Walk into any retailer and the evidence is in plain sight. Christmas is a little over three weeks away. Decorations, gifts, cards, and wrapping paper are prominently displayed for the buyer’s convenience, along with red and green pillar candles wafting holiday fragrances. In the wild, shorter days and lower temperatures in north Florida are the…Read more
For those with any level of visual acuity, November is the beginning of an overwhelmingly colorful season. Holiday lights, decorations and merchandising efforts all vie to use the most conspicuous and unavoidable selections of shades, many of which cannot be found in nature. Fortunately, panhandle Florida has many wondrous colors in the leaves of plants…Read more
The change of seasons from summer to autumn brings out new colors in the countryside and residential areas. The transformation of tones and highlights depends on the region of the country and the species putting on the show. Here in north Florida, the bright fall hues are primarily contributed by the bountiful wildflower bloom. Annuals…Read more
Trees are an important part of our landscapes. They add beauty, they improve the environment, they stabilize the soil and prevent erosion and they can play an important role in energy saving. However, they also may present a risk to the public’s health, safety and welfare. This story will address a number of issues that…Read more
If we take time to think about and appreciate the things we have that make our urban lives more enjoyable, most of us will realize it is our wonderful trees. Well, that is, most of our trees. Like all mortal things, trees do not last forever. As trees age, they can do great damage. This…Read more
The branches and boughs of deciduous trees offer a welcome reprieve from the intense August sun in north Florida. The temperature can drop over ten degrees in the shade under the canopy of greenery, but there is no relief from the insipid humidity. Behind the leafy labyrinth a variety of activities are obscured from observers…Read more
Summer in panhandle Florida is primetime for outdoor fun. The heat and sunshine make water related activities, either salt or fresh, first rate in the local paradise within easy driving distance. However, there is a serpent in this area-wide Garden of Eden. The calendar indicates the approach of the hurricane season’s peak is four weeks…Read more
As July fades into August, more residents are questioning how the trees in their home landscapes would fair in a tropical storm or hurricane. Some have a high potential to cause problems. Others, like the southern live oak, are less likely to damage structures. Live Oak is often used as a generic term for any…Read more
Folk wisdom can, in fact, be amazingly accurate. Not because of some ancient or secret knowledge, but because it is attributable to generations of observations which have been confirmed time and again over the centuries. Many of these pre-social media urban legends involve weather and season changes. In pre-industrial days these environmental factors influenced food…Read more
The recent ample rainfall has accelerated the return of greenery to panhandle Florida. The slow, steady drizzle was punctuated by the occasional down pour. The many native plants have, in turn, responded to the liquid encouragement. Flowers of almost every hue and tone are exhibiting this season’s finest display of colors and texture. Rain lilies…Read more
