“The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,” so wrote the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare in his classic play the Merchant of Venice. Rains in Florida’s 2020 warm season have been gentle, and not so gentle at times, but at least there has been enough of them. …Read more
Tag: Native Species
Return of the Armyworm
A pessimist will say, “Just when you think things cannot get any worse, they will”. Unfortunately, far too many times the cynic is correct and problems compound with resulting destruction and cost. Sometimes it is the self-fulfilling prophesy of a naysayer, and sometimes it is the voice of experience recognizing a deteriorating situation. In such…Read more
Free, Natural Pest Control!
The lush green foliage of Wakulla County hides many secrets. Lurking in the murky recesses of nature’s dim places are a collection of tiny creatures with a variety of competing interests. Some organisms are there only to control the unrestrained growth of the plants and fungi which utilize the available resources. Others, with carnivorous intent,…Read more
Prickly Weeds and Pesky Berries
The end of summer has many wishing to enjoy their lawns barefooted for merriment and dancing before the onset of the inevitable cooler weather. Even the ongoing hot weather can be enjoyed, or endured, better with the soles of one’s feet in contact with grasses. Unfortunately, there are some cautions which must be taken in…Read more
A Flower Best Avoided
Redundant terms emphasize the qualities which are exhibited by the tangible item or the abstract concept represented. This grammatical technique is meant to immediately accentuate the traits, be they positive or negative. For example almost everyone has some idea of how honey tastes: sweet. However there are those who must accentuate this quality by identifying…Read more
The Roadside Invasion
The unexpected arrival of visitors off the highway has a variety of implications and consequences. Some can be positive and some negative. The surprise appearance in many cases leaves the host scrambling to react appropriately and recover from their lack of awareness to the potential of a stopover. The soon to arrive holiday season has…Read more
Tree of all Trades
The current potential for extreme foul weather has many residents of north Florida concerned about the safety of the trees near their homes. While it is almost inconceivable to imagine the area without these important plants, in the wrong circumstance they can be quite hazardous. While any debilitated or unhealthy tree has a high risk…Read more
Land, Trees and Water: Florida’s Frogs
The hot days of August can be endured in a variety of ways. Of course there is always the ever present air conditioned environment, but it is getting a bit claustrophobic in these days of social distancing. Another alternative is a trip up north, way up north. A change of scenery combined with a drop…Read more
Turkey Association
Word association is an interesting mental connection into the personality of the responding subject. A word is given and the respondent is to reply with the first term which pops into their mind. Some psychologists believe the response reveals how people subconsciously group concepts, ideas and experiences. The theory is this linkage influences how individuals…Read more
Hummingbirds: Always on the Move
Social distancing and all the other COVID-19 safety protocols have complicated life. Once simple activities have taken on a new complexity and resulted in additional obstacles for safely completing any duty or chore. As such, the deeds, tasks, and jobs all are piling up at a feverish clip and the frequency is accelerating. The rapidity…Read more