Sugar, Spice, And Everything Nice

Ahh, the holidays --- it’s the perfect time for giving. It’s not bad for receiving either. The other day, I was notified via eMail by Fresh From Florida that I had won a prize [pictured] they were giving away on their blog. Sweet! …Or, in this case, spicy. The package arrived yesterday, much to my delight. Having been (and being) a big fan of Everglades Seasoning products, I knew this “Gift Shack” had found a good home.
With this kind of luck, perhaps I should have gone out and purchased a few lotto tickets, too. Lucky or not: In this case, I was handsomely rewarded for simply following and leaving a comment on a blog of interest that was highlighting one of my favorite spice-rack staples. Not too shabby.
Rewarding loyal customers and/or followers is a great way to maintain and build upon the base of any business. It’s easy to look past your existing clientele and expend all your energy to entice new blood. But those actions can and will drive away the people that got you there.
Giveaways --- especially during this time of year --- are a slam dunk in customer relations and PR. Everywhere you turn around, someone seems to be giving away an iPad. Hell, I even gave away something on this blog earlier this year. Done not so much for the intent of building a blog-follower empire (obviously), but just for fun.
What you give doesn’t really matter. The point is: People like to get things. And if you can offer them something, even a little something, expect that to come back to you in some way—hopefully what would be considered a good return on investment.
Happy holidays!

Pocket Full Of Shells ...

Landscaping projects – whether on a professional scale or homespun – usually draws its energy from an inspired vision. If the final product can look anywhere near what the computer-generated renderings, hand sketches, or images in your head are, then you are doing something right. Of course, it often happens where things stray from an original plan for one reason or another.
Pictured with this post is an image that is quite contrary to the title. What you are seeing there actually is roughly one ton of crushed shell. This is the basis for a front-yard landscape project that I’ve had in mind for a while now. I have/had the inspiration. The hard part was finding the time and getting the material.
The project is under way and coming together. However, borrowing a line from one of my all-time favorite movies: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” Well, in this case, I’m going to need more shell. Good things take time, and so far, so good.
Stay tuned. More to come …

You Never Know ...

Taking a risk can be a scary proposition. However, sometimes you have to take that leap to move forward in life as well as in business. Agriculture is a prime example where -- despite gobs of statistical data showing what works and what doesn’t -- many a dice are still rolled to find ways to produce bigger, better, and more crops for longer periods of time. Besides the obvious, there probably is a lot of finger-crossing going on regarding fundamental things such as whether to make that large investment, change in a vendor, tweak to production philosophy, or alternative crop planting.
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Canal Point, FL-based Erickson Farm to conduct the photo/video shoot for the cover story I was writing. A combination of experience and experimentation has driven this grower, packer, and shipper of tropical specialties (mangos, avocados, carambola, longan, lychee, sapodilla, etc…) for nearly 100 years. I was able to score some of exotic edibles during my visit, BTW [see photo].
As explained to me, the 62-acre farm I was standing in was where five generations have lived and worked. It’s hard to fathom how many changes have occurred between now and then. In order to survive and sustain for that long, you know risks were taken along the way. I suppose trying to grow “tropical” edibles in a subtropical environment would be among the biggest. However, once that first mango tree was planted long ago, they learned the parcel’s proximity to Lake Okeechobee provided a unique microclimate that allows for growing things others around them cannot. They reaped the reward from that risk, found their niche, and have stuck with it.
In speaking with two generations of Ericksons on their farm (father Dale and his two daughters Kim and Krista), I see where the experience meshes with the younger generation perspective and input. That generational transition has played out several times over for the Ericksons and continues to help them branch out for new growth. Read more about how this operation nurtures its knack for niche in the November issue of Florida Grower. Check out the videos, too.

The door is open – just like it always has been -- for the future of modern agriculture, especially given the latest advancements in communications, technologies, and chemistries, to name a few.
Not trying different things in different ways is a risk we all cannot afford to take.

