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
Sometimes appearances really do represent the situation at hand. That can be good, or it can be bad. With winter about a month in the future for north Florida, the observer must be focused to identify the problems in the native environment. Unfortunately, if left too long the problems can be challenging to control in…Read more
The leaf litter and pine straw so common to panhandle Florida’s lawns and landscapes this time of year hides a variety of items from sight. The mulch in the making is a resource which literally falls from the sky, or at least that direction. In addition to the benefits, there are some drawbacks. This plant…Read more
Even on the doorstep of autumn, panhandle Florida is associated with many outdoor activities. The brightly lit beaches still attract sunbathers and fishing enthusiasts, prompting the need for sunscreen and a wide variety of hydration options. Football is replacing baseball as another solar-soaked September pastime. Want-to-be gridiron experts, of all ages, spend their weekends and…Read more
Picky eaters are always a problem. They will literally turn up their noses at many, if not most, culinary options placed before them. For those making the offering available to the persnickety diner, the trial and error process of finding the right dish is particularly frustrating. This is especially true when considering the snobby consumer…Read more
As the weather has warmed up and the day lengths have peaked, some early season wildflowers have gone to seed and become a muted part of the background landscape. Their blooms will return next year, if environmental conditions are favorable. Other native plants have stepped into the bloom void to contribute their pallet of colors…Read more
It has been a refrain heard throughout the centuries and likely originating during the Neolithic epoch. “Eat your vegetables,” is the anthem of almost every parent during mealtime when juveniles are involved. While there are many green substances on the plate which are perceived as offensive by the progeny, peas are known for their repulsive…Read more
Cooking shows are popular entertainment. Everyone from masters to aspiring chefs share their passion for specific culinary specialties and styles. In contemporary north Florida there are some colorful native insect residents which have a desire for specific plants. Monarch butterflies are one species, but another is the Gulf Fritillary. The object of its dining obsession…Read more
Until relatively recently in history, traveling any distance was an arduous and difficult process. The problems compounded if there was a large baggage load. Initially, there were two obvious options. A cart or wagon pulled, hopefully, by a beast of burden was the first choice. A boat or ship was the second option for going…Read more
The climb to the top, metaphorical or otherwise, is one of the fundamental drives of life. The return of warm weather sees this drive kick into high gear for many of the more commonly visible species in the panhandle. Only the hardiest with an obsessive focus on reaching the pinnacle and the infinite patience to…Read more
