blossoms every day to maintain their body weight.

For more information about hummingbirds, take a look at this UF/IFAS publication https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW059

09/02/2026

Trivia Tuesday…🪴

It's ! How well do you know your plant ID?

Congratulations if you identified this plant as salvia (Salvia spp.)!

This plant is one of the hundreds that our Master Gardener Volunteers learn to identify as they serve their communities. If you have a question about a plant in your landscape, contact them at your county’s Extension office: go.ufl.edu/Extension

08/30/2026

He thought he could hide …

08/30/2026

And they get cuter and cuter (this one is for you David!)🌸
Arrival talks about wildflowers for all seasons from UF/IFAS🐝🦋🪴

Wildflowers serve as wonderful habitat and food for pollinators. Mistflower (pictured) and other species, like silk grass, bee balm, starrush and ironweed, are in bloom summer to fall. For more recommendations, take a look at this UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions article with wildflowers for all seasons. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/wildflowers-for-all-seasons/

Photo of bee fly (Villa sp.) on blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) by Mary Keim https://flic.kr/p/f3gP3Z

08/30/2026

More Native Information! Our pollinators love them!🦋🐝❤️

Pentas feed butterflies a quick sip and send them on their way. Seven Florida natives do something pentas never manages - and it's the reason butterflies lay eggs and keep coming back week after week...

08/30/2026

This week’s herbal garden tea: moujean, cranberry hibiscus and butterfly pea. The moujean adds a lovely rose water vibe. Pick a fun combo and share what you are brewing!

08/27/2026

From herb bed buddy David Traupman: Another example of “hey, you can eat that!” Vetiver plant experiment success! Harvested our first roots to make khus water. Subtle flavor that cools you down. Will bring tea and roots to share at garden this Saturday. Auervedic Indian plant used in many ways. See link for more info:

https://sweetea.in/blogs/news/vetiver-root-tea-traditional-cooling-ritual-earthy-aroma-and-evidence-based-wellness

08/23/2026

Spend time at the Mounts and just take a moment to relax! Don’t forget your 💧 water!

08/22/2026

What an absolutely awesome turnout for the Southeast Pollinator Census at the Garden. We have a total of 18 completed census sheets. Liz and I will be totally it all up for submission. Look for the results soon. I appreciate all who participated today for our very first event!! Big plans for next year! The Butterflies and Bees were happy to see you!🦋🐝🌸

08/21/2026

🦋🐝🌸🦋🐝🌸🦋🐝🌸🦋🐝🌸🦋🐝🌸
The Great Southeast Pollinator census is just hours away!! The census sheet along with an information sheet on the census is in Liz’s Mailbox. There are pens in there also! Please return the census form in the folder when completed.
Have fun and know you are helping each pollinator you see!🐝🦋

There is a new UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions article.
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/spotting-and-identifying-butterflies/

Butterfly sightings are beautiful to behold, but these observations can also help scientists identify which species are at risk, track population trends and study the impacts of environmental change.

Thanks!
Pam
UF/IFAS
Florida Master Gardener
Palm Beach County

Butterfly sightings are beautiful to behold, but these observations can also help scientists identify which species are at risk, track population trends and study the impacts of environmental change. Photographing and recording butterflies and then sharing them with the wider community via citizen s...