While most panhandle Florida residents are among the fortunate few who dodged many ill effects and brutal results of the hurricanes and tropical storms during this memorable 2020 season, winter is soon to come. The local deciduous trees accurately reflect this seasonal transition. It is correct to say the shorter days are the impetus for…Read more
The low frequency droning is an unmistakable acoustic cue for anything with auditory capabilities. There are times though when the menacing monotone is not present and the pain is a complete surprise. While the lilting and directionless flight pattern can camouflage the potential agony to the inexperienced, any physical encounter has the real possibility of…Read more
The old song “Pennies from Heaven” was originally sung by Big Crosby, notable crooner, actor, and co-star with Bob Hope in many On The Road To (you pick the exotic location) films. This song intones the melancholy wishes of many depression era Americans. After all, who could object to money falling from the sky on…Read more
Holiday decorations are beginning to appear in north Florida’s homes, offices and businesses. The season’s adornments hang, stand, drape and protrude from every direction and cannot be missed by anyone with a modicum of visual acuity. The colors were, at some point shrouded in history, ritualized to red and green. The logic is unavoidable since…Read more
Dining out is an activity which requires some forethought and planning, especially in these days of “social distancing”. Choosing the meal, any dining companions (if allowed) and the location of the meal are decisions which influence the experience. Once decided whether alone or with a few friends or family members, the cares of the world…Read more
“There is gold in them thar hills,” so was the call of the ‘49’ers who were beckoned to search for the elusive, but valuable, yellow metal in California during the mid-19th century. This enticement has lured hundreds of thousands to remote and usually hostile locations the world over in pursuit of quick wealth. With the…Read more
“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
