Sometimes appearances really do represent the situation at hand. That can be good, or it can be bad. With winter about a month in the future for north Florida, the observer must be focused to identify the problems in the native environment. Unfortunately, if left too long the problems can be challenging to control in…Read more
In panhandle Florida there is a bird species which literally swarms in huge numbers later in the year. The American white ibis is a native species found from Virginia to the Gulf Coast. It also occurs throughout the Caribbean, on both coasts of Mexico, Central America and as far south as Columbia and Venezuela. The…Read more
Red is a curious color with an almost endless collection of meanings. It is on one extreme end of the visible light spectrum, at least for humans, and has served as an indicator of caution for people since ancient times. Recent political identifications aside, red is the color or part of the color scheme of…Read more
Cartoon animals are cute and funny. They are assigned personalities and traits which endear them to the reader or viewer. These creations have been a staple of newspapers for more than a century and Walt Disney brought them to life in the movies about 90 years ago. Television, and now the internet, perpetuates the perception…Read more
One of the many benefits of living in panhandle Florida is the relatively mild winters. While the days and nights are not the subtropical temperatures of south Florida in October, the thermometer readings are far above the frigid readings so common currently in much of the country. A secondary advantage of the local climate is…Read more
In case it has escaped anyone’s attention, the summer of 2022 turned out to be a hot and humid season. This trend is not a surprise for anyone who has lived in panhandle Florida for at least twelve months, but it can be overwhelming for the many new residents to the area who are having…Read more
Just 500 years ago Florida was barely identified, and the flora and fauna undocumented with little known of its complexity or diversity. Juan Ponce de Leon and the Spanish conquistadores who followed him claimed control of the state and geographic area for several centuries before being pushed out. Even today there are still places and…Read more
October has traditionally been the beginning of harvest season. Many agricultural crops are reaching maturity and, depending on several environmental factors, are soon to be ready for gathering. During the bygone era when the population was self-reliant and attuned to the seasonal changes, getting next year’s seed stock prepared was a critical activity. If next…Read more
After tropical storms and hurricanes, there are always discussions about the trees which have fallen during the storm. Many times the trees in question have landed on a home or some other structure which resulted in multiple thousands of dollars damage. Commonly, water and laurel oaks are the culprits. These large trees are frequently found…Read more
Fall, believe it or not, will soon be in the air and on the thermometer. There will be a few warm days in October, but soon the 90 plus degree days in 2022 will be gone. Additional north fall color is developing in the vast hardwood forests of maple, hickory, and other showy tree species….Read more
