Weekend Gardening: March Tips
March 3, 2018
Here are gardening tips for the month of March from the University of Florida IFAS Extension office:
Flowers
- Annual flowers that can be planted in March include: ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, asters, baby’s breath, begonia, calendula, celosia, cosmos, dahlia, dusty miller, gaillardia, geranium, hollyhock, impatiens, marigold, nicotiana, ornamental pepper, pentas, phlox, rudbeckia, salvia, sweet Williams, torenia, verbena, vinca and zinnia.
- Caladium bulbs are extremely sensitive to cold soil. There is no advantage to planting early. Purchase caladiums while there is a good selection, but wait until late March or April before planting them in shady beds.
Trees and Shrubs
- Finish pruning summer flowering shrubs such as althea, hibiscus, abelia, oakleaf hydrangea and oleander.
- Delay the pruning of azaleas, camellias, spiraeas, gardenias and other spring flowering shrubs until after flowering is complete.
- Prune any cold weather-damaged plants after new growth appears.
- If needed, fertilize shrubs and small trees with a slow release fertilizer. A good general-purpose landscape fertilizer is a 15-0-15.
- Mature palms should receive an application of granular fertilizer. Use a special palm fertilizer that has an 8-2-12 +4Mg (magnesium) with micronutrients formulation. Apply one pound of fertilizer per 100 sqft of canopy area or landscape area.
- Last opportunity to spray shrubs with dormant horticultural oil.
- Pick up all fallen camellia blossoms and remove them from your property. This practice helps to prevent petal blight next season.
- Prune ornamental grasses.
- If you are in the market for specific colors of azaleas, visit the local nurseries and garden centers this month. Though this is not the most ideal planting time you are assured of the right flower color without having to wait until next blooming season.
Fruits and Nuts
- Time to finish planting bare-root fruit trees.
Vegetable Garden
- This is the month for establishing a spring vegetable garden. Early March plantings have about an even chance of avoiding a late frost.
- The warm season vegetables that can be planted this month are: bush beans, pole beans, lima beans, cantaloupes, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, southern peas, peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes and watermelon.
- The cool season vegetables that can be planted this month are: beets, carrots, celery, collards, endive, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, bunching onions, parsley, English peas, Irish potatoes, radish and turnips.
- More conservative gardeners might wish to wait until the middle to latter part of the month to risk tender plants such as tomatoes and peppers.
Lawns
- Remove excessive accumulation of leaves from the lawn. This will increase the effectiveness of fertilizers and pesticides applied to the lawn.
- If a preemergence lawn herbicide is needed to control summer weeds, it should be applied in early March. Make certain to choose one that is safe on your kind of grass.
- Keep lawn herbicides away from the root zones of desirable flower, shrubs and other plants.
- Fertilize the lawn only after the danger of frost has passed and when the grass has greened up. Fertilize using a complete fertilizer applied at 0.5 lbs nitrogen per 1000 sqft containing 50% soluble and 50% slow-release nitrogen.
- Service the lawn mower: include a sharpening of the blade and adjusting of the cutting height for your type of grass.
- Anyone considering establishment of centipedegrass from seed should hold off until the soil warms up and stabilizes above 70°F. Add Item Here…
Cantonment Rotary, Third Graders Plant Trees At Jim Allen Elementary
March 3, 2018
The Cantonment Rotary Club donated several trees to beautify the Jim Allen Elementary School campus. Friday, members of the club planted the trees with the help of Jim Allen third grade students. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Football Team Reads To Pine Meadow Elementary Students
March 3, 2018
Members of the University of West Florida football team read books to students Friday Morning at Pine Meadow Elementary School. Friday was National Read Across America Day, an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Names Students Of The Month
March 2, 2018
The following students were named Students of the Month for February at Bratt Elementary School.
Pre-K
Kaisen Robbins
Henry Clark
Kindergarten
Emma Southard
Teagen Black
Makiah Spates
Tripp Gilly
Aiden Keen
1st Grade
Amora Rodriguez
Payton Coon
Joey Fontenot
Alexis Amerson
2nd Grade
Blake Faith
Dayton Burroughs
Jackson Sellers
Brayden Faircloth
3rd Grade
Jamie Roberts
Hayden Gipson
Kylar Davis
4th Grade
Wade Bailey
Carley Moore
Addy Eicher
Cheyenne Keen
5th Grade
Justin Kinley
Laura Laborde
Raylee Wooten
Jonathan Stillwell
Amora Rodriguez and Wade Bailey were chosen to represent Bratt Elementary for Escambia County Students of the Month for February.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Students Honored For Their Freedoms Foundation Essays
March 1, 2018
The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Pensacola Chapter honored six local students for their essays.
