The moment you step into Noisettes Bakeshop, the aroma of toasted, buttery croissants warms your soul and brings a smile to your face. “I was just waiting for that one shot to get my space,” said Wendy Theroulde-Miller, the owner and baker of Noisettes, and after a year of looking for places since leaving her corporate job and several years of saving for that moment—the time finally came. On January 29, 2024, the love for baking she had cultivated while growing up in Trinidad and helping in her mother’s bakeshop finally found a home in Winter Haven, Florida. Wendy’s “creative juices” began to flourish as she turned her passion into sweet and savory delicacies to share with others. When you visit Noisettes, a French-inspired bakery named after the French word for hazelnut, a result of Wendy’s love for them, you’ll immediately eye freshly baked, handmade pastries throughout the space. A refrigerated section features slices of carrot cake, chocolate cake, gluten-free items, and cheesecake. Nearby, a snack bar offers housemade granola and biscotti. Behind the glass counter, flaky croissants, quiches, cinnamon rolls, and seasonal items that have drawn in people since opening day are on display. Each crèmefilled, ham-and-cheese truffle croissant, and Black Forest cake are made fresh each day at the bakery because, “If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it right,” said Wendy. And for her customers, that means using quality ingredients sourced from local vendors and ensuring each pastry is never frozen, and made fresh daily. Before moving to Winter Haven, Wendy grew up in the Caribbean Island of Trinidad with her parents, where she helped daily with their home businesses. Out of their garage, her father did welding and mechanics. Inside the heart of the home, the kitchen, her mother ran her own bakeshop. Each day before school, as Wendy baked and decorated desserts alongside her mother, she began to grow an interest in pastry making. When she grew older, she moved to Canada with her older siblings and enrolled in culinary school. Wendy learned everything from cooking to baking, but it wasn’t until she moved to Florida, that her specialized love for croissants came to fruition. After working as a sous chef in Canada and in several Orlando hotel restaurants, she eventually found herself working in a hotel bakery and was placed in charge of it. Because she was a fast learner, the hotel sent her to California to learn from the famous French pastry chef, Johan Martin. Wendy shared how her love for croissants took off and she told herself, “I can do this.” Once she realized she had the skills and passion to create beautiful and delicious French pastries, she began to buy different pastry books, and watched videos about perfecting the croissant. Fast forward to owning a French bakeshop of her own, Wendy has excelled in her craft and even holds a five-star rating online. Her dedication to sweet indulgences does not go unnoticed. After all, she shares how early she rises each morning to ensure her croissants are proofed to perfection. Since opening, Wendy has planned to expand her main menu to include breads such as focaccia, bagels, and other softer breads. On weekends, she stocks the bakery with special desserts and pastry items and creates seasonal offerings for holidays throughout the year. During the Christmas season, she crafted intricate croissants shaped like Christmas trees, bells, and bows, finished with pops of green, red, and gold. “I like to do a lot of color,” Wendy shared, “especially intricate stuff with the croissants.” Noisettes Bakeshop’s croissant menu includes the classic butter, chocolate, almond, and everyone’s favorite ham and cheese truffle croissant. Wendy also offers cinnamon rolls and rotating “cruffins of the day,” a croissant-muffin hybrid that is perfectly crisp on the outside with a soft, melt-in-your-mouth crème-filled center, often finished with glazes such as strawberry or vanilla. The menu also features a variety of cookies, including chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and white chocolate macadamia, along with different brioches such as blueberry, laminated chocolate, and cookies-and-cream. Another French staple she offers are quiches, with vegetarian options available. If you’re interested in trying Wendy’s favorite cake at Noisettes, her Black Forest cake features a blend of Amarena cherries — small, dark Italian cherries known for their sweet-and-sour flavor — that she soaks in fresh cherry water. The cake is layered with rich chocolate, filled with white chocolate Chantilly cream and dark chocolate mousse, then finished with whipped cream and topped with cherries. Wendy also occasionally infuses her cakes with alcohol for added depth of flavor. While dining in Winter Haven, you may find yourself enjoying Noisettes Bakeshop beyond the walls of her shop. Her pastries are featured at local downtown restaurants, including Oyster Bar Winter Haven and Aria’s Steakhouse, which serves her almond chocolate croissants during Sunday brunch. Wendy also caters for a variety of events and accepts pre-orders up to a week in advance, as she operates on a smaller scale as the shop’s sole baker. More than a bakeshop, Noisettes is a testament to perseverance, passion, and the beauty of turning a lifelong dream into reality. Noisettes Bakeshop 3027 Cypress Gardens Rd, Winter Haven 863-308-3278 Facebook: Noisettes Bakeshop Instagram: Noisettes_bakeshop Photos by Amy Sexson

When was the last time you truly danced the night away? For generations, dance has been woven into the fabric of society. I’m a product of the 80s, and dancing was not only on everyone’s minds and schedules, but it was encoded in our DNA. Your biggest decision on Friday and Saturday night was which club you would go to. The new age of the MTV VJ was in full swing, and country line dancing was still a bit far off on the horizon. In LA, where I was living, there were Goth clubs, Richard Blade’s (Legendary VJ and DJ of LA’s KROQ station) 80’s club, where you could hear and dance to the latest British import. The rockers went to Headbangers Ball-like clubs on the Sunset Strip. The main clubs like FM Station, The Palladium, and Club Lingerie had general admission floors that inevitably turned into dance floors, where we got our exercise, met new friends, and defined an era centered around having fun. Rockabilly was the grandchild of swing dance. Bands like The Stray Cats mixed 1950s country and blues, which combined 1940s big band dancing with a twist, which then evolved into West Coast Hop. The minute the song “Rock This Town” started playing on the turntable, it was on, and we didn’t stop until the dance hall closed. Born and raised in California, the Nguyen family moved to Lakeland when Khiem was 