For Your Amusement

Take a trip to the many “attractions” around the Orlando Metro area, and you are bound to see something that will catch your eye. After all, that’s the whole point of going to theme parks: to see and experience extraordinary things. In order for there to be a successful “theme,” the setting has to be tailored to deliver that genuine experience. Everything has to be spot on---down to the very last detail. I never really thought about this aspect of amusement parks much until during a recent outing at SeaWorld with the family.
While meandering around the park scanning for a place for us to sit down and dine, my eyes were drawn beyond the poor park staffer broiling in the orca costume to a nicely appointed garden area outside of The Terrace (formerly the Hospitality House --- aka beer garden).
A nice variety of primarily cacti and succulents are used to create what looks like an under-the-seascape … but on land. Plants of contrasting shapes, textures and colors meld well on a bed of stark-white crushed sea shell. Sporadically placed boulders add a nice touch, too. This planting bed flanks the Terrace structure and outlines a small body of water that is frequented by ducks, ibis, and other birds.

There are numerous landscape creations --- equally as cool --- tucked in the many nooks and crannies of this particular park and many others like it. Why did I feel compelled to stop and take note this time? Not sure. Last year, Ornamental Outlook featured the landscape team that sets the stage at the Worlds of Discovery (which includes SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, and Aquatica). So, I know full well what kind of work that goes into creating an amusement-park memory. I guess this is the first time I really appreciated it from a visitor’s perspective and not just from an ag journalist’s view.

So, you want to fuel your garden-design inspiration? Take a stroll around a theme park. You just might find yourself taken with something that's not actually the main attraction.

Look Sharp

When one thinks of cactus and succulent plants, images of the desert Southwest --- no doubt --- spring to mind. However, the more I look around my Central Florida digs, the more I see these supposed desert dwellers thriving amid the heat and humidity.

Despite the prickly nature of the majority of these plants, I have come to warm up to not only their unique, detailed appearances, but also their durability in the landscape. Yes, you have to watch the razor-sharp barbs when gardening around certain specimens, but I gladly take the risk in exchange for the low- to almost-no-maintenance input I exert for such high return.

One of the most reliable things that grow in my yard is zebra aloe (a 2010 Florida Garden Select plant, btw). I have successfully dug up and transplanted several of these groundcovers without any casualties (besides a few scrapes on my arms and some snapped leaves). In addition to the expected heat and drought-tolerant nature of these plants, they also can take on the cold and have the ability to roll with the heavy downpours of our six-month-long rainy season, too.

Another reason to like cacti and succulents: They lend themselves to one’s creative side as the plants can be placed just about anywhere and displayed in numerous ways. From colorful combos in decorative planters to showing off striking contrast within a tropical-themed landscape to an attractive centerpiece in a living wall, the versatility is vast.

The City of Orlando obviously saw/sees the benefits of using cactus and succulents in the landscape on a larger scale. Every time I’m driving along the East-West Expressway (408) heading to and from downtown, it’s hard not to notice the large, sculpture-like agave standing out and mixing in with native grasses, bottlebrush, and the state’s signature sabal palms. All smart choices for highway medians as each require very little care from landscape crews and save on irrigation.

By the way, I snapped these shots from
the safety of the front passenger seat.

So, will these types of plants replace the familiar, post-card images of lush foliage and palm-lined landscapes the Sunshine State is known for and expected to have? It’s highly doubtful. But there’s nothing wrong with having the best of both worlds ... if you can. Let’s call it “subtropical succulence.” Now, I like the sound of that.

King Sago Saga Update

It's been a little more than two weeks since I decided to take a caffeinated approach to landscape pest management. Asian cycad scale, a widely known invasive that has marred many a king and queen sago in Florida landscapes for more than a decade, was now making itself at home in my front yard. (Take note: The key word in the last sentence= “was.”)

Two days after the initial application of the coffee ground mulch (courtesy of Starbucks’ “Grounds For Your Garden”), I noticed a much slowed progression of the pest.

After a week, I didn’t see any activity at all. I rinsed off the scale residue left over on the fronds and applied another bag of spent coffee grounds around the base since recent abundant rainfall had washed away a majority of the first batch. I even sprinkled a little bit over the interior fronds so it would settle in down around the petioles.

Two weeks in and I am pleased to report no scale present on this sago.

