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Maritime, an oyster bar and coastal cuisine concept, just dropped anchor in downtown Winter Haven. Partners Jason Ellis, Conn O’Leary, and Corey Ripley are the masterminds behind Lakeland’s Cob and Pen, Good Thyme, and Rec Room. The three partnered with Miguel Barcelo to start Winter Haven’s newest pearl. “I think we’d always talked about a raw bar concept,” O’Leary said. When they were approached by Six/Ten, the investors behind the new open-air food hall, Bowen Yard, things began to fall into place. “Doing a concept that we loved, in a space that made sense, which we thought was Winter Haven – it just naturally evolved with the Bowen Yard concept,” said O’Leary. When you hear ‘seafood in Central Florida,’ you might think of all things fried. That’s been done, and it’s been done well here already. The Maritime partners hoped to set sail towards slightly different horizons. “We have a little more adventurous culinary tastes,” O’Leary said. “We thought about doing something more aggressive concept-wise.” “We wanted to make a place that’s comfortable for everybody,” Ellis added. “But we would also like to stretch our creative legs and bring people on an experience, a journey.” The oyster program at this Bowen Yard mainstay is worth the community chatter it inspired even before opening its doors. Maritime has chosen to sustainably source year-round from cold waters up the northeastern coast into Canada. “That’s the style that we really like, and felt like that was a way to push the envelope away from the typical Gulf oyster you find around here,” Ellis said. These include the likes of the less briney James River oysters from Virginia with a mild and meaty flavor and a hint of stone. Other options include the Irish Point oyster from Rustico, PEI, which has a tender texture, sweet brine, and smooth mineral finish. Among their offerings will be Summerside, Standish Shore, and Beavertail oysters. Maritime oysters are available raw or steamed in a rotating house selection served with Travis’s Hot Sauce, house cocktail sauce, grilled lemon, and saltines. Charbroiled oysters, available in garlic butter and parmesan or oysters Rockefeller, also make an appearance on the starter menu. Aside from a rock-star raw bar, Maritime has focused on an elevated, eclectic menu featuring the best in coastal cuisine. Popular during their ‘friends and family’ meals have been the crispy fish and chips made with beer-battered haddock, housemade tartare sauce, and lemon, and the lobster roll served Maine-style (cold salad) or Rhode Island-style (hot and butter poached). Innovation has been the name of the game with Chef Jason Boniface. After opening as the chef at the Red Door in Lakeland, Boniface joined Ellis, O’Leary, and Ripley at Cob and Pen, where he’s been for the last four years. From the Boston area, Boniface has plenty of experience in coastal cuisine. “He’s been helping us take the next step on our menu,” Ellis said. “He’s worked so hard with us at Cob and Pen that it was a no-brainer to allow him to remain there in an oversight capacity to keep standards where they need to be but to come over here and get to do something new as well.” The dining room is done up in taupes, corals, and blues, lending to its seaside vibe. The aesthetic is clean and minimal, with mid-century modern elements tied to the ocean. Sunbeams glint through a wall of windows, illuminating the spirits behind the bar, drenching the space in buttercream daylight during lunch hours. Much like a moody beach vista, Maritime’s mercurial nature takes over as the sun sets and lights come down, taking on a much sexier mood. No matter the time of day, all eyes are on the 50-foot bar made of quartz, sea glass, and oyster shells constructed by a company in South Carolina. Maritime murals are courtesy of local commercial artist and illustrator Josh ‘Bump’ Galletta. The bar is a focal point visually and in spirit. “One of the things we wanted to focus on in the inception of the idea was having a longer, more cocktail, cool-driven bar,” O’Leary said. The concept was a tiki-themed cocktail list with cool, tropical flavors bolstered by a solid wine program to pair with the oysters. “We’ll be super spirit and wine heavy, a little bit lighter on the beer, but we’ll still play the favorites,” O’Leary said. A few Maritime originals include the Paid Vacation with 4 Roses Bourbon, Pimm’s, blackberry basil syrup, and fresh lemon, and the Florida Man with Kraken Black Spiced Rum, Select Aperitivo, mango puree, passion fruit puree, and fresh lemon. Another crowd-pleaser is the Siren’s Song with tequila blanco, Italicus, prickly pear puree, fresh lime juice, and jalapeno. If you’d like to imbibe without the buzz, they also offer a mocktail called the False Idol with hibiscus tea, pineapple juice, mint, and ginger beer. The bar also features a pass-through window so Bowen Yard patrons can grab bites and cocktails to enjoy on the yard or pick a meal from one of the other on-site establishments and imbibe in a drink from Maritime. “With that kind of rising tide, we can all help each other out. I think that would be fantastic,” Ellis said of his neighbors. With three booming Lakeland concepts, why the move to the Chain of Lakes city? “We’ve been coming over here quite a bit, and it’s been cool to see it go from a couple of places we like to go, to five or six places we like to go, to seven or eight places we like to go. We’ve experienced that a lot as the town has grown,” Ellis said. “There seems to be an undercurrent of cool here that we really gravitate towards. They seem to be super supportive of the local restaurant, the local bar, the local spot. We wanted to be a part of that.” Maritime soft launched on June 13 with abbreviated hours and has added days and hours each week. They plan to celebrate with Bowen Yard in their grand opening on July 25. Maritime 302 4th St SW, Winter Haven (863) 229-7167 FB: Maritime - Winter Haven IG @maritime_wh maritimewh.com

Lakeland couple Jeremy and Leah Brumley are bringing their rockstar chicken concept to Winter Haven this summer. Maybe you’ve wondered what that hot pink sign on 17 would be or what the cow atop the building beckoning you to eat more chicken meant. The former filling station at 199 6th Street NW will be a 2,200-square-foot chicken joint serving up Southern scratch cuisine. LoveBird Almost Famous Chicken is expected to open their Winter Haven location in early August. The Brumleys opened LoveBird Almost Famous Chicken in Lakeland just over three years ago. “The community has been great. We’re very grateful for all the support,” said Jeremy. “They’ve been fantastic. They’re the reason why we’re open.” They opened dealing with supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic. They struggled to get the ingredients they needed, most importantly, chicken. Because of this, they were open six days a week for dinner only. “As of six months ago, we are now seven days a week, lunch and dinner,” Brumley said. “Everyone has been very supportive and patient.” Now it’s time to expand the Almost Famous Chicken brand. But first, a little LoveBird backstory. A lifelong Lakelander, Brumley opened his first business, Woodpecker Records, right out of high school in 1993. His mother ran the record store for a year while he attended college and played soccer in Alabama before returning to enroll at Florida Southern University. Ten years into owning Woodpecker Records, Brumley sold the business and started Rockstar Moms, a maternity clothing company, with his wife, Leah. Interested in dental school, Brumley moved to Gainesville for a time. There, he would frequent Hogan’s 83, a local sandwich shop. “It was just a hoagie shop with beer, and it was packed all the time,” he said. He liked the hoagie concept and talked with the owner about bringing it to Lakeland. Instead, Brumley connected with Jim Pollard, owner of some 63 Outback Steakhouses, who offered him a job. Coming from small business ownership and with a baby on the way, the idea of a steady paycheck was attractive to Brumley. “I fell in love with it and worked my way through it from $2.13 an hour all the way to executive,” he said. Brumley worked to learn every position he could, from server and bartender to line cook, host, and eventually executive. “Even to this day, I’m most proud about that,” he said of working his way up through the industry. He also worked at Bonefish, owned by the same company as Outback. Brumley hopped on board when the founder of the down-under steakhouse broke off and started the fast-casual chicken chain PDQ. He opened the