10 years old. After graduating from high school, he headed south, where he graduated from the University of Miami. He remembers the first time he attended a steampunk event, where he would meet his future instructor, a short, stocky man with a passion for dance. Khiem fell in love with the music played during that show, a frenetic mix of jazz and swing. He had grown up listening to singers such as Cab Calloway and Frank Sinatra, so it was a natural progression. He delved deep into swing music and learned the history of Lindy Hop—a dance that began in the Black community over a hundred plus years ago and was danced all throughout the states. It was little known outside the community, and you had to really try to find it. While down in Miami, his first impression of salsa or swing dance came from “very tall white people.” After being turned away from a local salsa dance club because he was a beginner, he decided to start his own dance classes. His first class in Miami attracted just one curious newcomer. Khiem vividly remembers the man “looking at the sign and walking past the building, only to walk back and ask how much it was for a lesson.” Khiem hasn’t looked back since. Having been involved in the swing dance scene for 14 years, he wanted to bring this type of dance to Polk County. Khiem’s focus would not only be on people who had never tried to swing; he would organically start a new community rooted in oneon-one dance lessons. In 2020, Khiem’s friend started hosting dance events on Thursdays at his dancewear store in Downtown Lakeland, right next door to the Revival bar. He remembered that when the lessons were over, they would head next door for drinks. Khiem started teaching dance on Mondays, and the first class had only one person show up. Eventually, the word got out, and people started coming. That first man who took a chance on class still comes out to dance, and Khiem remembers telling him that it “is going to take you some time to learn, but I like your confidence.” The man replied, “It’s unearned confidence.” That would strike a tone for the next year and phase for LKLD Lindy Hop. Weekly classes moved to Artifact, and eventually landed in Union Hall, where the owners were very receptive to letting him host a once-a-month social (The Lindy Ball at Union Hall), and the place was packed to the ceiling with dancers—one social had 150+ Lindy Hoppers swinging their way well into the night. Those events would merge into the current Monday night sessions, with another location on Combee Road that specializes in Salsa on Thursday nights. Khiem says he plans to add Flamenco and Bachata to the mix soon. At Union Hall, lessons start at 7 p.m. and dancing at 8 p.m. After 10 p.m., Khiem takes the reins as DJ, spinning everything from Montell Jordan to Whitney Houston. Never an introvert, his philosophy is simple: “It’s about joy, creativity, and expression.” Khiem’s vision for Lindy Hop in Polk County is rooted in community impact. “We want to create joy and a place where everyone can come and feel comfortable at whatever level they are,” he says. The focus is on building real dance skills while fostering a sense of belonging. These weekly dance events have steadily grown, and even after horrific events such as Hurricane Milton in 2021 and Helene in 2024, people came to dance. They needed a place of normalcy amongst the chaos and devastation. Khiem thought no one would show up, but they came and never left. Khiem remembers saying, “Guys, I know we just had a hurricane. Let’s just dance it out.” Khiem continued, “For me, I just wanted to provide a positive impact. We very rarely do not have a Monday dance. Just being able to provide that space, our members have the same values, and we want to support each other.” Even as winter storm Fern was headed our way on the day Khiem and I sat talking, people started coming through the doors to dance. LKLD Lindy Hop officially launched in 2024. It is lesson-centered and community-driven, offering lessons and two dance floors to practice your moves. Their motto is “Shake a Tail Feather with Us,” and they mean it. They want you to come ready to learn a new step and make a new friend. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned veteran on the dance floor, there is a place and a style for you. As our conversation drew to an end, one thing stood out: the Lindy Hop community has firmly taken root, and there’s always a spot on the dance floor for anyone eager to join in. If you’re interested in joining the growing swing community, Khiem is ready to welcome you. For more information, visit their website at lkldlindyhop.com or contact them via email: LKLDLindyHop@gmail.com . Instagram @lkldlindyhop Facebook: lakelandlindyhop

When Concord first opened in 2015, the owners had little knowledge about running a coffee shop. However, after a decade of maturing in their craft, Concord embodies their vision. A place where you’re greeted with friendly smiles and conversations that go beyond your order. “It’s not just about selling them coffee,” said the owners, “but, it’s about seeing how they’re doing even when it’s busy.” Whether you’re enjoying delicious, house-roasted coffee made just the way you like it or finding comfort in soulhealing teas sourced from TeaBella, Concord goes the extra mile to create a meaningful experience. The name Concord, meaning harmony and unity, reflects the shop’s mission. Their logo, inspired by the Enneagram, symbolizes a space where all people are welcomed. “That’s why Concord exists,” Andy shared. “It’s a place where people can be vulnerable and be accepted for who they are.” Before opening in 2015, Andy and TJ were working full-time jobs. Andy was running his film company, Indie Atlantic Films, and TJ was serving in ministry. During this season of dreaming, they were inspired by coffee everywhere they went. Especially from unique coffee shops Andy discovered with Ashley while visiting Nashville, TN. The owners were also deeply influenced by the Cuban coffee culture from their time living in West Palm. Growing up there, Andy recalls stopping at a Publix counter after school and putting down a quarter for a quick cafecito. When Concord finally opened, they brought that sense of home to Lakeland’s Dixieland area by offering cafecitos, also known as espresso shots. Though some doubted the location, the owners trusted that a mission centered on serving people and offering quality craft coffee would resonate— and the community proved them right. Prior to roasting their own beans in 2017, Concord was known as a multi-roaster coffee shop, featuring award-winning coffees from across the country. When TJ joined as a full-time managing partner, he wanted that to change. With the guidance of close family friends Bryan and Emily Ley, TJ learned