As the weather has warmed up and the day lengths have peaked, some early season wildflowers have gone to seed and become a muted part of the background landscape. Their blooms will return next year, if environmental conditions are favorable. Other native plants have stepped into the bloom void to contribute their pallet of colors…Read more
A name can be a defining aspect of an identity. It can portray a variety of characteristics, both real and imagined, for the holder. In addition to family identities, the name can project strength and honor for the owner. Noted historical figures of times past can contribute to the evoked image. Many Hollywood stars-to-be have…Read more
As stated in an earlier column, pruning plants in the home landscape depends on the species of plant, not the season of the year. Some shrubs and trees start the spring with the growth of new branches which will produce blooms in late spring or summer. Some flowering shrubs bloom only on new wood which…Read more
When a gardener is anxious to get started in the spring garden, a task commonly undertaken is pruning. Most trees and shrubs benefit from annual pruning because pruning has a major influence on a shrub’s flowering habit, shape, size, and pest problems. A regular pruning schedule protects plants, people, and property from injury, pests and…Read more
It may be hard to believe now, but there was an epoch before the age of electronic gizmos when children universally awaited the return of warm weather which signaled the end of school was near. The balmy temperatures lured most youth into the outdoors, each anticipating new adventures and discoveries in the woods and waters…Read more
“Nothing is there more friendly to a man than a friend in need,” so observed Titus Maccius Plautus, Roman playwright, about 2200 years ago. In modern parlance the remark has been abbreviated to “a friend in need is a friend indeed”. When winter sets in with all its hardships and privation, there are many birds…Read more
The botanical pause of winter is monotonous in its consistency. Each day, with very few exceptions, is just like the one before it, with plants in suspended animation. February brings the first inkling of the burst of activity coming to panhandle Florida which will soon arrive with vigorous growth and riotous color. One herald for…Read more
Bidens alba, in the Aster (sunflower) family, is a common weed or wildflower, depending on your viewpoint. Commonly known as Beggar’s Tick, or simply Bidens, it is considered native to Florida and subtropical regions of the Southeastern United States. It has been deemed naturalized or invasive in tropical and subtropical parts of Asia, South America…Read more
Walk into any retailer and the evidence is in plain sight. Christmas is a little over three weeks away. Decorations, gifts, cards, and wrapping paper are prominently displayed for the buyer’s convenience, along with red and green pillar candles wafting holiday fragrances. In the wild, shorter days and lower temperatures in north Florida are the…Read more
The moderating temperatures and periods of reduced (relatively speaking) humidity are making outdoor activities far more attractive for a majority of people. Whether walking a nature trail or pulling weeds in the garden, the thermometer reading encourages getting outside. Sometimes residents and visitors are concerned about a surprise encounter with one of the 45 species…Read more
