Tag: Native Species

Frogs and Toads of the Sunshine State

As April 2025 quickly progresses towards May, the thermometer readings feel like June going into July. The little creatures which live in this region are reacting to the sultry environment. One of the many creatures which is encountered in or near freshwater are frogs in one of their developmental phases. Florida has 27 native frog…Read more

Keeping the Pests Out of the Garden

It is a weird and perverse universal cosmic law. This particular statute compounds all that is positive and correct, and turns it into a negative. This is why if a slice of buttered toast is dropped, the chances of it landing with the butter side down is directly proportional to the value of the rug….Read more

The Yearly Return of the Garden Pests

“Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced.” So said William Bradford, five-time governor of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts’ early days. He certainly had the credentials and track record to make this observation valid. Bradford was one of the pilgrim leaders who guided his followers out of the Netherlands and to a…Read more

Surprise Guests Arriving on the Wind

Navigation in contemporary panhandle Florida is far easier than in decades past. The roads are named and numbered with identification information visible on reflective signs. When venturing beyond the county or state lines, or even international boarders, the task of finding one’s way is simpler and exceptionally accurate. Handheld devices and vehicle mounted mapping systems…Read more

Spring’s Big Three Garden Pests

Gardening during panhandle Florida’s spring has many positive features. As a general rule, the weather is pleasant with moderate temperatures and, aside from a few mosquitos, the insect population which eats cultivated vegetation is almost nil. Still, there are pest species which have the potential to consume a gardener’s hard work. The terrible three of…Read more

Getting to the Root of the Issue

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

A Splash of Color to Herald Spring

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

A Sign the Winter Is Winding Down

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

A Gardener’s Buzzing, Bumbling Best Friend

Bumble is an adjective which, at the very least, indicates a person or creature is not nimble. Bumble usually modifies an insult to compound its effect, such as bumbling fool, bumbling idiot, and so on. Actors and actresses have made a career in the entertainment industry bumbling to the pleasure and amusement of their respective…Read more

A Simple Stroll Through the Woods

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