Lakeland location and worked as regional vice president, VP of operations, and eventually COO. From offering lawn services as a kid to starting a record store and a clothing company, Brumley said, “We’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit in my family.” Despite his corporate gig, Brumley kept focused on his long-term goal to start something of his own again. Even before the pandemic, Brumley recognized the rapidly changing restaurant industry over his 20 years working within it. With the onslaught of online ordering, delivery, smaller square footage, food trucks, and the like, he saw an opportunity in the ever-evolving industry. Though the optics and delivery methods may change, “I do believe the future of the restaurant [industry] is still fresh food and great service,” he said. So, he and Leah set out to meet the changing restaurant industry’s needs when they secured their building, the former South Florida Starbucks, for their southern fried chicken concept – LoveBird. “My first introduction to Nashville hot [chicken] was going to Nashville, seeing shows and music, going to breweries,” said Brumley. He tried hot chicken at a brewery food truck and was hooked. Anytime he makes his way to the Music City, he always craves Nashville hot chicken. There is a hot chicken sandwich on the menu, but LoveBird isn’t exclusively a hot chicken joint. “The core of our business is Southern fried chicken,” said Brumley. “It’s great Southern fried chicken and great Southern scratch sides. Think about if a barbecue place and a fried chicken shack had a baby – that’s kind of what we are.” Former Bonefish colleague turned chef Rocco Taliani helped to develop the LoveBird menu. “He had a love for food and a path that took him from that to being a private chef,” Brumley said. “When I was doing the concept,” I thought it would be fun to get him involved.” The star of the show – delicious fried chicken – is fresh, never frozen, has no added hormones, and is served in quarters. Each chicken gets a little TLC every step along the way to keep it tender and tasty, starting with an up to 24-hour brine. “It’s a process where every level of the chicken is seasoned from its raw state with the brine, our flour, and it gets a dry rub when it comes out. It’s a premium chicken,” said Brumley. The LoveBird team keeps things traditional with the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, offering escalating heat levels depending on how spicy you feel. The chicken goes through a spicy chili-infused oil followed by a dry rub. A nod to Nashville, the hot chicken is served with white Wonder bread, sweet pickles, two scratch sides, and a sauce if you opt for a plate. For all the flavor and none of the heat, Brumley recommends their Southern-fried Almost Famous Chicken. Some of the scratch side offerings include slaw, bourbon baked beans, jalapeño bacon corn, tomato cucumber salad, and fries. Guests can opt for dirty fries seasoned and topped with cheese sauce, bacon, green onion, and buttermilk ranch. Round out your meal with Southern desserts like banana pudding. Now, LoveBird is flying east and bringing its old-fashioned country fried chicken with it. Of the new space, Brumley said, “I really like to keep everything compact, get the company to grow one restaurant at a time, and keep it people-focused more than it is the brand. Winter Haven completely makes sense.” As the company grows, the Brumleys want to avoid creating carbon copies. Though the soul of LoveBird will remain the same wherever you go, some elements will change. Without specifics, Brumley noted there will be a few tweaks and additions to the Winter Haven menu. Be on the lookout for the Brumleys’ next concept in Lakeland, a burger and hotdog spot with a full liquor bar at the former Poor Porker turned Unfiltered. We’ll fill you in on that tasty endeavor as it gets closer to opening. LoveBird Almost Famous Chicken 2101 S Florida Ave, Lakeland 199 6th St NW, Winter Haven lovebirdeats.com FB: LoveBird - Almost Famous Chicken IG @lovebird.eats

Many people think of palm trees when they think of Florida. It is an iconic species and Florida’s state tree, specifically the cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto). Whether you inherit a landscape with mature palms or are considering planting palms in your yard, you will need to know how to properly care for them. This time of year is when we talk about fertilizing palms, so if your palms are exhibiting a nutrient deficiency, read the section on fertilizing closely and also take a listen to our palm fertilizer episode of Your Central Florida Yard podcast: link.chtbl.com/cSUckX8W. Here are the basics when it comes to planting, fertilizing, and pruning palms. Planting Palms One of the most common problems with landscape plants, especially trees and shrubs, is that they are planted too deep. This preventable practice can lead to the early decline or death of a plant, especially palm trees. When planting your palm, dig the planting hole about twice the diameter of the root ball and the depth so that the top of the root ball is even with the soil surface. Do not cut roots that wrap around a container-grown palm as this will affect the growth. This is a very different practice than planting broadleaf trees, where it is suggested to cut wrapping roots. Summer is a great time of year to plant both container and field grown palms. Always look for a cold-hardy palm that will grow in central Florida zone 9b/10a. Common palms for our area include pindo palm, European fan palm, mule palm and cabbage palm. Fertilizing Palms Do you have palms growing in or near your lush green lawn that always seem to look yellow? Palm trees in Florida are often nutrient deficient when grown in, or near, a fertilized lawn, which can lead to an unsightly appearance such as yellow fronds, brown and abnormal frond tips, streaking, spotting and other presentations. Fertilization is key in maintaining healthy palms. The recommended fertilizer analysis is 8-0-12+4Mg. The first three numbers represent the percentage of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and the fourth number is for magnesium (Mg). The fertilizer should also contain micronutrients. It is also important to look for a palm fertilizer that has nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium in slow-release form and that most of the micronutrients are in water soluble form. Correcting nutrient deficiencies can take up to 2 to 3 years. The application and timing method are also important. Palm fertilizer should be applied evenly under the canopy of the palm. Bands of fertilizer or spikes are not recommended since these concentrations may burn the palm roots. In central Florida, you can fertilize palms three times during the year, skipping a winter fertilizer application. It is also important to remember that if you are correcting existing nutrient deficiencies, the affected palm fronds will not recover to their preferred appearance. The new fronds will emerge with no symptoms. And, while it is tempting to cut off the unsightly fronds, it is not recommended. These fronds (until fully brown) continue to provide nutrients to the palm. Pruning Palms Another major problem with palms is over pruning. Only completely dead fronds should be removed as previously mentioned. While yellow leaves may be unsightly, they are an indication of something going on. These leaves should be left on as they are still helping to support the palm through mobile nutrients, such as potassium (K). A healthy palm tree should actually have a 360-degree canopy of leaves. However, often they are over pruned due to nutrient deficiency symptoms. It is also recommended to not remove leaves above the horizon of three to nine (like on a clock). Also, hurricane pruning is a harmful and unnecessary practice since it leaves the palm more susceptible in high wind situations. You may be wondering about the flowers and fruit stalks. It is fine to leave them or prune them. If you have a palm that produces fruit that you do not want dropping litter in the yard or a paved surface, it is easier to trim off the lighter flower stalk than waiting to prune a heavy fruit stalk. If you have questions about palms, need a palm problem identified, or have other gardening questions, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9 am - 4 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. Give us a call or email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu. To learn more about gardening and landscaping in central Florida, 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. An Equal Opportunity Institution.

