Weekend Gardening: Distinctly Southern Hydrangeas
July 28, 2018
by UF/IFAS Extension
Nothing defines a southern landscape more than hydrangeas.
These beautiful, large flowering shrubs fill gardens with their green, leafy foliage and incredible blooms during the warm months.
In order to ensure consistent and reliable blooms, these shrubs must be cared for correctly. In addition to proper site location, fertilizer and moisture conditions, hydrangeas may require pruning. Proper pruning includes correct timing.
Hydrangea aficionados are constantly debating pruning techniques. There are many different types of hydrangeas and pruning differs according to the type. It is a big genus of plants and so it’s important to know what type of hydrangeas you may have and on what type of wood they bloom on.
Blooms on old wood, prune after flowering
The bigleaf hydrangeas, known scientifically as Hydrangea macrophylla, are what most people think of when you mention hydrangeas. Most gardeners will know these as mopheads (also called hortensias) and lacecaps. Many of these blooms will be blue or pink although other colors now are available.
Many large colonies of bigleaf hydrangeas have existed around old homes for decades, surviving and blooming in spite of neglect. This tells us that it is not necessary to prune bigleaf hydrangeas.
However, if you want to keep these shrubs within a defined boundary, control their height or rejuvenate old shrubs, it will be necessary to prune them.
Bigleaf hydrangeas can be reduced in size immediately after flowering. A general rule of thumb is that you may remove up to a third of the shrub’s height. Be sure to complete your pruning before August. This is critical because next year flower blooms start to form in August. Pruning after August will remove next year’s blooms.
There now is a small group of bigleaf hydrangeas that are everblooming or remontant. Endless Summer® is one well-known brand. According to the developers of these reblooming hydrangeas, remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom. They are quite forgiving and will not suffer if left unpruned or pruned at the wrong time because these cultivars bloom on both old and new growth.
Our native oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a large, deciduous shrub that can grow up to six feet tall. It has deeply lobed, oak-like leaves which turn bronze in the fall. This plant does not usually need pruning. If reshaping or size-reduction is necessary, prune after blooms begin to fade.
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Lacecap hydrangea
Blooms on new wood, prune in early spring
Smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens) is the other U.S. native. The most common cultivar, ‘Annabelle’, produces rounded inflorescences that may reach up to a foot in diameter.
The panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) is more of an upright type. It is typically a 10 to 15-foot large shrub or low-branched tree.
Panicle and smooth hydrangeas flower on current year’s growth and can be pruned anytime from late summer until early spring. If pruning these two species in the spring, try to prune before leaves appear.
Winter pruning
Established bigleaf, panicle, oakleaf and smooth hydrangea plants can often benefit from rejuvenation pruning. Remove about one-third of the oldest stems each year. The result is a fuller, healthier plant. This type of pruning is easiest to do in winter, since the absence of leaves makes it easier to see and reach inside plants.
Hydrangeas offer a wide variety of plants which can make the timing of pruning difficult to remember. Just keep in mind, if in doubt, either don’t prune at all or prune after flowering.
Juggling Fun At The Library; Summer Reading Program Wraps Up Next Week
July 27, 2018
Juggler extraordinaire Ron Anglin visited West Florida Library branches this week as part of the Summer Reading Program.
The Summer Reading Program ends August 4. Next week, Summer Reading Club Wrap-Up parties will be held as follows:
– Tuesday, July 31, 11 a.m. – Southwest Branch Library at Big Lagoon State Park Amphitheatre
–Tuesday, July 31, 4 p.m. – Tryon Branch Library
– Wednesday, Aug. 1, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
– Wednesday, Aug. 1, 4 p.m. – Pensacola Library
– Thursday, Aug. 2, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
Children will play games, receive prizes and celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Program.
Pictured: Juggler Ron Anglin performed Thursday morning at the Molino Branch Library. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Orientations Set For Escambia County Elementary, Middle School Students
July 26, 2018
Elementary and middle school orientations have been set for Escambia County students. They are as follows:
Elementary School Orientation – Aug.1, 2018
- Pine Meadow Elementary School – 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. for Kindergarten Students
Elementary School Orientations – Aug. 9, 2018 (These events are for all grades unless otherwise noted.)
- Jim Allen Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Bratt Elementary School 8:30 -10:30 a.m.
