Weekend Gardening: Seeing Spots On Your Crape Myrtles Can Be A Problem
July 23, 2011
As the heat and humidity increases in Northwest Florida, expect to see some diseases appear in the landscape. One problem that is popping up on crape myrtles is Cercospora leaf spot. While not a deadly problem, it can greatly detract from the beauty of crape myrtles.
The initial symptom on crape myrtles is the appearance of tan to dark brown spots randomly scattered on yellow to red discolored leaves. The spots develop first on the lower leaves and progress upward in the canopy. Spots will continue to develop from mid-summer through fall. The color change is due to the production of a toxin by the fungal pathogen.
Infected leaves will drop prematurely and serve as a source to spread the pathogen causing further disease development. As the summer progresses, many infected trees will have dropped all but the newest leaves.
Older varieties of crape myrtles are more susceptible to this disease than newer varieties. The crape myrtle varieties most tolerant to Cercospora leaf spot are Natchez, Muskogee, Basham’s Party Pink, Sioux and Tonto.
Long term, this disease is not detrimental to a tree, although it will slow down growth on younger plants. Plants growing in conditions that are not ideal will be more affected by the leaf spot disease.
The best control is selecting a planting site with good air circulation so that the foliage will dry quickly. Thinning interior branches will also promote air flow.
The use of fungicides to control this disease has not been very effective because they would have to be applied repeatedly on a regular basis throughout the growing season. If used, fungicide applications should be started in early summer when the spots are first noticed and continued at one to two week intervals when the weather is warm and wet. Consult your local Extension office for fungicide recommendations.
As always, be sure to read and follow all label directions. Fungicides can be classified by how they work on the fungus or how they work on the plant. Products that work in a similar way on fungi have the same mode of action (also referred to as chemical family or class).
Contact fungicides are sprayed onto plants and act as a protective barrier from pathogen infection. They prevent infections from occurring when applied before symptoms are visible, but infections that have already occurred will continue to develop.
Systemic fungicides move into the plant, but movement inside the plant is limited. The vast majority of fungicides only move upward in the plant vasculature, but not down. Some fungicides only move locally into the plant part treated. Some systemic products exhibit curative action, which means the disease is stopped during its development. For managing fungicide resistance, products with different modes of action should be used in rotations.
Since this disease will result in early defoliation or the loss of leaves, it is critical to practice good sanitation. Raking and destroying fallen leaves should be a routine practice in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
For more information, contact Theresa Friday at 850-623-3868 or email tlfriday@ufl.edu. Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Print School Supply Lists
July 22, 2011
School starts Monday, August 22 in Escambia County. Here are the school supply lists from each elementary school and middle school in the county.
(High schools typically do not have a general supply list. Students are advised of their supply needs in each class.)
North Escambia Area Schools:
- Bratt Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Molino Park Elementary
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ransom Middle
Complete Escambia County Lists:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
- Bellview Elementary
- Beulah Elementary
- Blue Angels Elementary
- Bratt Elementary
- Brentwood Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Cook Elementary
- Cordova Park Elementary
- Ensley Elementary
- Ferry Pass Elementary
- Global Learning Academy
- Hellen Caro Elementary
- Holm Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Lincoln Park Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary
- Longleaf Elementary
- McArthur Elementary
- McMillan Pre-K
- Molino Park Elementary
- Montclair Elementary
- Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Navy Point Elementary
- Oakcrest Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Scenic Heights Elementary
- Semmes Elementary
- Sherwood Elementary
- Suter Elementary
- Warrington Elementary
- Weis Elementary
- West Pensacola Elementary
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- Bailey Middle
- Bellview Middle
- Brown Barge Middle
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ferry Pass Middle
- Ransom Middle
- Warrington Middle
- Woodham Middle
- Workman Middle
Santa Rosa Names Farm Family Of The Year
July 22, 2011
The Edwards family of Jay has been named the Santa Rosa County Farm Family of the Year.
Alan Edwards, his wife Michele, and daughters Shelby, 12, Madison 9, and Brianna, 5, received the honor during the 45th Annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour Thursday.