the craft of coffee roasting. “They approached us and said, ‘We love Concord and what you’re doing—if there’s ever anything we can do to help, we’d love to be part of that,’” TJ shared. Holding themselves to the same high standard as the coffees they featured, the team spent months perfecting their roasts. “We didn’t want to say, ‘Okay, well here’s ours,’ and not be anywhere up to par,” TJ said. After a season of trial and error, Concord launched their own roasts towards the end of that year. Today, TJ has grown Concord’s coffee inventory through relationships with family-owned farms in Kenya, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Ethiopia. “All of our coffee is single origin, handpicked, so it’s not stripped, and it’s all picked at the right time,” he shared. By working year-round with just a few trusted partners, Concord can consistently support the same farms and families. “It helps them more than people know,” TJ said. Rather than purchasing mass-produced beans, Concord invests in quality coffee while giving back to the people who grow it. Their roasted beans are sold in-store, with coffee bags displaying their mottos, “Good things happen over coffee” and “together in harmony with all people.” Well-known for their quality ingredients and taste, Concord offers a variety of house-made syrups that pair perfectly with any order. A local favorite is their vanilla iced latte with honey cinnamon syrup. They also supply guava, coconut, pistachio, rosewater, and seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice, made from real pumpkins, and coquito, a nod to Puerto Rican tradition. Other standouts include the smooth matcha and the beloved “Pat Tea,” named after a loyal customer who orders a blend of their orange blossom and mint tea, with a dash of honey. “If we were a giant conglomerate coffee shop, you couldn’t just have fun with that,” shared Andy. Complementing the drinks are a range of artisan baked goods, supplied by local trusted partners. From their jalapeño cheddar bagels to the berry infused pop-tarts everyone adores, people know they can count on Concord to brighten their day. When opening their Gainesville location in 2019, the opportunity came through close friends of TJ and Andy who had a space they wanted to fill with purpose. Located across from the University of Florida in the Gator Wesley Foundation building, they recognized the value the spot could hold for college students. “It was a challenge for us to open something two and a half hours away, but what’s really cool is seeing students really step up and lead,” said Andy. Opening in Winter Haven was a “natural” next step for them. With TJ’s family ties to the area and a growing arts and culture scene, the team saw an opportunity to serve a new community. Conveniently located Downtown, the spot has become a destination for commuters and locals alike. While balancing work between the new location and their headquarters in Lakeland, the team has created a space that feels both familiar and thoughtfully evolved. “We’ve matured as a coffee shop in the best way possible, but we’re still the same Concord.” A common feature across all Concord locations is the natural light streaming through enormous windows. “When you walk in, you feel like you’re still a part of the city, you’re not isolated,” Andy said. With outlets throughout, fast Wi-Fi, accessible seating, and layouts designed for walkability and bikeability, each location was intentionally designed by Ashley to feel elevated and welcoming. “She definitely enjoys doing it and has a gift for it,” Andy shared. “It’s really about the textures and the colors of the place.” From wood and steel beams to cement floors and neutral tones accented with greenery, every Concord feels warm, inclusive, and consistent across locations. As a small thank-you to the community, Concord also offers 10% off to cyclists and students. Behind the scenes, Concord runs smoothly thanks to the dedication of its team. Andy leads data and marketing, TJ oversees daily operations, and Lindsay manages accounts and staff paperwork with a sharp eye for detail. Still, the owners emphasize, “The staff is what makes this place.” Across Gainesville, Lakeland, and Winter Haven, they’ve watched employees grow, graduate, and even get married. “It’s been a really neat dynamic to be a part of,” the owners shared. “Because these relationships will still last beyond the cup of coffee.” Looking ahead, the Concord team remains focused on making their current locations the very best they can be. “We love Lakeland, we love Winter Haven, we love Polk County,” they said. For TJ, Andy, Ashley, Lindsay, and the community that surrounds Concord, each location is a thoughtfully curated space where relationships flourish, milestones are celebrated, and memories are made. As TJ puts it, “Coffee is the vessel for those relationships to begin.” CONCORD COFFEE 1037 Florida Ave S Lakeland 249 3rd St SW Winter Haven 1380 W University Ave Gainesville (closed during college breaks) concordcoffee.com FB @concordcoffee IG @concordcoffee Photos by Kamryn Potteiger

From the genius mastermind behind LoveBird Almost Famous Chicken, Jeremy Brumley strikes gold again. Grievous Angel offers “deceptively good burgers + dogs.” They offer five different burgers, pictured is the Peppercorn Saint with white cheddar, sautéed mushrooms, black peppercorn sauce, and arugula. All burgers are doublepatty smash burgers on locally-made potato buns, and they are SO wickedly good. The “dogs” are Snap-O-Razzo maple-smoked beef hot dogs in natural casings, no fillers. The fries come crinkle cut and “angel dusted.” A few but not all of the sides are Cowboy Caviar with black-eyed peas, Ranch Slaw, Chili Cheese Fries, Spicy Fried Pickles, a Texas Chop Wedge, and soft serve or beignets for a sweet ending. They have a full bar with house cocktails, wine, beer, cider, and mocktails. The barstools are a glorious light pink color and are quite comfy, maybe to stay awhile? The back wall of the bar has a stained glass “window” that may or may not have you feeling like you’re having a drink at church, sort of. The service was excellent, the food was absolutely amazing, it really is my new favorite place. Maybe I’ll see you there sometime. 801 E Main Street, Lakeland

