Yaupon Holly Tea Recipe

Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) is North America’s only native caffeine-containing plant and has been brewed as tea by Indigenous peoples for centuries. Here are the harvesting tips and recipe from the UF/IFAS Extension.

Harvesting

• Best times: Harvest during spring and fall flushes, when leaves are tender and flavorful.

• Method: Snip young stems, then strip the leaves by hand or with a machine.

• Limit: Remove no more than one-third of the canopy at once; foliage can regrow within a week if branches remain intact.

• Plant choice: Choose male plants (no berries) when possible, since female plants produce toxic berries.

• Leaf selection: Pick light-green new growth for a milder, grassier flavor.

• Wash: Rinse the leaves and remove stems, berries, or debris.

• Dry: Spread leaves in a single layer to air-dry or use a dehydrator.

• Optional roasting: Roast lightly at about 300°F for 8 minutes, or over a fire, to deepen aroma and reduce bitterness.

• Grind: Grind to a fine texture, if desired.

Brewing

• Fresh leaves: Steep 1–2 teaspoons in hot water for 3–5 minutes for a green tea‑like infusion 

• Roasted leaves: Steep for 3–5 minutes for a darker, bolder tea 

• Example small‑batch method:

• Use 1 tablespoon of leaves/stems (fresh or roasted).

• Add to 2 cups boiling water.

• Steep 3 minutes.

• Strain and enjoy 

  Flavor Notes

• Fresh leaves yield a light, green tea‑like brew with a grassy aroma.

• Roasted leaves produce a darker, earthier flavor 

• Yaupon tea contains as much caffeine as green tea and similar antioxidant levels to blueberries.

Safety & Tips

With these steps, you can brew yaupon tea at home using native Florida plants or purchased leaves for a naturally caffeinated, antioxidant-rich drink.

Resources: UF/IFAS Extension, LawnsTrees.com

2nd Full Moon in June is the Gator Moon

June 29, 2026, 7:57 PM: Full Gator Moon – Time of year when alligators are most active as they enjoy the summer heat, and summer boating stirs up fish and birds for more food supply. Mating season occurs in May through June.

Be careful around lakefronts, waterfront parks, retention ponds, and wetlands.

• Keep at least 10–15 feet away from any alligator.

• Never approach, feed, or handle an alligator — feeding is illegal and dangerous because it reduces their natural fear of people.

• Leash pets and keep them away from shorelines, since alligators may mistake them for prey.

• Swim only in marked areas during daylight hours, and do not bring pets into the water.

• Do not swim or wade in murky water where alligators may be concealed.

• Be alert between dusk and dawn, when alligators are most active.

If you find you have an alligator in your neighborhood, call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline: 866‑FWC‑GATOR (866‑392‑4286).

For more information on alligators: Florida Wildlife Commission.

Teresa’s Top Five Patriotic Gardeners

5. John Bartram (1699–1779)

A Philadelphia naturalist and botanist, John Bartram was regarded as the leading American naturalist of his time. In 1728, he established what is now the oldest surviving botanical garden in North America and exchanged seeds and plants with European botanists, including Peter Collinson. Through his work, Bartram introduced 150 North American plant species to Europe.

4. Martha Washington (1731 – 1802)

In the 18th century, the kitchen garden was one of the most important parts of an estate. Created in 1760, Mount Vernon’s garden has remained largely unchanged and produced fruits, vegetables, and berries. Martha Washington played a central role in its success, overseeing the evening meal, which was expected to be both plentiful and elegant. As a skilled plantswoman, she understood that the quality of the table reflected directly on her household.

3. Thomas Jefferson 1743 – 1826)

Often called America’s first gardener, Thomas Jefferson created a 1,000-foot terraced vegetable and herb garden at Monticello. He cultivated more than 330 varieties from 99 species, including asparagus, beans, cabbage, cucumbers, kale, okra, peas, and herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and lavender. His detailed garden records and seed exchanges reflected a scientific approach to horticulture, while his use of native plants expressed his patriotic ideals.

2. Eliza Lucas Pinckney (1722–1793)

A South Carolina planter and botanist, Eliza Lucas Pinckney tested new cash crops and introduced important plants to the American colonies. She helped popularize indigo cultivation, which became a major export crop, and contributed to the growth of agricultural science in the Southern colonies.

