Does your front yard resemble the Everglades? A river of grass? Are white ibis, probing for crayfish and minnows, wading through the fresh-water estuary that used to be your back lawn? Do you need to don your muck boots just to get the newspaper?
Welcome to Central Florida, summer of 2015. Not since 2004 when four large storms crisscrossed our state have we had so much rain.
Growing up, we would have grabbed our skim boards and spent the day sliding across the puddles until the water dried up or Mom called us home for dinner.
With nowhere for the water to go, I found humor in a news article recommending we “drain off standing water to prevent mosquitoes from hatching.” Hah! The pesky, blood-suckers are stationed in battalions on the outside of my door waiting for the opportunity to invade. Just getting in and out the door has become a bloody battle.
On the bright side, the Bill Young Reservoir is filled to the brim, the Florida aquifer has been replenished and salt water intrusion is held at bay as the fresh water is flushed out into the ocean and gulf.
But what’s a gardener to do?
Now is a great time to take stock of those low lying areas in your yard and seek out Florida native plants that love to get their feet wet. For the Latin lovers, I’ve included the botanical names.
Whatever you choose, be sure it will receive sufficient moisture when the next drought arrives.
Hold off on fertilizers during the rainy, summer months. Not only is it a waste of your money but the storm water will sweep it into our lakes and bay causing excess nitrogen which fuels algae blooms. As always, avoid pesticides, especially in the rainy months. A bug is a good think to have in your yard.
For more information on Florida wetland plants visit edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa007
To learn more about Florida native plants and wildflowers, join the Suncoast chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society at SuncoastNPS.org. It meets every third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Seffner Extension Service office, 5339 C.R. 579, Seffner. You can also learn more about Florida native plants at fnps.org.