Inwood is a diverse neighborhood located on Winter Haven’s western side on the shore of Lake Cannon. During the real estate boom of the 1920s, Inwood was among several newly created neighborhoods marketed by the Haven Villa Corporation. Though never formally incorporated into Winter Haven’s city limits, it is part and parcel of the city’s rich history. My family moved to Winter Haven in September of 1960. My maternal grandparents had moved here a year earlier and had purchased a small home on Avenue Q, NW. My father had been hired to operate the warehouse for the Continental Can Company that was in the old Racebilt complex on U. S. 17. Our family bought a practically new home on 26th St. NW one block from Lake Cannon. It was a three-bedroom home with terrazzo floors and ceiling heat. While that type of heat was radiant and toasty in the winter, the lack of air conditioning made July and August memorable for all the wrong reasons. This photograph by Robert Dahlgren shows the Inward Land Sales office of the Haven Villa Corporation. Circa 1925 It was an amazing change for a sixth-grade boy who was accustomed to life in Ohio farm country. Hurricane Donna had just torn through the area and left quite a mess. I remember my father driving us down Cypress Gardens Boulevard (then CG Road) and seeing just the button top of the landmark Garden Court toadstool above the waves on Lake Ina. And to think we had our very own tourist destination — Beautiful Cypress Gardens! My sister and I were enrolled at Garner Elementary where I would finish sixth grade. I remember we changed classes each day spending half with Mr. Stalvey and half with Mrs. Tyler — she was a force to be reckoned with. I also remember the Blue Horse school supply store in Mr. Stalvey’s room, where our purchases earned premiums the school could use for special purchases. Garner was a relatively new school at the time, and Boy’s Club Road did not exist. The back of the property was a landscape of Florida scrub, and great for exploring and adventure. Twenty-sixth Street was amazing to me. It was anchored on the north end by a new Burger King restaurant on Havendale Boulevard (then a two-lane road) and Kitts Drug Store on the south end at Avenue G. The Havendale end also had Combee’s Market with a great selection of comic books. The street teemed with young people my age. On the street or within a block were future friends with names like Walker, McIntee, Jensen, Doty, Bryan, Smith, Hardy, Stone, O’Gwynn, Peavy, Saye, Brown, Berry, Carr, Sealy, Allor, Reed, and Carson. There were almost as many kids my age on 26th Street as there were in my entire class in Bloomville, Ohio. Great families. I always envied the O’Gwynns, as their dad drove a Sunbeam Bread truck and they had a refrigerator in the garage that was filled with ice-cold Cokes. Must have been paradise. They had a cool juke box in their garage as well. When my wife and I were newly married (and had better things to spend our money on) we too owned a juke box (which later became a part of Sheriff Lawrence Crow’s collection). Ultimately, a refrigerator in our garage was home to ice-cold Cokes … I just never found a fully stocked bread truck! Many 60s era kids remember stopping at the Dog and Suds for a 5 cent root beer after school. The restaurant has long since been known as Dino’s Drive In. It was a whole new adventure for an eleven-year-old baseball fanatic moving into a world dominated by football … a game I knew little about. But it’s an adventure now in its 67th year. EARLY 60S INWOOD ESCAPADES… The northwestern Ohio farm town I came from boasted less than 800 residents. Inwood, as a neighborhood, and Winter Haven as a community were “the big city” by comparison. A classic photo of an early 1960s Honda 50 sold by Winter Haven’s first Honda dealer, Henry Zibelin. As I finished the sixth grade, the neighborhood adventures were many. Within bike riding distance was the brand-new Westwood Junior High School, where early physical education classes amounted to walking shoulder to shoulder, clearing the athletic area of palmetto stumps and other debris. It only took an hour to get completely filthy. To the current enrollment — you’re welcome! And while I have fond memories of many of the Westwood teachers, a favorite was English teacher Hazel Miller. She admitted to loving “Mad Magazine,” earning her cult status immediately! Down the street the Allor boys raised pigeons as did neighbor friends Frankie and Johnny Carson. We sometimes camped out near a friend’s home and when the “mosquito truck” would come by spewing a cloud of white spray … we ran behind it for fun! Since that cloud contained something like kerosene … this may not have been our best decision. 1960 ushered in a brand new “Burger King” restaurant located on Havendale Boulevard at Idylwild Drive, NW. Expansion pains within the company forced the closing after several years. Now the location of a Dollar Store. Just down 28th Street to Havendale, you’d find the “Jump n’ Jiminy” trampoline center (short-lived due to lawsuits, I’m sure) and the nearby “Dog and Suds” drivein (now thriving as Dino’s). Many Biltmore Shores kids remember stopping for 5-cent root beer on the way home from school. Several streets to the west was the Havendale Lanes bowling alley and later LaCarousel Roller Rink. A block from my home lived a teenager several years older than me. Richard Carr became an amazing friend. A tall, lanky boy, he taught me to swim and to water ski in Lake Cannon. Though Richard was known to approach my mother outside and ask her to guess what was under his shirt … and then produce a snake (much to her dismay), my parents trusted him to look after me. He introduced me to Boy Scout Troop 559. I loved scouting, and I had three amazing Scout Masters in George Hardy, Gene Murrell, and Don Primm. Richard and I would also canoe on the lakes. I remember on one excursion we paddled to the canal between Lake Mirror and Lake Spring. At the time, none of the homes had been built behind Northgate. The Perrin Thompson citrus groves were still in place, and an old map of their property marked the south side of that canal as “The Jungle.” Amazingly we camped there by the shore of the canal (there was no seawall at the time), and you had no idea that a thriving shopping center was a stone’s throw away. Across Lake Spring from our campsite was a large neon sign with a blinking arrow pointing to the Landmark Motor Lodge, then located where Spring Lake Shopping Center is today. The sign rested atop an old boathouse, and the last time I looked, the cement pilings were still there along the shore. The trampoline park craze of 1960-62 swept the country. Injuries and insurance costs ended the concept but did lead to indoor trampoline recreation centers. This photo is from the era. When Richard went off to high school I didn’t see as much of him. His stepfather, Henry Zibelin opened Winter Haven’s first Honda dealership on the southwest corner of Avenue G and 26th Street, NW. Henry sold a gazillion Honda 50s and larger. Before I left Westwood, I owned Richard’s red hand-me-down Honda 50. These are just a few of the escapades I can record here without fear of legal action. We made our own “excitement” in what I remember as a simpler time with very special friends.

