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Christmas Flowers: Florida Firespike
Florida's other Christmas flower is really a Mexican native known colloquially as Firespike (Odontonema cuspidatum).In South Florida this import blooms year round. In Central and North Florida it...
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Florida Christmas Sunflowers
The sunflower trees (Tithonia diversifolia) refuse to surrender to the season. While they have declined in coverage of flowers they continue to produce many palm-sized blooms at the 20-30 foot level....
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Florida's Forgotten Springs: Helene Spring
Helene Spring's hammock-encircled pool and boil.A massive overturned live oak tree's roots frame the west side of Helene Spring, one of Florida's loveliest and most forgotten springs.See all of the...
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Florida Rust-Colored Algae Bloom
An as yet unidentified algae is blooming in Central Florida lakes this late December likely caused by extremely warm weather and nutrient rich runoff. A bloom, like this, can result in a visible...
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Florida's Year Without Winter
For most Floridians from the north central peninsula south its been a year without winter so far. When will that change? No one knows for sure but long range forecasts are hinting at a cool down in...
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Banana Boat
Puerto Barrios SunriseMorning in GuatemalaAt dawn, as we sit waiting to dock on this mist-draped coast, I wonder if most Americans have any idea about what's happening in Guatemala and why so many...
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Polar Vortex Aims for Florida
Forecast Temperature Anomaly at Noon, January 30th, 2019 by the American Model.50° below normal (which is already pretty cold) in the Upper Midwest.One of the most severe cold air outbreaks in years is...
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12 Hours in Guatemala
My goal in Guatemala was to see what was going on with the migrants, first hand, and while I was there I wanted to see Tikal. Tikal is an ancient Mayan citadel in the rainforests of northern...
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False Turkey Tail Fungi
False Turkey Tail Fungus (Stereum ostrea) in the Ocala National Forest near the Silver Glen Recreation Area.Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) is a fungus that closely resembles a turkey's tail. It is...
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Sleepy Great Horned Owlets and The Matrix
A pair of Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus). The female appears tohave a bloody nose (l). They're nesting in a large EasternRed Cedar Trees (Juniperus virginiana L.). Follow Phillipon...
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El Niño: What it means for Florida
El Niño means full lakes and warm weather for Florida. The last weeks of February to be in the upper 80°s (~30°C)February 2019 ENSO Update: El Niño conditions are hereAfter several months of flirting,...
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Caracara vs. Vulture
Above and Below: The Crested Caracara, also known as the Northern Crested Caracara or Florida Caracara (Caracara cheriway).This bird of prey -- rarely seen today in Central Florida -- is large; it has...
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The Big Chill is Coming
One of the strongest Arctic outbreaks of winter is ready to surge into the Lower 48 in early MarchIf the forecasts for first week of March are verified, the groundhog may have to go into hiding over...
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Galápagos Face Huge Evolutionary Test
Galápagos Sea Lions at Punta Pitt, San Cristóbal, Galápagos. Photo: Phillip LottAs Seas Warm, Galápagos Islands Face a Giant Evolutionary TestThe theory of evolution has its origins in the Galápagos....
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The Village's Bronze Horses
Lifelike bronze sculptures at The Villages' Brownwood entrance capture the history of Florida's cattle-driving cowboysA cattle drive along State Road 44 at the entrance of The Villages' Brownwood town...
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Florida Spring Butterflies and Larvae
We're starting to see more butterflies and their larvae as the environment has temporarily moistened. Unfortunately the forecast is for another long, hot, dry period beginning tomorrow and lasting for...
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Temple Square
On a cold, damp night in late March I took a walk around Temple Square in Salt Lake City. I don't know what I was expecting but I found the monuments to Mormon life to be awe-inspiring. Dominating...
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Algae and Development Plagues Florida's Iconic Springs
Blue Spring with ManateesPhoto: Phillip LottSoon after taking office, Governor Ron DeSantis promised long-awaited fixes for the ailing Everglades, the green slimes at the waterfronts of Stuart and...
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Lighting Zaps Four of Chicago's Tallest Skyscrapers at Once
Photos: Craig ShimalaFor most residents of the Windy City, this April's storms haven’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary. But for Chicago-based freelance videographer Craig Shimala, the storms...
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Florida Rainy Season Forecast
Early Season Tropical Development?Locally heavy rains are possible this week over the peninsula of Florida as an early-season tropical disturbance traverses the state and threatens to form between...
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