1.Robert Prince (ca.1690 – 1737)

Robert Prince is credited with founding the first major commercial nursery in the United States in 1737 in Flushing, New York. Working with his son William, he established an eight-acre nursery that later became known as the Linnaean Botanic Garden and Nursery. The Prince Nursery grew into the largest and most influential horticultural enterprise in the colonies, specializing in:

—    Fruit trees, including apples, pears, cherries, plums, peaches, and apricots, many grafted for quality and disease resistance.

—    Grapes and ornamental plants.

—    International plant trade, including importing species from Europe and exporting American plants abroad.

—    Rose breeding and cultivation, with more than 600 varieties recorded by 1827.

—    Horticultural innovation, including pecan cultivation beginning in 1772 and the training of early American nurserymen.

Presidential Visits: George Washington visited in 1789; Thomas Jefferson and James Madison visited in 1791, with Jefferson placing a large order for Monticello.

The British protected the nursery due to its strategic value. During the war, over 10,000 grafted cherry trees were sold for barrel production. During the Revolutionary War, the British General Lord Howe ordered the protection of the Prince Garden and Nursery.  Over 10,000 grafted cherry trees had to be sold to be used in barrel manufacturing during the war.  After the war the orchard had to be rebuilt.

1. Bushy seaside oxeye (Borrichia frutescens) is highly salt-tolerant, able to withstand short periods of drought and occasional saltwater inundation. Well suited to coastal restoration and landscaping, it works effectively as a border planting, in mixed wildflower gardens, and along retention pond edges. Spreading by rhizomes, it can form long-lasting colonies.

2. Beach morning glory (Ipomoea imperati) is a trailing evergreen vine with showy white flowers that usually bloom in summer and fall, though flowering may occur year-round. Native to coastal dunes, it helps stabilize sand and tolerates drought, salt, and low-nutrient soils. Low-growing and non-climbing, it spreads quickly, making it best suited for coastal landscapes and dune restoration areas where it has room to sprawl. With regular maintenance, it can also be used as a groundcover in suitable conditions 

3. Hercules’ club (Zanthoxylum clava-hercules) is an aromatic, heavily thorned tree with a rounded crown, spreading branches, yellow flowers, and fruit. It is used in landscaping, especially in natural areas and restoration projects, and serves as a host plant for giant swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. A member of the citrus family (Rutaceae), it is related to native citrus species such as wild lime. Also known as “toothache tree” or “tingle tongue,” its leaves, bark, and twigs can cause a tingling numbness in the mouth when chewed. Native Americans and early settlers used it medicinally to relieve toothaches.

4. Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) are tall, spreading grasses that sway in coastal dunes and provide valuable habitat. Their flowers supply pollen for many insects, while their seeds feed beach mice, rabbits, and birds. In coastal landscapes, they serve as excellent foundation plants, tolerating hurricane-force winds and saltwater storm surge. Their deep, dense roots, which can reach 40 feet, anchor sand and help hold dune habitats together. Because of their important role in coastal protection, sea oats are protected under Florida law. Allow plenty of space, as they spread by rhizomes

5. Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) provides welcome winter color and is among the first flowers to bloom in Florida, often appearing in early January. This easy-to-grow vine works well on fences and trellises, where its small leaves and twining stems create a light, airy look. It can also serve as a groundcover or climb trees, flowering in the canopy. Moderately fast-growing, it can be shaped or controlled with pruning, though it may sucker and spread beneath mulch. Note: toxic to children and pets

What to Do In Your Backyard in June

Average temperatures: High 91    Low 71  

Average rainfall is 7.35 inches

First day of summer June 20.

What to plant

Vegetables: Amaranth, boniato, calabaza, chayote, cherry tomatoes, dasheen, Everglades tomatoes, Jicama, lima beans (NF), Seminole pumpkin, sweet cassava, sweet potatoes, and yard-long beans.

Flowers: Angelonia, begonias, bush Daisy, Butterfly Plant, caladium, cat's whiskers, celosia, coleus, coreopsis, Dahlberg daisy, firespike, four-o'clock, gaillardia, gerbera daisy, ginger, goldenrod, impatiens, kalanchoe, lantana, lion’s ear, marigolds, melampodium, Mexican petunia, Mexican sunflower, moon flower, Porterweed, pentas, periwinkle, portulaca, purslane, salvia, showy primrose, shrimp plant, Stokes aster, sunflower, torenia and zinnias.

Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, cardamom, chives, culantro, cumin, ginger, lemon balm, lemongrass, marjoram, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, turmeric, and thyme.

Bulbs-type plants: Achimenes, African iris, agapanthus, amaryllis, Aztec lily, blackberry lily, bulbine, caladiums, canna, crinum, crocosmia, day lily, eucharis lily, gladiolus, gloriosa lily, Hedychium, spp.  peacock ginger, society garlic, rain lily, and walking iris.

Lawn care

• Fertilizer application is over until October 1st. Lawn fertilizing laws vary throughout Florida; check the rules in your county. https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/fertilizer/ Most counties have summer fertilizer ban from June 1st through October 1st.

• Do not use herbicides when temperatures are over 85 degrees.

• Yellow lawns can often be greened up with an iron only application where permitted.

• Fill bare areas or start new lawns with seed, plugs or sod for the grass type desired.

• Avoid sodding shady areas during summer to prevent rot problems caused by the wet weather or use a shade-tolerant St. Augustine turf.

• Water new lawns every day for the first week, every other day the second week, and every three days the third week. By end of 4 weeks, lawns are established and only need 1 - 1½ inches of water a week. Overwatering causes new lawns to decline.

• Check monthly, adjust and replace sprinklers to only irrigate the lawn, not driveways, sidewalks, or streets.

• Track the water lawns receive; up to 3/4-inch a week is normally adequate at each watering or rainfall.

• Walk yards on a weekly basis to catch pest issues early, look for chewed foliage, pests, even under leaves, and webbing.

• Chinch bugs cause yellow to brown areas in St. Augustine lawns; treat when found.

• Sod webworms are active right now. Check for damage.

• Notice moths flying up in your turfgrass? Sodweb worms can be controlled with Merit (imidacloprid) and should be applied in June.

• Maintain the turf at correct height; learn the proper height for your lawn type.

• Sharpen the mower blade after five mowings.

• Mow in different directiona each time the lawn is cut to avoid ruts in the turf.

• Lawns that are overfertilized and overwatered are more susceptible to thatch.

• Aerate older lawns (5 to 7 years and more) and immediately water lawns that are compacted, hard to wet, or have nematode problems.

• Replace constantly declining turf in dense shade with mulch or a ground cover.

• Check rain sensor devices for efficiency this month.

Landscape chores

• Due to severe drought (2024-2025) and January 2026 freeze, some plants and trees suffered dieback need pruning.

• Trim Norfolk Island palms with dead branches and let new growth emerge.

• Add new plants when the rainy season returns to help with the watering.

• During hot weather new plants may need daily watering for several weeks.

• Wet the root balls and holes several times before adding new plants to the landscape. Let drain and repeat before planting new plants.

• Tropical bromeliads, orchids, Spathiphyllum, Aluminum plants and dracaena like shady sites.

• Mix old soil from containers and raised beds with organic matter before planting.

• Deadhead and remove broken and winter-damaged foliage and stems from perennials, roses, and spring flowering shrubs.

• Hurricane season begins June 1; it’s not too late to have your trees checked and trimmed.

• Make plans now to protect plants and landscape accessories from wind and storm damage.

• Don’t let weeds grow out of control; remove them by hand.

• Do not prune azaleas or camellias after June.

• Wait till August to trim back tropical shrubs.

• Trim back poinsettias 4” to 6” after a foot of new growth to keep them compact.

• Established plants do not need watering during the rainy season.

• Hot summer days make it difficult to transplant trees and shrubs; wait until cooler weather.

• Root cuttings of shrubs and foliage plants to grow more plants.

• Feed shrubs and palms with a slow-release fertilizer where permitted.

• Give container gardens a weekly feeding or use a slow-release fertilizer as labeled.

• Divide orchids and bromeliads outgrowing their containers.

• Feed orchids every other week with a diluted liquid or slow-release fertilizer as labeled.

• Most orchids and bromeliads grow best in the shade of a tree, water frequently when hot & dry.

• Check out terrestrial orchids and full-sun bromeliads aavailable for sunny areas.

• Feed lilies and other aquatic plants in home water gardens.

• Trim formal hedges after they produce 4- to 6-inches of new growth.

• Groom hanging baskets removing old flowers and lanky shoots.

• Clean and refill bird baths as needed.

• Place Summit Responsible Solutions Mosquito Bits and Dunks in bird baths, containers, and places that are filled with water.