After the recent cold weather, many central Florida homeowners got a reminder that our plants are not immune to frost and freeze damage. January and February are typically Central Florida’s coldest months, and this year’s extended stretch of temperatures in the 20s caused significant stress to many of our landscapes. Once the threat of freezing temperatures has passed, it’s time to shift from plant protection to recovery. Knowing when, and how, to help your plants recover is key to maintaining a healthy central Florida yard. UNDERSTANDING FREEZE DAMAGE Not all cold damage looks the same. The severity of damage depends on several key factors: • HOW LOW TEMPERATURES FALL. Some plants, such as orchids, can be damaged at temperatures well above freezing. It’s important to know the hardiness zones that your plants can grow and survive in. • HOW QUICKLY TEMPERATURES DROP. Sudden cold snaps cause more harm because plants lack time to acclimate. We certainly saw that occur! • HOW LONG COLD CONDITIONS LAST. Extended freezes increase the likelihood of serious injury, and with prolonged nights in the 20s we are seeing damage that has not been seen in many years. During freezing weather, ice crystals can form inside plant tissue rupturing cell walls. This often results in browning leaves, wilted stems, and/or mushy foliage. Some damage appears immediately, while other symptoms may take days to develop. Once the danger of cold temperatures has passed and frost blankets are put away, it’s time to assess your plants and help them recover. AFTER A COLD SNAP IT’S IMPORTANT TO WATER One of the most important first steps after a frost/ freeze is watering. Cold weather can leave soil dry or even partially frozen, limiting water uptake. Watering helps: • Thaw the root zone • Rehydrate stressed roots • Support early recovery processes Resist the urge to fertilize. Fertilizer encourages tender new growth that is highly vulnerable if temperatures dip again. Wait until consistent spring warmth before applying fertilizer and always follow UF/IFAS Extension recommendations. DON’T PRUNE TOO SOON After cold weather, many gardeners reach for their pruning shears too quickly. It’s so tempting when everything is brown! In Central Florida, hold off on doing any pruning until March. Why do we suggest waiting until March? Damaged leaves and stems serve an important purpose by insulating and protecting plants from late cold snaps, which can still occur in late February. By March, new growth usually begins to appear, making it easier to see what is truly alive and will help you know where to prune on the plant. When pruning: • Scratch the bark lightly with your fingernail • Green tissue indicates living growth • Brown or black tissue is likely dead Some plants may need to be cut back to the ground if all the above-ground tissue is dead. Most plants will recover and sprout back from the ground. If there is regrowth, you can easily see where to prune, which is back to the new growth. Damage to plants depends on a variety of factors and it’s helpful to wait and see what the plants do on their own before we pull out the pruners. RECOGNIZING DELAYED DAMAGE Not all cold injury is immediate. Some plants may look fine at first, then develop browning or leaf drop over the following weeks. Plants such as bananas, papaya, wild coffee, and firebush often die back to the ground but resprout from healthy roots once temperatures rise. Annual bedding plants, seasonal vegetables, and severely damaged tropicals may not recover. Spring-blooming plants that flower on the past season’s growth may not bloom this year if that growth was lost. Woody plants like citrus and hibiscus may show weak or uneven regrowth. Patience is the most important tool after a frost/ freeze! COLD-DAMAGED PALMS: PATIENCE IS KEY! Palm recovery requires patience! Palms, in general, are slow-growing and recovery from pests, disease, and other stressors is slow. Some palms take up to a year to show meaningful improvement after a hard freeze! If your palms were damaged, keep these guidelines in mind: 1. DAMAGED FRONDS WILL NOT RECOVER. Yellowed, browned, or spotted fronds will never return to a normal green frond. New growth is only from the spear leaf at the top of the plant. 2. CHECK THE SPEAR LEAF CAREFULLY. Wait several weeks after a freeze, then gently pull on it. If it comes out easily, appears mushy, or smells foul, damage may be present. If the palm is too tall to assess, just wait. Do not prune any damaged fronds and hold out for the new growth to appear. If you are able to pull the spear leaf out, consider applying a labeled copper fungicide which may help reduce potential fungal issues. Always follow label instructions, the label is the law, and you do not want to cause any further damage to the palm. If the spear remains firm, recovery is likely, though it may be slow. For gardeners interested in cold-hardy palm options, visit the demonstration garden at UF/IFAS Extension in Bartow. BE PATIENT BEFORE REMOVING PLANTS Even when plants look dead, avoid digging them up too quickly. Many shrubs and perennials recover slowly and may not show new growth until late spring or even early summer. Different species recover at different rates, and premature removal can mean losing a plant that would have survived. PREPARING FOR FUTURE COLD EVENTS … BRRR Once recovery is underway, it’s wise to begin planning for the next cold season. Simple strategies can significantly reduce damage: • Water before predicted freezes • Apply mulch around root zones • Use breathable fabric covers for protection and make sure they cover the plant to the ground. Designing your landscape with cold tolerance in mind also helps. Consider your USDA hardiness zone (9b–10a for us here in Central Florida), take advantage of warmer microclimates near buildings or under trees, consider growing tender plants in containers that can be easily moved indoors, and time fertilization and pruning to avoid encouraging winter growth. Thoughtful preparation now will make your landscape more resilient next winter. Freeze recovery is really about patience. Water wisely, delay pruning, resist fertilization, and give plants time to regrow. With careful observation and informed management, most Central Florida yards will recover. Learn from this cold event and prepare for next winter. If you have any questions about cold recovery in Central Florida yards, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at 863-519-1041 or visit us online at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ polk if you have questions on growing citrus. The Plant Clinic is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. If you are interested in purchasing a garden journal, contact the Plant Clinic. If you are not in Polk County, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic. To learn more about gardening and landscaping, listen to the “Your Central Florida Yard” podcast. You can find the podcast wherever you listen or find out more on our Substack: substack. com/@yourcentralfloridayard. Anne Yasalonis is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Program Coordinator for UF/ IFAS Extension Polk County. Please contact her at anneanne@ufl.edu .

