With spring’s beginning there is an added frenetic pace to contemporary life in north Florida. Time off for spring break, with its increase in vehicle traffic, and the home landscape chores accumulating while the beach and tourist traps are visited both add to the chaotic rhythm of the season. The domestic deeds, tasks, and jobs…Read more
Month: March 2022
Florida’s Crafty Marsupial
The seasonally cool weather has had a silencing effect on the nighttime chorus of insects, amphibians and most other animals. The frogs and cicadas have taken shelter in anticipation of the imminently arriving warmer months. With the exception of the barred owls, even much of the avian population is silently waiting out the dark hours….Read more
A Landscape Problem Lurking Just Under the Surface
Nuts are a popular snack for people and many animals. In panhandle Florida many can be produced in home gardens and orchards. Wild hickories and oaks annually produce a bumper nut crop for the squirrels, deer and other wildlife which are dependent on the fat and nutrients to make it past the cold season. Pecans…Read more
Deceptively Dangerous: The Io Moth Caterpillar
Looks, as the old saying goes, can be deceiving. It is a cautionary pronouncement from experience in springs past, usually painful and expensive, to serve as a warning to those who follow and hopefully to avoid similar complications if the advice is heard. In most situations a threat in nature can be easily identified and…Read more
An Ant’s Worst Nightmare
The old saying identifies the lion as the king of the jungle, feared and respected by all. Every creature which lives in or enters its realm, be it jungle or savanna, must respect the hierarchy of the order. Legend has it the regal creature can be generous with vassals or savagely brutal. The reason or…Read more
Woodworkers to Watch Out For
There are certain sounds which cannot be ignored. They convey an immediate message which calls the listener to be alert and prepared. These noises, even in the panhandle, are uniquely distinct and are not likely to be confused with other audio messages. One of these acoustic alarms is buzzing, especially in close proximity. While there…Read more