Large families are always an interesting collection of individuals with curious and occasionally unique characteristics, but they still have a common connection running through all the relations. Getting members together reveals both the similarities and the differences. Holiday get togethers frequently highlight the vast variations. There is always the crazy uncle with the tacky jokes,…Read more
Kudzu, Old World climbing fern, and tropical soda apple are all widely known as invaders which were introduced into the region from faraway and exotic locations. Each has its own story of how it arrived here and escaped into a welcoming environment. Once established, these and other alien plant interlopers have aggressively pushed out native…Read more
With the return of consistent, if not excessive, rain after a dry patch during May and the first half of June, lawns are actively growing in Florida’s panhandle. This results in some positive aspects and some negative. The major positive feature is a lush, green lawn. No matter the turf species, there is a unique…Read more
Dogs are man’s best friend, according to Ogden Nash. The mid-20th century poet and humorist focused one of his many amusing rhymes on the numerous positive attributes of contemporary canine companions. So it is curious a noxious native weed, dogfennel, is identified with this faithful friend. Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) is not in the same plant…Read more
The end of summer has many wishing to enjoy their lawns barefooted for merriment and dancing before the onset of the inevitable cooler weather. Even the ongoing hot weather can be enjoyed, or endured, better with the soles of one’s feet in contact with grasses. Unfortunately, there are some cautions which must be taken in…Read more
Redundant terms emphasize the qualities which are exhibited by the tangible item or the abstract concept represented. This grammatical technique is meant to immediately accentuate the traits, be they positive or negative. For example almost everyone has some idea of how honey tastes: sweet. However there are those who must accentuate this quality by identifying…Read more
The unexpected arrival of visitors off the highway has a variety of implications and consequences. Some can be positive and some negative. The surprise appearance in many cases leaves the host scrambling to react appropriately and recover from their lack of awareness to the potential of a stopover. The soon to arrive holiday season has…Read more
The summer of 2020 is here with its oppressive heat and humidity during much of the daylight hours. Still there is time in the evening to enjoy the environment and the creatures in it. Chief among the entertaining insects are butterflies, and there are many different species here or passing through on a seasonal basis….Read more
With spring barely out of the starting gate, all kinds of plants are sprouting and producing blooms. Even winter’s last gasp of low temperatures only slightly slows the progress. Much like an Easter egg hunt, a search of the landscape can bring multiple surprises. Two colorful plants, spiderwort and rustweed, which are growing in north…Read more
