Weekend Gardening: Tips For The Month Of May
May 18, 2019
The Escambia County Master Gardeners offer the following May lawn and garden tips:
- Continue planting summer annuals. Try one or two that you’ve never grown and/or one that is not available in stores as transplants.
- Plant heat-resistant summer flowering annuals such as begonias, impatiens, coleus, salvia, marigolds, torenia, verbena, ornamental peppers and gaillardia.
- Bulbs: Caladium, gladiolus.
- Vegetables: Continue planting warm weather seeds and transplants (Shade those transplants!). Use transplants for cherry tomatoes, eggplant and sweet potatoes. Plant seeds of lima beans, okra, southern peas: purple hull, crowder, etc.
- Prune and shape spring flowering shrubs and trees now. Later pruning may destroy next year’s blooms.
- Good cultural practices help maintain a healthy lawn and discourage insects and disease. Mow with a sharp blade. Centipedegrass should be cut to a height of 1½ to 2 inches. St. Augustinegrass normal growth habit cultivars should be cut to a height of 3 to 4 inches.
- Climbing roses are pruned after they finish blooming. Blooms form on one-year-old canes, so any older ones may be removed to make them more tidy. Cut each flowering stem back to the first five leaflet stem to encourage them to bloom again.Spray with horticultural oil or malathion for mites, scale and white flies, if insects are present, before it gets too hot (85 degrees).
- Yellow leaves on azaleas may mean they need iron. Apply iron sulphate or chelated iron.
- Feed citrus plants using special citrus fertilizer. Broadcast under the tree canopy and water in.
- Begin planting palms while the weather is warm and rainy.
- Make cuttings of azaleas, hollies, camellias, and other choice shrubs as new growth becomes half hardened.
- Take soft wood cuttings to root: alyssum, begonia, chrysanthemum, shrimp plant, dianthus, geranium, hibiscus, hydrangea, etc.
- Dig bulbs after foliage turns brown if they need to be divided or the space is needed for other plants. If the space isn’t needed, braid the foliage.
- Cut back the vines of Irish potatoes when they begin to die but leave the tubers in the ground for about two weeks longer to toughen the skin. Handle the potatoes carefully during digging, as skinned or bruised potatoes decay quickly when stored.
- Divide crowded and vigorously growing perennials.
- Promote continued flowering of bedding plants by removing faded blooms.
- Encourage coleus to branch and produce more colorful leaves by pinching off the flower stalks as they form.
- Prune poinsettias when new growth is 10-12 inches high (back to the last four leaves). Prune new growth at the base throughout the summer.
- Stop pruning after Labor Day.
- Keep roses watered, cut out weak spots, feed every six to eight weeks or at every new flush of growth, dust.
- For insect or disease problems in your garden, use the least toxic control possible.
IP Celebrating Reading With Book Donations To First Graders At 11 Schools
May 17, 2019
Thanks to a donation from International Paper, every first grader at Jim Allen, Beulah, Bratt, Ensley, Kingsfield, Lincoln Park, Lipscomb, Longleaf, McArthur, Molino Park, and Pine Meadow elementary schools will take home three books of their own for the summer.
The children will also celebrate reading by participating in a variety of engaging and inspiring reading activities in each school. Students from Lipscomb Elementary School participated in a Big Book Breakfast on Monday. During the event, first grade teacher Betsy Eggart read “If You Give a Dog a Donut,” by Laura Numeroff. The book was one of the three books the children took home to keep. International Paper also supplied the students with doughnuts and apple juice to correlate with the dog’s adventures in “If you Give a Dog a Donut.” To complete the breakfast theme, they also took home “If You Give A Moose A Muffin,” and “If You Give A Pig A Pancake.” All three books are fun and are a great way to learn about sequence and cause and effect.
By providing children with choice and access to books and literacy resources, International Paper hopes to create a culture of literacy in the communities in which its employees live and work.
This book distribution event is part of Reading Is Fundamental’s Books for Ownership flagship reading program which enables children to select new, age-appropriate books to take home and own.
“We can’t express our gratitude enough for programs such as RIF, and local business partners, like International Paper. When they become involved in reading they help us achieve one of our main goals – encouraging children to read outside of school,” explained Kim Gunn with the English and Language Arts Department of Escambia County School District who attended the Big Book Breakfast. “When we see children get excited to explore a new book that they get to own, well, their reactions were priceless.”
