The yo-yoing thermometer has many panhandle Florida residents in a state of seasonal confusion. Some want to know if we will have another visit from the dreaded Polar Vortex, the latest term for a dipping jet stream which will deliver colder temperatures. Others just want to know when warmer weather will be here to stay….Read more
Only yesterday Santa left gifts under trees all across homes in panhandle Florida. Some of the trees are or were actually trees, and others are a conglomeration of one or more materials consisting of metals, plastic and other manmade substances. Most of the real tree material is from cut trees not native to the area….Read more
The 2022 holiday season, with all the wonderful traditional dishes from recipes passed down through the generations, is here. Historically, these treats have been assembled from locally produced foodstuffs, but also with that distinctive and unique quality identified with a family’s status and pride. Chief among those family culinary treats are the desserts, or offerings…Read more
One is the loneliest number, at least according to the 1969 rock and roll hit by the group Three Dog Night. The tune bemoans typical teenage angst about not having that special companion. True isolation and exceptional separation, especially in nature, are much more difficult to achieve. One locally grown tree, the maidenhair tree, is…Read more
After tropical storms and hurricanes, there are always discussions about the trees which have fallen during the storm. Many times the trees in question have landed on a home or some other structure which resulted in multiple thousands of dollars damage. Commonly, water and laurel oaks are the culprits. These large trees are frequently found…Read more
Also written by Chris D. Renn and Les Harrison. The pine tree industry is a major contributor to Florida’s economy despite the loss of thousands of acres of trees due to recent hurricanes, notably Hurricane Michael in 2018. The pine industry provides trees for timber, pulpwood, pinestraw, pine rosin (turpentine), and provides land for conservation…Read more
Also written by Chris Renn. Despite the damage incurred by recent hurricanes, notably Hurricane Michael in 2018, the pine tree industry in Florida still is a major contributor to the state’s economy. This industry includes the growing of trees for timber, pulpwood, pine straw and pine rosin (turpentine), and it provides for conservation and public…Read more
As February closes in on March, some are asking the age-old question: “Is spring here?” A few moderately warm days will stimulate interest in the topic for a variety of reasons. Methods to determine the seasonal transition vary widely. Calendar dates aside, some forecasting methods have a basis in scientific observation, and others in folklore…Read more
The evidence in the home landscape, and in any panhandle Florida environment which includes trees, is unmistakable. The recent storm systems, with their potentially damaging wind gusts, have left limbs, and the occasional tree, on the ground. From the homeowner’s perspective, the limbs are usually a cosmetic irritant which must be removed to reestablish the…Read more
A walk around the neighborhood or forest will confirm winter is here. Of course, there are the recent thermometer readings and the shorter days. Other signs are the thicker coats on animals which, by choice or situation, must remain exposed to the elements. Some, like the native reptiles and amphibians, are absent from sight, having…Read more
