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
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 old saying identifies the lion as the king of the jungle, feared and respected by all. Every creature which lives in or enters its realm, be it jungle or savanna, must respect the hierarchy of the order. Legend has it the regal creature can be generous with vassals or savagely brutal. The reason or…Read more
April showers produce May flowers, as the old saying goes. That adage assumes there are April (or May) showers, but the liquid from above is never a guaranteed certainty. Some year’s the spring bloom of native plants is influenced by a dry April, a late March frost or a relatively warm winter. Fortunately, there are…Read more
With spring barely out of the starting gate, all kinds of plants are sprouting and producing blooms. Even winter’s last gasp of low temperatures only slightly slows the progress. Much like an Easter egg hunt, a search of the landscape can bring multiple surprises. Two colorful plants, spiderwort and rustweed, which are growing in north…Read more