A Youth Essay Medal was presented to Sarah Perritt from Northview High School, Levi Shaffer from Tate High School, and Bryce Cox and Myles Herren from East Hill Christian.
A Youth Essay certificate was presented to Jaysea Young from Tate High School and James Riggins from Pensacola High School.
The ceremony at the Pensacola Yacht Club also honored additional members of the community.
Pictured top: Levi Shaffer and Sarah Perritt. Pictured inset: Jaysea Young. Pictured below: Myrles Herren and Bryce Cox. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Chamber Names Citizen, Student Of The Year
February 28, 2018
The Century Chamber of Commerce’s citizen and student of the year were named Tuesday night.
Byrneville Elementary School Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan was named Century’s Citizen of the Year. Northview High student Logan Calloway was named Student of the Year.
Pictured top: Dee Wolfe-Sullivan (left) was named Century’s Citizen of the Year Tuesday night. The award was presented by Tame Dunsford, Byrneville Elementary’s lead teacher. And Logan Calloway was presented Century’s Student of the Year, with the award presented by Northview Principal Gayle Weaver. Pictured inset: Logan Calloway. Pictured below: A large number of Byrneville Elementary staff and friends were on hand to see their principal receive her award. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Elementary Students Compete In Science Olympiad
February 28, 2018
The Escambia County School District’s Elementary Science Olympiad was held recently.
The primary goal of the science Olympiad is to allow students to have fun while showing off what they know in nine different competitions.
North Escambia area schools are listed in bold. Scroll to bottom for additional photos.
Overall
- 1st Place- Blue Angels
- 2nd Place- Hellen Caro
- 3rd Place- Lipscomb
- 4th Place- Pleasant Grove
- 5th Place- Cordova
Spirit Award
- 1st Place- Montclair
- 2nd Place- McArthur
- 3rd Place- Beulah
Robotics
1st Place- Bratt
- Laura Laborde
- Colby Pugh
2nd Place- Blue Angel
- Carter Mills
- Noah Brown
- Tyler Parriman
3rd Place- NB Cook
- Ford Reeves
- Tori Sappington
- Amaya Ross
4th Place- Oakcrest
- Gaven Carter
- Isaiah Smith
5th Place- Lipscomb
- Parker Beyl
- Hollis Scott
- Andrew Presley
Science Bowl
1st Place McArthur
- Beatrice Bunnell
- Bailee Luciano
- David Martins
- Arthur Johanson
2nd Place- Cordova Park
- Brooks Lurton
- Madison Tennant
- Alice Zhang
3rd Place- Blue Angels
- Lana Carter
- Skyler Hardison
- Tyler Parriman
- Noah Brown
4th Place- Hellen Caro
- Izzy Owens
- Makayla Gustave
- Lydia Pound
- Jake Hilley
5th Place- Molino
- Ayden Crabtree
- Joshua Kennedy
- Raegan Holley
- Blakely Campbell
Reflection Relay
1st Place- Bratt
- Ally Richardson
- Mary Catherine Hughes
- Maggie Scott
2nd Place- Warrington
- Ayden Reed
- Keegan Britt
- Tristan Matovina
3rd Place- Cordova Park
- Alice Zhang
- Brooks Lurton
- Madison Tennant
4th Place- NB Cook
- Sophie Thompson
- Emree Long
- Brendan Boyer
5th Place- Lipscomb
- Trevor Gage
- Paige Raiter
- Richard Jester
Straw Egg Drop
1st Place- Pine Meadow
- Carly Gray
- Aleora Holman
2nd Place- Blue Angels
- Veronica Ryan
- Corrin Cole
3rd Place- Scenic Heights
- Sonya Boccino
- Aiden Iglesias
4th Place- Bellview
- Brashaun Pello
- Deborah Maxi
5th Place- Hellen Caro
- Anna Baumann
- Victoria Sipperly
Tennis Ball Catapult
1st Place- AK Suter
- Mason Haddocks
- Cooper Lindemann
2nd Place- NB Cook
- Alastair Casler
- Brody Turner
3rd Place- Pleasant Grove
- Matthew Halloran
- Samuel Zylstra
4th Place- Ferry Pass
- Reese Goff
- Abbey Wilmoth
5th Place- Cordova Park
- Elyse Carmichael
- Joslyn Gamber
Large Number Estimation
1st Place- Sherwood
- Jocelyn Collins
- Ian Megill
2nd Place- Bellview
- Taegin Johnson
- Christian Stokes
3rd Place- Lipscomb
- Brayden Gryskiewicz
- Oscar Ryder
4th Place Beulah
- Elijah Agcaoili
- Jaysa Ciccone
5th Place- Hellen Caro
- Jake Hilley
- Maddie Stoker
Pentathlon
1st Place- Hellen Caro
- Makayla Gustave
- Avery Rodzewicz
- Lydia Pound
- Jake Hilley
2nd Place- Pleasant Grove
- Landon Fernandez
- Matthew Halloran
- Bella Golson
- Trysten McVoy
3rd Place- Cordova Park
- Lucy Adams Stevenson
- Joslyn Gamber
- Sawyer Kuba
- Berkeley Morris
