Anna Maria Island


Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category

Making History On Anna Maria Island

Sunday, May 29th, 2011 |

The north part of Anna Maria Island underwent major remodeling as a couple of large construction projects dominated the landscape in mid May. The most unusual project was the relocation of the historical Angler’s Lodge, which had sat on North Bay Boulevard for 97 years. Immediately after the celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the venerable island City Pier landmark, the bulldozers started plowing down the historical native vegetation that lined the shore.

Oil Spill Meeting at Anna Maria Island Community Center

Friday, June 18th, 2010 |

The pristine beauty of Anna Maria Island’s beautiful clean white-sand beaches is something that thousands of local people and visitors care very much about. Although the oil spill occurred almost 400 miles from our beaches, and although there is no oil near our shores, it is worth being prepared to act in case the oil comes our way.

What Not to Collect on Anna Maria Island: Live Sand Dollars

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010 |

Sand dollars are not beautiful when they are alive. Their whiteness comes only after the outer layer of skin and small spines has disappeared. It is the endoskeleton that is beautiful. I’m sure trying to clean a live sand dollar is not worth the smelly effort. It makes no sense to kill these creatures.

2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 |

The official start to the Atlantic Hurricane Season is June 1st. Now is a good time to make preparations for an emergency evacuation and formulate your disaster plan, check your insurance, storm shutters, and put together emergency supplies.

Only Cold-Hardy Palms Survived Anna Maria’s Cold Winter

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 |

Cold-hardy palms survived fine, and are completely green. But many coconut palms are looking very brown. We were alarmed to see in a neighbor’s yard that the entire head of a coconut palm had fallen over

Robinson Preserve

Monday, February 22nd, 2010 |

There are so many wonderful activities and attractions to enjoy on Anna Maria Island and in the nearby region. This week, a guest was the reason I visited Robinson Preserve for the first time. This lovely preserve is just across the bridge, accessible off of Manatee Avenue.

The Sounds of Anna Maria Island

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 |

For those of us who live in canal-front homes, the sound of a boatlift in operation becomes familiar. Yet it is a haunting and penetrating sound at times, suggesting the wail of a supernatural creature. Although the boatlift sound is the product of a purely mechanical movement, it has come to be one more of the many voices that are raised during everyday life along a canal.

Coconuts: Growing and Opening Them

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 |

Anna Maria Island is at the northern end of the zone in which coconut palms grow well. In fact, just across the bay, on the mainland, one does not see them because the temperatures can be just a little colder.

Shelling on Florida Gulf Coast

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 |

The shells that usually wash ashore on the beaches of Anna Maria Island include spiny jewelboxes, which are white with spikes protruding. They look like bivalves, but are, in fact gastropods. Another fairly common gastropod shell is the lettered olive,

The Clean Beaches of Anna Maria Island

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009 |

For those who love beauty, removing ugly trash should be just as satisfying as collecting beautiful shells from the beach. It’s troubling to notice more and more cigarette butts in the sand.

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