Los Comadres Restaurante Mexicano y Marisqueria We’re going to tell you one of our secrets, because we really like you. We’ve been holding on to this for a while, and it’s time to share. One of our most favorite brunch spots of all time is Los Comadres Restaurante Mexicano y Marisqueria in Lake Alfred. This hidden gem serves up authentic Mexican dishes, and we seriously can’t get enough. First things first, it’s so cute inside, the prices are great, and the service is excellent. It’s casual, it’s comfortable, and we want to come back every weekend. Let this be your reminder that some of the best meals are tucked away, locally loved, and worth seeking out on a Saturday morning. Trust us. Read more at goodfoodpolk.com

WINEFEST: WINEDERLAND March 6 & 7 at Tampa Theatre. This Alice in Wonderland-themed fundraiser encourages guests to explore the historic 1926 landmark while sampling boutique wines from around the world and enjoying bites from Tampa’s top independent restaurants, bid on silent auction items, and dress as your favorite character. tampatheatre.org MARCH MADNESS March 20 – 22 at the Benchmark International Arena. The University of South Florida hosts the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Division Men’s Basketball Championship. Check out the NCAA Fan Experience, designed to bring you closer than ever before. benchmarkintlarena.com FOOD, WINE & GARDEN FESTIVAL March 6 – May 10 at Busch Gardens. Guests can purchase decadent eats and treats created just for this festival. Experience live concert performances every weekend included with your park admission, full schedule online. Upgrade to a VIP experience for an additional charge. buschgardens.com/tampa JOHN LEGEND March 18, 8 p.m. at Ruth Eckerd Hall. An Evening of Songs & Stories! Legend’s live show will feature intimate renditions of his greatest hits and fan favorites from throughout his 13-time Grammywinning body of work, built over 20+ years, woven together with stories from his life and career. rutheckerdhall.com FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL March 1 – 8, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. at 303 BerryFest Place, Plant City. This annual spring celebration is packed with sweet strawberries, live music, rides, a midway with games, agriculture exhibits, fair food, and more. You’ve got to try the famous strawberry shortcake, too. flstrawberryfestival.com PATTY FEST March 13 – 15 at Williams Park in St. Pete. Three days of Irish culture featuring live music and dance performances, a vendor market, traditional Irish food, family-friendly activities, and Irish drinks and tastings. This is fun for all ages. Buy tickets at paddyfeststpete.com . THE SHARK IS BROKEN March 11 – April 5 at the Straz Center. Step aboard the Orca and celebrate movie history with a peek at the choppy waters behind Hollywood’s first blockbuster. There are short tempers. Short circuits. 95 minutes where the alcohol flows, egos collide, and tempers flare with no intermission. strazcenter.org ALICIA KEYS’ HELL’S KITCHEN March 24 – April 4 at the Straz Center. A musical from 16-time Grammy® Award winner Alicia Keys about growing up in N.Y. Rebellious and stifled by an overprotective single mother, Ali is lost until she meets her mentor. Set to the rhythm of the 90s, this is a love story between a mother and a daughter. strazcenter.org PICKLE PARTY March 11, 6 p.m. at Keel and Curley Winery. Learn the process of making pickled vegetables using different vinegars and spices. Designed for beginners and suitable for everyone, this class covers all the basics. You’ll go home with recipes and four different pickled goodies. Register at keelfarms.com PIER 60 SUGAR SAND FESTIVAL March 27 – April 12 at Pier 60 at Clearwater Beach. Eighteen professional sand sculptors from around the world will work their magic to transform the world-famous sugar sand into breathtaking sculptures. Guests will love the live music, artisan vendors, fireworks, and more. Full schedule at sugarsandfestival.com .

