Hitchhiking was once a common means of low-cost transportation. A person would walk to the nearest road and hold out their fist with the thumb pointed up while attempting to make eye contact with passing drivers. In a simpler time, hitchhikers were commonly provided a ride to a predetermined spot on the map. In exchange…Read more
Panhandle Florida residents are able to enjoy a lifestyle with vast tracts of forested land having ample greenery, even in winter. Combined with the temperate climate (most of the year), the wildlands sustain an environment which is the envy of many Americans in more urban locales. Those acres stay lush during years with normal to…Read more
As winter progresses in panhandle Florida, the palette of colors gradually changes by the week.Trees, shrubs and winter wildflowers provide a muted display for anyone willing to spend the time to observe it. The hues cover the spectrum but are not as intense or showy as during spring. The few blooms are also a lure…Read more
The plants, animals and bugs know winter is here. The oaks and hickories have dropped most of their nuts, most of the wildflowers have withered, and migratory birds have made their trip south. Unfortunately, the winter season means new challenges for the homeowner and gardener. The pests which operate 12 months of the year in…Read more
One genus of plants, with both native and exotic members, is welcoming visitors to stop by for a snack or meal. Local hollies will soon be heavily laden with tiny blooms and deep green leaves. Ilexes, as hollies are scientifically known, are common in the temperate to tropical parts of the globe with species on…Read more
Florida is home to about 80 to 85 mosquito species, many of which live in the panhandle. Of those, 20 plus are exotic mosquitos which have been inadvertently imported, such as the Asian Tiger Mosquito also called the Tire Mosquito. Contrary to popular perception, not all of these dine on humans. Some target only birds,…Read more
Valentine’s day is on the horizon and grass in panhandle Florida’s yards has finally stopped growing, so the lawnmower can be stored for the winter. The milder (sometimes cold) days and cool, crisp evenings signal a pause for turf weeds until the weather warms up again in the spring, right? Well, not quite. A quick…Read more
The official start of winter was just a few weeks ago and the landscape is dormant. With the exception of live oak trees, all the plants and trees which lose their leaves have dropped them to the ground. For panhandle Florida homeowners recovering from the holidays, early January is a tempting time to reflect on…Read more
Words are a curious human creation. Each has at least one meaning or implication for the listener. The terms used today date back to long before recorded history began. Countless academics have postulated and theorized as to how these oral identifiers have migrated and evolved through the millennia to arrive at the languages used today….Read more
Only yesterday Santa left gifts under trees all across homes in panhandle Florida. Some of the trees are or were actually trees, and others are a conglomeration of one or more materials consisting of metals, plastic and other manmade substances. Most of the real tree material is from cut trees not native to the area….Read more