• Remove sprouts, Spanish moss, and tillandsias, from the trunk and base of crape myrtle, maple and similar trees.

• Trim suckers and branches smaller than your pinkie from crapemyrtle before they get too large.

Vegetable and fruit care

• Keep vegetable plantings moist and fertilize monthly to continue harvests into summer.

• Make fertilizer applications every 3 to 4 weeks or use as slow-release product as instructed.

• Check planting lists to determine what your family likes to eat for summer planting.

• Obtain the seeds you need now for summer and fall planting; store in the refrigerator.

• Many herbs can survive the summer if kept moist, but not wet. and lightly fertilized.

• Continue cutting and using herbs to keep the plants productive; preserve extras. 

• When gardens will not receive summer plantings consider soil solarization to bake out insect and disease.

• Sweet potatoes are easy to grow; start transplants from a sprouting grocery store root.

• Hand pull weeds in and near the garden under control to prevent pest  problems for Fall.

• Continue to add fruit trees, shrubs and vines from containers to the landscape.

• Learn the pests of your new fruits, check trees regularly to decide if you need a control plan.

• Prune to reshape blueberry shrubs and hedges and blackberries.

• Feed bananas monthly; harvest stalks when the first “hand” forms begin to yellow. A hand is the group of bananas that you can buy in a grocery store. A stalk of bananas can have many hands.

• Feed pineapples with a slow-release fertilizer following label instructions.

• Provide citrus trees with proper fertilizing and pest control to avoid the greening disease.

Foliage and house plant care

• Find a spot in the sunny garden for Easter lilies; plants gradually decline & regrow in winter.

• Give declining foliage plants a rest outdoors in the shade.

• Repot plants needing a new container.

• Feed plants outdoors every two weeks and indoors monthly.

• Use slow-release fertilizer as instructed to stretch the time between feedings.

• Wash away insects with soapy water.

• Remove declining leaves, stems and blooms; pinch the tips of houseplant shoots to cause branching.

5. Chamomile – Traditionally used for digestion, anxiety, and sleep; now popular in teas and skincare.

4. Mint – Known for helping with nausea and stomach cramps, mint is still widely used in teas, balms, and cooking today.

3. Yarrow – When crushed, it can be applied to wounds to help decrease bleeding and swelling; it is also used to lower fever and improve circulation.

2. Comfrey – Used topically to support the healing process of bruises and fractures.

1. Sage – Traditionally employed for respiratory issues and overall wellness; it remains accessible in dried form and is included in herbal mixtures.

Source: Penn State Extension

Several Australian plant species evoke mixed feelings due to their varied impact. Florida is home to some imported species, such as the Melaleuca tree and Australian Pine trees, which are terribly invasive. In contrast, ornamental varieties like Lomandra ‘Breeze’, Australian violet (Viola hederacea), and Weeping Bottlebrush are highly valued for their aesthetic appeal and sustainability. The Weeping Bottlebrush is a gorgeous flowering tree easily recognizable for its vibrant, bottlebrush-like flowers that attract hummingbirds, and it performed well during the recent winter in Central Florida. Bottlebrushes may be grown as tall shrubs or multi-trunked weeping trees. As the plant matures, it develops dense foliage and requires maintenance under the canopy to achieve an umbrella-shaped appearance.

The Music of the Night

Florida Leopard Frog

As a child, during the Spring and Summer, I enjoyed listening to the frogs’ nightly chorus. Creating a natural habitat for frogs and toads is one of the most rewarding landscaping projects you can undertake. These curmudgeonly but helpful amphibians feed on many common garden pests, such as ants, beetles, flies, mosquitoes, slugs, and other small invertebrates. By encouraging frogs and toads to visit your yard, you'll help maintain a natural balance and reduce pests without using chemicals.

Florida native Fowler’s Toad, US Fish & Wildlife Services

Florida’s Native Frogs and Toads.

While butterflies enjoy “puddle stations, you can encourage frogs and toads to visit by building a “frog log” or a “toad abode” by creating shady nooks and moist crannies with rocks, sticks, logs, or upside-down broken pots with adequately sized openings, for shelter out of the sun and hiding places from predators. Let leaf litter from canopy trees fill in as mulch. Add native hydric or rain garden plants such as bog buttons, ferns, grasses, and mosses to complete your wetland habitat. 

