Valentine’s day is on the horizon and grass in panhandle Florida’s yards has finally stopped growing, so the lawnmower can be stored for the winter. The milder (sometimes cold) days and cool, crisp evenings signal a pause for turf weeds until the weather warms up again in the spring, right? Well, not quite. A quick…Read more
Tag: Seasons
Good Tasks to Prepare the Lawn for Spring
The official start of winter was just a few weeks ago and the landscape is dormant. With the exception of live oak trees, all the plants and trees which lose their leaves have dropped them to the ground. For panhandle Florida homeowners recovering from the holidays, early January is a tempting time to reflect on…Read more
Keeping Plants Warm and Happy in Winter
The holiday season in panhandle Florida brings the inevitability of cold and frosty weather. While nothing complements eggnog or hot chocolate like a chill in the air, some plants do not appreciate the dropping temperatures. Homeowners and gardeners face a new set of challenges dealing with the effects of cold weather in the forecast for…Read more
Hardy Plants Ready to Take on Winter
Recent weather has confirmed winter is really here. While the hours of sunshine will be getting marginally longer in a few days, the appearance of frost in the morning is not a surprise to anyone. Last week’s painful cold temperatures will lead to noticeably higher power bills in the coming weeks. The short days and…Read more
A Tale of Two Florida Vines
As the holiday season comes into the home stretch, red and green are everywhere to be seen. Retail establishments, homes, and just about everywhere else humans frequent are awash in the colors red and green. While the leaves of many deciduous trees, weeds and shrubs have converted to a shade of brown, two common local…Read more
Florida’s Bountiful and Hardy Cool Season Crops
Seasonal distractions are at an epidemic level. There are shopping and sales, social events, more shopping, gift wrapping, and then even additional last-minute shopping for those emergency gifts. The ample rain recently combined with the colder temperatures has created a less than ideal environment for working in the landscape and garden. Even the deer hunters…Read more
Brussels Sprouts: From Ancient Rome to Now
Fortunately, there are vegetables which can be grown in panhandle Florida’s winter. They offer the opportunity for a fresh and consistent supply of healthy dietary staples. There are a few which easily tolerate the weather but are not widely accepted by ever hungry youngsters. Brussels sprouts, which handles cold and ice with barely a notice, are…Read more
Last Call Before the End of Fall
More than 2500 years ago Aesop, the Greek fabulist, told the story of the ant and the grasshopper. The ant was industrious and prepared for the coming winter, but the grasshopper was profligate and did not get ready for the impending period of privation. It did not end well for the decadent grasshopper. The moral…Read more
The Brilliant Reds of Fall
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
Using the Surplus of Summer to Prepare for Leaner Times
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