Pirates of the Caribbean was always my favorite ride at Disney. Being prone to seasickness, this low-key little water journey was as close as my childhood imagination could fathom to truly sailing the high seas. But that type of adventure ... READ MORE
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There have been a lot of things brought into and out of the deep South that seemed like a good idea at the time. From kudzu and mullet haircuts to deep-fried Twinkies and jorts, we should probably think twice about a few trends. One such ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources
In the early 1800’s, the Spanish divided us into East and West Florida. St. Augustine was the capital of East Florida, while Pensacola was the capital of West Florida. The peninsula was Seminole territory, and very few European settlers ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Recreation, Water
Watching early-season Hurricane Beryl barrel her way through the Caribbean and Gulf as a Category 5 storm has been a bit of a wake-up call. While Floridians are no strangers to hurricanes, this storm is proof of the climatologists’ warnings ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water
One aspect I really love about my work with Extension is the incredible network of creative, helpful, and extraordinarily knowledgeable people it gives me quick access to. In 2010, I had no idea how to respond when an oil spill was approaching ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Water
It’s warm here in northwest Florida, which means our cold-blooded reptile friends are on the move. In the last few weeks, I’ve seen a snake at work, one at home, and received snake photos from my neighbors' and parents’ yards. A fear ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Last week, I took a group of kids on a beach walk at Deadman’s Island in Gulf Breeze. They picked up hermit crabs, watched shorebirds, and looked for interesting finds along the beach. Toward the east end of the peninsula (it’s not actually ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water
Years ago, we took a family canoe trip down the Suwannee River. It’s a gorgeous place to paddle, with cypress draping over the banks and crystal-clear springs feeding into the main channel. At one point, we heard a splash that sounded ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Sometimes I plan my blog subject well in advance, and sometimes the universe drops a topic literally at my feet. Walking into my office yesterday morning, I was startled to find a dead mockingbird lying on the doormat directly in front of ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
My husband’s best friend was a nature nerd like me. If I didn’t know what something was, Anthony was the first person I’d send a photo to for identification help. We lost him unexpectedly last year, but he shows up in small ways for ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation