Weekend Gardening: It’s Easy To Attract Hummingbirds
September 17, 2011
Few sights are more thrilling in the garden than rapidly moving hummingbirds darting among colorful flowers. Hummingbirds, also known as hummers, are always a wonder to see, and it’s easy to attract them to your garden.
In Florida, we see three different types of hummingbirds, but the most common is the ruby-throated. This feathered jewel is only about three inches long and weighs as little as a single penny.
For their size, hummingbirds have among the largest appetites in the bird world. They feed every 10 or 15 minutes from dawn until dusk. During this period, they eat more than half their weight in food and 8 times their weight in water.
If you’re fascinated by hummingbirds, as I am, you probably hang out a feeder or two in the summer to provide them with sugar water. Artificial feeders will attract hummingbirds.
However, feeders should not be the sole source of food provided. The sugar solution may appeal to the hummingbirds’ sweet tooth, but it provides little nourishment. Nectar is much more vital to the hummingbird than just water and sugar. By planting certain flowers and shrubs, home gardeners can provide food and habitat for hummingbirds.
Typical hummingbird flowers are red, have a tubular shape and have no strong scent. But there are several notable exceptions to this general rule. Many plants with red flowers don’t contain very much nectar. Roses, petunias, geraniums and zinnias have brilliant colors but little nectar.
Plants that produce an abundance of flowers over an extended period of time and those that require little care are good choices. Native plants can “fill the bill” where nectar-seekers are concerned and should be used whenever possible.
Perennials that are recommended as nectar sources include butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), red basil (Calamintha coccinea), shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana), cigar plant (Cuphea ignea), firespike (Odontonema stricta), red star hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), and obedient plant (Physostegia spp.).
It’s also important to plant a mixture of nectar producing trees, vines and shrubs that have overlapping blooming seasons. This will insure that a continuous source of nectar will be available to hummingbirds throughout the growing season. Some of the species recommended include red buckeye, bottlebrush, firebush (Hamelia patens), wild azalea, trumpet vine, and coral honeysuckle.
Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds are not strictly nectar feeders. Insects and other invertebrates are the primary source of protein for adult hummingbirds and their young. An adult female can consume up to 2,000 insects per day. Small invertebrates including mosquitoes, gnats, small bees, fruit flies, spiders, caterpillars, aphids, and insects eggs make up the hummingbirds diet. So keep your plants free of pesticides. Pesticides destroy the insect food base vital to hummingbirds and their offspring, and may also contaminate the nectar they drink.
And if you do use artificial feeders, remember that the sugar solutions must be kept fresh. Florida’s hot weather can cause rapid bacterial growth in these feeders and birds that drink contaminated water could die. To avoid this, change the solution every 3 to 5 days. Clean the feeders with hot water and white vinegar. Do not use soap or chlorine bleach.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Century Corrects Housing Grant Estimates To Upgrade, Rebuild Homes
September 17, 2011
The Town of Century has corrected dollar figures used in a NorthEscambia.com article published Thursday about grant-funded housing rehabilitation projects. According to town consultant Debbie Nickles, incorrect dollar amounts were included in a memo presented to the Century Town Council due to mathematical error. Work on each house will include rehabilitation plus $10,000 in hurricane retrofits.
Nickles said she was unaware that the cost estimates provided to her already included the hurricane retrofits, so each estimate presented to the Town of Century was inflated by $10,000. “I added an additional $10,000 to each housing unit, therefore, providing an inflated cost estimate,” she said in a Friday afternoon email.
The incorrect dollar amounts provided by the Town of Century have been corrected in the article and table below.
Century has began the selection of houses to be rehabilitated or reconstructed with three quarters of a million dollars in grant money.
The town was awarded a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to rehabilitate or replace about nine homes that are currently occupied by persons of low or moderate income. The town also received $100,000 in Residential Construction Mitigation Program Funds for hurricane retrofits.
The town has selected five homes so far to be rehabilitated under the programs. Estimated project costs for the five homes range from $18,300 for a mobile home at 306 East Pond Street (pictured left) to $49,300 for repairs to a home at 521 East Hecker Road (pictured top). (See complete list below.)
The town has also awarded a $875 contract to Swinney & Associates to survey a property at 7820 Jefferson Avenue. The program funds will pay to demolish that house and construct a new home for those residents.
The application process for the grant money is closed. Additional properties to receive repairs and upgrades will be announced at a later date.
