Weekend Gardening: Using Water Wisely In Your Landscape
May 12, 2018
by Ray Bodrey UF/IFAS
It’s a struggle to manage Panhandle landscapes, especially over the late spring-summer months. Small adjustments can mean significant impacts in conserving water.
Some homeowners are not aware that watering plants too much can have as much of an ill effect as not watering enough. Shallow rooted plants, as well as newly set plants can easily become water stressed. Some people lightly water their plants each day. With this practice, one is only watering an inch or less of the topsoil. Most plant roots are deeper than this.
Instead of a light watering every day, soaking the plant a few times a week is best. A soil that has been soaked will retain moisture for several days. This is a very good practice for young plants. In contrast, some people soak their plants to often. This essential drowns the roots by eliminating vital oxygen in the root zone. This can also cause root rot. Signs of overwatering are where leaves turn brown at the tips or edges, as well as leaf drop.
The following are tips from the UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscape Program. These tips will help conserve water and provides best management practices for landscapes.
- Choose the right plant for the right place: Be sure to place plants in your landscape that match conditions with plant needs.
- Water Thoughtfully: Of course, follow water restrictions first and foremost. Water early in the morning and water when plants and turfgrass start to wilt. Refrain from watering in the late afternoon or evening. This is when insects and diseases are most active.
- Perform regular irrigation maintenance: Remember, an irrigation system is only effective if it is maintained regularly. Check for and repair leaks. If using a pop-up heads for turfgrass, point heads away from driveways and sidewalks.
- Calibrate turfgrass irrigation system: Ideal amount of water to apply to turfgrass is ½”- ¾”. A simple test can be done to calibrate. Place a coffee or tuna cans throughout the landscape. Run the irrigation system for 30 minutes. Average the depth of the water containers. Adjust running time to apply the ½”- ¾” rate.
- Use microirrigation in gardens and individual plants: Drip or microspray irrigation systems apply water directly to the root system with limited surface evaporation.
- Make a rain barrel: Rain barrels are an inexpensive way to capture rainwater from your roof. This can translate into a big impact on your water bill as well.
- Mulch plants: Mulch helps keep moisture in the root zone. Two to three inches in depth, for a few feet in diameter will work well for trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables.
- Mow correctly: Mowing your grass at the highest recommended length is key. Be sure to cut no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade each time you mow. Keep mowing blades sharp as dull cuts often cause grass to be prone to disease.
- Be a weather watcher: Wait at least 24 hours after a rainfall event to water. If rain is in the forecast, wait 48 hours until irrigating. Use a rain gauge or install a rain shut-off device to monitor irrigation scheduling.
Tate’s Jacob Nowling Signs With Division II Carson-Newman For Football, Fishing
May 12, 2018
Jacob Nowling, a fourth generation Tate High School Aggie, has signed to play football with Division II, Southern Atlantic Conference powerhouse Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, TN.
Nowling started playing football with the Cantonment Cowboys at age six.. He was coached by Jason Lassiter, Tim Barnes and Keith Moore in his early years. After joining the Aggies football team as a freshman, Nowling was coached and mentored by Coach Lindsey and Coach Williamson. Nowling was the starting center for the Aggies varsity team during both his junior and senior years.
While at Tate, he was also a member of the wrestling team, Tate FFA and Tate Veterinary Science Academy.
Nowling has also signed with Carson-Newman to be a member of the Eagle Angler Collegiate Fishing Team. He will pursue a degree in business. He said he is looking forward to the challenge of competing at the next level.
The Most Popular Baby Names Are…
May 12, 2018
Emma and Liam are America’s most popular baby names for 2017.
This marks the first time Liam has bested the boys, beating Noah for the top spot, and the fourth straight year for Emma. Liam first crawled into the top 10 in 2012 and has been reaching for the highest honor ever since. In other huge baby name news, Michael has been bumped from the top 10 for the first time since World War II, landing at number 12 this year. Emily also fell out of the top 10 for the first time since 1990.
There are several new names in the top 10–Amelia and Evelyn make the list–Amelia for the first time and Evelyn for the first time since 1915. These traditional names show parents are keeping up the trend of naming daughters after grandmothers. Logan and Oliver are new for the boys, both making their first appearance on the list.