When you think of pollution, you might think of garbage on the ground, smoke in the air, or oil in the ocean. These are types of pollution that you can often see, feel, and sometimes even smell, and they have serious impacts on the health of both humans and wildlife. However, there is one type of pollution that isn’t recognized as often: light. Light pollution can obscure the stars or wash the night sky with a hazy glow; and it is something we all contribute to. WHAT IS LIGHT POLLUTION? DarkSky International, one of the most renowned worldwide authorities on light pollution, defines it as “the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally.” So, what causes light pollution? · Streetlights · Downtown lighting · Electronic advertising (Think electronic billboards or screens on the sides of buildings) · Stadium/sports arena lighting · Home lighting and porch lights · Or any other human-made source of light There are also four main components of light pollution. Glare occurs when excessive brightness causes visual discomfort, such as headlights reflecting off your rearview mirror. Sky glow is the brightening of the sky, particularly at night. This is what contributes to the hazy, dull appearance of the sky in and around urban areas. Light trespass occurs when light falls where it isn’t needed, such as when streetlights cast light unnecessarily into the sky instead of just pointing down toward the street or sidewalk. Clutter is an extremely bright, excessive, and often disorienting grouping of light sources. Think Times Square: hundreds of billboards and screens flashing with colors and patterns. That’s a lot of light! SO WHAT? You might be wondering what the big deal is about light pollution. It can be annoying, sure, but haven’t we all just become accustomed to it? How does it really affect humans or wildlife? Well, when we are exposed to light pollution, our circadian rhythms can be disrupted, leading to detrimental impacts to our sleep, mood, and stress levels. Light pollution can also create hazards while driving. Glare caused by headlights, signs, and streetlights can cause visual discomfort or extremely limited vision while driving at night, potentially impacting anyone on or near the road. WHAT ABOUT WILDLIFE? Excessive light pollution can confuse, daze, or even “trap” migrating species. When blinded by nighttime lights, migrating birds may spend valuable energy trying to regain their bearings. However, they may not be able to escape the lights before becoming exhausted or colliding with trees, buildings, or even other birds. Firefly populations may be critically impacted. Fireflies rely on their natural light to communicate with one another. Light pollution reduces natural darkness, which means fireflies may be less able to mate, find food, or defend themselves, which could be detrimental to their populations. Research suggests that direct light, like headlights passing by, can disrupt firefly communication for as long as 20 minutes. Some species in Central Florida only flash for 40 minutes an evening, so you can see how this could be problematic for their reproductive success. Bats may not know when to leave the roost. Bats use the cycles of sunlight and darkness as cues to know when to leave the roost and begin looking for food. When artificial lights remain illuminated after dark, bats may not know when to leave the roost; essentially becoming trapped! Though the bats may leave the roost eventually, this may disrupt their natural feeding and resting cycles, leading to poor health or exhaustion. As with humans, the circadian clocks of wildlife species may become disrupted. Other mammals, birds, reptiles, and even fish rely on circadian cycles to hunt, forage, and sleep in the most efficient manner. When these cycles are disrupted, animals can waste time and energy, potentially missing out on food or rest. WHAT CAN I DO? Fortunately, we all play a role in contributing to light pollution, so we can all take steps to help reduce it! The easiest ways to reduce your impact on light pollution begin at home. Here are some simple steps you can take: · Change all outdoor lights to motion-activated to reduce the duration of light pollution · Close your blinds, or curtains, at night to reduce light escaping into the yard · Consider using string lights or lamps rather than overhead lighting Additional suggestions can be found by going to darksky.org, the official website of Dark Sky International. Outside of your own home, it can be difficult to influence lighting practices. However, one thing you can strive for is community education and communication. Share this article with a friend and talk about additional ways to reduce light pollution in Polk. Remember that we can all contribute - and each small contribution we make adds up, potentially improving the wellbeing of humans, wildlife, and natural areas globally. Take the time to turn out the lights, go outside, and look up at the night sky; you might be surprised by just how much you can see! Did you know? Fireflies are still found in Polk County’s rural and urban areas. Our office has recent reports of fireflies on Lakes Howard and Rochelle in Winter Haven, Loyce Harpe Park in Lakeland, and along the rural roads and pastures in Fort Meade and other areas of rural Polk County This article was written by Natural Resources Extension Program Intern, Ms. Hanley Renney, under supervision by Natural Resources and Conservation Extension Agent, Mrs. Shannon Carnevale.

Farhad and Gianna Rahmani, who met working as real estate agents, always knew they wanted to work with family. Farhad loved food and even remembers eating a tray packed full of McDonald’s items upon his arrival in America. He knew that he got joy out of cooking, so what better than to cook for others alongside his family? Farhad felt that he benefited greatly from learning to cook from his mother. “That helped me a lot,” he said, “I was able to feed myself.” He traveled a long journey from Iran to America for religious asylum and was grateful he could take care of himself in an unfamiliar country. The Rahmanis have lived all around the United States, but knew a place with palm trees was a place for them. They took up residence in Lakeland and noticed a lack of Persian and Mediterranean food options. “We heard that we need to start that option in Polk County,” Farhad recounted. The family’s food truck, Feasts of Persia, located at Union Hall, provides a wide range of options fusing American and Persian food. “It offers something for everyone,” Gianna said of their menu options. The family has even begun working with nutrition and fitness experts to supply dishes for a healthy diet. “This is an option where they can have that Mediterranean healthy lifestyle,” said Gianna. Feasts of Persia even offers a “Traditional Thursday” where they serve dishes for those who prefer Persian food the traditional way. The Rahmanis are happy that they can deliver these kinds of options to Polk County. “They’re so used to the mindset of ‘Orlando, Tampa’ for different or unique food,” Gianna said, “They’re starting to get that they don’t have to do that anymore. We’re right here.” Feasts of Persia is a great way to enjoy Persian meals without driving an hour through traffic. Not only are the Rahamanis providing for the community, but the community is providing for them. “You can see from our recent ribbon-cutting how the community just showed up,” Gianna said. Farhad explains having made lots of friends within the community. “The support’s been great,” he said. Along with the backing of their community, the Rahmanis feel lucky to have the support of their family. Gianna said, “It definitely makes all the challenges that we do have to face as a small business a lot more worth it.” While they enjoy cooking, Farhad and Gianna are also grateful for the time they get to spend alongside their sons Dominik and Nikolas. “There’s nothing that makes us happier than to be able to hang out with him all the time,” said Gianna about running a business with Dominik. Dominik Rahmani worked his first job at LEGOLAND, making funnel cakes. “It genuinely was fun working at the funnel cake station,” he said. Growing up with parents who instilled an ambitious mindset, Dominik knew funnel cakes were the perfect foundation for his first business, Funnel Feasts. Though he hadn’t expected to become a part of the food business, he certainly has enjoyed his experience. Recently, Dominik began funnel cake catering with a self-serve topping bar. “I wanted to cater a dessert that would be a lot more diverse and is something that anyone could customize,” he said. Dominik explained that with the addition of a topping bar, “they can put whatever toppings they want and then go off and have fun at the