Pictured top: A grant will pay for $49,300 in repairs and hurricane upgrades to this home on East Hecker Road in Century. Pictured inset: $18,300 will be spent on this 1988 mobile home on East Pond Street. Pictured below: $36,550 will go toward this home on East Pond Street. North Escambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
ECUA Approves Garbage, Water, Sewer Rate Hikes
September 16, 2011
ECUA customers will see an increase in their monthly bill, and ECUA employees will see a pay increase following actions taken Thursday.
By a 3-2 margin, the Emerald Coast Utility Authority board approved a 7 percent increase in water and sewer rates, just below the 8 percent rate previously set by the board as part of a three year rate increase schedule.
“We considered the hardship this might cause with the current state of economy,” Nathalie Bowers, ECUA spokesperson, said. “But it was necessary with the need for capital improvements and infrastructure maintenance.”
Sanitation rates will increase by 1.7 percent. A residential sanitation customers will see their bill go from $18.35 to 18.66 per month. Service for senior citizens will increase from $15.38 to $15.64, and the “Lifeline” rate will increase from $8.74 to $8.89 per month.
“Tipping fees at the landfill are directly responsible for the need to increase sanitation service rates,” Bowers said.
Over 500 ECUA employees also received a 3.5 percent pay raise at Thursday’s board meeting. The raise is intended to offset the 3p percent their salaries that they are now required to contribute to their state pension retirement under recently enacted state legislation. The additional half percent is to cover additional payroll costs on the pension contribution.
The pay raise, Bowers said, will be covered by funds returned by the state because of retirement program savings.
Board members Larry Walker, Elizabeth Campbell and Elvin McCorvey voted for increases as part of the fiscal year 2012 budget, while Dale Perkins and Lois Benson voted against.
Cantonment Man Seriously Injured In High Speed Crash
September 16, 2011
A Cantonment man is in serious condition following an early morning crash on County Road 97.
Derrick T. McDaniel, 23, was northbound at a high rate of speed on County Road 97 in Cantonment about 1:50 a.m Friday when he attempted to pass a vehicle that had slowed to make a lawful turn onto Arena Road. McDaniel’s 2003 Ford Mustang struck the side of a 2008 Mazda driven by Sarah Lynn Dority of Pensacola. McDaniel’s Mustang overturned twice, hitting a tree. The tree traveled through the passenger compartment of the vehicle as he was ejected from the vehicle.
McDaniel was airlifted to Baptist Hospital by LifeFlight.
Dority received minor injuries in the crash. Her passenger, 24-year old William C. Ramey of Cantonment, was not injured.
Charges against McDaniel are pending blood alcohol results, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Bratt Park Renamed For Fallen Marine LCpl Travis M. Nelson
September 16, 2011
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night rename the Bratt Community Park in honor of LCpl. Travis M. Nelson, the local Marine killed in action last month in Afghanistan.
An official dedication for the “LCpl Travis M. Nelson Memorial Park” will be scheduled for a later date, according to District 5 Commissioner Kevin White.
The Nelson family has also requested the county’s permission to place a monument at the park on Highway 4 near Northview High School, just two doors down from where Travis Nelson grew up. Nelson was the first soldier killed in action from the Walnut Hill or Bratt area since 1969.
Pictured top: The Bratt Community Park was renamed the LCpl Travis M. Nelson Memorial Park by the Escambia County Commission. Pictured inset: Parents Scott and Beckie Nelson of Bratt remember their son, Marine LCpl. Travis Nelson, shortly after learning that he had been killed in action in Afghanistan. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Couple In Court In Alleged Cancer Scam Case
September 16, 2011
The Molino couple accused of faking her cancer diagnosis to scam people out of thousands of dollars were back in court this week.
Both Chris and Sonja Luker appeared before Judge Joel Boles for a docket hearing before their scheduled trial date of September 29th. Boles granted a postponement request by the defense. Both Lukers will be back in court for a docket hearing on January 11 ,2012, and their trial is now set for jury selection to begin January 23, 2012.
Felony grand theft charges were dropped against the couple back in May, but they both still face felony fraud charges in the alleged scheme.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, numerous fundraisers were held between May 2004 and October 2010 that raised over $19,000. Evidence shows that about $14,000 was used in 2009 to avoid foreclosure on their home in the 4700 block of Pine Circle Drive and about $4,000 in cash was used by Chris Luker to purchase a 1997 Harley motorcycle.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation found that Chris and Sonja Luker personally received money from friends, family, church members and co-workers under a “scheme” that Sonja Luker was being treated for cancer. Investigators believe both Chris and Sonja Luker are guilty of fraud in the scheme; witnesses said the couple was observed together at fundraisers talking about her cancer treatments.
