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It’s blueberry picking time in Northwest Florida

Where to find local sweet blueberries to pick or purchase  June and July is the time of year to head out and find tasty Florida blueberries. In addition to a great topping for cereal or salads, blueberry pancakes, muffins and coffee cakes are also a popular homemade treat for blueberry lovers. Many locals take advantage of the local pick-your-own farms and stock up by purchasing berries by the gallon from local growers. Since the fruit freezes well, many buy in...

Yellow flies are back!

It’s that time of year again, and those nasty yellow flies are biting… here are some tips for armoring yourself In Florida, the name “yellow fly” is used to describe about a dozen different species of yellow-bodied biting flies. “Yellow flies” readily attack humans and are usually abundant in Florida with peak annoyance occurring in May and June. “Yellow flies” are in the family known as Tabanidae. All tabanids go through an egg, larva, pupa and adult stage, referred to...

Think twice before choosing a mallard duckling as a pet

Outta the Woods: Ducks – more than they’re quacked up to be As Easter approaches, many parents buy mallard ducklings for their children.  We’ve done that for generations, but consequences have caught up with us. These ducks can live 10 years.  They might make nice pets while they are still small enough to fit in your hand, but when they become full-grown and the novelty wears off, people often grow tired of caring for them and decide to turn them...

Finks Mill one of the last operating stone grist mills in the Southeast

Farmers come for miles to have their corn stone ground Many years ago, grist mills were in most communities, as local farmers brought their corn or grains to be ground for selling or personal use. Over the years, with the influx of large commercial operations that produce meal for the masses buy creating ready-to-eat mix, the local mills have declined to only a few surviving across the United States. These few mills cater to farmers bringing their corn to be...

Walton Outdoors wishes you a happy Independence Day

Click here to listen to the Declaration of Independence IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions...

Remember our fallen service men and women this Memorial Day

Take a moment to remember the brave soldiers who gave their lives for the United States of America As many of us enjoy an extended Memorial Day weekend by firing up the grill, heading to the beach, watching the Indy 500, or simply enjoying an extra day off with family and friends; please take a moment to remember our brave soldiers who gave their lives for our country. Since 1868, we have set aside this special day of remembrance. Nearly...

A guide to Florida snakes

Knowledge is power when sharing the outdoors with these interesting reptiles Florida has an abundance of wildlife, including a wide variety of reptiles. Snakes, and their cousins the alligators, crocodiles, turtles and lizards, play an interesting and vital role in Florida’s complex ecology. Many people have an uncontrollable fear of snakes. Perhaps because man is an animal who stands upright, he has developed a deep-rooted aversion to all crawling creatures. And, too, snakes long have been use in folklore to...

Hometown Christmas shopping fair in DeFuniak Springs Nov. 30

The annual Hometown Christmas will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, from 8 am – 4 pm at the Walton County Fairgrounds on Highway 83 North in DeFuniak Springs. The annual shopping event brings thousands of holiday shoppers to historic DeFuniak Springs and features activities for children, food, entertainment, and hundreds of unique one-of-a-kind gifts for every taste.  Free admission. For more information, call (850) 830-1661....