Over 200 people took part in the farm tour with visits to Emerald Coast Growers, WFREC Jay Research Farm, the Edwards Farm, Hendrick & Sons Ranch in Allentown and Holland Farms.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Edwards family was honored for their contributions to agriculture. Alan Edwards, a fifth-generation farmer, has about 750 acres near Jay, where he farms cotton, soybeans, peanuts, wheat and hay in addition to raising cattle. He has served on the board of directors of the Santa Rosa County Farm Bureau for 23 years and has served as vice president for the last six years. He also serves on numerous state and national boards, including the USDA Cotton Board, the Florida Peanut Producers Association, Florida Farm Bureau Cotton Advisory Board and the West Florida Research and Education Center Advisory Committee.
Michele also works away from the family farm; she is a staff assistant at the Century Correctional Institution.
Pictured above: The Santa Rosa County Farm Family of the Year (L-R) Madison, Michele, Brianna, Alan and Shelby Edwards. Pictured below: Participants on the annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour Thursday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fun News: A Real ‘Loopy’ Story
July 21, 2011
A little good news to report today — Loopy the parrot is back home thanks to a few good folks, our online paper and Facebook.
Loopy was happily enjoying life on a screened back porch in the Bratt area, near Pine Barren Road and the Alabama/Florida line, late last week. But when the mailman decided to put a package on the porch to avoid it getting it wet in an impending storm, Loopy decided to take a road trip out the screen door.
Darlene Thompson and her daughter, Kate Sells, frantically searched for Loopy, a 7-year old double yellow-headed green Amazon parrot. Darlene walked through the woods calling Loopy to no avail. When they returned home, Darlene emailed NorthEscambia.com, placing a free “lost and found” ad on the website.
Fast forward to Tuesday night. That’s when Loopy made his way into the Moore family’s barn on Highway 168 — about a mile from where he fled the porch last week. The Moores immediately tossed a towel onto the wayward bird and captured him, snapped a few photos and contacted NorthEscambia.com on Facebook with information about their find. They also called Darlene and made arrangements for Loopy’s little vacation to come to an end and returned him home safe and sound.
“Your classifieds really work,” Darlene told us. She also said that the family is looking into banding Loopy with their phone number, or, since he talks, teaching him his phone number in case of another flyaway.
And, Darlene said, she’s glad to know that there are good people in the world like the Moores.
“They were such nice people. They wouldn’t even take the reward we offered,” she said.
As for Loopy, he had no comment on this story.
- To visit the NorthEscambia.com “Free Classifieds” page and place an ad, click here. To become a NorthEscambia.com Facebook fan, click here. To become a personal Facebook friend of William, our publisher, click here.
Pictured: Loopy the parrot shortly after his “capture” on Highway 168 near Bratt. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Care’s Hildreth Elected VP Of State Group
July 21, 2011
Mae Sanders Hildreth, director of activities at Century Care Center, has been elected vice president of the Florida Health Care Activity Coordinators Association (FHCA) District XII.
“It has always been my dream to work in activities in a nursing home,” Hildreth said, adding that her mom worked as a nurse until she was 81, with her latter years spent working in a nursing home. “I was raised in it.”
“I strive to do my best to add quality of life for our seniors,” she said.
Pictured above: Mae Hildreth, dressed for the occasion, makes non-alcoholic tropical drinks for residents at Century Care Center during a planned Jamaican Party. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
NHS NJROTC Students Attend Camp (With Gallery)
July 19, 2011
About 90 high school students took part in a Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps basic leadership camp last week at Pensacola Naval Air Station.
The cadets from Northview, Pine Forest, Escambia and Washington high schools took part in daily instruction in academics, basic drills and physical training. The cadets also had daily room and personnel inspections, and they toured aviation training facilities and attended a Blue Angels practice.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The week ended with a graduation ceremony for 89 cadets Saturday at the Naval Aviation Museum.
