Welcome New Floridians
This site started on the Tenth Anniversary of our moving to Florida. Ten years came and went pretty quickly. We have learned a lot in those years and have made some mistakes along the way. Our goal is to try to help new Florida residents, and those thinking about relocating here, profit from our experience.
The articles are set up with a variety of categories, so you can look for whatever interests you. We are open to suggestions to improve the site and will try to answer any questions asked.
Our Articles
Squirrels
Squirrels These fuzzy little critters look so cute, but new Floridians soon realize squirrels can wreck havoc on a lanai screen. For some reason, squirrels love to climb the screen. They seem to enjoy that more than walking through the grass to get from one place to...
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OWL TV
Spring on OWL TV This is our favorite time of the year. While others are watching basketball games on the television, we are watching the miracle of life on our big screen. For the eighth year, we have an Eastern Screech Owl setting up her nursery in a nest box, just...
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Ghost Crab
These are cool little crabs that scurry across the sand. Sometimes called sand crabs, the make a burrow in the sand to spend the day and come out at night to feed. They can sometimes be seen during the daylight hours and a fun to watch. We took a walk on the beach one...
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Plumbago
A popular bush used in Florida landscape, the plumbago is also know as Cape Leadwort. The flowers grow an a bushy plant that needs to be trimmed to keep it from getting too big. It will grow to be a ten foot diameter bush if left alone. We keep ours to about three...
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Vinca
Sometimes referred to as periwinkles: these are hardy little plants that flower almost all year long. If they do die due to a freeze, they come back as soon as spring starts. A physician friend told me the chemotherapy agent vincristine is extracted from one member...
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Snakebird
This often mistaken bird is an anhinga. Because it often swims through the water with only its neck and head visible, many people think it is a snake. Anhingas use their long bill, which has serrated edges, to stab fish underwater. It then surfaces and flips the prey...
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Lipizzans
Horse lovers will love this. The winter home of Herrmanns’ Royal Lipizzan Stallions is outside of tiny, Myakka City, Florida. It is an easy drive from Sarasota, just a few miles east of Route 75. Each year, the family owned troupe, practices their touring show...
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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day
Some cities pour dye into their rivers to help celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Our pool turned a pretty shade of green, all by itself. A few weeks ago, I used my power washer to clean the pool screen and supports. Algae grow on the screen and power washing is a regular...
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Whopper
The one that got away. All fishermen have stories about the big one that got away. Take a close look at this photo, notice the fishing line coming out of the right side of the gator’s mouth? As the alligator moved around, I could clearly see a fishing bobber attached...
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Bobcats in Our Backyard
More often than we knew, one or more bobcats travel through our little piece of Florida. Bobcats are supposed to be nocturnal, hunting mainly at night. Somebody forgot to mention that to the ones who pass by our yard, at all hours of the day and night. Over the last...
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Snake Surprise
I opened the pool timer box today to adjust the start time and found a visitor inside. Like most of us, I am not particularly fond of snakes. I don’t fear them and I do respect them, but would prefer if they stayed in the woods. Then again, they were here first and...
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Snow – PA style
A photo is worth a thousand words. The one above explains why we no longer live in the north. We photographed this scene last week during a trip to Pennsylvania. Sure, snow can be beautiful, but I enjoy it only in photos now. FOG sez: I haven’t had to shovel...
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