“The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,” so wrote the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare in his classic play the Merchant of Venice. Rains in Florida’s 2020 warm season have been gentle, and not so gentle at times, but at least there has been enough of them. …Read more
A pessimist will say, “Just when you think things cannot get any worse, they will”. Unfortunately, far too many times the cynic is correct and problems compound with resulting destruction and cost. Sometimes it is the self-fulfilling prophesy of a naysayer, and sometimes it is the voice of experience recognizing a deteriorating situation. In such…Read more
Gardeners will soon face a new set of challenges dealing with the effects of cold weather. However, a little planning and creativity early can make plant protection in the landscape a relatively simple process. Many homeowners and landscape managers want to know when plants will need protection. Depending on the plant, the point of freezing…Read more
The lush green foliage of Wakulla County hides many secrets. Lurking in the murky recesses of nature’s dim places are a collection of tiny creatures with a variety of competing interests. Some organisms are there only to control the unrestrained growth of the plants and fungi which utilize the available resources. Others, with carnivorous intent,…Read more
Hurricane Sally is now last week’s news. Comparatively, it is a footnote in the year 2020 which has turned out to be quite a 12 month period in the history of the almost everyone. Still some mundane chores are currently underway in an effort to recover from the storm’s effects. Hopefully readers of this post…Read more
The end of summer has many wishing to enjoy their lawns barefooted for merriment and dancing before the onset of the inevitable cooler weather. Even the ongoing hot weather can be enjoyed, or endured, better with the soles of one’s feet in contact with grasses. Unfortunately, there are some cautions which must be taken in…Read more
Redundant terms emphasize the qualities which are exhibited by the tangible item or the abstract concept represented. This grammatical technique is meant to immediately accentuate the traits, be they positive or negative. For example almost everyone has some idea of how honey tastes: sweet. However there are those who must accentuate this quality by identifying…Read more
The unexpected arrival of visitors off the highway has a variety of implications and consequences. Some can be positive and some negative. The surprise appearance in many cases leaves the host scrambling to react appropriately and recover from their lack of awareness to the potential of a stopover. The soon to arrive holiday season has…Read more
Few experiences in life are as comforting as having a companion who answers needs and is there to serve without being summoned. Ideally, the relationship benefits both parties, each providing something needed and each receiving enough through their service to engender continuation of the bond. In many cases this reciprocal arrangement is a lifelong relationship. …Read more
The current potential for extreme foul weather has many residents of north Florida concerned about the safety of the trees near their homes. While it is almost inconceivable to imagine the area without these important plants, in the wrong circumstance they can be quite hazardous. While any debilitated or unhealthy tree has a high risk…Read more
