“Don't fly, Mister bluebird, I'm just walkin' down the road. Early morning sunshine, tell me all I need to know.” These lyrics from the Allman Brothers’ song, “Blue Sky” always come to mind when I step outside our office building ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
I was having dinner with my family on a cool March evening when one said “I have not seen any Swallow-tailed Kites yet. We usually see them this time of year”. To which I replied, “I saw one today!” – and I had. It was March ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
My husband was born and raised in Pensacola, spending many of his childhood weekends fishing, swimming, or camping along local waterways. So, it was a bit of a surprise when he told me he didn’t see his first pelican until he was 12 or ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
The birds… This is nuts… an article about the birds of the Gulf of Mexico in 500 words or less… right. Do you know how many species of birds live in and around the Gulf? It’s a lot… Birds have the fewest barriers, and the ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Landscape activities have already begun in our Panhandle counties with cleanup, mulching, raking, and pruning. Our mild temperatures and days with sunshine spur us to jump into our landscape preparations for the spring growing season. This ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Natural Resources, WildlifeDiscovering something new is possibly the most exciting thing a field biologist can do. As students, budding biologists imagine coming across something no one else has ever noticed before, maybe even getting the opportunity to name a new bird, ... READ MORE
Category: Natural ResourcesIt’s mid-February, and regardless of the groundhog’s prediction, spring seems to have arrived in northwest Florida. In my neighborhood, all the azaleas have bloomed. While beautiful, it’s something that usually doesn’t happen around ... READ MORE
Category: HorticultureAfter Hurricane Ivan devastated the Pensacola area in 2004, my son was working to repair docks in local waterways. One day, after working on a project in Bayou Texar (near Pensacola Bay), he came by our house and said that he had seen a bald ... READ MORE
Category: Natural ResourcesDo you love the outdoors? Wish you knew more about the plants and animals native to our area? The Florida Master Naturalist Program is a course offered by Extension agents throughout the state, including the northwestern counties. Three different ... READ MORE
Category: HorticultureAs September rolls into October and we finally experience cooler temperatures, I always look forward to seeing one of my favorite native grasses in full bloom. Muhlenbergia capillaris, or Muhly grass, is an extremely versatile plant in the home ... READ MORE
Category: Horticulture