The short-term results of my crop protection experiment have proved positive on this particular specimen. I will be keeping a close eye on how things fare in the long run. Either way: So far, so good. It could have bean a lot worse.

Caffeine Buzz

Bugs, bugs, and more bugs. In Florida, no matter where you are, insects will find you and eventually your plants, too. The other week while doing a few chores outside, I walked by the king sago (Cycas revoluta) growing near my garage and noticed a decent portion of its inner, lower fronds near the petioles turning white. Upon closer inspection ... Hey wait a minute, some of this white stuff is moving! Yep, tiny white specs were roaming all over the inside of this cycad and apparently attempting to suck the life out of it.
Not sure how they found my sago (guess it doesn’t matter), but it appears the dreaded Asian cycad scale has landed in my front yard. This pest has put a hurting on Florida landscapes by wiping out multitudes of king and queen sagos, cardboard palms, and coonties ever since its Sunshine State discovery near Miami in 1996.

Now knowing what I was facing, I had a plan for these buggers thanks to recalling an article I wrote about two years ago. In the piece, I interviewed Tom Broome, owner of The Cycad Jungle in Lakeland, FL, about a somewhat unorthodox method of pest control he found to be successful on Asian cycad scale. The weapon of choice --- spent coffee grounds.
Packed with beneficial nutrients for nitrogen-loving plants, spent coffee grounds used in gardens as a top dressing and a compost addition is nothing new. However, the grounds’ main ingredient (caffeine) apparently makes a mere top dressing into something with natural insecticide properties, too. According to Broome, the caffeine alkaloids left over in the coffee grounds kill the scale. And, the higher the caffeine content (e.g., what you find in espresso beans), the better.

In my mission to gather grounds, I didn’t have to brew pot after pot to get what I needed. A quick stop at my nearest Starbucks to ask for a bag of its “Grounds For Your Garden” was all it took. The five-pound bags of the used grounds, which are part of the coffeehouse giant’s ongoing environmental initiative, are complimentary to customers and anyone who asks.

With my bag of busted beans in hand, it was time to trim and treat my sago. The infestation was pretty dense in the fronds I removed.

Mulching around the entire root area is important for the method to be effective. Since the rainy season has arrived here, there will be plenty of precip to help the alkaloids sink in and do their work.

Crop protection, whether organic, conventional, or even unconventional --- as in this case, is something all Florida growers, landscapers, and home gardeners need to take into account and have a plan for. Many pros usually have multiple plans of attack in their arsenal.

Thanks to our hospitable climate and multiple ports of entry, invasive pest pressure is always going to be present. Frequent scouting and early intervention with the right chemistries are keys to productive pest control.

That's all for now regarding this sago saga. Hopefully the end result will be one that not only purges the pests, but also perks up the plant.

A Valuable Lesson

About every other day, my 4-year-old daughter brings home something from school that represents the fruits of her labor. I’m always interested to see what she is working on and learning about in the classroom and outside of it. It’s cool to see the book she’s made, the picture she drew, or any of the other clever items she helped make that were designed to nourish her creativity and expand her growth in knowledge. The other day, I was quite pleased to see her bring home a little squash plant. The tiny seedling, which was barely peeking out over the plastic cup in which it was placed, was none the worse for wear after digging it out from the bottom of her back pack. While there are many effective learning tools available, there’s nothing like a living, tangible object to drive home a point. And what a fine lesson this could be in not only how plants grow, but also where food really comes from.

Often, the hard work that goes into growing, packing, and shipping foods that feed the world is taken for granted. While the local supermarket is quite a sight for a wide-eyed child, us adults know the food that fills the shelves doesn’t just magically appear. Given that fact, it doesn’t hurt to teach and/or remind our future generations how food truly gets from the plot to the plate.

The other day, when I went to visit my daughter’s elementary school for a scheduled function, I stumbled upon a nice surprise as I was walking through the campus. Two decent-sized edible garden areas were focal points around the courtyard. There was a good variety of attractive veggies and herbs in different stages of growth and development: how very symbolic of the dynamic that makes up every school community. Kudos to the teachers and school administrators in sharing this concept with our kids. Talk about feeding young minds.

