Weekend Gardening: Hit A Home Run With Knock Out Roses
March 25, 2018
by UF/IFAS Extension
Landscape shrub roses will not make you great cut flowers, but they will give your landscape an abundance of rose flowers for the majority of the year. They practically bloom non-stop during the growing season, from March to November in Northwest Florida. Also, they are much less prone to blackspot disease than the traditional hybrid tea, floribunda and grandiflora roses.
The Knock Out family of roses was started by rose breeder Bill Radler when he crossed seedlings of ‘Carefree Beauty’ with ‘Razzle Dazzle’ to create the original Knock Out rose. The family now includes varieties that range from blush to vibrant red and even yellow.
In general, Knock Out roses are drought tolerant, self cleaning, and resistant to black spot and powdery mildew. Since they require little maintenance, they are ideal for gardeners who enjoy roses but who aren’t interested in the upkeep required to grow hybrid tea roses. The only drawback of Knock Out roses is that they don’t have a strong fragrance. According to the Conrad Pyle website, the only true fragrant Knock Out is the yellow ‘Sunny’ cultivar.
Like all roses, Knock Out roses need to be planted where they will receive at least six to eight hours of sun each day. It also helps to have a site with good air movement and well-drained soil that falls between pH 6.0 and pH 6.5.
Knock Out roses generally grow three to five feet tall and equally as wide, but some sources say they can reach eight feet tall if not pruned, so be sure to space them appropriately.
After planting, water them regularly until they get established. Apply a three-inch layer of mulch to help retain moisture in the soil, pulling the mulch back from the stem of the plants. Be sure to avoid overhead watering which can increase the chance of fungal leaf spots. They prefer a deep watering every once in a while rather than frequent light waterings.
Knock Out roses are referred to as self-cleaning meaning that the spent blooms will fall off on their own. They will re-bloom every five to six weeks regardless of your deadheading practices. Deadheading is the removal of faded blooms. Most gardeners have found, however, that occasionally deadheading will create and maintain a tidier, more attractive plant.
For more information on rose pests and diseases, refer to the University of Florida/IFAS online publication at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep371 or contact your local Extension Office.
Wrong-Way Driver Arrested For DUI After Molino Highway 29 Crash
March 24, 2018
A Pensacola woman was charged with DUI after a wrong-way crash on Highway 29 in Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 61-year old Linda Brown was southbound in the outer northbound lane of Highway 29 past Highway 95A when she stuck a Ford F150 pickup driven by 47-year old Edward Carnley of Century. Carnley swerved in an attempt to avoid the collision, but his pickup was struck in the side rear. The F150 then traveled off the roadway into the median at an angle, rotated and overturned once during the 11:43 p.m. wreck.
Carnley and his passenger, 16-year old Ashtyn Carnley, were wearing their set belts and were uninjured. Brown was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries before being released and placed under arrest. The FHP also charged Brown with refusing to submit to a DUI test after a license suspension and driving the wrong way.
Brown was being held on a $1,500 bond.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Name 2018-2019 Cheerleading Squads
March 24, 2018
The Northview High Chiefs 2018-2019 cheerleading squads were named Friday. They are:
Varsity
Upcoming Seniors- Hannah Ellis, Gabrielle Kline, Madison Nassar, Kherstin Johnson, Jessie McCall, Shelby Bashore
Upcoming Juniors- Karlee Criswell, Ashlan Harigel, Cloe Smith, Briana White, Bailey Van Pelt
Upcoming Sophomores- Sophie Cotita, Hannah Hughes, Maille Kilcrease, Abigail Nelson, Emily Stabler
Junior Varsity
LaDashia Robinson, Franki Daw, Olivia Gibson, Reagan Lassiter, Kayla Otto, Madison Peterson, Kenna Redmond, Khiazhia Jones, Taylor McMinn, Sarah Hetrick, Shelby Cotita
Mascot
Dalton Hamilton
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Dalton Hamilton
Alabama And Florida Firefighters Battle 500 Acre Woods Fire
March 24, 2018
Firefigthers from Alabama and Florida fought a woods fire Friday night that burned though about 500 acres northeast of Flomaton.