ART’S THE SPARK March 7, 10:30 a.m. - noon at the Orlando Museum of Art. Through interactive tours for those living with memory impairment or any other neurological impairment (such as early stage Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease) and their healthy caregivers. This is an expressive outlet and an opportunity for adult discussions. omart.org HAMLET March 21, 11 a.m. at the Enzian Theater. National Theatre Live is the National Theatre’s project to broadcast the best of British theatre from the London stage to cinemas around the world live. Olivier Awardwinner Hiran Abeysekera is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. enzian.org BREATHE WITH THE TREES March 5, 10 – 11 a.m. at Mead Botanical Garden. This is an introduction to nature-based relaxation training. Learn about “green immersion” through simple exercises that stimulate the senses, release endorphins, enhance mental clarity, neutralize anxiety, lift the weight of fatigue, and replenish the spirit. meadgarden.org SIDEWALK ART FESTIVAL March 20 – 22 at Central Park along Park Ave in Winter Park. This is one of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious outdoor art festivals. The festival features a wide variety of fine arts and crafts, live music and entertainment, children’s activities, and more. wpsaf.org FAT HAM March 4 – 29 at Orlando Shakes. This Southern-fried take on Hamlet follows Juicy, a Southern college kid. When the ghost of his dead father appears at a family BBQ demanding revenge for his murder, Juicy must grapple with the decision to heed his phantom father’s advice or remain true to himself. Rated PGMA. orlandoshakes.org MEGACON March 19 – 22 at the Orange County Convention Center. Attention nerds! MEGACON is the place to celebrate all things pop culture. Get an autograph and a photo with your favorite celebrity, go behindthe-scenes with your top movies and TV shows, and show off your best cosplay. fanexpohq.com/ megaconorlando E.T. IN CONCERT March 14, 2:30 or 7:30 p.m. at Dr. Phillips Center. “E.T. the ExtraTerrestrial” (1982) follows the story of a lost alien who befriends a 10-year-old boy named Elliott. Experience this beloved movie, complete with John Williams’ score performed live by a full symphony orchestra in sync to the film. drphillipscenter.org WINTER PARK ROAD RACE March 28, 7:30 a.m. at Central Park in Winter Park. The 10K course goes through the historic brick streets of Winter Park, featuring slight inclines, tree-canopied roads, historic homes, and views of the lakes. The 2 Mile run benefits the Meridian Club Scholarship Fund. trackshack.com/ events/winter-park-road-race DIANA ROSS March 18, 8 p.m. at Dr. Phillips Center. Hear the voice of an icon when the one and only Queen of Motown visits Orlando with a decades-spanning career across music and film. Since her breakout success in the 1960s as the lead singer of The Supremes, the bestcharting female group in history, Diana has led an illustrious solo career. drphillipscenter.org EVENING AT THE POPS March 28, 6:30 – 9 p.m. at Newton Park in Winter Garden. The Plant Street Pops Orchestra will perform. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic basket and blanket/chair to enjoy the show. Presented by the Rotary Club of Winter Garden, with co-sponsorship from the City of Winter Garden. Details & tickets at cwgdn.com .

ROOTSTOCK SPRING SALE March 7, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Bok Tower Gardens. Rootstock Plant Sale is a garden lover’s dream! Shop from the state’s top plant vendors, take a hayride through the Pine Ridge Reserve, and enjoy live music on The Terrace. Celebrate spring with a walk through the gardens during peak bloom! boktowergardens.org SPRING GARDEN PARTY March 21, 10 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. at BowenYard. This is a full day of fun beginning with a free yoga class at 10 a.m., vendor market from 1 – 6 p.m., live music from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Plus, join the plant swap with The Potting Bench, and food and drink specials all day including an ourdoor cocktail bar from Maritime. IG @bowenyard POLK COUNTY TACO WEEK March 6 -15 at participating locations throughout Polk County. Your favorite local restaurants will be featuring tacos this week! Try ice cream tacos, cake tacos, hot chicken tacos, and even dog biscuit tacos. Check goodfoodpolk.com/tacoweek for up-to-date participating restaurants, taco specials, and more. SPRING WINE WALK March 14, 2 – 5 p.m. at Bok Tower Gardens. Break out the leg warmers because the Totally 80’s Wine Walk is serving up gnarly nostalgia with every sip! Sample 12 wines with Chef Matt’s totally tubular snack pairings designed to elevate every pour. After-Party is from 5 – 7 p.m. Purchase tickets at boktowergardens.org LSO COOKIE CONCERT March 1, 1- 3 p.m. at Branscomb Auditorium in Lakeland. Designed for 5th-grade students, this 45-minute performance by the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra celebrates the wonder of the natural world. Instrument exploration from 1-2 p.m., concert from 2-3 p.m. Free, no ticket required. lkldsymphony.org RELAY FOR LIFE March 13, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. at Central Park in Downtown Winter Haven. Join this special event and celebrate local survivors, caregivers, and after the sun sets see the luminaria bags lit up. This fundraiser helps fund research and gives free services to local residents currently in treatment. relayforlife.org/polkfl BLOOMIN’ ARTS FESTIVAL March 7 & 8, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Downtown Bartow. Featuring over 100 talented artists and craftspeople showcasing their original works. Visitors will enjoy live entertainment, delicious food, and fun activities for all ages. The festival will have a car show, a quilt show, and more. Details at bartowbloominarts.org . BARK IN THE PARK March 27, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. in Central Park in Downtown Winter Haven by Main Street Winter Haven. Shop vendors offering tasty dog treats and dog accessories. Watch the Annual Wiener Dog Race, and more. All dogs welcome, please keep them on a leash. For more information visit mainstreetwh.com . COMMUNITYFEST March 7, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Central Park in Downtown Winter Haven. Visit the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce’s annual event for a full day of free family-friendly fun. Bring the kids for games, live entertainment, character meet & greets, fun activities, food trucks, music, and so much more. winterhavenchamber.com LAKELAND PUNK ROCK FLEA March 29, noon – 6 p.m. at Swan Brewing. This family-friendly event is free to attend and will have eight bands playing throughout the day, over 50 market vendors from all over Central Florida selling handmade punk rock jewelry, art, clothing, used vinyl, and more. Craft beer and food available for purchase. FB @lakelandpunkflea

