Page 6 - Jupiter West - November '21

Page 6, Jupiter West
Northern Notes

Fall And Winter In Florida of them can be seen in the dry detention areas within Florida pusley (Richardia scabra), on the other hand,
Abacoa. When in bloom, a carpet of pink unfolds and greets is a native plant that is beloved by some and hated by
By Katie Roundtree, residents and visitors with beautiful colors. Muhly grass others. With funnel-shaped flowers of white, pink or light
Finance Director, looks good in the garden even after the flower stalks fade, purple, pusley, nicknamed Florida snow, can be a burden
Northern Palm Beach thanks to its slender, dark green foliage. (Source: University or beauty depending on perspective. It’s drought tolerant
County Improvement of Florida IFAS) and attracts butterflies, but turf purists may rebuke the
District invading ground cover as a weed. Some people embrace it
Many people come to and use it to accent their holiday decorations, even adding
Florida to enjoy its mild light-up snowmen on top to create a winter wonderland
fall and winter but miss scene. However, others striving for the perfect lawn,
the changing seasons and struggle to remove this plant. It has very small seeds
seasonal plant changes that and is drought tolerant, allowing for proliferation during
the northern regions offer. Florida’s typically drier winter months. This weed is
Here in Florida, we have aggressive and will take over turf areas which are thin
our own kinds of plants that bloom during the fall and from irrigation, bug or fungus problems. Proper mowing
winter that give our area a feeling of the cooler seasons up and irrigation will help to control its spread.
north. During October and November, muhly grass blooms So, enjoy the changing seasons here in Florida, with
with beautiful pink, red or purple blooms, creating vistas our beautiful plants that love this weather just as much
of color in our landscaped areas, dry detention areas and as we do. There are so many reasons to live in Florida,
road medians. During the drier winter months, pusley (also including enjoyment of our native plants. Happy holidays
known as “Florida snow”) blooms with white or light purple to all of you!
flowers that blanket lawns and sides of roads creating the
look of “snow.”
Muhly grass is a native landscape plant that has found
favor with landscapers for its ease of growth and large
clusters of tall, grass-like appearance. Known scientifically
as Muhlenbergia capillaris, this easy-to-grow ornamental
grass produces clumps that can reach 2 to 3 feet tall and
up to 3 feet wide when mature. During the fall, particularly
in the month of October, it produces fluffy pink and purple
flower stalks that can reach up to 5 feet tall and give the
plant a distinctive and attractive appearance. A large amount

Palm Beach Muhly grass in Abacoa dry detention areas. Photos by Florida pusley (Richardia scabra)
Photo by The Palm Beach Post, Kimberly Miller
Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District staff
County Fire

Rescue

Fire Safety Tips

We have been very fortunate to have not been directly
impacted by any hurricanes, at least to this point.
Remember that hurricane season continues until Nov.
30, but hurricanes have formed in December, so please
continue to be storm aware and have a plan in place.
Thanksgiving plans are likely on the minds of many 747-PALM
residents. To ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable
dinner, please keep a few things in mind: 747-7256
Since the turkey may be in the oven for several hours,
make sure to start with a freshly cleaned oven. The long-
term buildup of heat can cause a fire if there is a lot of
grease, drippings and splatter from previous use.
If using a deep-fryer, always use it outdoors away
from anything that may ignite in a flareup, and never CAMPBELL AND KARLIK, P.A.
have the deep-fryer sitting on a wooden deck. Also,
never place a frozen turkey into the hot oil. For a ATTORNEYS AT LAW
reference of what can go wrong, do an Internet search
of the hazards of deep-frying a turkey. Typically, there
are many fires resulting in serious injuries and damage
each year. Keep an extra watchful eye on children Wills • Trusts • Estate Planning • Probate
around the fryers.
Having live candles on the table always adds to Taxation • Real Estate • Corporations
the charm of a festive setting but can present their
own set of hazards if not attended to and extinguished
properly. Part of the clearing-the-table process should
be to extinguish the candles first.
As with all activities, safety should be the top priority
to make sure we all stay safe and healthy. However,
should an unexpected incident, whether fire or medical
in nature occur, don’t hesitate to dial 9-1-1. Delaying
the call can have significantly dire consequences.
Steen Eriksson,
Professional Firefighters and
Paramedics of Palm Beach County,
IAFF Local 2928
HOAN@IAFF2928.com

New Moon Full Moon Diane L. KarLiK
November 4 November 19

First Quarter Third Quarter Tel: (561) 625-5220
November 11 November 27
3450 Northlake Boulevard Suite 210 Fax: (561) 625-5201• Mobile: (561) 797-5004
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33403 EMail: dlkarlik@aol.com