Your Window to the Outdoors
One of the most visible signs of our local “Southern Ecology” is Spanish Moss. It has been eulogized in poetry, novels and song for centuries. It is closely associated with our mental images of the traditional “Southern Culture” from the days of the great plantations to the present. One of the most common questions asked…Read more
As the summer heat settles in and roads to the beach become congested, one of the last things on anyone’s mind is deer season. Even so, many hunt clubs and land managers are actively assessing the effectiveness of their efforts for attracting, nourishing and retaining whitetail deer. A wide variety of annual crops have been…Read more
Too many serious injuries and deaths annually are caused by inexperienced persons trying to do their own tree pruning. In most cases, the individual was trying to work off the ground on a ladder or was climbing into a large mature tree. The other injuries were usually due to the improper use of tools and…Read more
The pace of life and the unending supply of distractions in 2025 keep most residents’ thoughts occupied with too many diversions. As such, one hardly has time to notice an overlooked absence from the environment at large and the roadway specifically. The Lovebug (Plecia nearctica) population is not leaving its mark, especially on vehicles, this…Read more
Panhandle Florida has many interesting and historic sites for residents and visitors alike. Locations with archeological remains of pre-Columbian civilization, forts and battle grounds, and even beaches where soldiers trained for the invasion of Europe during World War II. Few compare to visiting a functioning navigation aide which was constructed in the late 19th century,…Read more
Homeowners are generally unaware of many of the various circumstances that can make their trees hazardous. If time is taken to look, most people can see obvious structural problems as major decay in the main trunk of a tree. Still, the vast majority of problems leading to structural failure are not easily recognizable to the…Read more
Nothing on four feet is identified with Florida as much as the alligator. The toothy grin is found on post cards, T-shirts, and a nearly unending list of tourist promotional items which invite visitors to come to the sunshine state and leave their money. Florida has two native species of crocodilians, the American alligator (Alligator…Read more
Most, if not all, of the migratory birds have reached their summer destination and have begun the nesting process. Incubating eggs and raising chicks is currently ongoing in warmer environs. Residential birds are doing the same here in panhandle Florida. Watching the broods and fledglings is a popular pastime with many residents. While songbirds, wading…Read more
Officially, summer begins on June 20, 2025. The thermometer and humidity have already reflected this reality and the plants are responding with unrestrained growth and production. Ample moisture encourages lush growth from both ornamental horticulture specimens and fruit and vegetable production. As such, there is plenty to do in the gardens and landscapes in panhandle…Read more
The pace of life typically slows in panhandle Florida as the temperature rises. For the youth, the exhilaration of freedom from the daily schooling grind passes into a leisurely lull which requires forethought only about the next snack. For most air conditioner acclimated adults, it is all about the thermometer readings and the rain. The…Read more