Fire Dept. Provides Flomaton Field Day Cool Down
May 12, 2018
Friday was Field Day at Flomaton Elementary School, and the weather was hot. The Flomaton Fire Department provided a wet cool down, with fireman Dylan Emmons and furture fireman Noah Patterson manning the hose. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Birmingham In Series Finale
May 12, 2018
It looked like a long night was in store for Wyatt Strahan (W, 4-2) after the Barons scored four runs in the first two innings of the game. Instead, Strahan turned in one of his best starts of the year as the Wahoos came from behind to win Friday’s finale 6-4 at Regions Field.
The Barons’ start to the game was a microcosm of the entire series between these two teams. In the first inning, the Barons jumped ahead on a two-run home run from Zack Collins, and immediately doubled their lead in the second when Keon Barnum launched a two-run shot of his own. That marked Birmingham’s 21st home run against the Wahoos throughout the 10 games, which is exactly half of the total home runs allowed by Blue Wahoos pitching this season (42.)
But after those two innings, Strahan slammed the door shut on the hosts for the rest of his outing. The USC graduate retired 17 of the final 18 Barons before he was lifted, having completed seven strong innings for his longest outing of the season. He also did not walk a batter for the first time this season and struck out four.
After Taylor Sparks chipped in a solo home run in the second inning to put the Pensacola on the board, the Wahoos scored three runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at 4-4.
After an error and a walk, Shed Long laced a two-run triple off Barons starter Ian Clarkin (L, 3-4), and then scored on Luis Gonzalez’s RBI groundout. In the following inning, Gavin LaValley walked and then scored after Aristides Aquino crushed his third home run of the season to give the Wahoos a 6-4 lead. Pensacola tacked on a precious insurance run in the ninth inning after C.J. McElroy singled, stole a base, advanced on a passed ball, and scored on Gonzalez’s infield single to short.
The bullpen had to withstand some late-inning pressure from the Barons but held on to close out the win for the visitors. Carlos Navas hurled a scoreless eighth inning, which extended his team-best scoreless-inning streak to 9.2 innings. Alex Powers then entered the game in the ninth but was chased from the game after loading the bases and allowing a two-out single to Ryan Brett, which cut the Wahoos lead down to 7-6. Jody Davis then brought in Rafael De Paula (S, 2) to secure the final out, and after De Paula walked Collins to load the bases, he got Chicago White Sox top prospect, Eloy Jimenez to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
Pensacola will continue their road trip with a five-game series against the first-place Biloxi Shuckers. Last season the Wahoos won 11 of their 20 matchups against the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate; however, the Shuckers will enter play 11 games above .500. Daniel Wright (2-1, 6.42) will take the hill for the Blue Wahoos in search of his first win since April 16th. He will be opposed by Thomas Jankins (5-1, 3.63), who suffered his first loss of the year in his last outing.
Collyer Drake Grider
May 12, 2018
Today we said goodbye to our loving mother, friend and trusted confidante. Without reservation, we can say that we have lost one of the last, true southern belles of her time. Her deep faith in Jesus Christ and her life practice of all things “southern proper” was ingrained not only in her speech, dress and behavior but in the committed belief that one should always love and respect themselves and all those they encounter. She will be remembered for her beautiful signature hats, gloves, and sitting demurely, ankles crossed, representing the grace, poise and gentility of her generation.
After living in Pensacola many years, she still called Alabama home. Born there, she was raised on a farm and later married Allen Grider, a young US Marine and raised a family. She leaves behind two devoted daughters, Mary (Tommy) Knight and Cylinda (Rab) Nelson; six grandchildren, Joshua (Rachel) Nettles, Jessica (Ben) Smith, Claudia Robbins, Sawyer Nelson, Colton Knight and Shelby Knight; and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Ollie Jo (Harold) Meeks and numerous loving nieces and nephews.
A burial graveside service was held at Rose Hill Cemetary (Rose Hill, Alabama) on Friday, May 11, 2018.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Small Aircraft Crashes In Escambia, AL; Pilot Seriously Injured
May 11, 2018
A pilot was seriously injured in an ultralight crash in Escambia County, AL, on Friday.
The pilot was identified as Matthew Scott Newton of Pensacola. He was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he was listed in stable condition with a badly injured leg.
