Being on the doorstep of May, it is a reasonable assumption that cold weather is out of the forecast at least until late October. The higher temperatures bode well for the elimination of heavier garments which retain a comfortable level of body heat during cooler days and nights. Coats, wool scarves and flannel shirts are…Read more
Driving into Fort Walton Beach, it is hard to imagine the area devoid of the infrastructure and buildings which make up the expanding metroplex of coastal Florida. Restaurants, marinas, tee shirt shops and other residue of the 20th and 21st century occupation by people who came to the area for a variety of reasons. Prior…Read more
Spring has sprung in the panhandle, and that fact is reflected in the activity of the local flora and fauna. As expected, plants are sprouting leaves and blooming, and insect activity is accelerating. Curiously, other cryptic manifestations indicate the return of warmer weather. Holes, sometimes the size of small craters, inexplicably appear in the lawn…Read more
The early weeks of spring have been filled with nature’s heralds in north Florida as they announce the return of warmer weather in a nearly infinite variety of ways. Butterflies have returned, frogs and toads harmonize at night, and leaves have emerged on deciduous plants and trees, obscuring the surrounding terrain’s details. Many native annuals…Read more
Folk wisdom can, in fact, be amazingly accurate. Not because of some ancient or secret knowledge, but because it is attributable to generations of observations which have been confirmed time and again over the centuries. Many of these pre-social media urban legends involve weather and season changes. In pre-industrial days these environmental factors influenced food…Read more
Dogs are man’s best friend, according to Ogden Nash. The mid-20th century poet and humorist focused one of his many amusing rhymes on the numerous positive attributes of contemporary canine companions. So it is curious a noxious native weed, dogfennel, is identified with this faithful friend. Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) is not in the same plant…Read more
For travelers in the Tallahassee area who are seeking a trip to the gulf coast, U.S. Highway 319 has long been a convenient choice. Heading due south through Crawfordville, it connects with U.S. Highway 98 which meanders close to the coast, east and west. Initially a two lane road south of the capitol city, it…Read more
Spring is the season for moving to a new location in the panhandle that offers many benefits, but a few challenges too. The big question is where is the best relocation site offering all the amenities needed with the prospects of improving one’s situation? Efficient shelter from the elements is always on the top of…Read more
The recent ample rainfall has accelerated the return of greenery to panhandle Florida. The slow, steady drizzle was punctuated by the occasional down pour. The many native plants have, in turn, responded to the liquid encouragement. Flowers of almost every hue and tone are exhibiting this season’s finest display of colors and texture. Rain lilies…Read more
The climb to the top, metaphorical or otherwise, is one of the fundamental drives of life. The return of warm weather sees this drive kick into high gear for many of the more commonly visible species in the panhandle. Only the hardiest with an obsessive focus on reaching the pinnacle and the infinite patience to…Read more