party.” Similar to Farhad and Gianna, Dominik is glad to be able to spend some quality time with his parents and his brother. As children, Nikolas and Dominik would join their father while Farhad toured properties and watched as he interacted with clients. The family has truly been working together long before Feasts of Persia. The outdoor setting of Feasts of Persia is reminiscent of a desert oasis. There is no need to stress about the Florida heat under the shady picnic tables. On hotter days, there are even cool misting fans. Whether one is in the mood for a kabob or a burger, Feasts of Persia will have you covered. Every bite of their Chicken Kabob sandwich is bursting with flavor, and the FOP Burger has all the American flavors of a Fourth of July party with a hint of those Persian roots. Try not to get too full yet because Dominik’s funnel cakes will melt in one’s mouth. Not only is the presentation of the Cheesecake Crunch Funnel Cake mouth-watering, but the sweetness of every bite is intoxicating. Dominik also sells smaller portions of his funnel cakes for those who might not be able to finish a whole one on their own. The Rahmani family delivers great food as well as the heartwarming example of a wholesome family. A family who laugh, smile, and do great business together. Gianna Rahmani smiled and said, “Friends are family and family are the best of friends.” Feasts of Persia 1023 Florida Ave S, Lakeland (863) 272-9330 FB: Feasts of Persia IG @feastsofpersia linktr.ee/feastsofpersia

Richard’s is the kind of place where it’s easy to sit down and get lost in a book over a piping hot cup of tea or catch up with friends over cold brew. When Dave Tuttle started Richard’s Fine Coffees nearly 30 years ago, that was his vision – a place “where you could get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Drift off, if you wish, into another world.” No one knows Richard’s cozy home-feel better than new owners Koreen and Jimmy Hobbs. Richard’s Fine Coffees was Koreen’s first job outside of working with her father, a local chiropractor. She got the job with Dave two days after she turned 16 and worked there for nearly four years. “I just fell in love with the people and the industry,” Hobbs said. She and her husband even fell in love at the little coffee shop overlooking Central Park. When they started dating, Jimmy would come up to Richard’s and sit with Koreen during her late-night shifts (Richard’s closed at 11 pm back then). He’d help her close up, and they’d walk home to their downtown apartment together. “Our love flourished as well as our love for owning a coffee shop one day,” Hobbs said. Both Jimmy and Koreen worked for Eye Express for about ten years. Then Koreen went to school for aesthetics, where she met a woman who would soon become her friend. Koreen worked her way up through her friend’s business until she became the director of operations for eight years. Eventually, the company moved to California, and Koreen was looking for local employment. In the meantime, Jimmy moved on to car sales. Over the years, the Hobbs kept in touch with Tuttle. Jimmy even sold him a few cars. They’d tell Richard’s owner to let them know when he was ready to retire. That call came in September 2023. “It was funny how it all worked out for us because I was looking for something, and our dream was always to have a coffee shop.” The Hobbs dreamed of having a coffee shop when their two girls, Rylee and Laycee, graduated high school. The opportunity came a little earlier than that, with the girls aged 10 and 15, but they couldn’t refuse it. After working her way up through her friend’s company, Koreen felt business ownership was the next step for her. Last December 1, the Hobbs officially took ownership of Richard’s Fine Coffees. “When you have a business for as long as Dave did, for close to 30 years, he’s obviously doing something right. The basis of this business is our returning loyal customers, and making a lot of changes is something I didn’t want to do,” said Koreen. “We’re here to carry the torch, but put a little bit of a woman’s touch on it.” Along with its bright, cheery interior overlooking the vast green of the park downtown, Richard’s is known for, of course, its coffee. In addition to coffee creations and espresso beverages, the shop offers tea, smoothies, soft beverages, kombucha, and cold brew. Richard’s is most known for its killer pressed Cuban piled high with ham, roasted pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, pickles, and homemade sauce on authentic Ybor City Cuban bread. The menu also boasts an assortment of breakfast sandwiches, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, chicken and tuna salad, bagels, and pastries. “We just want it to feel like your hometown coffee shop. Somewhere you can come where you’re comfortable to meet with a friend, go on a first date, or even business meetings,” said Hobbs, who noted that her favorite part about running Richard’s so far has been the people. She’s even reunited with customers she remembers serving when she worked there as a teen almost 20 years ago. “They’re the ones who keep the doors open and the lights on,” she said. The new owner described Richard’s as akin to “Cheers,” where you walk in, and everyone knows your name. Richard’s Fine Coffees is a family affair, with husband Jimmy recently coming on full-time and daughters Rylee and Laycee running the register and bussing tables when they can. Koreen said, “They love that it’s a familyowned business that they can come in and help with and that we can all be together a little bit more, too.” Richard’s Fine Coffees 330 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven (863) 291-3082 FB: Richard’s Fine Coffees IG @richards_coffee richardsfinecoffees.com Photography by Amy Sexson

The couple behind Hart Art, Caroline and Laurie Hart, have had an exciting year. What started with a tiki bar turned into their own art gallery at a local resort. But more on that later. Let’s catch up with the Harts! The Hart Art story is one of international love, civil rights hard fought and won, and a shared creativity turned livelihood. Caroline hails from a small West Sussex village. She had a career in the radio industry, including the U.K.’s number-one commercial radio station, London’s Capital Radio. Creativity has been central to Caroline all her life. She loves to write and has trained as an artist, graphic designer, and photographer. Bostonian Laurie toured New England as a professional hula dancer from the age of 15. She went on to spend 17 years working in the medical field. The two met online in 2005. Caroline and Laurie sparked a connection over their appreciation of photography, theatre, and music. That spark would be kindled a month later when Caroline flew across the Atlantic to meet Laurie in person. “And that’s where we first met, at an airport in Boston,” Caroline said, smiling. On their website, “theLexperience,” Caroline writes, “Love definitely gave me more to feel inspired about, and my creativity has flourished.” And flourished it has. The Harts co-owned a photography business for 15 years in Massachusetts before moving to Winter Haven in 2019, looking to escape the frigid New England winters. They bought their home that August and registered theLexperience LLC as a business the next month as a joint creative venture and outlet. “We knew how important it was to tell our story. Everyone has a story,” Laurie said. The couple had honeymooned in Hawaii and celebrated their 10th anniversary on its crystalline beaches. Unable to travel with their 15th anniversary on the horizon, the Harts decided to bring Hawaii to them. “We thought we’d build our own Hawaiian oasis in our back [yard],” Caroline said. “We built this tiki bar, the two of us. It was crazy, and it was very funny because we’d never done anything like it before.” Upon constructing their backyard paradise, Caroline and Laurie embellished it with a painting. “That was always my love, doing art. Every kind of thing you could imagine – detailed pen and ink to oil painting,” Caroline said. Their neighbors loved the image, which inspired the pair to embark on more wood-based painting projects. They sold them to neighbors and friends, who in turn requested commission pieces. Fueled by creativity and encouragement, they ventured to local markets to sell their artwork. Caroline remembers thinking, ‘We could really make something of this.’ She added, “We are incredibly grateful for all the local support for our artwork and even have regulars who frequent the markets searching us out.” Leading up to their big break with Camp Margaritaville, the Harts were selling their work at the Winter Haven Farmers Market. “The local people have been wonderful support for us,” Laurie said. At the end of last year, they got the opportunity to join Small Business Sundays at Camp Margaritaville Auburndale’s twice-monthly indoor Paradise Market. “It feels like our artwork has found a home at Camp Margaritaville,” said Laurie. “They’ve embraced our artwork, and it feels like we’re part of the family at Camp Margaritaville.” “We always loved doing the tropical art,” said Caroline. “Once we got this opportunity with Camp Margaritaville, we were able to focus back into our original love.” The songs of Jimmy Buffett embody that laid-back Florida atmosphere. “We found this natural feeling drawn to creating pieces that were inspired by his music and all his songs,” said Caroline. “When we’re painting, we love to be listening to his music and then creating pieces that are inspired by the lyrics of his songs and that whole vibe of his that’s laid back, tropical paradise. Hearing his music makes us feel so connected in a way that we never had before.” The Parrot Heads, aka Jimmy Buffett fans, were drawn to Hart Art’s pieces. “We found that we instantly could bring to life all these songs, and they absolutely loved it,” said Caroline. The couple loves to hear fan stories about Jimmy Buffett and share their own. Laurie’s parents were married for over 30 years when her mother passed away. Her father was devastated and fell into a deep depression. Laurie decided to take her father to his firstever concert, Jimmy Buffett. “If you go to any of his concerts, you’re going to a world of escapism,” Laurie said. “For those two hours, he escaped his life for a while, and that joy is something I’ll always remember.” Caroline’s story with Buffett is a bit more lighthearted. The year is 1979, and 16-yearold Caroline is sprawled across the back of the family’s red Pontiac Firebird on their American vacation. One night, while heading towards Key West, looking for a place to eat, they passed an illuminated sign that read ‘Jimmy Buffett Tonight.’ Her mom said, ‘Oh, a Jimmy’ buffet,’ I wonder what that is.’” In addition to the bi-monthly markets they attend at Camp Margaritaville Auburndale, Hart Art hosts a monthly Sip and Paint there. Caroline leads the class, and Laurie offers help or guidance to those who need it. Tickets for their Sip and Paint can be purchased at centralfloridatix.com. Through their work with Camp Margaritaville, the Harts have been able to support another local small business, Stacy’s Printing, which makes all of their prints. “Camp Margaritaville has given us an opportunity as a big, branded company and we’re so grateful for that. We wanted to keep it local and help someone in our community,” said Laurie. Another connection to Buffett is Hart Art’s partnership with the Save the Manatee Club. The award-winning national nonprofit was established in 1981 by Jimmy Buffett and thenGovernor Bob Graham. For every original canvas that Hart Art sells at a Paradise Market, a portion of the funds are donated to Save the Manatee Club. In August, Hart Art’s gallery will open at Camp Margaritaville Auburndale with two walls displaying their original acrylic on canvas pieces and acrylic reproductions. “As artists, there’s nothing more rewarding than getting your own gallery,” said Caroline. “We couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity that Camp Margaritaville has given to us, allowing us to have our artwork permanently on display.” Save the Manatee Club will have a permanent feature on one wall in the gallery with a large sign featuring one of Hart Art’s pieces. Caroline said, “It’s like a dream come true. We keep saying to ourselves, ‘Are we really going to have a gallery at Camp Margaritaville?’” Hart Art IG @hartart2021 thelexperience.com Photograph by Amy Sexson

“It’s a beautiful life,” Craig Pickos said of his recovery journey. Pickos (NCPRSS, RYT) is Polk for Recovery’s founder and executive director. The nonprofit is a Recovery Community Organization (RCO), a “grassroots movement led by and for those in recovery from substance use, mental health, or other obstacles to wellness.” September is National Recovery Month. In a lead-up to the observance of this month, which is held to “educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life,” according to NAADAC, we wanted to learn more about Polk for Recovery and how we can celebrate those in recovery. Craig Pickos was born in Wisconsin and moved to Florida when he was 14. He was part of a family of water skiers and even ranked tenth in the world at one time. He started using around age 13, and by 17, addiction had crushed his water-skiing career. “I didn’t know that I had the disease of addiction. I didn’t know that when I wanted to stop using, I couldn’t. I didn’t know that I was using it to cope and keep what life I thought I had together,” he said. Pickos started his recovery journey at age 37 in 1997 at what is now the Mary Lyons Detox Center. He identifies as a person in long-term recovery. In 2012, he had a lapse. “It was caused because of complacency. I had moved and hadn’t replaced the network of support that I had in Florida. When life showed up, I didn’t make the best choices,” Pickos said. The consequences of that lapse elucidated to him that a person with this condition requires ongoing support for as long as they want to live a happy, healthy life. Pickos recommitted to his recovery and, about a year or two into it, heard about a program training people to provide recovery support services that set a path toward professional credentials. He attended the 40-hour training required to become a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) and began volunteering at the local detox facility where he lived in Columbia, South Carolina. Through this, he gained an opportunity to use his lived experience to help others in a professionally credentialed way. Another nonprofit in the area heard about Pickos’s work at the detox center and called to offer him a job when they started a new program. He left the bicycle industry he’d been in for over 30 years and took on his first position as a peer specialist as part of a clinical team at a youth drop-in center in downtown Columbia. While there, he was invited to participate in the development of an RCO. Through that process, he was introduced to what an RCO is, how they benefit the community, how to apply for nonprofit status, how to build a board, etc. He carried those building blocks with him when he relocated to be near his parents back in Florida. Starting a Local RCO Shortly after moving back to the Sunshine State, Pickos upgraded to a national certification through NAADAC. He’s been through four training programs, including one that certifies him to facilitate training programs for others. “I looked around Polk County and was curious to know what kind of work like that was being done here. And there wasn’t any. In fact, there wasn’t really any in the entire state,” he said. “This portion of the recovery movement had been taking place in other states for a long, long time.” His first order of business was to find employment, so he reached out to providers offering acute care. “Addition is chronic. It will have an acute episode, but it’s something that requires continual support and maintenance,” he noted. Peer specialist jobs existed in the area, but they didn’t pay a living wage at the time. Pickos considered returning to school for a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health. Unsure that that was the path to take, he wondered what he could create with his existing knowledge, experience, and credentials. After attending a few trainings in the area to connect with people in the field and build his network, he met Ginny LaRue. LaRue was part of a project through the state RCO, Floridians for Recovery. They had secured a grant to support community recovery champions in building a grassroots movement that would establish a network of organizations throughout the state. Pickos asked LaRue, “How can I get our county to be part of your project so you can come in and support us? We have people that want this.” He began to locate and acquaint himself with local peer specialists, getting them excited about his idea to build an RCO in Polk County. Pickos and his team were the last ones selected to receive the remaining money from the Florida Recovery Project. The project supplied support for a little over a year. During that time, they had a community listening session and a virtual recovery symposium with the assistance of the national RCO, Faces and Voices of Recovery. “We kept putting one foot in front of the other,” Pickos said. His team of six volunteers operated with funding through a $20K donation from Central Florida Health Care until receiving a community wellness initiative grant in January 2022. The grant gave them enough money to