As a general rule, pruning is best done on small growth, except for the purpose of plant restoration. Mutilating a tree, such as Crepe Myrtle, by destructive removal of large limbs will produce a lot of new growth. Crepe Myrtles flower on new wood, so yes you will get a lot of flowering, but it…Read more
In case it has escaped anyone’s attention, May 2025 is turning out to be a hot and humid month. This trend is not a surprise for anyone who has lived in panhandle Florida for at least a year, but there are many new residents to the region who are having their first experience with north…Read more
With ample rain and warmer weather, more people are spending time in the home landscape attending to tasks and chores which upgrade the homestead’s appearance and appeal in north Florida. Clipping, clearing, pruning and shaping are all part of seasonal improvement efforts. There are also a variety of projects which require penetrating beneath the soil’s…Read more
There is something to be said for being a longtime resident. While it does limit one’s viewpoint from a global perspective, it promotes focus on perfecting traits which are close to home and applicable to the situation. The unique, and very pleasant, environment of north Florida’s spring is an excellent example of near perfection on…Read more
From all appearances, the frigid weather of 2024/25’s winter is coming to a close. While folk wisdom forecasts the potential for frost as late as Easter, that holiday will not arrive until April 20, 2025. The late date could be an indication that Punxsutawney Phil, the internationally known groundhog from Pennsylvania, was correct on Groundhog…Read more
The official start of spring is still about four weeks away. As can be expected with the panhandle’s often unpredictable weather, much can happen in the remaining days of winter and the first few weeks of spring. Alas, there are no guarantees of pleasant warm weather when March 20, 2025 arrives. Folk wisdom decrees that…Read more
A stroll through the woods, a field or any other landscape may seem a bit drab in early February. Temperatures have been more like April for a week or so, but one look will say it is still winter. With few exceptions, the dormant season is quickly obvious in the lack of plant life. However,…Read more
The winter weather of January 2025 turned out to be harsh by panhandle Florida standards. While the month did not produce the coldest temperatures, there was record snowfall over much of the region. A lot of the foliage color and condition reflects the unforgiving conditions. Many oak species currently have brown leaves, but they will…Read more
This winter’s exceptional weather was deceiving some popular springtime ornamental shrubs and fruit trees into flowering prematurely. The weather took a turn for the worse last week and the deception is over. Azaleas, for example, began blooming because there were warm days which followed a few days of cold. With the return of below seasonal…Read more
It will soon be the night before Christmas, and many a creature will be stirring in the house. Fortunately, it is not likely to be a mouse. The stockings are hung… somewhere in the abode with the hopes that Saint and Mrs. Nicholas got all their shopping done. The tree, either real or synthetic, represents…Read more
