Category: Main Stories

An Ornamental Treasure in the Florida Landscape

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

The American White Ibis: Highly Adaptable

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

Brussels Sprouts: From Ancient Rome to Now

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

Last Call Before the End of Fall

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

A Delicious Staple Through the Ages

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

The Brilliant Reds of Fall

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

A Good Reason to Bear in Mind the Effects of Leaving Out Food

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

Not Your Average Fire Ants

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

Uninvited Guests Who Are Happy to Hop Through the Garden

One of the many benefits of living in panhandle Florida is the relatively mild winters. While the days and nights are not the subtropical temperatures of south Florida in October, the thermometer readings are far above the frigid readings so common currently in much of the country. A secondary advantage of the local climate is…Read more

Potato Problems in the Panhandle and Beyond

The leaf litter and pine straw so common to panhandle Florida’s lawns and landscapes this time of year hides a variety of items from sight. The mulch in the making is a resource which literally falls from the sky, or at least that direction. In addition to the benefits, there are some drawbacks. This plant…Read more