Thirty years ago Dick Bush, a FL DOT Vegetation Manager, decided to try some of UF Agronomy Dept’s (Gordon Prine and Tito French) Arachis glabrata on a Highway 19 median south of Chiefland (Gilchrist County). Except for a few years of some yellowing from the limerock and high pH, the planting has been spectacular. In the picture to the left, an I-95 Rest Stop (just south of Jacksonville) was planted using 3000 “Chips” produced by CSF Turf. The establishment has improved this public site in many ways!
Too bad legislators driving up to the capital never ask or are not around long enough to become aware of the plant. Such is the state of our politically charged environment. Marco Rubios “Got 100 Ideas?” campaign didn’t touch it. Yet the South Florida Soil and Water Conservation District Board’s Morgan Levy, has been trying to find affordable A. glabrata for years. We can help.