High marks for this elementary school veggie garden.

In a little more than a week’s time, my daughter and I have since transplanted her seedling into a bigger pot to let it stretch its roots. So far, the daily routine of morning sun, mid-day heat/humidity, and afternoon/early evening rain has done the little squash plant some good. It has gotten taller and produced four more leaves and counting. I’m really looking forward to watching the continued growth in this little plant and in my little girl, of course.

Better Safe Than Sorry

As busy as we all are in our daily lives, sometimes the most common-sense actions can be lost in the mix. Unfortunately, a momentary lapse in judgment can have a long-lasting effect --- depending on the situation. The saying: “better safe than sorry” can be applied in some way to just about any physically demanding activity I can think of. One example that comes to mind involves those who work often or exclusively with high-powered machinery (tractors, mowers, etc..). Those mechanized marvels help pros and homeowners alike get the job done, but are usually chock full of fast-moving, sharp pieces and parts that require an operator’s full attention to successfully and safely navigate from one task to the next.

No matter if you think your operating skills are beyond honing, it certainly doesn’t hurt to brush up every once in a while on proper procedure, whether you are a professional or if you are a backyard weekend warrior.

With all that being said, I found it appropriate to mention a safety-awareness initiative Kubota Tractor Corp. is promoting. Part of this campaign includes its “Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety.”

According to the literature, the “Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety” are as follows:
1. Know your tractor, its implements, and how they work.
2. Use ROPS (rollover protective structures) and seat belt whenever and wherever applicable.
3. Be familiar with you terrain and work area --- walk the area first to be sure and drive safely.
4. Never start an engine in a closed shed or garage.
5. Always keep your power take-off (PTO) properly shielded.
6. Keep your hitches low and always on the drawbar. Otherwise, your tractor might flip over backwards.
7. Never get off a moving tractor or leave it with its engine running.
8. Never refuel while the engine is running or hot.
9. Keep all children off and away from your tractor and its implements at all times.
10. Never be in a hurry or take chances about anything you do with your tractor.

Click here to see more of Kubota’s take on the importance of tractor/equipment safety.

While these safety tips should already be ingrained in the heads of everyone who operates these machines (especially professionals), bad things can and do happen when we’re in a hurry, tired, distracted, or all of the above. In a situation where your tools can injure, maim, or even kill, if not used properly, a little extra precaution and preparation can go a long way in preventing such an occurrence.

Oh, and by the way, as part of Kubota’s safety message, they came up with a nice little safety prize promotional pack. The safety prize pack includes a Kubota duffel bag and inside you will find:
· A T-Shirt
· LED Flashlight
· Custom Puzzle and Kubota Safety Coloring Book (fun for the kids) and
· The "Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety" brochure

Kubota was gracious enough to provide me with a safety prize pack to give away to one lucky reader of this blog. Interested in winning this item? Log into Twitter and go to my Twitter feed and be the first to Direct Message me the answer to this:
Out of the “Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety,” which commandment do you think is the most important one to remember? (Hint: There is no wrong answer, since they are all important. I just want to see who is paying attention).

Good luck and, more importantly, stay safe.

A Learning Opportunity

Florida and citrus go hand in hand. They just go together. The deep-rooted history that surrounds producing citrus fruit and juices for the masses is truly iconic and a large part of what makes the Sunshine State special. Indeed, Florida does recognize and appreciate its citrus heritage. After all, the official state license plate bears an image of an orange and its signature blossom.

It's pretty cool, too, that us locals are privy to such a multitude of fresh citrus in our supermarkets and farmers markets. Better yet, it doesn't get any more fresh when you can either squeeze a glass of orange juice or cut into juicy grapefruit harvested from a tree in your own yard.


With all that in mind, I stopped by Apenberry's Nursery in Orlando this past weekend. My visit, however, was not to check out the plethora of flowering plants, fruiting trees, and hardgoods the garden center had on display, but to learn more about a new collaborative, consumer-oriented campaign from KeyPlex and Lake County-based container citrus grower Record Buck Farms.
Representatives from both operations were on hand to discuss details of the "My Citrus Tree" program, which features an informational website (MyCitrusTree.com) and showcases the rollout of KeyPlex Citrus H/G --- a new dooryard citrus micronutrient formula. The entire promotional package is geared specifically to citrus-caring homeowners.

