Kudzu, Old World climbing fern, and tropical soda apple are all widely known as invaders which were introduced into the region from faraway and exotic locations. Each has its own story of how it arrived here and escaped into a welcoming environment. Once established, these and other alien plant interlopers have aggressively pushed out native…Read more
After the abrupt and sad end to the 2019 nesting season, I was eagerly looking forward to 2020, although I was not sure if the bluebirds would return. In the interim I had built a second nest box using the dimensions of the box I’d used the previous year but with a few minor modifications. …Read more
Examples of horticultural foul play are evident all around. Some are in private landscapes and can possibly be excused due to the lack of gardening knowledge by the homeowner, but many occur on public property that is maintained by paid “landscape professionals.” A far-too-common sight around North Florida are ‘mulch volcanoes,’ formed when mulch is…Read more
Summer in panhandle Florida is primetime for outdoor fun. The heat and sunshine make water related activities, either salt or fresh, first rate in the local paradise within easy driving distance. However, there is a serpent in this area-wide Garden of Eden. The calendar indicates the approach of the hurricane season’s peak is four weeks…Read more
On April 25, the four fledglings from the first brood had flown up into the trees and for the next two weeks or so would be fed by their parents, primarily the male. I did not catch a single glimpse of any of them during this time. After the fledging event, I had taken the…Read more
Every year, just before the beginning of the hurricane season, many homeowners frantically seek professional assistance assessing the condition of their larger mature trees. This is done to determine if any of them present a significant risk to them or their neighbors’ property should they be subjected to significantly high seasonal winds. Most people can…Read more
Insects generally are viewed by the public-at-large as pest species which are tolerated in moderate numbers and eradicated when reaching the nuisance level. A prime example is the housefly, Musca domestica, the most common domestic fly in the panhandle and just about everywhere else on the planet. It accounts for about 90 percent of all…Read more
After the first egg was laid on March 19, I felt joy but also apprehension; I had already begun to develop that sense of concern that bluebird hosts get when anticipating what might possibly go wrong. Bluebirds lay one egg per day until they reach the final egg for that brood, usually between four and…Read more
There is the often-quoted Biblical admonition “By your fruits you will be known,” which commonly comes up when discussing behavior. In other words, a reputation will ultimately be based on the deeds and accomplishments of an individual, family or group. This warning advises long-term performance consistency is critical to establishing one’s good (or not so…Read more
I mounted the nest box and pole in my back yard in late February. Frankly, I didn’t expect much to come of it and was prepared for disappointment. A couple of weeks went by and I saw no birds. In the interim I did some rudimentary research about bluebirds, which consisted basically of looking at…Read more
