Everything Fred – Part 247

27 February 2024

It’s another Chamber of Commerce Day in South Florida.

The palm on the left is a Sabal palm, the state palm of Florida. The one on the right is a Royal palm. The Sabal can get up to 40 feet in height and the Royal tops out at 80 feet.

All of next week we are predicted to be in the 80’s and it’s getting close to the time I’ll turn on the pool heater. I haven’t as yet simply because I haven’t been physically up for swimming but I miss just getting into the pool even if I don’t swim. It doesn’t hurt that it’s saved me a lot of money by not heating the pool this “winter.”

Speaking of heating, an article today in the Miami Herald reported the Atlantic is far warmer than it should be for February. The waters are producing May temperatures. There’s also a report that La NiƱa is going to be more of an effect on us this year which means less shear available to weaken hurricanes. Looks like we might be in for another record breaking season. That idea that’s been floating around to start the hurricane season in May is looking better.

Even though it’s warm and I’ve got some potential orchid blooms, not much else is happening plant wise in the yard. The Sprenger asparagus fern which is almost a pest in my yard is blooming like crazy and probably planning a coup of the other plants – a herbaceous takeover.

The only other thing really blooming right now is a native Lantana given to me by Chris. It’s doing its own usurping in the eastern part of the yard.

This thing is head high and I would trim it back but it is a natural insect repellent plant. I have my share of repellent insects.

No morning walk this morning. After physical therapy yesterday, I’m a little wiped. I noticed my foot drop more pronounced this morning and a definite weakness in the left leg. The last time, the foot drop and weakness got better the next day, so I’m as optimistic as Skeeter Davis.

Un-optimistically, we now have 10 cases of measles in the state of Florida and it has spread from South Florida to Central Florida. Florida’s Surgeon General is encouraging parents to make their own choice whether or not to send their children to school when the recommendation of CDC in Atlanta is to keep your child home if not vaccinated. The Surgeon General seems to have a laissez-faire approach to health care.

Dinner tonight with Nancy and Michel and then I finally remembered Thursday is happy hour with Jim, Holley, Tom and Kurt at the Secret Garden! Stay tuned!

Author: searcyf@mac.com

After 34 years in the classroom and lab teaching biology, I'm ready to get back to traveling and camping and hiking. It's been too long of a break. I miss the outdoors and you can follow my wanderings on this blog.

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