Weekend Gardening: Early Flowering Trees Are Ushering In Spring
February 25, 2012
Warmer temperatures have raised the spirits of gardeners in Northwest Florida. Although we know from experience that we still have a good chance of another cold snap or two, nicer weather is always a welcomed foray into spring.
Warmer weather also means that some trees and shrubs burst into bloom producing flowers that brighten otherwise drab winter landscapes. Several members of the rose family are currently in bloom in Northwest Florida and sure to grab your attention.
Flowering Quince
During Colonial times a quince tree was a rarity in the gardens of wealthy Americans, but was found in nearly every middle class garden. The fruit—always cooked—was an important source of pectin for food preservation, and a fragrant addition to jams, juices, pies, and candies. However, by the early twentieth century quince production declined as the value of apples and pears increased. Its popularity has plummeted and it is now a rarity in contemporary landscapes.
Quince has been cultivated in the Middle East for centuries, and may have even been the fruit of temptation in the story of the Garden of Eden. The ancient Biblical name for quince translates as “Golden Apple.” In ancient Mesopotamia, now Iraq, cultivation of quince predates the cultivation of apples.
This small, thorny, deciduous tree is one of the first to bloom in late winter. It is a member of the rose family and explodes with typical rose-type flowers in February each year. The single, white flowers are 1½ to 2 inches across and grow on current season growth.
The fruit is a fragrant, many-seeded pome about three inches in diameter. The fruit’s shape ranges from round to pear-like and the flesh is yellow. Several references refer to it as “hard and rather unpalatable.”
If you would rather not deal with the fruit, non-fruiting cultivars exist. Since most quince cultivars are not well-adapted to Florida because of their high chilling requirement, choose your cultivar carefully.
Apples
Another pome-type fruit that embellishes our landscapes in late winter is the apple tree. Along with the quince, it too is a member of the rose family. It is older in cultivation than the rose and is sometimes referred to as the prince of the rose family.
Relatively few cultivars of apples (Malus domestica L.) can be grown successfully in Florida.
Most apples have a high chilling requirement. Chilling requirement is defined as the number of hours less than or equal to 45 degrees F during the winter. Apple cultivars suitable for North Florida have a chilling requirement of less than 600 hours.
Only a few cultivars meet Florida’s low-chill requirement. Recommended cultivars include ‘Anna’, ‘Dorsett Golden’ and ‘TropicSweet’. ‘Anna’ and ‘Dorsett Golden’ originated in Israel and the Bahamas, respectively. ‘TropicSweet’ is a patented cultivar from the University of Florida. These cultivars each have a chilling requirement of 250 to 300 hours.
For more information on low-chill apples, review the University of Florida/IFAS online publication at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg368.
Flowering Cherry
While we may not be able to produce beautiful, delicious cherries in Northwest Florida, we can enjoy a few ornamental, flowering cherry trees.
One species that does well in Northwest Florida is Prunus campanulata or the Taiwan cherry. The Taiwan cherry grows to 20 to 25 feet and spreads nearly as wide as it matures. Single, drooping rose-type flowers appear in late winter and will last for about ten days.
For other recommendations on flowering trees to add to your landscape, contact your local Extension Office.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County. The use of trade names, if used in this article, is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee, warranty, or endorsement of the product name(s) and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
‘Golden Cow Dung Award’ Presented To Kenneth Hicks
February 25, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School history teacher Kenneth Hicks received the fourth annual “Golden Cow Dung Award” from members of the Ernest Ward FFA. The award presented Friday afternoon featured a large piece of cow dung, painted a golden color.
(Cow dung, in case you did not know, is what you are probably thinking it is. It’s that natural byproduct that cows drop in the field. The award is 100 percent real dung spray painted a golden color. The golden piece presented Friday is actually the first award piece created three years ago.)
Hicks received the award from the school’s FFA members as a “thank you” for supporting FFA. The same Golden Cow Dung Award was presented last year to teacher’s assistant Lindsey Kelley, the previous year to Family & Consumer Science teacher Kathy Ellis and three years ago to Principal Nancy Perry.
More than half a million members around the nation participated in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels this week.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School FFA Golden Cow Dung Award presentation to teacher Kenneth Hicks Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
School Board Proclaims It’s National FFA Week
February 24, 2012
The Escambia County School Board has declared this week as National FFA Week. At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, FFA members from Tate and Northview high schools were on hand as the board issued a proclamation.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview High Observes Black History Month (Photos)
February 23, 2012
Northview High School marked Black History Month Wednesday with a program “Black Light: Embracing Diversity & Celebrating Contributions.”
Guest speaker Eugene Franklin, founder and CEO of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance of education to the students, along with cultural understanding.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Born into segregation, Franklin (pictured left) said he had no hope of becoming anything in life that would make a difference, despite his dream to do something important like the great men of modern history.
But the draft and the U.S. Navy changed Franklin’s outlook on life and he learned to appreciate diverse cultures. “It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “I gained a new vision of how the world works.”
“I knew then that one day America would live up to its creed that all people are created equal.”
“We need to learn to appreciate our differences and base our judgments on culture,” he said, “and not look at race.”
“History is being made today by each and every one of you,” Franklin told the Northview students. “Do everything you can to make a difference in someone else’s life.”
