Les Harrison is a longtime resident of north Florida, having attended public schools in three counties. He has a Bachelor Degree from the University of Florida in Journalism and a Master’s of Science from Auburn University in Agricultural Economics. He is the author of more than 2000 newspaper and magazine stories and journal articles. During his career, he held positions in private, government and educational (university level) sectors. He holds the title of Extension Agent Emeritus. He can be reached at harrison.gl@gmail.com.
The world of social media is always abuzz with a variety of topics. This time of year, there are many postings on the nearly endless list of blooming flowers which are brightening the landscapes all over panhandle Florida. The polychromatic displays are located high and low, in both residential and rural areas, and seemingly without…Read more
Navigation in contemporary panhandle Florida is far easier than in decades past. The roads are named and numbered with identification information visible on reflective signs. When venturing beyond the county or state lines, or even international boarders, the task of finding one’s way is simpler and exceptionally accurate. Handheld devices and vehicle mounted mapping systems…Read more
“The house always wins” is a reality every patron of casinos and bookie sites must ultimately face. All the stylish advertising aside, the numbers will eventually fall in favor of the gambling establishments. It is a hard fact to adjust to, especially for younger bettors. Without going into the minutia of statistics and probability analysis,…Read more
Springtime is a starting point for a variety of warm weather events. One of those activities is planting the early warm season crops. One of the standards in the western hemisphere is squash. While a wide variety of this vegetable is available in supermarkets twelve months a year, that was not always the case. Historically,…Read more
Gardening during panhandle Florida’s spring has many positive features. As a general rule, the weather is pleasant with moderate temperatures and, aside from a few mosquitos, the insect population which eats cultivated vegetation is almost nil. Still, there are pest species which have the potential to consume a gardener’s hard work. The terrible three of…Read more
Tangible examples of an indulgence depend on the individual. For some, it is an exclusive brand-name product which elevates one’s social status and is usually quite expense. Coach handbags and Dom Perignon champagne would both fit into the category of pricy luxuries that most residents of panhandle Florida partake in only for special occasions. For…Read more
With ample rain and warmer weather, more people are spending time in the home landscape attending to tasks and chores which upgrade the homestead’s appearance and appeal in north Florida. Clipping, clearing, pruning and shaping are all part of seasonal improvement efforts. There are also a variety of projects which require penetrating beneath the soil’s…Read more
There is something to be said for being a longtime resident. While it does limit one’s viewpoint from a global perspective, it promotes focus on perfecting traits which are close to home and applicable to the situation. The unique, and very pleasant, environment of north Florida’s spring is an excellent example of near perfection on…Read more
The feel of spring is in the air, and for panhandle Florida that has certain implications. With the days getting longer and warmer, many of the native plants and trees are blooming. This season of renewal ambiance certainly brightens the landscape after months of muted colors, and January’s snow. It does, however, come at a…Read more
It has been 80 years and only a few remain who remember the events first hand. The war in Europe was winding down, but the fight in the pacific was raging viciously as Imperial Japan fought savagely to hold its island fortification. Newspaper headlines shouted the unfamiliar names of exotic places. The stories told of…Read more