“Reading Is Fundamental is committed to creating a culture of literacy in communities nationwide and ensure every child has the fundamental building blocks needed to achieve their highest potential. Reading is the necessary foundation for all children that puts them on the pathway for success,” says Reading is Fundamental President and CEO, Alicia Levi. “For over 50 years, Reading Is Fundamental has supported communities with the resources they need to impact children in their communities and we are excited to partner with International Paper to bring this program to Escambia County.
“We’re proud to team up with Reading Is Fundamental to support the children of Escambia County,” said Whitney Fike, communications manager, International Paper. “At International Paper, we believe that the future of our communities depends on children, and supporting strategic programs in our community that help children succeed in education is critical.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jim Allen Elementary Names Students Of The Month
May 16, 2019
Jim Allen Elementary School has named Students of the Month for April. They are Emily Dunlap (pictured left) and Peyton Lewis. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Top Achievers Honored During Annual Northview FFA Banquet
May 16, 2019
The Northview High School FFA recently held their annual banquet.
The night included many awards for Northview FFA members and supporters. The Northview High School FFA has been continuously honored as a top chapter in Florida and the nation.
The Walnut Hill Fire Department, Tate FFA Chapter and the Northview High School NJROTC were inducted as honor members of the Northview FFA chapter.
The The Jamie Hall Memorial Scholarship, Glynn Key Memorial Scholarship and Tommy Weaver Memorial FFA Alumni Scholarship were presented to Olivia Porter (pictured).
Other awards and honors presented included:
Creed Speaking Career Development Event- Sarah Sconiers
Prepared Public Speaking Career Development Event – Amber Gilman
Safe Tractor Operations Speaking Career Development Event – Stewart Woodfin
The Livestock Evaluation and Selection Career Development Event – Raeleigh Woodfin, Amber Gilman, Stewart Woodfin, and Kelli Merchant
Horse Evaluation Career Development Event – Olivia Porter, Autumn Williams, Destiny Cleckler, Brooke Doolittle, and Leia Grantham, Sarah Sconiers, Rachael Sanders, and Emily Stabler
Vegetable Evaluation Career Development Event – Raeleigh Woodfin, Olivia Porter, Destiny Cleckler, and Amber Gilman
Beef Production and Showmanship Career Development Event – Tyler Simmons and Bryce Korinchak
Forestry Career Development Event – Stewart Woodfin, Jonathan Gibbs, and Brandon Dean
Blue and Gold Awards- Jonathan Gibbs, Michael Roloph, Lacie Carter, and Bryce Korinchak
High Point Awards- Raeleigh Woodfin and Stewart Woodfin
Outstanding 9th Grader and Greenhand member: Page Gibbs
Outstanding 10th Grader: Amber Gilman
Outstanding 11th Graders: Raeleigh Woodfin and Stewart Woodfin
Outstanding 12th Grader: Olivia Porter
The incoming Northview FFA Chapter 2019-2020 Officer Team was also recognized:
President- Raeleigh Woodfin
Vice President- Amber Gilman
Secretary- Lacie Carter
Treasurer- Meredith McGhee
Reporter- Paige Gibbs
Sentinel- Stewart Woodfin
Historian- Rachel Sanders
Parliamentarian- Sarah Sconiers
Chaplain- Leah McCoy
Photographer- Samantha Sasser
Public Relations- Julie Keith
Chairman of Recruitment- Jamie Gruenwald
Honorary Student Advisor- Tyler Simmons
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County 4-H Council Elects New Officers
May 14, 2019
Monday night, the Escambia County 4-H Council elected new officers for 2019-2020. They are:
President: Raeleigh Woodfin
Vice President: Rashidi Joseph
Secretary: Madison Behrends
Treasurer: Jessica Conti
Reporter: Ava Chauvette
Historian: Katie Ballard
Parliamentarian: Maddie Goss
Sergeant-at-Arms: Hannah Thorne
Motivational Leader: Ethan Thorne
District Council Delegate: Hannah Schnupp
Alternate District Delegate: Cat Proud
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names May Students Of The Month
May 12, 2019
Ransom Middle School as named sixth grader Ladarius Fields and eighth grader Brianna White as Students of the Month for May. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Inspirational Student Hero Awards Presented
May 11, 2019
The annual Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards were presented to 52 Escambia County students.
