Panhandle Florida’s winter of 2023/24 has had some frigid nights. The frosty mornings have not been a rarity. Even so, there are signs winter is grudgingly retreating. Aside from the occasional warm day, the daylight hours are obviously increasing. Officially spring is still four and a half weeks away, beginning on March 19, 2024. This…Read more
The hobby of beekeeping has gained considerable popularity in recent years. As such, the Apalachee Beekeepers Association is offering a beginning beekeeping short course on February 24, 2024. The class will be held at the UF/IFAS Extension Office in Crawfordville, located at 84 Cedar Avenue. Topics will include the fundamentals of beekeeping, beekeeping equipment, hive…Read more
Living in panhandle Florida has a variety of exceptional benefits. The natural environment is a feature that visitors travel great distances to experience and enjoy during their leisure periods. While some residents may take this advantage for granted after a while, a short stopover to another part of the state or country helps put this…Read more
The pace of 21st century life continues to accelerate unabated. There seems to be an unending stream of new, improved, and enhanced products and services at every sunrise. The stress and expense it takes on the citizenry is difficult to gauge and measure. The adjustment may be as simple as a change in a food…Read more
The term creeping has many negative implications. It conveys sneaky behavior with potentially malevolent intent. The definition of creeping could be updated to the equivalent of internet stalking. It means to pursue or follow someone in a persistent, secretive way. By doing so, the goal is to advance gradually and unnoticed, then infringe on some…Read more
February may be the shortest month of the year, but from a vegetable gardener’s perspective there is plenty to do in the cool winter days. So far, the weather has had its ups and downs, but there has been ample rain. It is difficult for the groundhog to forecast whether the cold will continue or…Read more
The spring garden seed catalogs will soon be arriving daily in the mail with plentiful photos of spring flowers and vegetables in the back of the publication. Panhandle Florida’s gardeners have to make good use of their limited home garden space, a limitation which sometimes eliminates healthy choices in favor of colorful options. Lucky gardeners…Read more
Sometimes the news is just bad, and there is no way to sugar coat it. Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening and yellow dragon disease, is present in the Florida panhandle. Not surprisingly, the Asian Citrus Psyllid is present in the region, too. This tiny insect is one of two psyllids which are known vectors or…Read more
A clue, by inference, directs the viewer to a conclusion. The deduction which is based on the exhibited evidence may provide some insight into an activity occurring at some point in the past. No matter how good the data, much depends on the effective detective work of the individual attempting to understand the situation. The…Read more
Gardening is messy, muddy and a lot of work, especially after recent rains. But the benefits of gardening are tremendous, from healthy food to understanding and appreciating nature. In panhandle Florida recent cold temperatures have left many residents undecided about what to grow in this part of the year given spring could arrive at any…Read more
