Marine Creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico – Bacteria
In the first article of this series, we discussed whether viruses were truly living organisms. Well, bacteria truly are. They possess all eight characteristics of life but differ from other forms of life in that they lack a true nucleus. Their genetic material just...
Damselfly Love
One thing about nature that you can be sure of is, nobody can say that they have “seen it all.” Just around the next corner is something that you have never seen before in your life. It doesn’t matter if you are the most seasoned, highly educated naturalist on the...
Workshop on Private Well and Septic System Basics
UF/IFAS Extension and Mississippi State University are offering a workshop about the fundamentals of private well and onsite wastewater systems (septic systems) on October 24, 2024 from 6-8:30 pm CST. Join us virtually or in-person at the UF/IFAS Walton County...
Marine Creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico – Viruses
We are going to begin this series of articles with a “creature” that some do not consider alive – viruses. While studying marine science in college, and my early days as a marine science educator, there was a debate as to whether viruses were actually alive and...
Fall is Here, It’s Time to Spray Cogongrass
Without question, Cogongrass is the most troublesome invasive plant that I (and my clients) deal with. Here in Northwest Florida, we have a lot of it, and it is very difficult to manage. With that in mind, I write about cogongrass control with some frequency. If you...
Helene’s Potential Impact on the Florida Coastal Wetlands
Coastal wetlands are some of the most ecologically productive environments on Earth. They support diverse plant and animal species, provide essential ecosystem services such as stormwater filtration, and act as buffers against storms. As Helene showed the Big Bend...
Reducing Health Advisories in Area Waterways: Part 1 – Maintaining Your Septic System
One of the top concerns with residents in our communities is water quality. Surveys I have conducted with the public support this statement. One of the top concerns with water quality in the coastal areas is health advisories. These are issued when concentrations...
The Rare Coastal Dune Lakes of Walton County
Walton County in the Florida Panhandle has 26 miles of coastline dotted with 15 named coastal dune lakes. Coastal dune lakes are technically permanent bodies of water found within 2 miles of the coast. However, the Walton County dune lakes are a unique geographical...
Longleaf Pine Savannas: Fall Flower Walk
Fall is not typically the season when we expect to see high plant activity, but in Florida’s longleaf pine savannas, fall thrive with colors. These unique ecosystems, characterized by their open canopy of towering longleaf pines and a diverse understory of grasses and...
The Naval Live Oak Reservation: America’s First Forest Preserve
How are the live oak (Quercus virginiana) and the history of the United States Navy linked? That is a very interesting question that actually led to the first forest reservation and planting project in the United States. That reservation and history is still alive and...