Embrace the Gulf 2020 – flatworms
Okay, this is a gamble. I began this series to celebrate the year of the Gulf of Mexico - “Embracing the Gulf 2020”. The idea was to write about the habitats, creatures, economic impacts, and issues surrounding the “pond” that we live on. I did a few introductory...
The Spiderwort
The spiderwort is a pretty little plant that most people have encountered in their yards or on roadsides. In cattle or hay pastures, it is considered a weed because cows won’t eat it, and its high moisture content can ruin hay harvests. In a home landscape, though, it...
2020 Year of the Turtle – chicken turtles
Bet you have never heard of these? Chicken Turtles? But they exist! And the reason you probably have not heard of them is because, unlike so many other turtles, they do not spend a lot of time in the water. Chicken turtles are fans of the ephemeral ponds, these are...
New List Provides Assistance Options for Florida Coastal Businesses
Florida Sea Grant is maintaining a curated list of disaster assistance options for Florida’s coastal businesses disrupted by COVID-19. The list contains links to details about well- and lesser-known options and includes “quick takeaway” overviews of each assistance...
Embrace the Gulf 2020 – the jellyfish
I’d like to be a jellyfish… cause jellyfish don’t pay rent… They don’t walk and they don’t talk with some Euro-trash accent… Their just simple protoplasm… clear as cellophane They ride the winds of fortune… life without a brain These lyrics from Jimmy Buffett’s song...
The Incredible Floridan Aquifer
As Florida residents, we are so fortunate to have the Floridan Aquifer lying below us, one of the most productive aquifer systems in the world. The aquifer underlies an area of about 100,000 square miles that includes all of Florida and extends into parts of Alabama,...
For a Unique Landscape Native, Give Needle Palm a Try!
There aren’t a lot of quality landscape plant options that fit the description nearly every homeowner desires: native, low-maintenance, slow-growing, pest free, drought tolerant while tolerating wet soils, loving both sun or shade, and green year-round. Needle Palm...
Now is the Time to Address Aquatic Weeds
Even though the calendar says we are only a few weeks into spring, recent weather has been more like summer. The early arrival of sustained warm weather has water temperatures in local ponds high enough that aquatic vegetation growth has really taken off. This early...
2020 Year of the Turtle – box turtles
These are some of the more familiar Florida turtles we have. Working with youth, I often hear them called “snapping turtles” because (a) these are the most common turtles they encounter, and (b) snapping turtles are the only name they know 😊 I myself had a...
Embrace the Gulf 2020 – the sponges
We began this series on the Gulf talking about the Gulf itself. We then moved to the big, more familiar – maybe more interesting animals, the vertebrates – birds, fish, etc. In this edition we shift to the invertebrates – the “spineless” animals of the Gulf of...