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.
Sometimes appearances really do represent the situation at hand. That can be good, or it can be bad. With winter about a month in the future for north Florida, the observer must be focused to identify the problems in the native environment. Unfortunately, if left too long the problems can be challenging to control in…Read more
Seasonal distractions are at an epidemic level. There are shopping and sales, social events, more shopping, gift wrapping, and then even additional last-minute shopping for those emergency gifts. The ample rain recently combined with the colder temperatures has created a less than ideal environment for working in the landscape and garden. Even the deer hunters…Read more
One is the loneliest number, at least according to the 1969 rock and roll hit by the group Three Dog Night. The tune bemoans typical teenage angst about not having that special companion. True isolation and exceptional separation, especially in nature, are much more difficult to achieve. One locally grown tree, the maidenhair tree, is…Read more
In panhandle Florida there is a bird species which literally swarms in huge numbers later in the year. The American white ibis is a native species found from Virginia to the Gulf Coast. It also occurs throughout the Caribbean, on both coasts of Mexico, Central America and as far south as Columbia and Venezuela. The…Read more
Fortunately, there are vegetables which can be grown in panhandle Florida’s winter. They offer the opportunity for a fresh and consistent supply of healthy dietary staples. There are a few which easily tolerate the weather but are not widely accepted by ever hungry youngsters. Brussels sprouts, which handles cold and ice with barely a notice, are…Read more
More than 2500 years ago Aesop, the Greek fabulist, told the story of the ant and the grasshopper. The ant was industrious and prepared for the coming winter, but the grasshopper was profligate and did not get ready for the impending period of privation. It did not end well for the decadent grasshopper. The moral…Read more
The potential for frigid winter weather in panhandle Florida has changed the gardening landscape. Only the hardiest vegetables will survive a “polar express”, and most of these are leaf crops. One resilient vegetable which is not strictly a leaf crop planted in the autumn for winter or spring harvest is the onion. If raised for…Read more
Red is a curious color with an almost endless collection of meanings. It is on one extreme end of the visible light spectrum, at least for humans, and has served as an indicator of caution for people since ancient times. Recent political identifications aside, red is the color or part of the color scheme of…Read more
Cartoon animals are cute and funny. They are assigned personalities and traits which endear them to the reader or viewer. These creations have been a staple of newspapers for more than a century and Walt Disney brought them to life in the movies about 90 years ago. Television, and now the internet, perpetuates the perception…Read more
Ever noticed mounds of dirt popping up in the lawn, in a cattle pasture, and other places? The locales might be experiencing an ant invasion. The Red Imported Fire Ant, (RIFA) has become a problem throughout Florida and at least 14 other states with mild winters. They came from South America in the early 1900s…Read more