- Bellview Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Beulah Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Blue Angels Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Brentwood Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Hellen Caro Elementary School 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
- N.B. Cook Elementary 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. for all NEW students K-5. Start with a meeting in the auditorium. Then, 10:00 -11:00 for all students to meet teachers)
- Cordova Park Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Ensley Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Ferry Pass Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Global Learning Academy 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Holm Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Kingsfield Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Lincoln Park Elementary School (1:00 p.m. for Grades K – 5, Pre-K Orientation is Friday, Aug. 10 at 1:00 p.m.)
- R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Longleaf Elementary School 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
- McArthur Elementary School 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
- Molino Park Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Montclair Elementary School 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. for Pre-K Orientation and then 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for all other grades.
- Montclair Elementary School 8:00 – 9:00 a.m..for Pre-K
- McArthur Elementary School 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
- Myrtle Grove Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Navy Point Elementary School 9:00 -10:00 a.m.
- Oakcrest Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Pine Meadow Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for grades 1-5
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Scenic Heights Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- O.J. Semmes Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Sherwood Elementary School 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. for Pre-K students and then 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for grades K-5.
- A.K. Suter Elementary School 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
- Warrington Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- C.A. Weis Elementary Community School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- West Pensacola Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
August 10 (Friday)
- 1:00 p.m. Lincoln Park Elementary School (Pre-K Orientation, Grades K-5 is Thursday, Aug. 9 at 1:00 p.m)
Middle School Orientations – August 9, 2018
- Ransom Middle School 1:00 p.m. for all 6th graders and new 7th and 8th graders. Returning students will receive their schedules on the first day of school.
- Bailey Middle School 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
- Bellview Middle School 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
- Beulah Middle School 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- Brown Barge Middle School 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- Ernest Ward Middle School 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
- Ferry Pass Middle School 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. for (6th graders and NEW students, in the gym, returning students receive their homeroom assignments via the mail. Schedules will be in Focus after 5:00 p.m. on Aug.
- Warrington Middle School (1:00 -2:00 p.m. for 6th grade and NEW Students, returning students will be notified by mail and call-out)
- Workman Middle School 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
New Pediatrician Joins Cantonment Pediatrics
July 23, 2018
A new pediatrician has joined Community Health Northwest Florida, formerly Escambia Community Clinics, in Cantonment.
Samuel Ravenel, MD, FAAP, is now on staff at at Community Health Northwest Florida’s Cantonment Pediatrics location at 470 South Highway 29 in Cantonment,.Cantonment Pediatrics provides medical, dental and behavioral health care in one convenient location for families in Cantonment and surrounding communities.
Ravenel, a general pediatrician, is board certified with the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A 1997 graduate of The Medical University of South Carolina, Ravenel completed his pediatric residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA.
The doctor is now accepting new patients from 0 through 18 years of age for well-baby and well-child checkups, sick child visits, immunizations, routine physicals, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, and management of chronic conditions such as allergies, asthma, and ADHD.
Appointments with Ravenel can be made by calling Community Health Northwest Florida’s Cantonment Pediatrics location at (850) 780-0111.
Third Annual Barrineau Park Elementary Reunion Held (With Photos)
July 23, 2018
The Third Annual Barrineau Park Elementary School Reunion and Open House was held Saturday at the Barrineau Park Community Center.
Scroll down for additional photos and names.
Names were provided by reunion organizers. Some names were not available.
Pictured top: Barrineau Park students from 1930 to the 1940’s – Eleanor Settle, Mildred Haupert Schwartz and Ruth Nall Keck Hines.
Clay Crabtree (left) attended the new Barrineau Park Elementary in the late 1940’s. Lexine Floyd Miller (right) was one the Barrineau Park Elementary students who attended the older school near Alligator Creek, prior to the opening of the new school in 1938.
Students from the 1950’s – (back) Clay Crabtree, Walter Crabtree, Jimmy Settle, Monte Crabtree, Sue Ann Settle Stallman, (unknown), (front) Craig Exner and Leila Fleming Miranda.
From the 1960’s – Sandra Matchett ,Charlotte Clinton Schwartz, Monte Crabtree, Larry Vaughn, Charles Settle, (unknown).
.From the 1970’s – Don Dixon, Jr., Sarah Besley (last name?), and Tina Keck.
From the 1980’s – teacher Alice Woodward, Britney Crabtree.
Teacher Alice Woodward, teacher Patti Cook, Steven Cook, Nikki Crabtree Kelley.
