UF IFAS Indian River County Extension

09/04/2026

🐝 WHAT IS OUR HORTICULTURE AGENT UP TO? | PART 2 🪴

Not every landscape solution needs to go into the ground! 🪴🌺
With the help of our Indian River County Master Gardener Volunteers, we completely refurbished the large containers at the IG Center- and when I say refurbished, I mean we started from the inside out.
The containers were emptied, growing media was mixed and replenished, and each container was replanted with combinations selected to provide color, texture and long-term interest.
Now we get to share the fun part: watching them grow! 🌿
The plants have settled in beautifully and are already providing plenty of color.

🌿 FLORIDA-FRIENDLY TIP: Containers can be an excellent way to introduce plants into locations where an in-ground landscape isn't practical. With an appropriately sized container, quality growing media, good drainage, the right plants and proper irrigation, you can create a substantial landscape feature without ever digging a planting bed.

Nickie had some pretty terrific helpers for this project! She is not only our Environmental Horticulture Agent, she is also the Master Gardener Coordinator... 😉😊😌Our Master Gardener Volunteer program recently completed the training of 13 new volunteers!🎓🌱
They certainly didn't wait until graduation to begin serving. Members of this class worked alongside Nickie at the IG Center during their training. Their service is the perfect labor of love- for plants, learning, the environment, and their community. 💚Indian River County Master Gardeners really are the very best. 💚

Indian River County Extension is where building volunteer capacity, beautiful spaces, and community come together in one wonderful program.

09/04/2026

Check out what our Nickie Munroe and the Master Gardeners have been up to at the IG Center!

09/02/2026

🐝 WHAT IS OUR HORTICULTURE AGENT UP TO? | PART 1 😉

It has been a while since our last update, and our Nickie Munroe, Environmental Horticulture Agent II has been one VERY busy bee! 🐝🌿

Remember those photos from our June update showing a big, rather empty planting bed and another with some Fakahatchee grass that looked like it could use a little aesthetic support?

Well... look at them now! 👀🌺

Nickie has been putting some beautiful finishing touches on the landscape at the Indian River County Shooting Range- because apparently our 4-H Agent Sheri isn't the only one who enjoys spending time at the range! 😄

Range Manager Jerry understands something that we appreciate tremendously: the people who work at and visit a public facility deserve an environment that is functional AND beautiful. So, Indian River County Extension we provided a Florida-Friendly solution to their beauty problem.

Two large landscape beds that had been slowly declining - and were ultimately finished off by our freeze ❄️ were completely replanted. We also enhanced the front of the administrative building, where visitors frequently stop for photographs, by adding native flowering plants among the existing Fakahatchee grass for additional color and interest.🌼

Then came the visitor check-in building. Its large planting troughs received a complete renovation. 🎍

This particular project wasn't one where our volunteers could safely work along, so our Horticulture Agent became the designer, purchaser, delivery driver, installer AND mulch crew. 😅

🌱 Plants selected and ordered✅
📦 Cardboard collected and delivered for w**d suppression✅
🌿 Plants installed✅
🪵 Nearly FOUR YARDS of mulch spread✅😅
🥤 Gatorade consumed✅🥵
🌳 Shade breaks taken!✅😮‍💨

And spreading almost four yards of mulch is NOT for the weak. 😂💪🏾

The beds may look a little sparse right now, but that's intentional. Plants need room to reach their mature size. Just wait until everything grows together and starts showing off!

This is Florida-Friendly Landscaping in practice: thoughtful plant selection, responsible landscape management and beautiful public spaces that can mature sustainably.

We truly love the work we do in Indian River County. It is a pleasure to contribute beautiful, thoughtful and high-quality work to the community we serve. 💚

08/28/2026

Have you ever noticed there are fewer FMNP courses offered during the summer? A few factors can help explain, the most obvious being... the Florida heat! There's good news: our lineup of Fall courses is looking just as hot! 😊🌴

This week, we move to Indian River County for an Environmental Interpretation course with Andrea Lazzari UF IFAS Indian River County Extension and Heather Stapleton One Lagoon - Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program. A graduate from the team's Upland Systems course in March described Andrea and Heather as a, "dynamite duo" for "one of my favorite classes if not The Favorite" 🤠

Sign up today, and spend your Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3 weeks learning how to become a more effective communicator and conservationist: https://bit.ly/45YPQan 🍄

📅 Remember: agendas are posted on a rolling basis, so your perfect class may be posted soon!

08/28/2026

Join us for Environmental Interpretation in September!

Have you ever noticed there are fewer FMNP courses offered during the summer? A few factors can help explain, the most obvious being... the Florida heat! There's good news: our lineup of Fall courses is looking just as hot! 😊🌴

This week, we move to Indian River County for an Environmental Interpretation course with Andrea Lazzari UF IFAS Indian River County Extension and Heather Stapleton One Lagoon - Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program. A graduate from the team's Upland Systems course in March described Andrea and Heather as a, "dynamite duo" for "one of my favorite classes if not The Favorite" 🤠

Sign up today, and spend your Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3 weeks learning how to become a more effective communicator and conservationist: https://bit.ly/45YPQan 🍄

📅 Remember: agendas are posted on a rolling basis, so your perfect class may be posted soon!

08/28/2026

Indian River 4-H Ethics classes are now open on the State fair website. Please register for one of the available dates asap.

FL Ethics Certification Program teaches youth livestock exhibitors proper animal handling, ethics, and care. Required for 2026 Florida State Fair participation.

08/28/2026

🍀Thank you to everyone who came out tonight for the Open House.🍀There was talking, laughing, eating and collaborating! And some line dancing too! New and previous 4-H families enjoyed the fantastic conversations. Thank you club leaders, volunteers, parents, and members for all of your effort! This will be a phenomenal year!!

08/27/2026

🍀IRC 4-H families🍀Today is the Open House! Come anytime between 6-8 to visit club booths, learn about new programs, and have fun together with FREE pizza and music!

08/26/2026

We're just one week away from this year's Small & Beginning Farmers Mini-Conference and spots are filling fast! Grab yours today to learn about starting or growing your small farm.

🚜 Direct access to experts from USDA FSA, USDA NRCS, FDACS, and your local Property Appraiser
🚜 Real-world insights from inspiring local farmers
🚜 Practical tips and guidance from UF/IFAS Extension Agents across Florida
🚜 A free Small Farms Handbook and plenty of other useful resources

Register Now 👉 bit.ly//smallfarms26

08/24/2026

🍀This Thursday is the 4-H Open House!🍀Come stroll through the booths, talk to other 4-H families, gather information on programs, and eat free pizza!🍕