Recent winter weather in the northern latitudes of the USA and other countries has made panhandle Florida look even better. Blizzards, snow drifts, avalanches and the like make north Florida, with its relatively mild temperatures, appear as a paradise. Still there is plenty of patchy white in the environment. The sugar white sands, as well…Read more
Uniquely American, the holiday of Thanksgiving has been celebrated since before the establishment of the country. On Thursday of this week, it is a day when families gather and express their appreciation for the bountiful resources provided. As with most family gatherings, food is involved. Traditionally, turkey is the centerpiece of the day’s culinary extravagance….Read more
Sometimes surprises can puzzle and perplex, and yet be pleasant. Finding a twenty-dollar bill, for example, in a parking lot would certainly be a positive experience. The occurrence would likely be tinged with pity for the person who lost it, though. Even if they were totally careless with their financial resources, the discovery would make…Read more
Notoriety can be a positive attribute when events go as planned (or hoped). Such is the case with the much-heralded Monarch Butterflies’ recent departure. These colorful insects have garnered the interest and concern of tens of thousands, if not millions, of people who are worried an age-old annual pilgrimage to winter grounds in Mexico may…Read more
The traditional season of harvest and the gatherings of families and friends is at hand. A celebratory holdover from past generations who were completely dependent upon the land for food and other critical resources, in November one counted their blessings collectively or tightened their belt individually for a long and dismal winter. Today’s residents of…Read more
The desert southwest hardly seems a likely candidate for a forest of any size. Granted, there are some juniper trees and other dwarf species, but nothing like the stately timbers seen in more temperate environments. Such was not always the case. A visit to the Petrified Forest National Park in northeast Arizona permits viewing of…Read more
Florida has many holes in the ground beneath our feet. As every homeowner knows, there are midnight excavators which desecrate the lawn and leave it with enough pockmarks to pass for the lunar surface. Granted, the armadillos are just looking for a snack, but a random collection of shallow holes are the result. If this…Read more
Halloween masks are big business for retailers attracting customers in October. After all, what child could refuse being a super hero, princess, or a hideous freak of nature while getting a sack full of candy? In reality, the tactic of appearing to be something intimidating is fairly common. It is especially useful in the untamed…Read more
Many of the native wildflowers in north Florida are a reflection of the season’s changing light levels, no matter what the thermometer reads. They are providing numerous fall colors and hues. One of the most common in panhandle Florida is Bidens alba. It is known by an assortment of common names including Spanish needles, Beggar’s-tick…Read more
The opportunity to see something truly rare and in relative proximity cannot be passed up. The October 14, 2023 annular eclipse was just such an event. This type of eclipse produces the “ring of fire”, not the midnight darkness of a total eclipse. The reason is the moon is at or very near its apogee…Read more
