Category: Environment

Kayak Local Econfina Creek

Debbie Roney Smith on

The weather is beginning to get warmer here in the Florida Panhandle as the spring equinox draws closer. Looking for something to get you out in the wonderful world of nature or something to occupy the kids on the weekend? Consider visiting the local Econfina Creek and its beautiful canoe trail in Youngstown, FL for a leisurely trip down the calm trail. The local Econfina Creek Canoe Livery LLC is currently offering shuttle services by reservation only seven days a week. They offer one or two-person kayaks as well as a pick-up from the end of the trail to take you back to your vehicle. They suggest bringing lunch and/or snorkeling gear to make the most of the trip, turning the 3hr paddle trail into a lovely, relaxing day-trip along the cool waters. 

Visit their official website HERE for more information or to make a reservation today. 

House Hunting for Honey Bees

Debbie Roney Smith on
The swarm season for bees is underway. A spring phenomenon, this is an event that is growing rarer to see as the global bee population is rapidly declining due to various threats to their life cycles. Swarm season is actually an important step in bee colonies’ natural reproduction. Bees swarm a temporary home such as a tree branch while scouts go out to find new homes (aka hives) for the season. In this process, one swarm often becomes two or more colonies. If you see a cluster of bees, do not panic! Simply contact a local beekeeper if you need them removed or simply leave them be as they are often gone within two weeks.
If you desire to have the bee swarm removed, call a beekeeper, your County Extension Office, local beekeeping club, police department, or a similar organization. Many of them will gladly direct you to a beekeeper who would be happy to pick up these bees and give them a good home. Swarms are usually quite docile as they have no need to defend their hive, so simply walk away and contact an expert to keep everyone – and everybee – involved safe and sound! 

Vegetable Gardening 101 in Tallahassee

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today was the first Organic Vegetable Gardening 101 course held at Native Nurseries in Tallahassee. New to vegetable gardening? New to Tallahassee? Looking for a refresher course? This workshop is for you! Joe Walthall goes over the basics of organic vegetable gardening – preparing a bed, soil building, what to plant, when to plant, and more. This is an outdoor workshop that features a demonstration in Native Nurseries’ vegetable garden. Missed today’s event? Never fear – this special workshop will occur again on March 6th at 10 a.m. EST. 

PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required by phone. There is a $5.00 fee; your payment holds your spot in the class. Please call (850) 386-8882 to pre-register. Class size is limited to 15 people. Masks are required. When parking, please use the driveway next door to the nursery with ‘Workshop Parking’ sign seen from Centerville Rd.

National Bird-Feeding Month

Debbie Roney Smith on

Here in the Florida Panhandle and surrounding areas, the health of our local ecology plays a huge part in helping migratory (and local) bird populations. February is National Bird-Feeding Month, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of providing wildlife with necessities as well as encouraging healthier, sustainable bird feeding habits. Birds have it tough in winter as they have new families to feed and the natural resources to do so aren’t as plentiful as at other times of the year.

Want to help? Most importantly, make sure you are only putting out seed that is natural to the diet of birds in your area. Secondly, be sure to squirrel-proof any bird feeders or baths you put out. As birds often gather in places where food, shelter, and water are reliable, being consistent and generous is the best way to get to see a wide variety of species. Furthermore, bird watching in your yard or surrounding land will not only help you relax and make you happier but also help provide the right resources to get those birds coming back again and again. Spotting patterns and identifying species will help you identify what kind of feed is most beneficial, what plants will help encourage birds to land, and what kind of water sources are most useful. 

Special February Full Moon

Debbie Roney Smith on

Tomorrow morning is a special event for those interested in astrology or those who enjoy the beauty of the moon – February 27th at 2:17 a.m. there will be a Full Moon! Also known as a Snow Moon, this modern-day name is derived from a combination of Native American, Anglo-Saxon, and Germanic month names. This particular Full Moon is named after the snow on the ground. 

Interestingly, some North American tribes call February 27th’s full moon The Hunger Moon because they historically had to deal with food shortages and difficult hunting conditions during this period of mid-winter. Other names attributed to the Snow Moon are Storm moon, Chaste Moon, and March Full Moon. Even more mind-blowing is that, about once every 19 years, February does not have a Full Moon at all! This event is known as a Black Moon. 

Monarch Butterfly Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is Western Monarch Day! The Monarch Butterfly is a wonderful, far-traveling butterfly species. This annual event is held to celebrate the return of monarch butterflies to the central California coast as well as raise protection awareness. The monarch butterfly is facing a terrific decline in numbers that has lead to numerous conservation groups calling for it to be named and protected as an endangered species. Their migration can be tracked from north and east to south and west, and then back again. Amazingly, each leg of the migration takes four generations of the butterfly. Desire to conservation takes into account how much they pollinate, the fact that their long migration takes such a toll on their population, and the loss of their main food source due to human agriculture.

Want to help the monarch butterflies during their generational migration? One way is to share a little bit of your yard with them by planting milkweed. This plant is critical to their survival along their migration routes as it provides nectar AND is the only plant Monarch butterflies can lay their eggs in. 

Groundhog Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is the day Punxsutawney Phil will deliver a prediction for a longer winter or an early spring! Groundhog Day is a very popular North American tradition observed primarily in the United States and Canada. Historically, it is a holdover of an old Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that says a groundhog emerging from its burrow on February 2nd sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks; but if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.

While the in-person event has been canceled for safety, there will be an official livestream broadcast of the event offered by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. There will be a video preshow beginning at 6:30 a.m. on February 2nd with fun facts and history. The live show, beginning at 7:15 a.m., will include Phil’s emergence and an official translation of his prediction. Visit the official website HERE to stream now!

Coffee in the Garden

Debbie Roney Smith on

Looking for something to do tomorrow morning that will keep you safely 6ft away from others AND in the delightful presence of nature? Consider visiting Tallahassee Nurseries from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for a free Coffee in the Garden event. RedEye Coffee, TeBella tea, Tasty Pastry, and Three Sons Bakery will be available for purchase! Buy some refreshing coffee, calming tea, or a savory treat to enjoy while you stroll through the gardens. Tomorrow’s event is predicted to have a cool morning with a high of 66°F while the sun shines through mild clouds.

 

Plant a Tree in Pensacola

Debbie Roney Smith on

Keep Pensacola Beautiful, the Arbor Day Foundation, and the International paper are working to plant over 70 trees in celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day tomorrow, January 23th! From 9 a.m. (EST) to 2 p.m. (EST), this free event will encourage citizens “to do their part in helping to reduce air pollution, conserve energy, and beautify the State of Florida by planting trees! Planting native trees protects the environmental balance and beauty of the Sunshine State by preventing the spread of invasive plants and offsetting some of the potential impacts of climate change.” – UF / IAFS Extension

Please note, you CAN NOT BE LATE to the meetup point at the KPB office, as groups are breaking off promptly at 9 a.m. and dispersing to different parks and locals. This event is free, will show you how to properly plant a tree, and provide a free KPB t-shirt. Please dress appropriately in layers, close-toed shoes, and a mask!

**AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED**
If you are serious about coming please sign up through Volunteer Match (linked HERE) or email Lauren Doubek at Lauren@KeepPensacolaBeautiful.org!