A walk around the neighborhood or forest will confirm winter is here. Of course, there are the recent thermometer readings and the shorter days. Other signs are the thicker coats on animals which, by choice or situation, must remain exposed to the elements. Some, like the native reptiles and amphibians, are absent from sight, having…Read more
As the colder weather sets in, the need for heavier outerwear in panhandle Florida becomes quickly obvious for most warm-blooded creatures, people included. Nature provides for the forest animals through them instinctively growing additional fur and feathers as the temperatures dip. Reptiles, insects and amphibians retreat to secure locations with enough protective insulation to wait…Read more
Bidens alba, in the Aster (sunflower) family, is a common weed or wildflower, depending on your viewpoint. Commonly known as Beggar’s Tick, or simply Bidens, it is considered native to Florida and subtropical regions of the Southeastern United States. It has been deemed naturalized or invasive in tropical and subtropical parts of Asia, South America…Read more
Last minute Christmas bargains are being hurled at the panhandle’s citizens through every conceivable mass media channel known to humanity. The retail establishments are packed, and the package delivery services’ abilities are straining at the coming deadline. The indecisive are now at the panic point where choices must be made or disappointment (and unending recriminations)…Read more
With the holiday gift-giving season in full swing, many are scrambling to find the perfect item for that special person on the receiving end. As the old saying goes, good things come in small packages. Well, most of the time. There are always gift cards to preferred retailers, the 21st Century equivalent of cash, or…Read more
Once a landscape plan is established, what is the next step? Most gardeners will say, “Right plant for the right place.” But is this simply choosing a plant whose genetics match up with the soil type, light levels, temperature range, and soil pH? If this is all, then a vital step has been overlooked in…Read more
Shoes are a necessary implement of civilization and an indispensable part of the human wardrobe. They come in an incredible array of sizes, shapes, materials and colors. This vestment has been in use by people since before recorded history, insulating against cold and protecting the human sole from all manner of damaging contrivances which could…Read more
Walk into any retailer and the evidence is in plain sight. Christmas is a little over three weeks away. Decorations, gifts, cards, and wrapping paper are prominently displayed for the buyer’s convenience, along with red and green pillar candles wafting holiday fragrances. In the wild, shorter days and lower temperatures in north Florida are the…Read more
From a bird’s perspective, 2021 has been a pretty good year so far. There was enough rain for plants to thrive and provide ample sources of food for the plethora of avian species residing or visiting locally. The lush bounty of greenery produced seeds and fruit for the birds which require those commodities in…Read more
For those with any level of visual acuity, November is the beginning of an overwhelmingly colorful season. Holiday lights, decorations and merchandising efforts all vie to use the most conspicuous and unavoidable selections of shades, many of which cannot be found in nature. Fortunately, panhandle Florida has many wondrous colors in the leaves of plants…Read more
