The day after Thanksgiving and the remains of yesterday’s dinner appear quite picked over. The culinary centerpiece, a turkey of pterodactyl proportions, appears to have been consumed by a namesake bird…the turkey buzzard. While two entirely different species, the shape and coloration of the head is the dominant similarity between the two. It is true…Read more
Thursday is Thanksgiving, and the family feast is followed by Black Friday. It is the day many retailers hope their ramped-up marketing efforts move them into profitable territory for the calendar year. As has been the tradition for centuries, red and green themed displays (along with some colors not found in nature) will dominate many…Read more
Home gardens have traditionally been a reflection of the region’s cultural preferences for fruit and vegetables. Initially the weather and local environment greatly influenced the choice of selections available, but even in the early 21st century the vestiges of past favorites remain as many of the most popular choices for home production. After all, if…Read more
The recent cool weather is proof autumn is really here. Choices for garden crops are limited to those which will handle the anticipated lower thermometer readings. Since carrots are a cool season crop in panhandle Florida, they can be planted now or as late as the early spring. Carrots are a root crop, and they…Read more
One of the perpetual mysteries of life which is occasionally discussed over a cup of coffee on cold mornings is “how do the bugs survive in the frigid weather?” The truth is most do not, a vast majority living only a year or some seasonal fraction of it. Many human residents take pleasure, some sadistically,…Read more
Generalizations are an easy way to attempt to predict the character of almost any subject or thing without examining the situation or details. The scenario goes if X is present, then Y will occur. Alas, life is far too complex for generalizations to be of much use and in many cases simple rationalizations lead to…Read more
To the relief of most panhandle Florida residents, the rains have finally returned, even if it is November and many plants are going dormant. But with the return of much needed rain comes the question of how to handle storm water runoff? The typical down bursts in Florida combined with our porous soils to create…Read more
It is an oft heard complaint, “I’m having a difficult time getting grass to grow under the trees in my yard. The soil seems to be good, but without grass any heavy rain just washes it away”. And it is always followed by the question, “Is there any type of grass I can plant there…Read more
While the thermometer may not know it, autumn 2024 is almost half gone. Even so, the trees and plants are reacting to the gradually shortening days. Surely, the temperature will noticeably drop in a week or two, but in the meantime the greenery will steadily retreat. Native plants have stopped producing new foliage and some…Read more