Including a low water feature in your toad habitat helps amphibians regulate their temperature, giving them a place to cool down. Garden saucers, salvage pottery, China plates, or bowls, placed level with the ground are all good choices. If the water depth exceeds six inches, be sure to add a stick, spoon, or ladder-like object so amphibians can easily climb out. Placing your water feature in an area that is irrigated will ensure that it has water in it frequently.

One of the most crucial recommendations for maintaining any wildlife habitat is to refrain from using pesticides and herbicides near the exterior of your residence. Applying pesticides can reduce available food sources for amphibians. Herbicide use will kill the plants that will shade and protect them.

Now, at night whenever I step outside after dark, I can hear their music, it’s serene and comforting, taking me back to my childhood. Welcome amphibians to your landscape to balance nature’s way, it’s one of the joys of Spring and Summer. 

Check out these two DIY “toad abode” projects, courtesy of Pinterest and Homeandgarden.com.

Credit: Homeandgarden.com

Spring Flowers Have Sprung!

What to do In Your Backyard in April

April has our landscapes springing into action! Winter recovery is in full bloom with colorful azaleas this month. Tropicals are rebounding from the ground, and creativity and inspiration around every corner.

 It’s time to put winter behind us. Cut back your winter-damaged plants or remove them. I was pleased to see the Giant Birds of Paradise regrowth, but their tall spears of leaves will not grow back. Most of the tropicals are growing back. I’m still concerned about avocados and mangos, some of the larger ones, I’m afraid are not going to recover.

Giant Bird of Paradises damaged by the Freeze of 2026. Just do it. Cut the stalks down.

Check out What to do In Your Backyard in April for tips on this month’s landscape chores. Planting vegetables, what to fertilize, and what pests to look out for.  Be on the lookout for warnings from landscapers to dethatch lawns. It’s not always necessary and if you have a new lawn or a young lawn (less than 3 years old) it’s not likely that you will have thatch. Get a second opinion. Thatch is caused by excessive and years of overwatering and overfertilizing. It’s most commonly seen in older lawns. Another caution is that you are not watering enough. Depending on your city, county, or water management district, you are only allowed to water once or twice a week. This is fine for landscapes and turfgrass if they are established and healthy. Landscapes and turf that are not stressed out by high maintenance, only need 1.5” inches of rainfall or water. Watering more often or more than 2” of irrigation causes a short root system and short root systems will need more watering.  Watering less often and only when needed actually encourages your landscape and turf root systems to grow deeper. Even with drought, landscapes do not need water more often, just consistent watering.

One highlight of my week was discovering these charming gnomes, perfect for your garden, patio, flower arrangement, terrarium, or even your desk. Their vibrant hues and sweet hats are sure to brighten anyone’s day. Each 4” gnome is priced at $8. Artists Kerri and Shelli offer USPS shipping for an additional fee, and if you’re in Orlando, they’ll coordinate pickup or delivery. Crafted by Kerri and her sister, each gnome is hand-poured, sanded, patched with cement, painted, antiqued, sealed with UV spray, and finished with a Triple Thick Gloss Glaze. Part of the proceeds supports Kerri’s dedication to caring for foster kittens awaiting adoption via The Pixel Fund. These gnomes make fantastic Easter basket additions—imagine a garden filled with gnomes to find throughout the year! Visit Kerri’s Facebook page to send her a message or contact me and I will put you in touch with Kerri.  Her inspiring support for the Pixel Fund is to be commended.

Speaking of small creatures in your garden, I would like to everyone to add more wildlife habitat to their landscapes. My Landscape Design Tip this month, a beneficial DIY project adds accommodations that won’t take up much room and will help you cut down on pesticide use. Who knows? You might find a Prince!

Lizzie has found a solution for her overheated Buttercrunch lettuce, that keeps Lizzie laughing at her turkeys. Check out the Bourbon Red!

I need help with my Landscape Malpractice this month. It’s perfect for April. See if you can figure it out.

My Plant of the Month is perfect for Spring. Very colorful and attracts butterflies and hummingbird and can even provide shade. It did well in the freeze too this winter. That’s a plus!

May your springtime bring fresh inspiration and happiness to your gardens and landscapes. Please share updates on how your garden is flourishing and help In Your Backyard thrive by sharing my newsletter with friends and family. I’m eager to hear about your gardening experiences—perhaps we could discuss them during one of my garden tours! I’d be delighted to have you join me.