“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
Ancient wisdom and popular culture have many quotes about timing. “Better late than never” and “No time like the present” are just two of the many sayings. As is true with almost all generalities, they are applicable to only some situations. Gardening and landscape maintenance is not one of the topics where the specifics can…Read more
The world of social media is always abuzz with a variety of topics. This time of year, there are many postings on the nearly endless list of blooming flowers which are brightening the landscapes all over panhandle Florida. The polychromatic displays are located high and low, in both residential and rural areas, and seemingly without…Read more
“The house always wins” is a reality every patron of casinos and bookie sites must ultimately face. All the stylish advertising aside, the numbers will eventually fall in favor of the gambling establishments. It is a hard fact to adjust to, especially for younger bettors. Without going into the minutia of statistics and probability analysis,…Read more
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
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
The official start of spring is still about four weeks away. As can be expected with the panhandle’s often unpredictable weather, much can happen in the remaining days of winter and the first few weeks of spring. Alas, there are no guarantees of pleasant warm weather when March 20, 2025 arrives. Folk wisdom decrees that…Read more
February may be the shortest month of the year, but from a gardener’s perspective there is plenty to do. So far, the weather has been milder than last month, but that can easily change with the next weather forecast. If recent history is any indicator, March may still hold some surprises (either warm or frigid)….Read more
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
The winter weather of January 2025 turned out to be harsh by panhandle Florida standards. While the month did not produce the coldest temperatures, there was record snowfall over much of the region. A lot of the foliage color and condition reflects the unforgiving conditions. Many oak species currently have brown leaves, but they will…Read more