The first reported of fire on Chavers Creek Road came about 7:31 p.m, with fire units responding from the Flomaton and Friendship fire departments in Alabama, the Century and McDavid stations of Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue, the Alabama Division of Forestry and the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office. The fire was in the McCall Volunteer Fire Department’s jurisdiction, but they were already busy fighting another woods fire on Whispering Pines Road.
As of 11 p.m., the Florida fire units were released from the scene. Fire units and personnel from the Alabama Division of Forestry were still on scene working and plowing a line around the fire.
There were no injures reported, and no immediate word on how the fire started.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Tops West Florida In Annual Strike Out Cancer Game
March 24, 2018
st
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated the West Florida Jaguars Friday night. But cancer research was the big winner as the annual Strike Out Cancer game raised $22,000 and counting.
Tate Aggies pitcher Hannag Brown had six strike outs on the way to the shutout while allowing one hit and committing no errors.
For Tate: Hannah Brown 1-4; Belle Wolfenden 1-4, R, RBI; Shelby Ullrich 2-3, R, RBI; Madisen Nelson 2-3, R: Ryleigh Cawby 2-2, R, RBI: Sydni Solliday R; Amber DeCoux 2-2, 3R; Shelby McLean 1-3, R.
Pictured top: Hanna Brown on the mound for the Tate Lady Aggies Friday night during annual Strike Out Cancer game. Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
200 Acre Burn Gets Out Of Control Near Barrineau Park
March 24, 2018
A 200 acres prescribed burn got out of hand Friday afternoon on Jacks Branch Road in the area of Barrineau Park Road.
The call came in just after 2 p.m. About 15 units responded from the Molino, Cantonment, McDavid, Ensley, and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue. The Florida Division of Forestry also worked to contain the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour click to enlarge. The graphic a the bottom shows the planned area for the permitted fire.
Muscogee Road In Cantonment Reopened To Traffic
March 24, 2018
Muscogee Road in Cantonment has reopened to traffic.
Muscogee Road was closed from Beulah Road to just east of the state ine in late September for the installation of a water main, reconstruction of a portion of the roadway, and construction of 5-foot shoulders. Traffic was detoured via Highway 29 and Barrineau Park Road to Highway 112 in Alabama.
There are still three phases to come in the overall project:
Perdido River to Beulah
- 90% Design under review
- Easements needed from Water Management District; request pending design completion
- Design Completion pending construction funding
Carlisle to 97
- 60% Design
- Letters were mailed to residents requesting participation in property donations for right-of-way
- Staff is following up with residents for participation
97 to Nowak
- 60% Design
- Letters were mailed to residents requesting participation in property donations for right-of-way
- Staff is following up with residents for participation
Pictured: Muscogee Road as seen earlier this week. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs Year Round Daylight Saving Time Bill, 73 Others
March 24, 2018
Gov. Rick Scott signed 74 bills into law on Friday, including a tax-cut package, a measure that declares the Legislature’s intent to observe daylight-saving time year-round and a bill that prevents most minors from getting married.
The tax package (HB 7087), which totals about $171 million in tax and fee cuts, authorizes a three-day tax “holiday” in early August that will allow back-to-school shoppers to buy clothes and school supplies without paying sales taxes. Also, the bill will lead to a similar seven-day “holiday” in early June for residents to buy tax-free hurricane supplies.
The bill also includes tax breaks for farmers and ranchers who suffered damage in Hurricane Irma and trims a commercial-lease tax paid by many businesses. Other parts of the package include a property-tax break for homeowners displaced by Hurricane Irma and a break for nursing homes and assisted living facilities that purchase electric generators.