“These students have overcome so much in their young lives while maintaining positive attitudes and being a joy for those around them,” said Gulf Coast Market vice president David Deliman. “They deserve their time in the spotlight for being such an inspiration to us all.”
The students were chosen by a committee of leaders at their school, due to their resilience in the face of adversity. Whether they have overcome a loss of a family member, medical issue, difficult family situation or other hardship, they did so with a smile on their face and continued to encourage and inspire others around them.
During the event, Cox presented the students with a personalized engraved medallion and certificates of honor. The students were also presented with certificates of achievement from Congressman Matt Gaetz and State Senator Doug Broxson.
The award recipients were:
A.K. Suter Elementary – Joseph Thomason
Bellview Elementary – Rebecca Dortch
Bellview Middle – Tex Jones
Beulah Elementary – Ashton Young
Beulah Middle – Jacob Botsford
Blue Angels Elementary – Morgan “Brinlee” Bennett
Bratt Elementary – Reece Starns
Brentwood Elementary – Alisha Straughn
Brown Barge Middle – Gary Lee, Jr.
Byrneville Elementary – Emily Carter
Camelot Academy – Linda Bruster
Cordova Park Elementary – Lula Wilson
Ensley Elementary – Alexander Patrick
Ernest Ward Middle – Olivia Bush
Escambia High – Bethaney Griffin
Ferry Pass Elementary – Alexa Mendoza
Ferry Pass Middle – Cele Leigh Hernandez Mendoza
Global Learning Academy – Gabriel Johnson
Hellen Caro Elementary – Sarah Stearns
Holm Elementary – Jai’Juan “JJ” McBride
Jim Allen Elementary – Coy Jenkins
Jim Bailey Middle – Roy Pettaway
Kingsfield Elementary – Leonardo “Leo” Rincon
Lakeview Day Support – Aine Kellett
Lincoln Park Primary – Jamarcus McKay
Lipscomb Elementary – Ronan Potter
Longleaf Elementary – Diamond Jenkins
McArthur Elementary – James Silvestre
Molino Park Elementary – Aryanna Smith
Montclair Elementary – Makiyah McMillian
Myrtle Grove Elementary – Eric Dennard
N.B. Cook Elementary – Ava Nelson
Navy Point Elementary – Ariana Seymour
Northview High – Cade Allen
O.J. Semmes Elementary – Connor Roper
Oakcrest Elementary – Nick Spencer
PACE Center for Girls – Eve Warnock
Pensacola High – Lakeisha King
Pine Forest High – Christopher “Chris” Bush
Pine Meadow Elementary – Nicolas Fayard
Pleasant Grove Elementary – Shyla Williams
Ransom Middle – Mia Portis
Scenic Heights Elementary – Zameena Harper
Sherwood Elementary – Nathan Horn
Tate High – Ezekiel “Zeke” Goodwin
Warrington Elementary – Kamoni Brown
Warrington Middle – Kaleb Hart
Washington High – Jaelen Moorer
Weis Elementary – Alishia Anderson
West Florida High – Chris Lee
West Pensacola Elementary – Zachary Krusen
Workman Middle – Jorge Gomez
Jim Allen Elementary’s Kenny Meadows Named County Social Studies Teacher Of Year
May 7, 2019
Jim Allen Elementary School fifth grade teacher Kenny Meadows has been named the Escambia County Social Studies Teacher of the Year at the elementary level.
Social Studies Specialist Cheri Arnette visited Jim Allen to present Meadows with his award. Meadows and his students showed her some of their recent projects on World War II.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Woman Celebrating 100th Birthday
May 7, 2019
A local woman is celebrated her 100th birthday Tuesday, May 7. Gladys Wilma Ward Lee was born on May 7, 1919, in Barth.
Last Saturday, she celebrated her 100th birthday a little early with 100 of family and friends.
Ward is a dedicated member of Calvary Apostolic Tabernacle and has dedicated her life living for the Lord. She loves her family and enjoys spending precious time with them.
She says the secret to her long life is that God’s been good to her and she is living a good life.
Tate High Names Students Of The Month
May 6, 2019
Tate High School recently named their March Students of the Month. They are Kaitlyn Williams and Samuel Donald Shinnick. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.