The Great Migration To Tallahassee

by John Dicks | Photo by iStock

It’s that time of year for the great migration in Florida.

Well, it’s not exactly as big nor exciting as some of those infamous animal migrations. You know, like the one in Africa where every year millions of wildebeests suddenly converge and travel together from Tanzania’s Serengeti Desert to the Masai Mara in Kenya, all while battling blazing heat and insatiable hunger of giant crocodiles trying to snatch them at river crossings.

Then again, it can be quite a journey as 40 Senators and 120 Representatives travel to Tallahassee for the 60 day session of our Florida Legislature.

Leave it for others to discuss possible new laws to be passed this year. Instead, let’s ponder the riveting question of “Why Tallahassee?”

It does, after all, pose for lots of people either a rather long drive, or strange flight connections trying to get there. That fact is not lost on many.

Seems like every few years a bill gets filed to move Florida’s capital to somewhere else. Usually it’s Orlando, or at least “central Florida,” that gets most of the attention as a probable place to seat state Government.

To no surprise, whenever such suggestion is made, lots of chatter begins to spread. It is said, for example, that moving would make it easier for commuting legislators since an award winning airport makes for easy, frequent, and reasonable cost flights.

Then there’s the massive transportation system (though constantly clogged) which makes for better mobility, and the impressive array of luxury hotels and accommodations which are available.

Regardless, and at least thus far, the arguments just never stick. Most observers suggest it’s simply because of the great cost involved. A new capitol building would need to be built, as would, too, a new Supreme Court building, and Governor’s Mansion, and all of those other offices housing the Departments, Divisions, and Commissions of state government.

It all makes sense, of course. At least economically so.

Personally, though, I think the real hidden reason for legislators refusing to move, is really rather plain and simple. It’s because springtime in Tallahassee is so doggone amazing and beautiful!

Really, you’ve got to see it if you never have. The azaleas and dogwoods act as if they are in concert with each other on the timing and crescendo of blossoming. One day you’ll be looking at lots of bulging new greenery everywhere; only to find the next morning an almost explosion of colors rippling with reds, and pinks, and whites, and purples.

It’s truly a sight to behold, though your eyes do sting and weep from the resulting release of massive amounts of pollen drifting everywhere and onto everything!

Granted, I am a bit biased in my assessment of “Springtime Tallahassee,” as its affectionately known in the capital. Spring Fever hit me hard during the three years I spent there at Florida State Law School. My grades were never as good in the spring as they were at other times. Still, my favorite memories of those years all are centered around spring.

Certainly I can’t be alone in that assessment, which is, no doubt, why the capital remains right where it is and always has been, from the beginning nearly 200 years ago.

It was in 1824 that Tallahassee was chosen. As legend has it, the small little town was selected as a geographic compromise, approximately equal in distance from the two main population centers of Florida.

It’s not hard to imagine when you consider that 200 years ago, Florida was essentially nothing but the two prominent cities of St. Augustine on the Atlantic and Pensacola on the Gulf. South of that (at least in the minds of many) was nothing more than swamp land and Miami Beach condos!

Ok, I’m kidding, but you get the point!

Regardless, commerce and all activities needing some form of government, meant there was constant movement back and forth, coast to coast, to and from Pensacola and St. Augustine. It only made sense to pick a place halfway in between to build as the capital.

So Tallahassee it was, and likely always will continue, as it should, be our Florida’s capital.

John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.

A Closer Look

Naturally Amazing Activities

Leaf Skeleton

Since our featured insect this month looks like a leaf, we thought it would be cool to do a leaf project. Leaf skeletons can be used in several crafts. They can be added to the epoxy mold project we recently featured or framed against an illustration or alone. Leaf skeletons can be colored with food dye, varnished onto wood, or stone and even be added to a clear candle holder. The possibilities are vast. There are several ways to create a leaf skeleton, most of which take a good deal of time (weeks) before you have completed the leaf. I typically do not have weeks for projects so I did a little research and found a method that I really like and would like to share with you. It starts with finding a good leaf to use. Every source I have found suggests using thick waxy leaves such as Magnolia, Gardenia, and Hydrangea or the sturdy leaves of Oak and Maple.

Materials:

Leaves

Water

Large Pot

Washing Soda

Bleach (optional)

Food Dye (optional)

Tongs

Terry Towel

by Sean Green

Production:

• In pot, mix about 1 part washing soda to 4 parts water

• Bring the mixture to a gentle boil

• Lower the heat to simmer and add the leaves

• Simmer 2-3 hrs (leaf cells should be soft enough to rub off … just as a test, don’t rub them off yet.)