4th Place- Lipscomb
- Paige Raiter
- Trevor Gage
- Brayden Gryskiewicz
- Adalynn Druhl
5th Place- Ferry Pass
- Justin Lowery
- Reese Goff
- Ally Robinson
- Jacob Sargent
Tower Challenge
1st Place- Montclair
- Z’maya McPherson
- Shamaya Johnson
2nd Place- Warrington
- Kloee Griffin
- Dolin Willis
3rd Place- Holm
- Kendall Willette
- Maya Hernandez
4th Place- AK Suter
- Jude Mason
- Olivia Rabby
5th Place- Hellen Caro
- Lydia Pound
- Gretchen Williams
Picture This
1st Place- Pleasant Grove
- Bella Golson
- Wyatt Destaffaney
- Matthew Halloran
2nd Place- Lipscomb
- Ava Hayes
- Vivienne Hayes
3rd Place- Blue Angels
- Lana Carter
- Nolan Jones
- Aliyah Williams
4th Place- AK Suter
- Annabelle Apel
- Reid Bassett
- Lilo Vuong
5th Place- Hellen Caro
- Izzy Owens
- Gretchen Williams
- Victoria Sipperly
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Jazz Band Scores Superior Rating At District Assessment
February 27, 2018
The Tate High School Jazz 1 Band scored a superior rating recently at the District 1 Florida Bandmasters Association Music Performance Assessment at Washington High School. The band, under the leadership of Jakob Wisdom, will travel to Gainesville on March 26 for state competition. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Manna And Rotary Team Up To Fight Hunger
February 26, 2018
Over 300 Rotary Club members helped Manna Food Pantries create 65,000 meals Saturday for those that are in need.
The Rotary Against Hunger is a project of the Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola (CROP) launched in 2012.
Volunteers packed nutritious lentil casserole packets. CROP’s donation will provide much needed food to those in need. According to Manna Executive Director DeDe Flounlacker, the project has become a critical part of their ability to meet the needs of the hungry throughout the year in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“The Rotary Against Hunger project provides much-needed food during winter and early spring when donations are always low, and need is always high,” said Flounlacker. “Last year, Manna provided food assistance to 20,269 people; 42% were children under the age of 18. These are your neighbors and mine — folks who are the working poor, grandparents raising their grandchildren, moms and dads who do not have enough money to pay their bills and buy food for their family. Thanks to Rotary, thousands of people will be helped this year through this gift of nutritious food.”
Since the first year of the Rotary Against Hunger Project, CROP has packed well over a half million meals for the hungry.
“This will be the seventh year that Rotary has teamed up with Manna, ensuring that these meals will be distributed in a manner that will serve the needs of many families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties,” said Ed Carson, Rotary Against Hunger Project Chair. “Through this project, Rotary is striving to exemplify Service Above Self, the Rotary motto.”
Tate High FFA Livestock, Horse Judging Teams Compete
February 26, 2018
The Tate High School FFA Chapter recently competed in the state Livestock Judging and Horse Judging competitions.
The Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event stimulates learning activities related to the production and marketing of cattle, sheep and swine. In this event, the students evaluate classes of market and breeding cattle, swine, sheep and goats. This year’s Tate team placed in the top half of 90 teams in the state. Team members were: Skylar Smith, Amber Neal, Keaton Fuqua, Bella Nunley and Coach Melissa Gibbs.
The Horse Evaluation and Selection Career Development Event is designed to stimulate the study of and interest in, equine science selection while providing recognition for those who have demonstrated skill and competency in this area. In this event, the students evaluate halter and performance classes of horses. Tate placed eighth in the state out of 50 teams and will advance to the state finals in April. Teem members were Victoria Kelson, Molly Graham, Raven Hollis, Myah Jackobson, Kaelin Brinker and Coach Erin Lawall.
Pictured top: The Tate High School Livestock Team. Pictured below: The Tate FFA Horse Judging Team. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