They have each pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.
Pictured above: Sonja and Chris Luker (in black shirts) are seen in a 2009 NorthEscambia.com photo from a motorcycle ride fundraiser that benefited her alleged fight against cancer. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Takes Cross Country Meet; Ernest Ward Fields First-Ever Team
September 16, 2011
The Northview Chiefs took a cross country meet with Baker Thursday afternoon — the first meet for the Ernest Ward Middle School Cross Country Team in school history.
At the high school level, the Northview girls won with 22 points to Baker’s 44, and the Northview boys won with 22 points to the Baker Gators’ 33.
For a photo gallery from the meet, click here.
OVERALL RESULTS
- Fastest high school girl -Georgia Goetter 24:31 Northview
- Fastest high school Boy- Dylan Scott 18:29 Baker
- Fastest middle school Girl -Sierra Brannon 28:21 Baker
- Fastest middle school Boy -Michael Copeland 26:51 Baker
HIGH SCHOOL
- Top 5 Northview girls: Georgia Goetter, Lakelynn Parker, zacarra Davis, Jazzlyn Franklin, Ashley Joiner
- Top 5 Baker girls: Katelyn Prahl, Sierra Brannon, Anna Scott, Isabella Chunn, Katie Smith
- Top 5 Northview boys: Isaac McGahan, Dakota Craft, Joseph Baldwin, Jonathan Moretz, Joshua Borelli
- Top 5 Baker boys: Dylan Scott, Sage Smith, Arec Thompson, Johnathon Ramos, Michael Copeland
MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Top 2 Ernest Ward girls: Bethany Reynolds 28:55, Natalie Goetter 30:04
- Top 2 Ernest Ward boys: Zachary Calloway 31:17, Gavin Coon 31:23
- Top 2 Baker girls: Sierra Brannon 28:21, Anna Scott 30:31
- Top 2 Baker boys: Michael Copeland 26:51, Austin Mayo 28:43
Pictured top: Top Northview High School male and female runners Isaac McGahan and Georgia Goetter during a cross country meet Thursday afternoon at Northview. Pictured below: Top Ernest Ward Middle male and female runners Bethany Reynolds and Zachary Calloway. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Exposing Himself To Children Headed To School Bus Stop
September 16, 2011
A Santa Rosa County man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly exposing himself to five children as they walked to a school bus stop.
Brian Lee Brown, 38, was allegedly standing naked in the doorway of the shed where he lives, touching himself, as the first children walked past to their bus stop on Auburn Road in Pace. Brown told deputies that when he woke up he opened the door of the shed where he lives to get dressed.
“Brown stated that he didn’t expect children to be walking past his shed towards the bus stop. Brown stated that he didn’t mean to expose himself to the children, and stated that he ‘is not a pervert’,” according to a press release from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Brown is facing five counts of lewd or lascivious behavior and was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
PSC Holds Meeting On Gulf Power Rate Increase
September 16, 2011
The Florida Public Service Commission held a public hearing in Pensacola Thursday before considering another rate hike for Gulf Power.
Gulf Power was granted a four percent interim rate increase that begins appearing on customer’’s electric bills this month. Under the interim increase, Gulf Power residential customers who use 1,000 kilowatt hours a month will see their bills go from $122.67 to $127.16. Utilities commonly use 1,000 kilowatt hours as a measuring stick, but many homes use more electricity than that each month.
If the permanent rate hike is approved, those same residential customers would see their monthly bills increase to $134.82, according to Gulf Power. The total increase would amount to about $146 per year for the 1,000 kilowatt hour per month customer.
Gulf Power, which serves 431,000 customers in eight counties, has not received a base-rate increase in nearly a decade. Base rates pay for many day-to-day operations of utilities, but customers also face other charges for expenses such as power-plant fuel.
The company contends that it needs to increase base rates, at least in part, because of the costs of adding power lines and other types of infrastructure.
Escambia, Alabama School Superintendent Stepping Down
September 16, 2011
Escambia County (Ala.) School Superintendent William N. Hines announced Thursday that he’s stepping down.
Hines told the Escambia County (Ala.) School Board that he will retire by December 1 for financial reasons. He will retire with 34 years in the Escambia school system, six of those years as superintendent.
The school board can appoint an interim superintendent for up to 180 days as they begin the search for a replacement.