Also during the program, Cultural Diversity essay award winners were announced:
- 9th grade: Samantha Sharpless, first place;Tony Puente, honorable mention
- 10th grade: Talana Heathcock, first place; Katelynne Calloway, honorable mention
- 12th grade: Jamila Codrington, first place
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Briana Harris performs during a Black History Month program Wednesday at Northview High School. Pictured inset: Guest speaker Eugene Franklin. Pictured below: Students perform during the event. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Celebrates FFA Week With Breakfast (Photos)
February 23, 2012
FFA students at Ernest Ward Middle School did their part to celebrate National FFA Week with a Wednesday morning breakfast for faculty and staff.
Students cooked a breakfast of eggs, grits, biscuits, bacon, sausage and more for the EWMS faculty and staff.
Pictured: FFA students at Ernest Ward Middle School provide breakfast for the school’s faculty and staff Wednesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Laura Jackson Is Jim Allen’s Teacher Of Year; 5 County Finalists Named
February 23, 2012
Laura Jackson was named the Jim Allen Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Jackson, who teaches the fifth grade at Jim Allen, was also chosen as one of the Top 10 teachers in Escambia County.
Teachers of the year are chosen by the faculty and staff at each school in the county. The Escambia County Teacher of the Year will be announced at the annual Golden Apple Awards Dinner tonight in Pensacola.
The five finalists for Escambia County Teacher of the Year are: Fran Cook, Helen Caro Elementary; Marjorie Stradley, West Florida High School; Jeffrey Pribble, Escambia High School;
Terri Perniam N.B. Cook Elementary School; and Catherine Rudd, Scenic Heights Elementary.
Northview Celebrates National FFA Week
February 22, 2012
FFA members at Northview High School are celebrating National FFA Week with a variety of events.
Tuesday, the FFA officers and members prepared a homestyle breakfast for teachers, staff and invited guests that support the FFA program. On Monday, students prepared refreshments for bus drivers.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
FFA week activites include:
Monday: Bus Driver Refreshment/ FFA T-Shirts
FFA members prepared refreshments for all bus drivers to give to them in the morning as they arrived at school.
Tuesday: Teacher Breakfast
All teachers, staff and invited guests were invited to eat a home cooked breakfast before school started that was prepared by FFA officers and members.
Wednesday: Ag Olympics
All agricultural classes will participate the Ag Olympics program with several events. Members are invited to have a coke float in the Agriculture department during the student’s lunch.
Thursday: Minute To Win It/Ag Style
There will be a workshop put on by the FFA officers/Minute To Win It Ag style.
Friday: Dirty Truck Contest
There will be a Dirty Truck Contest on Friday, along with a game of Don’t Forget the Lyrics in Ag classes.
Saturday: Ruritan Auction
FFA members will assist with the Walnut Hill Ruritan Farm Equipment Auction Saturday as a community service project.
Pictured: FFA members served breakfast Tuesday morning at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Let The Good Times Roll: Seniors Celebrate Mardi Gras
February 22, 2012
Residents at the Century Care Center celebrated Mardi Gras Tuesday in grand style with both a parade and a party.
The parade featured lots of throws, including Mardi Gras beads and other trinkets. Residents in Mardi Gras costumes paraded and rolled through the hallways in their wheelchairs to the delight of other residents watching the parade.
Ruth Steele was named Mardi Gras queen, and John Holsberry was named king.
For more photos from the celebration, click here.
Pictured top: Century Care Center Mardi Gras Queen Ruth Steele and King John Holsberry. Pictured inset: Josephine (Jo Jo) Griffin in her decorated wheelchair. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Let The Good Times Roll — Flomaton Hurricane Style
February 21, 2012
The Flomaton High School Hurricane Band took part in the Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade this morning.
For more photos, scroll down the page.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Alisa Hart, click to enlarge.
Northview FBLA Wins Awards At District Conference
February 21, 2012
Northview High School’s FBLA received numerous awards during the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) District One District Leadership Conference recently at the University of West Florida.
The Northview High School FBLA received the 2011-2012 Most Active Chapter Award.
Kasie Braun, Elizabeth Wright, and Victoria Wright received the Gloria Cooper Award, which is presented to FBLA members that exemplify the qualities desired in a business leader such as dependability, loyalty and honesty.
Other Northview student winners were:
- Joseph Baldwin , second place in Business Calculations
- Indigo Rodriguez , first place in Business Communication
- Lindsay Hedgepeth , second place in Business Communication
- Deidre Steele , fourth place in Business Communication
- Samantha Sharpless , third place in Business Math
- Elizabeth Wright & Victoria Wright , first place in Business Presentation (team event)
- Rebecca Barnhill , second place in Digital Design & Promotion
- Anna Donald , first place in Digital Video Production
- Tamara Green , first place in FBLA Principles & Procedures
- Taylor Dukes , first place in Future Business Leader
- Casey Godwin , first place in Health Care Administration
- Kasie Braun , first place in Introduction to Business Communication
- Hannah Hinton , second place in Job Interview
- Michael Sepulveda , first place in Networking Concepts
- D. J. Robinson , first place in Technology Concepts
- Christopher Loncar , fifth place in Technology Concepts
Pictured top: Northview High School FBLA members. Pictured below: Northview’s Gloria Cooper Award winners (L-R) Elizabeth Wright, Victoria Wright and Kasie Braun. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
