With the return of warmer weather, the focus of outdoor activities is shifting to pursuits where the partakers can maintain a personally comfortable temperature. So logically this means taking advantage of the local water resources. Panhandle Florida has a wealth of aquatic assets which can be enjoyed all year long, but spring and summer provide…Read more
As contrite and well-worn as the statement is, springtime is truly the season of renewal and rebirth. The warming temperatures and ample rain have grass growing, birds singing, and shrubs blooming. Most area residents are leaving their homes and returning to the outside activities which make panhandle Florida so attractive to citizens and visitors alike….Read more
Citrus has long been associated with Florida. A popular advertising slogan of the 1970s from the Florida Citrus Commission invited people to “come to the Florida sunshine tree…” because “breakfast without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.” The Florida citrus industry began in the northeastern region of the state along the St. Johns…Read more
Given the warming weather, yardwork is a productive choice and provides the necessary space to stay safe. Keeping a well-groomed yard and home landscape requires regular clipping of the foliage, some of which voluntarily appeared. Unfortunately, some of the “volunteer greenery” which has recently emerged is quite difficult to control and nearly impossible to eradicate….Read more
The basic needs, along with the luxuries, of contemporary living are accessed through a quick visit to local shops and big box retailers. Often forgotten is the frontier period with its more primitive life when, even here in panhandle Florida, human existence was not as pleasant as today. Rare is the modern person who takes…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
Deer hunting techniques vary by preference of the hunter, along with state and federal regulations. The most frequently used method is still-hunting from a tree stand or elevated perch. Properly placed, the aerial platform provides a convenient and low exertion way to procure venison and a brag-worthy antler rack. While the tree stand may seem…Read more
The winter of 22/23 has been variable from a weather standpoint. Mostly dry until recently with some very cold days and seasonally humid nights in panhandle Florida. This is far better than the residents of the Midwest and New England who are enduring bomb cyclones and polar vortexes. This regional pattern portends a variety of…Read more
Some of the early blooming azaleas are already flowering in early February. Less obvious are some of the other species which add color to the environment. One of these bright spots is wild geraniums. Much like the camellias and azaleas, geraniums have been cultivated for centuries. While the details are lost to history, the plant…Read more
Hitchhiking was once a common means of low-cost transportation. A person would walk to the nearest road and hold out their fist with the thumb pointed up while attempting to make eye contact with passing drivers. In a simpler time, hitchhikers were commonly provided a ride to a predetermined spot on the map. In exchange…Read more