After taking time to speak with Rich Johnston of KeyPlex Direct and Danny Finch of Record Buck Farms (see videos) at the event, it's clear the campaign's foundation is built on the basics of education. The main lesson being taught: A healthy citrus tree not only looks more attractive and produces consistent fruit, but also is better equipped to fight off pest and disease. The latter being of utmost importance.

Unfortunately, our subtropical climate, which makes it ideal to grow citrus, also can be the perfect breeding ground for invasive plant pests and diseases. Major case in point: The Florida citrus industry has been struggling with HLB (citrus greening disease) ever since it was first reported in South Miami-Dade County in August 2005. Much time and effort has been put into trying to find a cure for this devastating disease. With few promising leads and a possible solution still years away, a lot of those efforts lately have shifted in finding ways for growers to cope with HLB. Though the exchange of research-based information has been fast and furious on the industry side of things, the general public's knowledge of such a serious problem is minimal at best.



Kudos for the campaign's proactive nature. Timing couldn't be better for an initiative like this considering the need for basic information. Going off what little most people know about citrus greening gathered from mainstream media reports (unfortunately, the majority not very comprehensive), homeowners might be feeling pressure to cut and remove their otherwise healthy citrus tree(s) in lieu of possibly hosting a destructive, economically impacting disease in their own back yard. Who can blame them?

While cutting and removing HLB-infected trees has been a common practice in infected groves for years, more growers today are trying different methods to live with greening thereby prolonging their investment's productivity. Nutritional supplementation combined with vigilant psyllid (the disease's carrier) control is proving successful for some and is now being recognized as a viable avenue for growers fighting to stay in business.



In hopes of getting the message out and spreading the word about the campaign, KeyPlex and Record Buck Farms will be taking their show on the road (plastic pink flamingos and all) and hosting similar events at multiple garden centers and nurseries around the state, according to Johnston. Locations and dates are still to be determined.

Homeowners who care to keep their citrus, or who are interested in purchasing a citrus tree for their yard (like myself), certainly need to understand the scope of greening's challenge. Sharing industry knowledge on a grand scale --- especially with those willing to learn what to look for and how to proceed --- is only going to help in this case. And, if that means protecting and ultimately saving citrus in professional groves as well as in back yards, even better. That's something all us citrus-loving Floridians can agree on and drink to --- OJ that is.

A Picture Can Be Worth ... A Lot

When it comes to making purchasing decisions nowadays, most people rely heavily on digital technology to gather vital information. I know I do. In an instant, you can boot up your computer and/or just open the browser on your iPhone to compare and contrast specs on just about anything from toaster ovens to 3-D TVs to waterfront homes. Along with all the important listed features, up-close, detailed images with all types of enhanced views and 360-degree angles also are included to aid the shopper's search.

Though price is usually the ultimate deciding factor in most transactions, how the object of your desire appears at first glance is what is going to make or break a potential deal. All functionality aside, if something is not suited for your specific taste or style (you know, if it's ugly) then taking a pass and looking at the next option is how the normal chain of events progresses. I know, we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but we all are guilty of it at one time or another.

On the seller's side, it's hard to account for taste. But when you're in a competitive market, having quality product and services make a difference. The ability to effectively show off what you have to offer (especially in the digital domain) is vital for success and a key to survival for many.

Today's photographic technology options make it hard for even the least-experienced novice to take a bad picture. Yet, plenty of less-than-flattering images of people, pets, plants, and property (to name just a few) are published and posted all the time. When in doubt, hire a professional to secure the photos and help present the image you want your company and its products and services to be portrayed. Now, if you were taking a Marketing 101 class, no doubt a similar passage spewing the same kind of "wisdom" would be in the textbook. Yep. It's basic stuff, but cannot be stressed enough. Now, if you don't want to or cannot spend the extra money, re-focus your efforts, practice, and learn how to take a better picture. It's not that hard, especially when you have attractive subject matter (i.e. a greenhouse full of beautiful hydrangeas or a virtual scratch-and-sniff landscape teaming with twisting vines of Confederate jasmine---BTW, proud to say, both my pics) on the other side of the lens.