begin hiring, first Pickos and then Andrea Anderson, Director of Community Outreach, followed shortly by Tina Brown, Director of Peer Support Services. Polk for Recovery currently has a staff of seven paid individuals and one volunteer and has become recognized as a provider while continuing to grow. “I’ve got an absolutely amazing team of individuals,” said Pickos. He also noted the roughly 25 agencies and organizations they partner with throughout the community. Much of Polk for Recovery’s work involves community outreach. Pickos, along with his operations and finance managers, supervises a team of four certified recovery peer specialists who work in the community, engaging with individuals seeking referrals, support services, and resources. They also interact with many area hospitals, recovery residencies, the county’s Problem-Solving Court, and organizations supporting the unhoused. “As we continue to develop, we’ll provide more direct, nonclinical services,” Pickos said. This would mean having a brick-andmortar location with an intake process. They would use recovery capital tools to assess a person’s strengths and areas where they could use additional support and build a recovery action plan with a more structured schedule of engagements with a peer specialist. One of the most recent pilot projects at Polk for Recovery was to connect and establish a schedule of trainings to increase the peer specialist workforce in the Suncoast region. National Recovery Month National Recovery Month started in 1989. Pickos believes it was initiated to reduce the stigma around recovery. “So often, people don’t see the other side of what addiction looks like. They only see the most negative aspects. They see homelessness, they see crime, they see how it destroys families. […] The simple fact of the matter is that people do recover,” he said. During National Recovery Month, Pickos said, it’s essential for people like himself and his staff to go out into the community as the faces and voices of recovery and take the central focus away from the disease. He estimates that 1.5 million people are in recovery in Florida. He said, “If we have a unified voice, we’ll be a force to be reckoned with because we pay taxes, we vote, and we do recover.” “Another big point of Recovery Month is to get out there and celebrate and speak openly so people have the opportunity to meet a person and see a face instead of relying on a label,” Pickos said. The Polk for Recovery executive director called the recovery community a family, and in some respects, more profound than that. Pickos spoke of unconditional acceptance and support. “Most of us who consider ourselves in recovery, of course, didn’t enjoy what we had to go through to get there, but once we’re there, you won’t find a more grateful group of people.” If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact Polk for Recovery for support and resources. Polk for Recovery FB: Polk for Recovery polkforrecovery.org

Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance (PACA) is the Local Arts Agency for Polk County. As such, PACA “advocates for all the Cultural Arts Organizations in Polk County and promotes the impact of the Cultural Arts Sector as integral to the quality-of-life in our county.” The organization actively represents Polk County’s arts and cultural interests to agencies, governments, chambers of commerce, and the business community on a national, state, and local level. They allocate funding and provide their members with marketing, professional development, advocacy, and education. Executive Director Daryl Ward has been with the organization for a year and a half. His philosophy? “I don’t believe a person’s access to arts and cultural experiences should be dictated by their zip code.” Ward’s family has been in Florida for generations. They hailed from the Panhandle and made a living as oyster fishermen. Ward has lived in Polk County for over 50 years. He taught English at Kathleen High School in Lakeland before moving to Mulberry High School, his alma mater, where he taught for 15 years. After receiving his master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, Ward became a middle school dean of students. Next, he worked as the assistant principal at Harrison School for the Arts for eight years and was the principal for seven years. “It gave me some unique insight. I had a non-arts education background teaching English, and then I got to see the arts background as well when I was at Harrison,” said Ward. “One of the things that uniquely equipped me for my current job was that Harrison was one of the few countywide schools. I learned to appreciate early the relationships with different entities countywide.” In late 2019, Ward took a position at Southeastern University. Following his time at SEU, Ward was contacted about the executive director slot at the then Polk Arts Alliance, now Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance (PACA). “It was a good opportunity to stay in touch with the arts and cultural community,” he said. One of his first acts as executive director was to change the name from Polk Arts Alliance to Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance. He did this to include cultural members like history centers and children’s museums. Arts Budget Cut This summer, Ward has advocated heavily for the local arts and cultural scene after an unexpected slash of the state budget. On June 12, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in arts funding from the legislature-approved 2024-25 budget. In defense of his decision, DeSantis noted the Tampa and Orlando Fringe Festivals, which he called a “sexual festival.” Grants allocated to these festivals made up less than 1% of the total state arts budget. This veto deleted all funding for the three categories of arts and culture grants: Cultural and Museum, Culture Builds Florida, and Cultural Endowments. This affected more than 600 recipients across the state. “This is devastating for arts organizations,” said Ward. “The cuts are drastic enough, but it is unprecedented for all the funding to be cut.” Arts organizations can get state funding in one of two ways. The first is through direct legislative action, which happened earlier this year when the Polk Museum of Art received $500K for its expansion project. Those legislative actions are relatively rare, says Ward. The second is through a rigorous grant process. Organizations often apply for grants more than a year out from their budget. These local arts and cultural organizations knew they were approved, knew of the legislative cuts before they hit the governor’s desk, and didn’t find out about the vetoes until a month before the fiscal year, making it difficult to make up the lost funds. David Price, from Bok Tower Gardens noted that, “for us this is a blow to our budget as these grants fund important programs. We will need to trim from other programs and eliminate other initiatives to support the overall budget.” DeSantis’s veto meant a shortfall of $449K in arts funding for Polk County. “It’s going to impact programming. There’s the chance with some of your smaller organizations that it could impact personnel,” said Ward. “Will it cause any to close their doors? I think that’s doubtful.” “I think Governor DeSantis probably unintentionally angered some of his supporters who may not support a Fringe Festival, but they support a children’s museum,” Ward said. “I don’t think that was his intent. I think there will be some systemic changes, whether to the grants process or how it all works moving forward, so as not to have an organization that thought they were eligible to get money to suddenly get nothing.” Despite the unexpected budget cuts, there is hope for our local arts and cultural organizations. Local philanthropists through the GiveWell Community Foundation worked with the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance to offer financial assistance due to this year’s budget shortfall. The donors combined their gifts to provide $200,000 to seven local arts and cultural organizations. “While this certainly doesn’t replace the entire amount Polk grant recipients would have received in the budget, it’s wonderful to see local supporters step in to help,” said Ward. “The donors were very wellinformed and intentional with their gifts in an effort to mitigate financial losses to the degree possible.” Kerry Falwell, CEO of the Florida Children’s Museum, notes how this donation will have a significant impact on the community. “I am humbled and overjoyed by the community response to the loss of state arts funding. This gift is so important to thousands of children in Central Florida,” she said. “Polk County has such strong support for arts and culture. This generous donation further solidifies our community as one that benefits from such gracious and impactful philanthropy,” added Ward. Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Gala In lighter news, the Polk Arts and Culture Hall of Fame Gala, honoring local contributors to art and culture, is coming up this fall. The Polk County Arts Hall of Fame was created in 2014 to honor lifetime achievements in the arts and cultural realm for Polk County natives. Previously, Polk Arts Alliance (PAA) would induct people in convenient settings. They inducted world-renowned concert pianist Robert MacDonald at a concert at Florida Southern College, for example, and former PAA Executive Director Meri Mass at her retirement. “I wanted to elevate the event to celebrate arts and cultural people the same way we celebrate other people in our county,” said Ward. And so the Polk Arts and Culture Hall of Fame Gala was born. The inaugural gala took place last year at Bonnet Springs Park, with over 250 people in attendance and six people inducted into the Arts Hall of Fame. Another change Ward made was in the nomination process, which he moved toward, though not entirely, a democratic process. Nominations are open to the public along with the criteria PACA seeks in inductees. Ward then culls that list for those who don’t meet the requirements before sending it to a selection committee of PACA board members, community members, and living Hall of Fame members. Those rankings are tallied and sent finally to PACA’s Hall of Fame sub-committee. “While we want public input, another one of the goals is to make the Hall of Fame representative of all of Polk County,” said Ward, who noted they are seeking gender, ethnic, geographic, and artistic diversity in the process. “I don’t want anybody to be in there who isn’t worthy of the recognition because of their qualifications. But if they’re all worthy, let’s ensure this represents all of Polk County.” In addition to honoring lifetime achievement, PACA bestows Arts & Culture Awards, including Arts/Cultural Organization of the Year, Arts/Cultural Philanthropist of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Arts/Cultural Educator of the Year, and the Rising Star Award. This year, the Polk Arts and Culture Hall of Fame Gala will be held on October 15 at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven, where five people will be inducted. Tickets for the gala go on sale in August. PACA FB: Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance IG @polkartsandculture polkarts.org

ABOUT THE CHINABERRY TREE In the beginning years of Winter Haven’s history, the early 1900s, a Chinaberry tree grew in the east-bound lane of what is now Central Avenue in downtown Winter Haven. The Southern Railway Station was located just to the southwest in what is now South Central Park. In those days the tree was a shady spot where residents tied their horses while they took care of personal business downtown. It was there under the Chinaberry tree where neighbor met neighbor and shared news, information and more than a little gossip … sort of a Face-to-Facebook before automobiles. This column is using that communication legacy to retell vignettes from our city’s history -- some portions of which were surely shared beneath its branches. The Chinaberry tree was shaped like a large umbrella. (Snell National Bank, now Arabella’s Restaurant visible to right.) While this particular tree played an important role in Winter Haven’s early development, today Chinaberry trees are considered an invasive species. STATEHOOD, SECESSION AND SETTLERS Much of the earliest Winter Haven History is lost to the ages. Specific accounts of early settlers are extremely rare, though some were captured in early newspapers. Florida, a territory belonging to the U.S. since 1822 became a state in 1845. The onset of the Civil War saw Florida secede in 1861, repeal the action in 1865 and adopt a new constitution in 1868. Ulysses S. Grant was president during the years 1869 to 1877. It was during this period that settlers began coming to Florida and Polk County … some near the present site of Winter Haven. Up until this time, Native Americans had traditionally occupied the interior of the state as white settlers migrated to the coastal areas. The movement of settlers to this area led to friction between the Native Americans and homesteaders. Forts were developed and soldiers grew to appreciate the area’s beauty, later returning with their families. In 1865, Columbus Lafayette Thornhill relocated to this area living first at Carters Corners (about four miles east of Lakeland) and several years later purchasing the Math King homestead near Eagle Lake. Present day Thornhill Road intersects Spirit Lake Road near this property. Thornhill and his wife Carolyn Glover raised ten children on their land. Many descendants of this early family reside in the area today. THE LAKE COUNTRY, BEAUTIFUL YET DANGEROUS Early accounts tell of a rich land that could be darkly brutal. The following recollections paint pictures from the earliest settlers through their descriptions of the time. These were contained in The History of Winter Haven by Josephine Burr and newspaper archives. John Thornhill (son of Columbus Thornhill) “My father … had some cattle and pigs but everyone merely notched the pigs’ ears and branded the cattle and turned them loose in the woods. There was nothing but woods then … big pines mostly with here and there an oak grove and spots called hammocks where blackberries and big bush huckleberries grew. These woods were a tangle of all sorts, and a good many bears were killed in them. Wild game was abundant – everyone had a gun and knew how to use it.” Seminole Chief Tallahassee befriended early area settlers. Traveling in a covered wagon drawn by oxen, the Joseph J. Sikes family came to the area in 1878. They homesteaded on high ground southwest of Lake Howard near Lake Shipp. The Sikes had six children, the youngest a daughter named Matilda. She would later recall “the washing was done by batting the clothes on a wooden chopping block at the end of the horse trough where laundry was soaked. The clothes were then boiled in a large iron pot with homemade soap. This soap was made by pouring water through wood ashes over a hopper which made lye. This was added to a pot of fat, cooked over a fire and strained. It was guaranteed to remove dirt … and skin.” Sara Maude Jackson moved to this area in 1881 at the age of four. Jackson recalled in a News Chief series published in the 1940s, “I saw Winter Haven grow from a trackless forest to a hustling young community in its first four years. My father, George G. Jackson, a Methodist preacher and school teacher, brought his wife and six small children to Florida in November 1881. My father went to Bartow and arranged to purchase the Carpenter orange grove on the west shore of Lake Howard. He also bought 100 acres of government land to the west of the grove for a dollar twenty-five an acre. There were 38 acres in the grove and clearing all enclosed by split-rail fences. Deer roamed the forest under the pines which were enormous … 40-50 feet to the first limbs … and grew so close together we could see only a short distance.” Jackson continued, “The Seminole Indians brought us venison and made us moccasins. Once Chief Tallahassee came when I was alone at the house. He indicated I was to sit down and he would put the moccasins on my feet. The rawhide laces were too long and after he had tied them he reached behind and drew a huge knife to cut the ends of the laces.” Frightened, Sara immediately ran from the house and off in the direction her family had gone to pick wild blackberries. In perhaps her most poignant recollection she notes, “When my parents came to Florida their children were all healthy. But the mosquitoes were very bad and they soon had malaria.” Four of the Jacksons’ children died in 1885 and 1886. In 1887, the Jacksons sold their property and left for Seattle. The Thornhill Family - Back row L to R: Monroe, Oveida, Lucius, Eldridge, Bena, Robert and John. Seated: Lula, Columbus, Sarah Caroline (Glover) and Fannie. Not pictured: Ozabell. A rich land of plenty greeted these first settlers, but the environment was harsh and disease took its toll. Nevertheless, the Eycleshimer, Harris and Inman families would join these determined pioneers. The 1880s would bring the railroad and the platting of what would become the village of Winter Haven. Next month: The village is platted and F.A.K. Harris comes to town. Bob Gernert is a student of Winter Haven history and founded the Museum of Winter Haven History at the historic Women’s Civic League building on Lake Howard. If you have questions or information to share, please email bobgernert@gmail.com or telephone 863-206-6855.

