“Nothing good happens after midnight,” is an oft used phrase by the parents of teenagers. It is a subtle way of saying a lot of mischief occurs under the cover of darkness, so be home to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, the same statement can be made about late night visitors to the lawn and…Read more
The record setting cold wave with snow, ice and sleet is finally dissipating. Nightly temperatures are above freezing and the last of the icy roadways have thawed so drivers need not worry about slippery pavement. During the worst of the blizzard, residents of panhandle Florida were wisely advised by government officials to stay home and…Read more
This winter’s exceptional weather was deceiving some popular springtime ornamental shrubs and fruit trees into flowering prematurely. The weather took a turn for the worse last week and the deception is over. Azaleas, for example, began blooming because there were warm days which followed a few days of cold. With the return of below seasonal…Read more
On the still days after a cold front has passed through panhandle Florida, the chilly silence can be thunderous. Only the occasional puff of wind in the pine needles and the crunch of heavy frost underfoot shatters the quiet. The appearance of lifeless tranquility is gradually withdrawn as the sun climbs into the southern sky…Read more
The recent killing frost in most of panhandle Florida, except places adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico, has removed annual weeds. The low temperatures and freezing water vapor ruptured their cells, permanently ending their life. The few that remain partially erect appear as broken sticks. Tan to black in color, their fragile appearance predicts their…Read more
January is the month of home landscaping leisure. Except for the possibility of raking some leaves and pine straw, chores are at a low ebb. Camellias are blooming, azaleas and gardenias should not be pruned, and the grass does not need mowing. Even most of the destructive bugs are inactive. With all this “extra time”…Read more
Panhandle Florida’s weather has entered its typical January temperature pattern of warm and pleasant for a few days, and then cold for a few days. Freezing temperatures and frost are to be expected, with all that entails. On nights below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, pets need to be in a warm and protected place, if not…Read more
The meteorologists who forecast the outside conditions for the next few days have been hyperbolic about the coming cold front. After the rain and stormy weather, the temperature readings are predicted to noticeably fall in panhandle Florida and other parts of the country. Here in the northern hemisphere, it is January and cold weather is…Read more
The holiday decorations have been stored for next year and the revelry of New Year’s Eve has subsided. Life has returned to its humdrum pace, with one exception. For most, the holiday bills will soon come due. An air of anxiety arises every time the postman delivers the mail. Each unopened envelope has the potential…Read more