The plane crashed on Darryl Dawe Lane about a mile from the Robinsonville Baptist Church, and about 4.5 miles from the Alabama/Florida state line. The plane lost power, clipped a tree and power line before crashing into a yard.
The crash is under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The aircraft is listed as experimental by the FAA.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Nine Mile Road Starbucks Stores Burglarized
May 11, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man that burglarized two Starbucks on Nine Mile Road early Friday morning.
Investigators said the white male “disabled the front door locks” to enter the businesses at 1701 East Nine Mile Road and 2200 West Nine Mile Road. He is described as about six feet tall and was wearing blue jeans,a green jacket, black shoes and a scarf covering his face.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers (850) 433-STOP.
Images courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO: Couple Charged After Child Found Living In Deplorable Conditions
May 11, 2018
A family was discovered living in a deplorable conditions after an Escambia County deputy responded to a report of two people passed out at a gas station.
Keith Daniels, 37, and Lindsay Ann Mason, 35, were both charged with child neglect after failing to provide a child “with the appropriate care of supervision to maintain his physical health,” according to an arrest report.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a gas station in the area of Guidy Lane and Ten Mile Road for a report of a man and woman who were passed out in their vehicle with a small child inside. The caller said couple then left the gas station and were swerving into oncoming traffic before pulling into a trailer park on Grace Drive.
Daniels opened the door when the deputy knocked at the trailer, and he appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance, the report states. The deputy said he smelled marijuana coming from the interior.
In his report, the responding deputy wrote, “While inside the trailer I observed trash in the living room, marijuana roaches in the. trashcan, marijuana shake on the kitchen table, moldy dirty dishes filling the sink, cockroaches in the kitchen, the covering for the air conditioning unit to be missing with rusty metal accessible to the child, a homemade pipe which appeared to be used for ingesting narcotics in the bedroom on the dresser which was accessible to the child and the floor vent cover to be missing from the vent in the living room which left a large opening in the center of the floor. I observed in what appeared to be (the victim’s) toys and clothes strewn about the floor which made it impossible to walk in the bedroom due to the items being piled so high. I also observed in a mattress which was laying up on its side and it did not appear as though there was a place for the child to sleep. I observed the bathroom to be messy with urine still in the toilet. The temperature in the trailer was extremely hot due to the air conditioning being inoperable.”
The cabinets and refrigerator contained a few breakfast items and a small number of canned goods, the deputy wrote. The trailer had no working air conditioner.
Daniels told the deputy that he had worked numerous hours in the past 30 days and was unable to clean and the trailer. Mason said she had not been home for two days and unable clean the trailer as she normally does on daily basis. The deputy wrote that it would have taken more than two days for the trailer to end up in the poor state he observed.
The Department of Children and Family Services was called. Mason agreed to allow the child to stay with her mother.
Mason was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond; Daniels was released on a $2,500 bond.
New Traffic Signal Equipment Installed At 16 Escambia County Intersectons
May 11, 2018
Escambia County recently implemented Advanced Traffic Management System signalization equipment at 16 signalized intersections, adding capabilities to help improve signal and timing and traffic flow.
Those intersections are:
- North Palafox Street and Kingsfield Road
- North Palafox Street and Ten Mile Road
- North Palafox Street and Hood Drive
- North Palafox Street and Ensley Road
- North Palafox Street and Detroit Boulevard/Johnson Avenue
- North Palafox Street and Olive Road
- North Palafox Street and Burgess Road
- North Palafox Street and Hancock Lane
- W Street and Marcus Pointe Boulevard
- W Street and Airport Boulevard
- W Street and Massachusetts Avenue
- W Street and Scott Street
- W Street and Avery Street
- W Street and Jackson Street
- Olive Road and Cody Lane
- Olive Road and Whitmire Dive
The ATMS capabilities, funded by Local Option Sales Tax, include real-time interface with the intersections (ability to remotely manipulate the signal timings), immediate data collection for developing timing plans to improve traffic flow, and intersection health reporting.
In addition to the 16 new intersections, the county has 35 additional intersections with ATMS capabilities. The county plans to expand ATMS capabilities to all signalized intersections within the county as resources permit.