Indeed: "A picture is worth a thousand words." When in business to sell, the right picture could be worth at least that and hopefully much more in potential profit. Click!

Pumping Up Promotion

From plants and flowers to fruits and vegetables, new varieties are something to get excited about. Typically, years of diligent work and research go into producing something that improves on a predecessor. Whether it be more vibrant colors, enhanced cold hardiness, proven pest and disease resistance, or better taste, these are all horticultural scientific breakthroughs that should be celebrated.

For those of us who cover ag for a living, new product news is something we search for and report on a daily basis. The press releases we receive from companies promoting their wares and accomplishments are the tools we need to get the info out to our readers and then for them to get to their clients, and eventually end consumers.

Recently, Costa Farms and Suntory teamed up to create a product promotion meant to make a big impact for the Sun Parasol line of flowering plants. The video presentation of their recent spring kick-off event not only is a good example of using today's modern technology, connectivity, and instant worldwide reach to get the message out, but also a way to create buzz and excitement about a product line they believe in and one they believe people will buy into.

Though the scope (mainly time and money) of this kind of production might not be easily duplicated by just anybody, the concept of a simple video and distribution via YouTube, website, blog, or eNewsletter sure can. Not to mention, other means of slick communication choices (podcasts, webinars, etc..) Here's to continue showing us what you got. We'll be watching and waiting.

Spring Forward, Think Ahead

Spring is in the air, and my azaleas know it.

It appears just about every plant and tree around my Central Florida yard knows what time it is: early spring. The azaleas are in full bloom and putting on quite an impressive display. My pink tabebuias are sporting scores of trumpet-shaped flowers. The twisting vines of star and confederate jasmine are starting to pop, and countless crinum lilies are sprouting anew from old, withered stalks left behind by this year's cooler and wetter than normal winter. Oh, and my weeds are really green and robust, too --- sigh --- but I digress.

Even though the threat of freezes has melted away for this season and the emerging color and warmer weather are beckoning many to get their yards back in shape, a little hindsight and foresight is needed by all to set things right.

Despite the freezing temps being a royal pain for growers, those who were able to endure and protect their supply are sitting pretty. Things are picking up for garden centers and nurseries with good material and selection. I visited a local IGC this past weekend and the place was mobbed with eager homeowners like myself and landscapers looking to stock up. This scene was impressive, especially since a nearby Home Depot, located just down the street, was advertising a spring "doorbuster" event. BTW, HD was mobbed, too.

As I was perusing displays scouting new plant material to replace what was lost to those cold January nights, there was a little voice inside my head telling me to "be smart" and don't make the same mistake as before by choosing borderline plant material that stretches and often breaks the limits of cold hardiness. Easier said than done, however. You can rationalize almost anything when within striking distance of a point of purchase. Reality tends to prevail in the end after you spend an afternoon or two tearing out another ill-advised landscape addition.

Now is a prime time for Florida garden centers and nurseries to be pushing cold hardy, site appropriate plants. It's a great selling point, especially with this past winter's cold spell still fresh in the minds of many. The temperature may be in the upper 70s and 80s now and soon to be 90s, but thinking ahead to what next winter might bring is a good move that will pay off in the long run.

Looks and performance are great attributes when looking for things like a car or landscape specimen. I think more people are beginning to see the value of performance --- I know I am --- and that's a beautiful thing.

Right Plant, Right Place

This big live oak tree went way beyond serving an aesthetic purpose in the landscape.

It's easy to take for granted all the things plants and trees do for us on a daily basis. But there are times when their value goes beyond mere aesthetics, the food and safe harbor they provide for multitudes of creatures, the mini microclimates they can create, and-- not to mention -- the very air we breathe.

