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
There is a lot to be gained from having a tough reputation. Only those with an excessively stalwart disposition or lack of good sense will dare to make a challenge to the individual who holds this distinction. Unbending, rigid and durable are descriptors which invoke a firm, if not dogmatic, state of resiliency. With this…Read more
One common complaint about vegetable gardening is it takes so long for the end product to be ready for harvest. In most cases the average is 90 days, but some can extend out to 180 or more. Another is the seasonal limitations of plants. The range of acceptable temperatures is relatively narrow for most, but…Read more
Many of the native wildflowers in north Florida are a reflection of the season’s changing light levels, no matter what the thermometer reads. They are providing numerous fall colors and hues. One of the most common in panhandle Florida is Bidens alba. It is known by an assortment of common names including Spanish needles, Beggar’s-tick…Read more
In literature and religion, colors have an implicit meaning. This allows the theme to be communicated subliminally to the well-read and visually to those who see the iconography. There are, of course, differences between cultures. White in the western world indicates purity, but it represents death in the far east. Green has been associated with…Read more
As summer fades to autumn in less than a week, the color pallet of the region’s landscape is gradually changing. Unlike latitudes to the north, panhandle Florida’s fall colors come in a rainbow of wildflower shades. Generally speaking, early fall’s wildflowers come in one of four tint categories. White, yellow, green and purple cover the…Read more
Having a notorious relative brings with it some usually unpleasant baggage. Acquaintances, and the public at large, assume there is the likelihood that the genetic tie will result in similar behavior. The negative expectations are reinforced by those celebrities which are in the news, usually for their questionable behavior. From a historical perspective Jerry Lee…Read more
Dogs are always happy to see “their” humans, the wet nose and worshipful gaze usually a comfort. Cats are a bit different. Sometimes they will purr and cuddle, and at other times they will stare blankly as if weighing the pros and cons of consuming their human companions. Unfortunately, both domestic species have a well…Read more
In panhandle Florida’s native plant environment, the yucca genus established a survival protocol long before even the earliest human residents arrived. Its sharp pointy spines accentuate its visual image and enforce its tactics. Local yuccas are perennial shrubs which may grow into small trees with irregular shapes. There are approximately 50 species in this genus…Read more
The yo-yoing thermometer has many panhandle Florida residents in a state of seasonal confusion. Some want to know if we will have another visit from the dreaded Polar Vortex, the latest term for a dipping jet stream which will deliver colder temperatures. Others just want to know when warmer weather will be here to stay….Read more