Northview NJROTC cadets that attended, and the awards they received, were:
- Kasie Braun – 2nd place sit-ups, 5th place push-ups, 3rd place Individual Unarmed Knockout drill competition
- Dylan Cartwright
- Dakota Craft
- Zacarra Davis — 2nd place 1 mile run/ 1st place room inspection
- Casey Godwin
- Alanna Johnson
- Aaron Rausch –4th place room inspection
- Willie Owens — 1st place Individual Unarmed Knockout drill competition
- Johnny Robbins — 2nd place Academics
- Ashley Simpkins
- Victoria Wright — 2nd place Individual Unarmed Knockout drill competition
In addition, graduate assistants, who aided instructors and cadets at the camp, were presented the Cadet Achievement ribbon for their outstanding performance in leading the junior cadets. Graduate assistants from Northview that were honored were Arron McCants and Jonathon Moretz.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Old Time Fiddler’s Convention Winners Announced
July 19, 2011
Almost $2,000 in cash and prizes was awarded Saturday during the 32nd South Alabama Annual Old Time Fiddler’s Convention in Atmore.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Atmore Rotary Club’s Academic All-Star scholarship program that annually recognizes students who attend Northview High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia County High School or Escambia Academy.
Adam Purvis walked away with the title of Best Fiddler and $1,000. Other winners were:
Vocal Band
- The Rail
- The Dennis’
- Seminole String Band
String Band
- The Rail
- Seminole String Band
- Frontier Bluegrass
Dobro
- Steve Crain
- Tracy Slay
- Robert Bell
Banjo
- Winky Hicks
- Caleb Dennis
- Tracy Slay
Guitar
- James Adkins
- Winky Hicks
- Scott Slay
Mandolin
- Scott Slay
- Sidney Abston
- Amanda Kolb
Fiddle
- Adam Purvis
- Calep “Sparky” Lewis
- Garrett Youngblood
Photos: First Baptist Bratt Youth Activities
July 17, 2011
Youth from The First Baptist Church of Bratt recently enjoyed another session of Y.A.H.W.E.H. — Youth Activities Happening Wednesday Evenings in Homes.
Youth Minister Tim Hawsey along with college and career leaders Denver Hawsey, Casey Bagget, Matthew Wilson, Jeremy Bardin, and Brad and Melanie Faulk led a session that included riding a Harley and wading in Canoe Creek.
“Y.A.H.W.E.H. allows Hawsey and his leaders to present the Holy Bible to the youth in our community in a real way and show them how to apply this teaching to their everyday life,” event host Marcella Wilson said.
Hawsey says he has seen the lives of many youth transformed thru Y.A.H.W.E.H. and he invites the youth of Bratt and surrounding communities to join the group.
Do you have news or photos you would like to share from your church? Email news@northescambia.com
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipe: Summer Perfect White Chocolate Apricot Swirl Cheesecake
July 17, 2011
This delightful cheesecake recipe was the winner of the first-ever Eagle Brand Signature Recipe Contest, and earned home baker Rebecca L. of Virginia a $10,000 kitchen makeover. Smooth white chocolate, sweet apricot and rich cream cheese come together to create the perfectly refreshing summer dessert.
White Chocolate Apricot Swirl Cheesecake
Ingredients
Crisco Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup ground almonds
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 14-ounce can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups white baking chips, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 15-ounce can apricot halves, drained
Preparation
HEAT oven to 350°F. Coat bottom of 9-inch springform pan with no-stick cooking spray. Stir graham cracker crumbs, almonds, sugar and butter in small bowl until evenly moistened. Press firmly into bottom of prepared pan.
BEAT cream cheese until fluffy. Blend in sweetened condensed milk. Add eggs, melted white baking chips and vanilla; blend until smooth. Pour over crust.
PLACE apricots in food processor or blender. Cover and process until smooth. Spoon small dollops of apricot puree over top of cream cheese mixture. Swirl with tip of knife to make marbled appearance.
BAKE 50 to 60 minutes or until edges are puffed and golden. (Center will not be completely set.) Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Chill thoroughly before serving.
Serves
Yield 12 servings
Preparation Time:
25 Minutes
Cook Time:
50 Minutes
Tammie’s Cuttin Loose Salon Relocates
July 17, 2011
Tammie’s Cuttin Loose in Atmore has relocated.
Tammie’s is now located inside Jean Daniel’s Salon at 1901 South Main Street in Atmore, right on the Alabama/Florida line.
Walk-ins are welcome for any of the shop’s services, including cuts, perms, foils and color. For more information or an appointment, call Tammie’s Cuttin Loose at (251) 446-7386.