• Pour the murky water out and fill with just enough clean water to cover the leaves

• Add bleach (if desired) to speed the process up Note: bleach will weaken the leaf veins if used for too long

• Allow bleach to remove the leaf color (30 – 60 minutes)

• Gently remove the skin of the leaf by either brushing with a soft brush or carefully rinsing under running water.

• It helps to support the leaf in your hand to help prevent it from tearing while removing the skin

• Coloring (optional): Fill a shallow dish with water and food coloring.

• Let the leaf soak in the food dye mixture until the veins absorb the desired tone.

• Gently remove the leaf from the dye mixture with tongs

• Place the leaf on a terry cloth towel for complete drying (the leaf skeleton should be stiff.)

Once your leaf is dry, it can be used as a component for other crafts as mentioned above or a work of art itself.

A Closer Look by Sean Green

Giant Katydid (Stilpnochlora couloniana)

The sounds of Spring are approaching. Soon our nights will be filled with a chorus of wildlife that is characteristic of the Deep South. Kicking it off is a large insect commonly known as the Giant Katydid. This insect is the largest katydid in the United States measuring over 2 ½ inches with wings at rest. The Giant Katydid (Stilpnochlora couloniana) is more closely related to crickets than grasshoppers and is a member of the genus phaneropterine (false katydids). This month we will take a closer look at the Giant Katydid, a somewhat rare treat found only in the Isle of Pines in Cuba and as far north as Gainesville in Florida (Entomological News, Mar 2017).

This species was first described by George Marcgraf from a Brazilian specimen in 1648. Most species are found in the tropical neotropics, which roughly begins just south of Bradenton and extends through south Florida and into the Caribbean islands of Cuba, Grenada, Trinidad, and Jamaica. The Giant Katydid is the one species that can be found in the Nearctic region of Florida as far north as Gainesville. Illustrations as early as 1725 (Sloane) and 1800 (Shaw) indicate that it was first known as the Bay Leaf Locust.

We know of over 250 species of katydid in North America, nearly half of which are in the Tettigoniinae (shieldbacks) family and among the shieldbacks, there are 15 species of Stilpnochlora, but none as large as the Giant Katydid (Stilpnochlora couloniana). This insect, though imposing, is harmless to human beings; in fact, it has become a popular pet and classroom addition. One of the fascinating characteristics of this insect is its ability to avoid becoming food for potential predators by fooling them. In evolutionary biology, some species evolve to resemble (mimic) another organism or object. The Giant Katydid mimics spiders in its earliest stages of life (instars) and when finally becoming an adult, the Giant Katydid looks like a large leaf.

Katydids are active at night; during the day they rest high up in the crowns of host trees such as oak, bramble, or hazel but can occasionally be found foraging in shrubs of hypericum, butterfly bush (Buddleja), apple, rose and hawthorn. Beginning at dusk and continuing to the morning, males create their songs by stimulation (friction). Their wings have a scraper and file that when rubbed together create various tones for their song, like scraping a stick across a washboard. Their threesyllable song sounds like” kay-ti-did” and is responsible for their common name. Typically, all the males in the area will synchronize their song in ranges from 3 kHz to over 20 kHz. The collective songs of these insects can get loud enough to drown out most other sounds. You will hear these nocturnal insects long before you see them and can easily differentiate them from grasshoppers by their song alone. When you do see one however, the long antennae are a dead giveaway that they are not grasshoppers. Katydid have antennae that are as long or longer than their body, grasshoppers have short antennae.

The giant katydid is among the largest of all insects and are often kept as pets. There are some species of katydid that are carnivorous and vicious predators, those that are carnivores can be recognized the by the spikes on their legs which are used for capturing prey. The Giant Katydid, however, is a strict herbivore feeding only on a variety of trees and shrubs and is quite harmless to human beings. It’s no surprise that this insect has become a popular pet and is sometimes kept in the classroom for students to observe.

The average lifespan of the giant katydid is about one year from birth through adult. In our tropical Florida environment this species is capable of producing offspring twice a year. These insects are easy to rear and will breed readily so long as they are kept in a habitat of about 10 square inches per insect. The humidity will have to be kept high to mimic a tropical environment if they are kept indoors with air-conditioning. They will need fresh leaf cuttings every day for food and a rough substrate, preferably bark from one of its host trees on which the females can lay eggs. Keep in mind, these insects are excellent jumpers, you will need a lid on its habitat, especially if there are other animals, or potential predators that could become problematic if the katydid jumped out of the enclosure. These insects will become more abundant beginning this month. We hope you have a chance to take a closer look this month.