LSO COOKIE CONCERT March 1, 1- 3 p.m. at Branscomb Auditorium in Lakeland. Designed for 5th-grade students, this 45-minute performance by the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra celebrates the wonder of the natural world. Instrument petting zoo and musical storytime from 1-2 p.m., concert from 2-3 p.m. Free, no ticket required. lkldsymphony.org BLOOMIN’ ARTS FESTIVAL March 7 & 8, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Downtown Bartow. Featuring over 100 talented artists and craftspeople showcasing their original works. Visitors will enjoy live entertainment, delicious food, and fun activities for all ages. The festival will have a car show, a quilt show, and more. Details at bartowbloominarts.org . LAKELAND RECORD FAIR March 1, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Lake Mirror Auditorium. Join Jesse Carl Vinyl for VOLUME VII of the Lakeland Record Fair! Shop from 25+ vendors selling used and new LPs, CDs, cassettes, 7” singles, memorabilia, and more! Local food & coffee for purchase. $5 admission at the door. FB @JesseCarlVinyl ROOTSTOCK SPRING SALE March 7, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Bok Tower Gardens. Rootstock Plant Sale is a garden lover’s dream! Shop from the state’s top plant vendors, take a hayride through the Pine Ridge Reserve, and enjoy live music on The Terrace. Celebrate spring with a walk through the gardens during peak bloom! boktowergardens.org POLK COUNTY TACO WEEK March 6 -15 at participating locations throughout Polk County. Your favorite local restaurants will be featuring tacos this week! Try ice cream tacos, cake tacos, hot chicken tacos, and even dog biscuit tacos. Check goodfoodpolk.com for up-todate participating restaurants, taco specials, and more. RISE OF THE HIGHWAYMEN TOUR March 25, 1 – 2 p.m. at the AGB Museum. Join the museum for a docent-led tour of art triumphing over adversity. Delve into the art, and learn about the lives of Harold Newton and Alfred Hair, the founding figures of the Florida Highwaymen, whose work is featured in this special exhibition. Free, no registration required. agbmuseum.org LRH PROMISE RUN March 7, 6 a.m. at the Lake Mirror Promenade. The Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center Promise Run is a10k and a 5k. Run, walk, or jog with your community and raise money to conquer cancer. Honor your friends and neighbors who have been touched by cancer. Registration info on FB @LakelandRegionalHealth. LAKELAND PUNK ROCK FLEA March 29, noon – 6 p.m. at Swan Brewing. This family-friendly event is free to attend and will have eight bands playing throughout the day, over 50 market vendors from all over Central Florida selling handmade punk rock jewelry, art, clothing, used vinyl, and more. Craft beer and food available for purchase. FB @lakelandpunkflea LKLD LINDY HOP Learn to do the Lindy Hop! Join every Monday from 6:30 – 11 p.m. at Union Hall for a fun, welcoming swing dance workshop night, no partner or experience required. Every Thursday you can level up your skills from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Uno Dos Tres Dance Studio. For more information visit lkldlindyhop.com . SPRING OBSESSION March 14, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Munn Park. Celebrate all things spring, gardening, and outdoor living with plant lovers from across Polk County. Visitors can shop for plants & flowers, garden décor & accessories, handmade spring-themed goods, and nature-inspired art & gifts. springobsession.org

THE GUEST By Emma Cline When a young woman is cast out of her wealthy boyfriend’s summer home, she drifts through the privileged enclaves of Long Island, surviving on charm and instinct. “The Guest” is emotionally uncomfortable on purpose. It’s not dramatic in a loud way; it unsettles you through anxiety, frustration, and moral discomfort. GARDEN SPELLS By Sarah Addison Allen In a small North Carolina town, two sisters reunite in their family home, where an enchanted garden and old wounds both demand tending. There are elements of magical realism - including a cantankerous apple tree - but it is really a story rooted in love and second chances. COME & GET IT By Kiley Reid Set on a Southern college campus in 2017, this novel follows a resident assistant and a visiting professor who enter into an arrangement that feels harmless—until it isn’t. As boundaries blur, Reid explores desire, money, power, and what we’re willing to trade for a better life. EVERYTHING INSIDE By Edwidge Danticat This remarkable collection of eight stories moves between Little Haiti in Florida and Haiti itself, centering primarily on Haitian lives shaped by migration, separation, and survival. Danticat explores the intricate nature of family ties, friendships, love, and grief with restraint and depth. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t overwhelm you while you’re reading it, but deepens once you’ve set it down. BANGKOK WAKES TO RAIN By Pitchaya Sudbanthad This debut novel reads as a love letter to a city and its inhabitants. Through a series of interconnected characters, it captures the restless spirit of Bangkok itself. Be warned, the narrative is non-linear, but though the individual lives unfold in separate threads at first, they gradually intersect and converge as the novel deepens. BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE By Fredrik Backman A fussy, socially awkward woman leaves her unfaithful husband and lands in a struggling small town where she’s unexpectedly tasked with coaching a children’s soccer team. What starts out gently funny slowly becomes something much more tender. Watching these unlikely friendships form is what gives the story its heart. In fact, you may miss them a little once the book is over. LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE By Celeste Ng Everything looks orderly at first - the planned neighborhoods, the structured lives and the unwritten rules that everyone seems to follow. But soon the carefully curated surface begins to unravel. A custody battle ignites long-buried tensions about motherhood, privilege, race, and identity. There’s also a quiet but pointed look at the pressures of white suburbia — how order and conformity can begin to feel suffocating THE HIDDEN CITY By Charles Finch This classic mystery follows sleuth Charles Lenox as he investigates a cold case tied to cryptic architectural symbols scattered across the city. Finch brings Victorian London to life through rich detail, crafting a puzzle that layers political intrigue and personal tension. Although this book is a part of a larger series, it works well as a stand alone. Simply allow yourself to be drawn in by the likable characters and the well-researched history