From the garden

The Living Spaces Gardening blog

Honest, practical writing on Florida native plants, garden design, and the wildlife they support. Written by Kiamesha Wray, a Florida Master Naturalist, for real Tampa Bay yards.

Florida pennyroyal, a native plant with a strong scent rats avoid
Native plants

What smells keep roof rats away in Florida yards?

The viral rat-repelling herb lists are full of imports like rosemary and mint. Florida grew its own strong-scented plants, and ours also feed the wildlife that actually hunts rats.

Kiamesha Wray · June 2026
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