When we think of Florida’s natural land- scapes, images of alligators and sprawling wetlands often come to mind. But hidden among the swamps and bogs of Florida are some of the most unusual and fascinating predators: carnivorous plants. Perfect for Halloween, these spooky yet spectacular species have evolved to capture and digest unsuspecting prey. They thrive in Florida’s sunny, boggy wetlands, providing ecological benefits and adding an eerie charm to the state’s unique habitats. WHY SO HUNGRY? Carnivorous plants may seem straight out of a Halloween story, but their creepy adaptations are essential for survival in nutrient-poor environments like Florida’s acidic, waterlogged wetlands. While most plants rely solely on photosynthesis, these clever carnivores need a little extra—supplementing their diet with insects and small organisms to access nutrients, particularly nitrogen, which their soil cannot provide. Each plant has its own method of trapping prey. The Hooded Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia minor) uses pitfall traps—tall, tubular leaves filled with digestive enzymes. Insects, lured by the plant’s nectar, slip down the slick walls and are digested slowly. The Sundew (Drosera capillaris) uses sticky, dew-like droplets on its leaves to trap unsuspecting insects, secreting enzymes to break down its prey. Meanwhile, Bladderworts (Utricularia spp.), which float in slow-moving water, use tiny bladder traps to suck in aquatic organisms like mosquito larvae, using a vacuum-like suction that works in milliseconds. These adaptations allow carnivorous plants to flourish where other species would struggle, proving that even plants can have a taste for something more ... sinister. POLK COUNTY’S CARNIVOROUS CHARACTERS Polk County is home to several captivating species of carnivorous plants. If you venture into the county’s bogs, wet prairies, or savannas, you may be lucky enough to encounter some of these unique plants in their natural habitat: • HOODED PITCHER PLANT (Sarracenia minor): Known for its tall, green, and red pitchers with translucent “windows” that disorient insects, the hooded pitcher plant thrives in Polk County’s wetlands. The plant’s hoods prevent rainwater from diluting the digestive enzymes inside, ensuring each insect caught contributes to the plant’s nutrition. This species is state-threatened due to habitat loss or alteration. You can learn more, here: fnps.org/plant/sarracenia-minor • PINK SUNDEW (Drosera capillaris): This tiny but effective carnivore is only about an inch tall and covered in glistening, sticky droplets. The sundew lures insects with its sparkling “dew” and digests them on the leaf’s surface. While small, it’s common in Florida’s wet flatwoods and bogs, offering a captivating glimpse of the carnivorous world. • BLADDERWORTS (Utricularia spp.): These aquatic carnivores live beneath the surface of slow-moving waters, using tiny bladders to trap small organisms like mosquito larvae. Several species of Bladderwort are common across Polk County’s ponds, ditches, and wetlands and are most noticeable when in flower. ECOLOGICAL ROLE: MORE THAN JUST SPOOKY Carnivorous plants, like those mentioned above, play a vital role in maintaining Florida’s wetland ecosystems. Their ability to capture insects allows them to recycle nutrients that are otherwise scarce in nutrient-poor soils. By digesting insects, these plants extract nitrogen and other essential nutrients, which not only supports their own growth but also enriches the soil when they decompose, contributing to the overall health of the ecosystem. In addition, the presence of these plants is often a sign of a healthy wetland. Carnivorous plants are sensitive to changes in water quality and soil conditions, making them reliable indicators of environmental health. Wetlands where these plants thrive tend to support greater biodiversity, as they contribute to the nutrient cycling that benefits other plant and animal species in the ecosystem. A CALL TO PROTECT THE HAUNTING BOGS Despite their eerie allure, Florida’s carnivorous plants face serious threats from habitat destruction, water pollution, and illegal poaching. Protecting these fascinating plants is crucial, not just for their own sake but for the health of the wetlands they inhabit. This Halloween, instead of fearing what lurks in the shadows, take a moment to appreciate the haunting beauty of these unique species. Head out to Polk County’s Lake Wales Ridge State Forest in early spring to catch a glimpse of hooded pitcher plants and pink sundews in bloom. Or, visit Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, where a boardwalk through their bog garden offers an accessible view of these capti- vating carnivorous plants year-round. If you’d like to learn more about Florida’s carnivorous plants, tune in to the Naturally Florida podcast in late October. We’re pub- lishing an episode all about them on October 21. You’ll find Naturally Florida on every major podcasting platform or online at naturallyfloridapodcast.com. Readers are encouraged to connect with the UF/IFAS Extension Office in Bartow or email me at scarnevale@ufl.edu for any questions. You can also find my Extension program on Instagram @PolkNR.

Many people like a pop of color to draw attention to a focal point in their landscape and what better way to do than then with a colorful potted container of plants. This spooky season, take it up a notch and make flowers part of your seasonal décor. Plants are like art, they can be a specimen, focal point, and a conversation starter. Take some of our tips for combining plants in a fun and spooky way and then transition them easily into fall... and beyond! Start by selecting a container. It is important to choose a container with drainage holes. Drainage is important and if your container does not come with holes, drill your own using a large drill bit. If that is not possible, consider placing a smaller pot into the container to allow for drainage. Remove the small interior container when watering, place back into the larger container, and then monitor for standing water. In the container, use a well-drained potting mix (make your own or buy it at a garden center). If you are re-planting a container you may need to replace the potting soil. It is best to replace it annually. Fill the container halfway and then start placing your plants to fill the container. Just like in your landscape, plants in a container should be similar in light and water requirements when planted together. The right plant, right place principle of Florida-Friendly Landscaping still applies! Make sure there is enough space in the container for the combination of plants you wish to use. Determine mature size and plant accordingly. You may want to combine 3 plants in a large container and then have a few containers of single specimen plants nearby. You can use multiple containers to create a “plantscape.” This can be a fun project for a spooky season porch or vignette in the yard. Plants in colors of black (dark purple), orange, white, and red are perfect for combining in haunting ways for a spooky container. Here are a few suggestions: BLACK/DARK PURPLE Black ti plant (Cordyline fruitcosa ‘Black Magic’) Black elephant ear (Colocasia sp.) Black sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batata varieties) Black Joesph’s coat (Alternanthera sp.) Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) Purple velvet (Gynura auratiaca) Purple salvia (Salvia sp.) ORANGE Marigold (Tagetes sp.) Crossandra (Crossandra infundibuliformis) Sunflower (Helianthus sp.) Gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella) Croton (Codiaeum variegatum varieties) Cosmos (Cosmos sp.) Zinnia (Zinnia sp.) WHITE Dusty miller (Senecia cineraria) Variegated foliage plants such as flax lily RED Polka dot plant (green with red spots) (Hypoestes sp.) Pentas (Pentas sp.) Begonias (Begonia sp.) Salvia (Salvia sp.) Once you have a fun combination of plants in your containers, take that spooky décor to the next level and add some haunting elements. Before you run out and buy spooky décor, look around your yard and consider ways to use natural items and recyclable materials in your holiday containers. Here are a few spookily creative ideas: 1. Paint a large branch black and drape with Spanish moss. Place into a container or urn. 2. Paint fallen branches black, add to containers in bunches. 3. Drape Spanish moss in and around containers for a spooky feel. The addition of those little black spiders can be a fun touch! 4. Paint aluminum cans black and plant with orangecolored flowers. 5. In a black urn, add in plants that are actually dead sticks and/or dead plant material with brown leaves. Option to paint the sticks/dead plants black. 6. Add a sign to a dead plant that says “R.I.P., Victim of non-Florida-Friendly plant care.” 7. Paint a grapevine wreath black and drape with Spanish moss. 8. Paint a plastic container orange, with lines like a pumpkin. Consider painting an old bucket or clay pot. 9. Create a graveyard scene in a dish garden by adding spooky items for seasonal fun. 10. Create a hand using hypertufa and a surgical glove. The hand, once cured, can be used coming out of a planter, or even the ground! 11. Check out treat or treat containers for fun and festive plant containers. 12. Use a plastic witch’s cauldron for container. 13. Create a pumpkin out of hypertufa or use a faux pumpkin for a seasonal planter. This can take you throughout the fall season. Have some fun with plants as you decorate seasonally, get creative with found objects and branches, and be inspired by our suggestions. Happy spooky season planting everyone! If you have gardening or landscaping questions, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. Give us a call or email us at polkmg@ifas. ufl.edu. To learn more about gardening and landscaping in central Florida, 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. We have a fun episode on crafting spooky season planters. An Equal Opportunity Institution.