Meg Garthwaith (left) was principal from 1996 to 2000, and Alice Woodward was interim principal and then principal from early 2000 until the school merged into the new Molino Park Elementary.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Summer Reading Program At The Century And Molino Branch Libraries
July 20, 2018
Bucky and Gigi, two former Ringling Bros. circus clowns, delighted Summer Reading Program participants this week at the Century and Molino branches of West Florida Library.
The Summer Reading Program continues next week, juggler extraordinaire Ron Anglin is back with a fast paced and fascinating show. The program is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 25 at the Century Branch Library and 11 a.m. Thursday, July 26 at the Molino Branch Library.
Pictured: Bucky and Gigi at the Century and Molino branch libraries. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Legally Blind Century Man Raising Money To See Again With High Tech Glasses
July 19, 2018
“I experienced a miracle.”
That’s how Eddie Hammond of Century described trying on a pair of eSight glasses a few days. Eddie is legally blind, but the glasses gave him a chance to see again.
The eSight glasses are high tech, engineered to aid the visually impaired to see. The life-changing technology uses a high quality camera to projects a live feed onto two small screens in front of the wearer’s eyes.
And for 57-year old Eddie Hammond, they worked.
When Eddie was 12, he suffered an eye injury that caused vision problems in his left eye. A few years later, the same problem struck his right eye. He served his community for 33 years with the Town of Century. But he was forced to retire due to his vision.
Four years ago, he experienced retinal detachment that left him totally blind in his right eye. Coupled with very poor vision in his left eye, Hammond was plunged into a blurry world.
“I can only see the world around me in a blur of shapes, colors and motion,” he said. Until last week, when the eSight glasses allowed him to see clearly.
But Eddie could not bring the glasses home — he can’t afford the $10,000 price tag that’s not covered by insurance.
He learned of the eSight glasses after a news story about a a legally blind Beulah Academy of Science Middle School student. His classmates raised nearly $10,000 in just a few weeks to purchase a special pair of eSight glasses to allow him too see clearly again. [Read story...]
Now Eddie is hoping North Escambia area residents will help him see again.
“I am reaching out to ask if you can help give me the gift of sight. eSight will allow me to actually see, and any contribution from you would truly change my life,” he said.
“These glasses would benefit every aspect of my life. They would help me to regain my independence, see my grandchildren and to live a better life.”
Donations towards Eddie Hammon’s eSight glasses can be made to the “Edward R. Hammond Benefit Account” at any location of United Bank, or online at eSight.
Pictured top: Eddie Hammond of Century stands on his porch, staring out into a blurry world. Pictured inset: Eddie Hammond hopes the community will help him pay for special glasses that will allow him to see again. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kids Create Music During Summer STEAM Program At Century Library
July 18, 2018
Kids learned to make their own musical instruments during a Summer STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics — program Tuesday at the Century Branch Library.
Using boxes, pencils and rubber bands, attendees created a guitar-like string instrument.
A Summer STEAM program will be held Wednesday, July 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Molino Branch Library. During the hands-on program, kids will learn to code robots to complete tasks.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Summer Reading Fun, Summer STEAM This Week At the Molino And Century Libraries
July 16, 2018
Here’s some of what’s happening this week at the Molino and Century branch libraries.
Bucky & Gigi
Wednesday, July 18, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
Thursday, July 19, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
These two former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clowns will amaze and amuse, dazzle and delight, by using physical comedy, circus skills, mime, magic improvisation and audience participation.
Summer STEAM
Tuesday, July 17, 2 p.m. – Century Branch Library
Join us for the program, Making Music: Strings. You can make music with almost anything. This time we will be making string instruments using mostly recyclable
materials. Create it here and take it home with you for hours of fun.
Wednesday, July 18, 10:30 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
Come explore new robots from the West Florida Public Libraries collection in this hands-on experience. Learn to think like a robot in order to code your robot to complete tasks.
NorthEcambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward High 50-Year Multi-Class Reunion Scheduled
July 16, 2018
The Ernest Ward High School Class of 1968 will host a multi-class reunion for the classes of 1967, 1968 and 1969 on Saturday, August 4, at the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club building at 7 p.m.
To RSVP or for more information, call Karen (Pitts) Brown 850-327-4523, Brenda (Clark) Berry 850-327-6435, Renee’ (Blanton) Godwin (850) 327-6757 or Mike Hanks (251) 368-4660.
