Out-of-the way corners in abandoned places conjure up a variety of disquieting images. The eerie silence in these neglected locales gives way to the subtle scurrying of unseen lives attempting to avoid contact and confrontation. While most of the residents of these unkempt sites are harmless, at least from the perspective of venal intent, a…Read more
Panhandle Florida’s winter of 2023/24 has had some frigid nights. The frosty mornings have not been a rarity. Even so, there are signs winter is grudgingly retreating. Aside from the occasional warm day, the daylight hours are obviously increasing. Officially spring is still four and a half weeks away, beginning on March 19, 2024. This…Read more
An often-heard refrain is “I hope it gets cold enough to kill all the bugs.” While the thought is understandable from some perspectives, it is totally impractical. Most bugs and other tiny critters, be they insects, arachnids or worms, are beneficial to human habitation of the planet. They provide a myriad of important, but often…Read more
The recent wet-weather systems have added much moisture to both the land and atmosphere. Foggy mornings sometimes result, and they often reveal interesting features and facts in panhandle Florida. The moisture is appreciated by anyone attempting to propagate plants, but the dawn dampness comes at the price of lower visibility. Most commuters are in a…Read more
Hunger and deprivation are excellent motivators, especially for panhandle Florida’s smallest residents. One such member of these native arthropods is the jumping spider. This salticid, a member of the Saltididae family, defies many of the commonly held perceptions of spiders. Jumping spiders actively hunt prey during the day and are often seen moving vigorously in…Read more
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” wrote Charles Caleb Colton. Colton was a sometimes cleric, essayist, wine merchant and gambler who bounced around Europe and North America during the early 19th century. It is likely many of his financial lenders hoped the public would not imitate his borrowing practices. Aside from his few literary…Read more
