Joani
by Joani MacCubbin


July, 2004

Welcome back to Joani's Corner. I certainly don't need to tell you how hot it's been. A few times I've even had to wait to drive my car because the steering wheel was too hot to handle. I've learned my lesson.....and that lesson is to use my sun shield on the windshield and try to park in the shade. 

But thankfully along with this hot weather comes rain. As I sit here I can hear the thunder in the distance. It's a nice sound when you're a gardener hoping for rain. (And if we get enough of those precious raindrops, I can stay inside....in the AC...... and enjoy all my happy plants from the window! )

This month in Joani's Corner:

Wildlife in Florida during July

Fireants revisited.......they're here and mean as can be! But some people find them a cause for celebration.

Lawn Shrimp

Some of my favorite flowering trees that are now decorating our landscapes 
and along the roadsides.

July Wildlife
There's lots happening with our Florida Wildlife this month. Whether you are a birdwatcher or a camper. Here are some things to watch for and look out for.

Shorebird migration begins in the middle of July and peaks in August.

Swallow-tailed kites, tree swallows and purple martins will start getting their flock together and getting ready for their migrations south for the winter.

In South Florida you can observe the beautiful frigate birds in flight.

The shorebirds are nesting in the marsh areas, wetlands, and beaches now. So be extra careful not to disturb them while walking your dog or driving on the beach. 

Baby raccoons, foxes, armadillos, possums and bobcats are now leaving their dens and begin following their parents. They are very cute......but it's best to observe and not touch. 

And in the Be Careful Department - 

While out camping, hiking or even in your own backyard in the morning or evening, be especially careful of mosquitoes and chiggers. From now and all through this hot summer they will be quite plentiful. It's their time to search for you and your blood so they can reproduce. Give them a hard time and use a product with DEET so they don't find you quite so attractive. As I'm sure you already know mosquitoes can carry all sorts of diseases so avoid being one of their targets.

Finally this month baby alligator and crocodiles begin hatching. They are not cute and will become dangerous in a very short time. This also means that there will be some mean protective mama crocodiles and alligators nearby. Be extra careful in marshlands or near lake shores.

Fireant Celebrations??
The World Has Gone Wacky!!
It's that time of the year when the fire ant mounds are showing up everywhere. These mean-spirited fireants first entered the United States at the port of Mobile in Alabama in the late 1930's and rapidly spread throughout the Southeast. We all know what they are and I'm sure everyone knows the pain and itching that just one bite can instill. It's a good idea to treat those mounds before someone steps in them. Don't put this job off....they aren't going to go away, their mounds will just keep getting bigger and bigger....and then the occupants will branch out and start new mounds! Also during that time of procrastination their numbers will increase at staggering numbers. 

Those fire ants can be sneaky too.....they can be in less obvious areas other than the familiar mounds and sand tunnels on the lawn......like lurking in mulched areas, hiding in a pot of your favorite plant, marching down the cracks in your sidewalk or driveway. I even found a large nest in a hanging basket. So be extra careful. 

I don't especially see fire ants as a source for celebration but many towns throughout the Southern United States have fireant festivals. In Marshall, Texas the townsfolk decided that if they couldn't get rid of them they might have some fun with them so they have a fireant festival every year. Among other things, they have a Fire Ant Chili Cook-off.....and each entrant must certify in writing that their chili recipe contains at least one fire ant. I would not want to be a taste-testing judge for that contest! 

In Albany, Georgia they also have a fire ant festival that they've been celebrating for 9 years. But it's mostly to raise public awareness of possible dangers of fireants and other less desirable insects. 

Some towns have Fire Ant Dances....not to stomp on ants but they dress up as fire ants and dance the night away.....one town has a 5-K run.....called 6 feet on the street. I don't know how they do that but it sounds interesting. 

I guess they feel that if you can't beat 'em....join 'em! Personally I'd rather celebrate with a big container of Amdro.

Lawn Shrimp - 
But NOT to Eat
Not all shrimp come in a nice glass dish with cocktail sauce in the middle. Unfortunately there is a type of crustacean that you won't want to eat that can actually inhabit our lawns, groundcovers, damp mulched areas or any continually moist area.....they are called lawn shrimp. They're around right now so be on the lookout.

Lawn Shrimp
Click to Enlarge
There are about 90 species of lawn shrimp in the United States and Canada and we are oh so lucky to have 2 species of them living right here in Florida. They sort of look like a miniature version of edible shrimp and are between 3/16 and 3/4 of an inch long. Lawn shrimp are a pale brown to greenish or brownish black when alive but often turn red when they die. 
These guys are night-time scavengers and eat organic matter. They can be found in the top 1/2 inch of moist soil or mulch. After rains large numbers can migrate into garages or under the doors of homes. They soon die but while they are around they can be quite a nuisance. 
They can also be a read headache to pool owners. During rainy weather, large numbers can be found in swimming pools and they can even clog pool filters. So during these rainy times check your filters often.

Lawn shrimp don't seem to do any real damage to vegetation or anything else for that matter. There is no specific control for them but if you are really bothered by them, you could reduce their numbers by decreasing your irrigation times, raking up or even replace mulch in soggy areas. If it's dry they die! 

Some of My Favorite Blooming Trees

There are quite a few quite regal flowering trees in bloom right now from north to south Florida. Wherever you are in Florida look up and find Florida at it's most colorful.
Have you noticed the tall yellow flowering tree along the roadside lately? It's a very showy tree right now and it's called peltophorum. Another name for them is yellow poinciana. It has a few other names but these are the most common. The peltophorum can grow 50 ft. tall and has wide spreading branches that form an umbrella shaped crown that can be up to 25 ft. across. It's beautiful yellow flowers grow in clusters and are quite fragrant if you can get up high enough to smell them. This tree is in bloom right now in South and Central Florida.

Peltophorum
Peltophorum
Click to Enlarge
In South Florida, the Queen crape myrtle is also in bloom. This crape myrtle can grow 30 ft. tall and as wide. It blooms throughout the summer with clusters of gorgeous purple flowers.
 
We're all familiar with the magnolia and it's in bloom right throughout the whole state with it's large and very fragrant blooms. The larger one that we are so familiar with is the Southern Magnolia and it can grow up to 80 ft. tall and 40 ft. wide. If this one is a little too large for your backyard, try Magnolia Little Gem which will grow to half the size. Little Gem will bloom off an on throughout the year while the Southern Magnolia only blooms during the summer.
The Crape Myrtle is also in bloom and nowhere in Central and North Florida can you miss it. These large shrubs or trees come in just about any color you can think of.....from lavender to purple.....red to pink and of course white. Even it's peeling bark seems to add to their beauty. And if you check around at garden centers you will also find that their size can vary greatly from ones that grow only in hanging baskets, to some that grow to about 2 ft. tall and to the tallest ones that can get 20 ft. or more.

So if you have a little room to squeeze in one more tree......maybe one of these will bring a little accent of color to your landscape.


That's it for July.....see you right back here in August. 

If you have any questions send me some e-mail at Joani@BetterLawns.com

-Joani