Only yesterday Santa left gifts under trees all across homes in panhandle Florida. Some of the trees are or were actually trees, and others are a conglomeration of one or more materials consisting of metals, plastic and other manmade substances. Most of the real tree material is from cut trees not native to the area….Read more
Month: December 2022
Keeping Plants Warm and Happy in Winter
The holiday season in panhandle Florida brings the inevitability of cold and frosty weather. While nothing complements eggnog or hot chocolate like a chill in the air, some plants do not appreciate the dropping temperatures. Homeowners and gardeners face a new set of challenges dealing with the effects of cold weather in the forecast for…Read more
Hardy Plants Ready to Take on Winter
Recent weather has confirmed winter is really here. While the hours of sunshine will be getting marginally longer in a few days, the appearance of frost in the morning is not a surprise to anyone. Last week’s painful cold temperatures will lead to noticeably higher power bills in the coming weeks. The short days and…Read more
A Tough Plant That Doesn’t Care About the Temperature
The rollercoaster nature of recent temperatures has been blamed on a variety of problems, primarily respiratory ills. The temperature was up, then down, then up and down again. The uncertainty makes it difficult to know if the heat or a/c should be on and whether to dress warm or cool. The weather’s wide variability has…Read more
Squirrels and Other Tree Nut Fans
The 2022 holiday season, with all the wonderful traditional dishes from recipes passed down through the generations, is here. Historically, these treats have been assembled from locally produced foodstuffs, but also with that distinctive and unique quality identified with a family’s status and pride. Chief among those family culinary treats are the desserts, or offerings…Read more
The Key to Clean, Healthy Florida Water
Recent rains have water standing on some panhandle Florida real estate which was dry only a few weeks ago. Ponds, natural and dug, are brimming with water, reflecting the excessive outpouring from the slow and wet weather system which passed listlessly over the region. The rain-water surplus is also filling the natural geographical low points…Read more
A Tale of Two Florida Vines
As the holiday season comes into the home stretch, red and green are everywhere to be seen. Retail establishments, homes, and just about everywhere else humans frequent are awash in the colors red and green. While the leaves of many deciduous trees, weeds and shrubs have converted to a shade of brown, two common local…Read more
The Amazing, Nightmarish Meals of Young Wasps
Snack foods are a typical American part of any break from school and a holiday staple. There are so many from which to choose, each with its own unique flavor and texture. In recent years, these well preserved (or petrified) treats have come under near constant criticism from a variety of health professionals. There is…Read more