Scott’s office released the list of 74 bills early Friday evening. The measures were passed during the legislative session that ended March 11. About two-dozen of the measures were what are known as “local” bills, which involve issues in individual communities across the state.
The daylight-saving time bill (HB 1013) drew widespread attention during the legislative session. It expresses the Legislature’s support for keeping Florida on daylight-saving time throughout the year.
While the Legislature and Scott agree on the issue, such a change would ultimately require congressional approval. To that end, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has filed legislation to begin the process of making the change.
Scott on Friday also approved a measure (SB 140) that bars people under age 18 from getting marriage licenses. The bill includes an exception, though, for 17-year-olds who have written consent from their parents or guardians. Also, the 17-year-olds could not marry people who are more than two years older than them.
The Legislature passed 195 bills during this year’s session, and Scott has signed 154 into law. To date, he hasn’t vetoed any bills.
Scott, however, issued a signing letter Friday with a bill (HB 7043) that would allow the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to assume administration of a federal wetland-permitting program. Scott’s letter said the bill gives the department authority to “undertake rulemaking to explore whether the state should issue” permits now administered by the federal government.
“The Department of Environmental Protection’s rulemaking process is done with public input and scrutiny,” Scott wrote. “Also, the Department of Environmental Protection must demonstrate that their permitting program’s standards are just as stringent, if not more stringent, than what is in place currently with the federal government.”
This Is Awesome: Students Give Gift Of Sight To Legally Blind Classmate
March 23, 2018
“This is awesome.”
Beulah Academy of Science Middle School gave eighth grader Noah Anderson an awesome gift Thursday afternoon — the gift of sight.
Noah was born with albinism which causes loss of eyesight. He is now legally blind.
So Noah’s 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. 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.
As time came to try the glasses for the very first time, Noah showed obvious excitement.
“Here we go!” he exclaimed. As the glasses “booted up”, he read from the video screens inside the glasses.
“Esight is not for driving or other potentially dangerous,” he said to a room full of laughter.
But then for just a moment, Noah was silent as his mouth dropped open.
“I see faces!” he screamed, looking around the room.
Then he turned to his mom. “Hey baby,” she said as he looked into her eyes clearly for the first time.
“You look so cool….this is awesome,” Noah said as his mom erupted into tears of joy.
He was able to turn around and tell the time of a wall clock. “This is awesome!”
“Mom, I can see your face,” he said as he looked at his mom again, bringing even more tears to her eyes.”
“Thank you everyone. I appreciate it. I truly do. I truly do. This is so awesome! I just think it is amazing,”
Noah then set out to tour his school and see his classmates. Classroom after classroom cheered and offered Noah high fives.
“This is awww-some, he said before stopping to read something . Across the hallway, he went to another class of eighth graders. You guessed it. “This is awecome, this is so awesome!”
Back in the hallway, he turned around and immediately saw his mother.
“Oh hey mom, this is awesome!”
He might as well have been a rock star…as crowds of students gather to give him more high fives in the hallway.
“I need eSight so I can again begin living life the way it was meant to be lived. I just want to be able to experience the things we all take for granted. To watch a movie with my family and friends, read a book, see the faces of all of you amazing people reading this and thinking about contributing, or to just see my own smile again,” Noah wrote on the eSight fundraising page for the glasses. “All I want it to see the world as it sees me.”
And on Thursday people at Beulah Academy of Science Middle school saw Noah Anderson as awesome. And Noah Anderson saw them.
And that was truly awesome.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Can You Drop An Egg Three Stories Without Breaking It? These Bratt Elementary Kids Can
March 23, 2018
Do you think you could design a container using common items to protect an egg dropped 35 feet from a utility truck bucket?
Most second graders at Bratt Elementary School can.
Thursday, the students took part in egg drop with the help of Escambia River Electric Cooperative. The protective containers were created using things like paper towel roll, straws, bags and coffee filter parachutes. Most of the students were successful with their eggs surviving the three story drop without cracking.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
