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Superstorm Dennis
Dennis, 2nd Strongest of the Atlantic’s most powerful bomb cyclones, churns up 100-foot waves and slams Northern EuropeDennis has become the 2nd most powerful nontropical cyclones on record in the...
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The Warmest Winter Ever
Barefoot kayaking in January Photo:Â Phillip Lott, Lake Theresa, FloridaClimate change and the Arctic Oscillation combine to keep cold from moving south.Pine Island Glacier is one of the...
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Johnson Spring
Johnson Spring is a jewel in the North Florida woods and my favorite of the springs that are protected in the Gilchrist Blue State Park.  Follow Phillipon Instagram@majikphilLocated at about...
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Butterweed
Wondering what that succulent plant covered with yellow flowers is that you're seeing pop up all over Central Florida? Hint: Its not wild radish. It is Butterweed (Cressleaf Groundsel; Packera...
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The Great American COVID-19 Self-Quarantine Primer
Weebles the cat isn't particularly happy either.Going stir crazy after a few days of self-quarantine?  Follow these hermit tech rules of success.1. Avoid Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV.Ok....
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Naked Spring
Naked Spring is in the Gilchrist Blue Spring group, located east of the main spring a few hundred feet. Gilchrist Blue is a state park about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of High Springs.Follow...
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Rattlesnakes in Florida
So we all know it hasn't rained in Florida in. . .?  Forever?  Its been a very dry and very hot winter and spring. Everyone is sheltering at home during the COVID-19 outbreak. Meanwhile, we have a...
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COVID-19 Lessons From The Walking Dead
Check out The Walking Dead Season 2, Episode 2 titled "Bloodletting" on Netflix for some lessons on humanity and viruses most notably from farmer/veterinarian Herschel Greene. Â The episode aired in the...
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Florida March Heatwave
Across the South, but especially in Florida, its going to feel more like the first week of June instead of the first full week of spring.Every day comes with nearly cloud free skies and more oppressive...
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Suwannacoochee Spring and Ellaville
Suwannacoochee Spring is a charming, Old Florida swimming hole. This uncrowded 2nd magnitude spring is on the banks of the Withlacoochee River in Madison County.Suwannacoochee Spring discharges from...
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Florida Box Turtle
While clearing some brush on the lakefront yesterday I came across this female Florida Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri) whom I've seen before over the years. Notice on the top of her shell...
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Earth Day Turns 50
Florida's Gilchrist Blue SpringPhoto:Â Phillipo LottA half-century ago, on April 22, 1970, Earth Day erupted into the national consciousness, bringing unprecedented attention to the importance of...
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Hyperactive Hurricane Season Possible in 2020
Warmest Oceans on Record could set off a Year of Extreme WeatherPacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans have reached record highs.The world's oceans are simmering, with record high temperatures spurring...
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Koi Pond Filter
Stunningly clear water quality achieved with the Oase Biosmart 10000 Flow-through filter During Coronavirus lockdown I decided to retool two of my 4,000 gallon koi ponds with new filtration systems. I...
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Redneck Returns for Summer
While cleaning the one of the big koi ponds yesterday I realized that Redneck-the-turtle had returned for yet another summer. This is the 9th summer that I've recognized Redneck.🌱Follow...
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Redneck Predicts Florida's Rainy Season Start
Redneck, the red-eared-slider-turtleTrachemys scripta elegansWhile cleaning one of our big koi ponds yesterday I realized that Redneck-the-red-eared-slider-turtle had returned;Â he was watching me....
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Florida's Most Phallic Flowers
Split-leaf Philodendron bloom. The bottom half of the spadix is the female part of the flower. #1 Split-leaf Philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)Both of my picks for Florida's most phallic...
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Florida Hemlock
Florida Hemlock, North America's Most Toxic Plant(Cicuta maculata)Wekiva River, May 2020Spectacular fields of Florida Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) are in bloom across Central Florida in and near rivers...
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Tropical Storm Cristobal Heralds Start of Florida Rainy Season
A severely water-depleted Lake Theresa at the start of June 2020.Tropical Storm Cristobal in combination with other weather systems promises to bring a wet start to rainy season across east central...
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Florida Wildflowers: Marsh Pinks
Among the showiest of Florida's summer wildflowers are Marsh-Pinks (Sabatia grandiflora). The dozen species of marsh-pinks endemic to Florida occur in colors ranging from deep purple to white, though...
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