The other night, I was watching TV with my wife when the quiet of a mild evening was broken by the sound of locked-up brakes trying their best to halt whatever was doing the hauling. Now, this kind of noise isn't unusual around where we live. We have some fairly heavy traveled thoroughfares in relatively close proximity. Seconds-long screeches normally result in silence that signifies a near-miss event. The jolting thud that put the period on the end of this screeching sentence was the exception. My wife and I gave a look to each other that said without words, 'that didn't sound good.'

About 20 minutes later, I stepped outside and noticed a plume of smoke wafting over my neighbor's house across the street. Man, just how close was this crash? In the next few minutes, I found out the answer to that question: very close.

After spotting the reflection of flashing lights on a window down the street, I walked down to the end of my street and around the corner to see 4 fire trucks, several police cars, and at least two dozen onlookers (most of them my neighbors) watching rescue personnel flanking a pickup that veered across the road, over a grass median and sidewalk, plowed through a wood fence, mangled part of a chain-link fence behind it, and finally came to a rest at the base of a large live oak tree.

Perhaps it was the fumes of the dieseling fire/rescue trucks starting to get to me while we were watching the top being cut off the vehicle, but a thought crossed my mind that if the big oak tree wasn't there, this accident scene could be a lot worse. Beyond the fences and tree was the back yard of one of my neighbor's where patio furniture and a lanai were next in the path.

The tree -- which by the sheer size of it probably has been there about 40 years --looked no worse for wear considering it just took on about two tons of hurtling metal. Amazing and scary as we all stood in shock and awe for more than an hour as the driver was carefully extracted from the vehicle. The other amazing thing was that the driver was alive.

In Florida, "Right Plant, Right Place" is a big mantra in defining the textbook Florida friendly yard. In this case, that couldn't have been more true.

Cold, Hard Facts Of Life

Ice, ice, baby! In my Florida back yard? Yep.

When one thinks of Florida, the usual staples of sun, sand, palm trees, and -- most notably -- warm weather come to mind. Every once in a while though, the sometimes long, cold, cruel hand of Mother Nature reaches down into our peninsula and gives us a smack.

It has been several weeks since a record-breaking cold streak made its mark on the Sunshine State. So, I've had time to contemplate and build my case against cold weather as the worst of its kind. While an occasional freeze/sub-freezing event might be a novelty to some of us down here not used to experiencing the thrill of the chill (I still can't understand that), it is a major pain for those who toil in the ag industry.

Cold spells make for long days and longer nights of time and energy spent in trying to save crops --- whether they are fruits and vegetables or tropicals and foliage. Freezes aren't anything new to Florida farmers. Nonetheless, when they strike, the damage inflicted can range from having to regroup for some to total devastation for others. The crop and production loss figures from January's freezes have been staggering --- and are still growing.

It's amazing how fine the line is of being cold and being too cold. It's all part of the risk that comes with working in agriculture and doing it in a subtropical climate. The rewards can be great, but the risks are high. Covering the Florida ag industry for a living, I know this all too well.

In addition to my professional interests, as a homeowner and a freezing-weather foe, I have my own personal reasons for disliking cold weather. After all, a temperate climate is one of the reasons why I live and work in Florida. So, when reminders of when I used to live up North come calling, I bristle ... and just because I've caught a chill.

My blood certainly has thinned since becoming a Floridian. Besides the sky-high heating bills, having to scrape frost off my car windows in the morning with one of my credit cards, and/or having to wear bulky sweaters better left at the back of the closet or in a never-to-find-again time capsule ... the following are a few more of my LEAST-favorite things about the cold when it visits my neck of the woods:

Burned-out bougies

Crinkled crotons

Not-so-regal anymore royal palms

Bleach-beige grass

And ... melted legions of lilies

The war zone-like scene around my yard (as captured in the above images) and most other landscapes like mine is the rule right now around Central and South Florida as opposed to exception. I know it is a temporary situation (well, for the most part), but that doesn't make it any less aggravating. Since I took the photos, things have started to green up a bit.

Whether you are a farmer or a landscaping weekend warrior, there's not much to do in the meantime except to see how things shake out, get ready to prune, replant, and wait for some "normal" Florida weather. I think that usually takes place some time between fire season and hurricane season.